Salomon S/LAB Phantasm 3: the aerodynamic shoe built to break records

A unique innovation designed to improve aerodynamics

This is the defining feature of the Phantasm 3, and its visual impact is immediate. Salomon worked with Swiss Side, the Formula 1 and cycling aerodynamics specialists, to analyze and optimize the drag generated by the shoe during a marathon.

The principle is simple. An elite marathoner's foot can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h during a race. At that speed, the shape of the shoe has a real impact on overall performance. To reduce turbulence and drag, Salomon spent two years completely redesigning the upper. The wraparound construction, with an integrated gaiter covering the laces up to the ankle, creates a continuous, smooth, rounded surface with no protrusions.

© Salomon

Wind-tunnel testing at the group's labs, under the expert eye of Swiss Side's engineers, produced striking results:
✔ 16 to 28% less aerodynamic drag than the Phantasm 2
✔ an 18-second gain over a 2:06 marathon

Several of the brand's elite athletes took part in a standard treadmill oxygen-consumption test. Maggie Montoya, Djilali Bedrani and Annie Rodenfels completed several intervals at marathon pace. The results showed lower oxygen consumption than with the previous model, with reductions of up to 3.7%. At this level, that translates into minutes off a finishing time. It is a genuine breakthrough for the brand. This is not marketing spin, but measurable, repeatable gains validated through scientific testing.

Adding another layer of material naturally raises questions about breathability, but Salomon appears to have engineered a technical upper that does a good job of venting heat.

We have been working on this concept for more than two years because we knew it was an area that had not yet been explored in road-running shoes. A runner's foot can reach up to twice the speed of the runner's body, or around 40 km/h for the fastest marathoners. At that speed, improving the shoe's aerodynamics has a real impact on performance over the course of a marathon. By analyzing the reduction in aerodynamic drag delivered by the S/LAB Phantasm 3, we calculated that the shoe's shape alone can save up to 18 seconds in a 2:06 marathon run at 20 km/h.

The S/LAB Phantasm 3 is built for personal-best hunters

With its distinctive upper, the S/LAB Phantasm 3 stands apart from everything else on the market. This is clearly a shoe for experienced runners who want to run fast and chase their next personal best. The fit is extremely snug, locking the foot down precisely and creating the sensation of a shoe wrapped around the foot like a second skin. Comfort is not the priority here; maximal effort and speed are. Keeping the materials light is essential to performance, and at just 199 grams, Salomon has delivered. The shoe ranks among the lightest available, a position that fits perfectly with the S/LAB line, Salomon's performance flagship.

© Salomon

© Salomon

© Salomon

A more cushioned midsole

The other major change is the midsole. The Phantasm 3 gets more foam, with 2 mm added under the heel and 5 mm under the forefoot, while staying within World Athletics' limits at 39/33 mm.

Salomon brings several of its strengths together here:
➜ Supercritical optiFOAM+ foam made with PEBA, offering greater softness and resilience
➜ A full-length, spoon-shaped energyBLADE carbon plate
➜ A more aggressive rocker geometry
➜ A reduced 6 mm drop

The result is the expected combination of energy return and forward propulsion, with a higher level of comfort than the Phantasm 2. With more foam underfoot, the shoe is more forgiving while remaining demanding and highly responsive.

© Salomon

Who is the S/LAB Phantasm 3 really for?

Let's be clear: the S/LAB Phantasm 3 is not for everyone, and that is entirely intentional.

➜ Experienced to highly experienced runners
➜ Runners chasing a personal best on the road, from 5K to the marathon
➜ Athletes looking for a genuine performance gain

This is not a shoe for easy runs or daily training. It is not forgiving. It is a genuine rocket ship, a racing weapon designed to perform on race day.

The real takeaway

Salomon is making a serious statement with the new S/LAB Phantasm 3. Among the many carbon-plated shoes on the market, no other brand had made aerodynamics the central idea. With its distinctive design, futuristic innovation and standout performance, this model is an undeniable step forward for the S/LAB Phantasm line. It has already appeared in major performances, including at the 2025 New York City Marathon, where Matthias Kyburz finished fifth in 2:09:55. Anaïs Quemener also wore the shoe on her return to racing at the 2025 Valencia Marathon, running 2:37:48. American Futsum Zienasellassie raced in a version of the S/LAB Phantasm 3 when he won the US national marathon championship in 2:09:31. Those results confirm the work put in by the Annecy-based brand to develop a refined carbon racer aimed squarely at the elite end of running.

Salomon is taking a bold gamble and will no doubt appeal to plenty of road runners hungry for performance. The only obvious drawback may be the price. At €280, it sits among the most expensive shoes on the market. Running fast comes at a cost.

© Salomon

With the S/LAB Phantasm 3, Salomon has delivered one of the boldest launches in road running this year. By putting aerodynamics at the heart of the project, the brand is not trying to copy what already exists, but to open up a new field of innovation. This is a specialist shoe, designed and tested for athletes who want to go fast, very fast. Salomon has spent several years chasing credibility on the road. With the Phantasm 3, it may have found the formula to take the brand into a new dimension. This shoe is built to win the world's biggest races.

✔ The S/LAB Phantasm 3 will be available January 15, 2026, on salomon.com and from selected specialist retailers for €280.