Speedcross 3: From the Trails to the Streets

AN INTERVIEW WITH FOOTWEAR DESIGNER MYRIAM CORDOBA GONZALEZ

Over time, lots of people have started to like the unique style of the Speedcross shoes, not just designers and trail runners. The classic shape of the Speedcross 3, which Warren Bosomworth worked on in 2010, has been updated with new colors and designs several times since then.

We asked Myriam Cordoba Gonzalez, who works as a CMF (Colors, Materials, and Finishes) designer for Salomon Sportstyle to explain the inspirations behind the new Speedcross 3 colorways.

SALOMON: What inspired the design direction for the latest Speedcross 3 model in Salomon's sportstyle lineup?

Myriam Gonzalez Cordoba: Every season, we work on specific color stories. The Sportstyle Product Line Manager at the time showed me a very pixelated picture of this colorway and said, “we have to do this”. I had to turn into an archeologist to find that model's actual colors to recreate it. The drawings here are the original Computer Assisted Design from June 2010, and the one on the left is what I did 12 years later, in October 2022.

The first mockup reflects the very daring way that Salomon would use color in the 2000s, which we wanted to bring back. This colorway now feels very natural for a Speedcross, but it took some time to grow on us: at first you don’t really like it, and after some time it becomes this spicy, fun pair in your rotation.

S: Can you elaborate on the key features of the Speedcross 3 and how they contribute to both performance and style?

MCG: The silhouette of the Speedcross 3 is iconic, but I would say that the key feature is the outsole, with its big lugs inspired from the motocross world, creating that great grip for wet terrain. It has a super strong and aggressive energy that no other sneaker can replicate. The synthetic overlays help to improve foothold and the heel foam provides the comfort and cushioning needed to run in the mountains – or walk in the streets. The massive color-blocked heel is also a great visual signature that gives to the Speedcross its unique look.

S: How did you approach the integration of color and materials in the design process for this shoe model?

MCG: Adding color is both a challenge and a lot of fun. Each piece of the Speedcross 3 is quite big, so each color takes on a big role. There’s no being subtle, it’s all or nothing! To me, this is a big part of the Speedcross’ identity: it’s the personification of the phrase “Go bold or go home”!

Every year, the CMF (Color, materials, and finishes) team gathers for a “color camp” to share inspiration and create seasonal color stories bound together by a main theme that will inspire the color palettes for that season. During this color camp, we share and analyze market trends coming from all kinds of sources, including looking at what our consumers are doing, and how they use and combine our products. This helps us to define what future collections will look like while staying true to what is currently being done.

S: What role does feedback from athletes and outdoor enthusiasts play in shaping the design of Salomon footwear?

MCG: It is huge! Salomon has always relied on its deep connection with athletes and the community to develop its products. We organize focus groups to listen to the feedback from the community on products and colors. I love scrolling Instagram comments to have a better understanding of what people like and don’t like. Sometimes, the most brutal comments are what help us most in deciding where to go for future collections.

S: Looking ahead, what trends or advancements do you anticipate influencing future designs in Salomon's footwear lineup?

MCG: We have seen more and more people getting into the outdoors over the past few years, looking for that feeling of freedom that only nature and adventuring in new places can provide. They bring with them new influences that shape what the future of the outdoors will look like. This is influencing us to be more inclusive and create products that can welcome all these new outdoor enthusiasts into the Salomon universe.

In 2006, Salomon was developing new trail running shoes to meet the need for increasingly fast and light footwear, compared to the usual sturdy hiking shoe like the Salomon Adventure 7, launched in 1994. Inspired by local races taking place near Salomon’s headquarters in Annecy in the French Alps—and by employees, designers and athletes—Salomon footwear designer Reglan G Brewer hatched an idea for a shoe that would be lightweight, grippy, and protective. It represented Raglan’s last chance to create an interesting shoe before his contract with Salomon ended.

The shoe he created would launch a revolution at Salomon, change the rules of mountain running, and contribute to the birth and growth of trail running. It was called Speedcross, and it was made for running fast in the mountains while protecting your feet from rocks and obstacles and delivering stability on wet rocks and in mud. The Speedcross was such a revolution that it would be updated several times, as well as adopted by a crowd outside of the outdoor scene.

LOOKING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SPEEDCROSS 3: STABILITY & MAINSTREAM SUCCESS

In 2011, Salomon introduced the third version of the Speedcross shoes, marking a significant leap in stability and acceptance. Crafted by Warren Bosomworth, a Salomon trail running footwear designer, the first design for the Speedcross 3 emerged in 2010. Fueled by positive feedback from trail runners, the Speedcross 3 led to an updated version. Featuring a broader heel for enhanced stability, a seamless welded upper (aligned with other Salomon products at that time), a more cushioned EVA midsole, and deeper outsole grooves designed to deform upon impact, the Speedcross 3 epitomized innovation.

“What I like the most about the Speedcross 3 is that it carried the original Salomon design aesthetic and DNA, and still does to this day! The (original) Speedcross was a very underground product, which appealed to elite athletes and designers for being raw, without any whimsical design. It was pure performance. It was a tough shoe to sell. Being lightweight, grippy, and protective was not enough.” says Warren Bosomworth, former Salomon Footwear Designer.

Staying true to Salomon's original design principles, the Speedcross 3 kept its unique SensiFit cage and PowerBand, keeping its recognizable shape unchanged. Supported by top athletes such as Scottish mountain runner Tom Owens, the Speedcross 3 became popular among trail runners, demonstrating its reliability across different races and landscapes.

After trying his first Speedcross in 2007, Tom Owens ran all of his trail races from 2008 to 2011 with the Speedcross 2 and 3. He won the Transalpine Run in 2009 and 2010, the Syraid World Championships of Italy in 2010, and the Sentiero delle Gringe Skyrace Final in 2011.

“It was so different to the typical shoes available in the UK. It was super comfortable for trail sections yet had good grip. Essentially it could be used on all terrains and be comfortable for the feet!”

In 2024, Salomon continues to celebrate their rich outdoor heritage and the deep running history of the Speedcross 3, without dimming the lights on its fashion infused trajectory. Initially designed for ground-breaking, rebellious performance, the Speedcross 3 is reinventing itself, connecting to a community of creators looking for boundless self-expression and collective empowerment.

Loyal to the initial ethos and design aesthetic, the ‘Sulphur’ colorway, an original from 2011, relaunches with the same bold and vibrant colors it originally came to market with. A brazen, non-conformist silhouette that continues to bridge the gap between performance product and elevated expression of individualism.