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The Salomon DRX Defy Grvl are - as the name suggests - designed for running on gravel tracks. There are very few runners who don’t enjoy the sensation of running on an unpaved path, as the small rounded stones gently give way under each stride. The common dilemma is, do we need a trail shoe or a road shoe for this surface. The DRX Defy Grvl should provide the solution to this question.
This article covers the technical features of the DRX Defy Grvl Running Shoes. Salomon kindly sent us a pair for testing, so we’ll detail how they feel to run in and what they’re best suited to.
Salomon DRX Defy Grvl Tech
Key Stats
- Women’s approximate weight: 203 grams
- Men’s approximate weight: 239 grams
- Forefoot stack height: 26 mm
- Rearfoot stack height: 34 mm
- Drop: 8 mm
- Midsole: energyFOAM
- Outsole: Contagrip
Outsole construction
The Contagrip outsole is inspired by gravel bike tyres. With bigger chevrons around the perimeter, smaller lugs in the centre of the forefoot, and shallow lugs, the outsole is optimised for stoney paths. Importantly, this outsole should feel comfortable on hard-pack terrain - such as tarmac. This should make it easy to transition from one type of surface to the next.
Midsole construction
Salomon’s energyFOAM is engineered to feel light and extremely responsive. The result should be a propulsive ride that helps you maintain your pace. With a 34 mm high heel, and 26 mm high forefoot, there’s a relatively high degree of protection under your feet for hard ground.
activeCHASSIS support
The stand-out feature in the DRX Deft Grvl Running Shoes is the activeCHASSIS support. While lots of road running shoes feature additional support, it’s less common in a shoe that offers more grip. The lateral side of the activeCHASSIS is firmer than the midsole. This provides lateral stability at landing, and should reduce the chances of rolling your ankle.
The medial side of the activeCHASSIS support is not firmer, but it rises up and offers some additional guidance. The system works together to help stabilise your feet and ankles on both hard-packed and slightly looser-packed terrain.
Upper construction
These have a standard lacing system and don’t feature Salomon’s Quicklace design. The fabric is a lightweight mesh, with a small amount of padding on the tongue and inside the heel collar. The overlays that run the length of the medial and lateral side should improve durability, and add some additional integrity to the upper.
Salomon DRX Defy Grvl Test Run
How does the cushioning and outsole perform?
We tested them out on a mixture of surfaces, but mostly on gravel paths. On the road, the cushioning felt light, energetic, and surprisingly protective. While it isn’t soft, the energyFOAM feels very compliant. Significantly, you can’t feel the outsole lugs on tarmac, so the ride is very comfortable.
As I transitioned to the gravel, the outsole started to provide some extra purchase and control. Luckily it was also raining, so we could test them on wet ground. The rubber felt like it was providing some extra purchase on the flat sections of wet rock.
I wasn’t very aware of the activeCHASSIS support. I mean this in a good way though. It doesn’t feel intrusive in any way, but it feels like the back of your foot is being cradled. There was the odd stride, particularly on some rockier sections of the path, where the support kicked in kept my foot in place.
The transition back to tarmac was very comfortable. This is important, as a lot of trail shoes can feel a bit clunky when you move from a path to the road.
Upper fit
The Salomon DRX Defy Grvl Running Shoes fit relatively generously. The forefoot feels pretty spacious, and we’d recommend choosing your normal running shoe size. The midfoot and ankle area feel supportive and secure.
Salomon DRX Defy Grvl Summary
Overall, these are comfortable and versatile hybrid running shoes. They’re perfect for runs that feature a mixture of road and light trails, such as gravel paths and forest tracks. As a result, they should be well-suited to off-road parkruns.
A lot of runners will likely use these as door-to-trail running shoes. And yes, you could argue that a road running shoe could work in these situations too, but the outsole on the DRX Defy Gravel will be considerably more durable, and will offer additional grip on wet surfaces.
We wouldn’t recommend using these when you have to run on steeper or more technical terrain. The lug depth just isn’t deep enough. This is when the Salomon Genesis Trail Running Shoes would be your best choice.
