This shoe can do a little bit of everything and, because it’s Salomon, it does it all really well. The XA Elevate GTX has the brand’s Contagrip outsole but its lugs are not particularly deep, enabling it to transition to road running with ease while still giving plenty of grip on soft ground or over rocks. The midsole cushioning has the brand’s EnergyCell+ cushioning for softness, but also has a layer of firmer foam between the mid and outsoles that Salomon calls the “Advanced Chassis” for firmer support. This latest edition of the XA Elevate gets the GTX in its name from the Gore-Tex liner under the upper’s mesh to keep your feet warm and dry while the Sensifit overlays, Quicklace system and Profeel toecap provide structure, support, and protection against debris. This shoe gives you the gift of spontaneity: if you want to veer off the road for a trail through the woods, it will be there for you on every step of the adventure.