All Terrain Contagrip: Salomon's Versatile Outsole
What All Terrain Contagrip is
All Terrain Contagrip is one of several versions of Salomon's Contagrip outsole. The outsole is the rubber layer that meets the ground. Contagrip is Salomon's family name for its outsole rubbers, and Salomon makes different versions for different jobs. The All Terrain version is the do-everything member of the family, built to handle a wide range of surfaces rather than to specialise in one.
Why All Terrain Contagrip matters
Most trail runners do not run on a single, consistent surface. A route can take you over hard packed paths, loose gravel, mud, grass and rock in a single outing. A specialised outsole that is brilliant in mud may be poor on hard ground, and a hard-wearing road-style sole may slip off road. All Terrain Contagrip is Salomon's answer for runners who want one shoe that copes reasonably with all of these without being caught out.
How All Terrain Contagrip works
Salomon builds the sole from more than one rubber. Softer rubber sections are placed where the shoe needs to grip, because soft rubber keys into the ground better. Harder rubber sections are placed where the shoe needs to resist wear, because hard rubber lasts longer. On top of this, the lugs, the raised studs on the sole, are shaped and arranged to match different support zones of the foot. The result is a sole that balances traction and durability across many surfaces.
Benefits
What All Terrain Contagrip gives a runner
- Dependable grip across a wide variety of surfaces.
- Soft rubber zones for traction and hard rubber zones for durability.
- Lugs matched to different zones of the sole for versatility.
- One outsole that suits mixed routes rather than a single terrain.
Limitations
Being versatile means making compromises. All Terrain Contagrip will not match a dedicated mud sole in deep mud, nor a smooth road outsole on tarmac. It is a jack of all trades, which is exactly what many runners want, but a specialist sole will beat it on the surface it was built for. If you almost always run on one type of ground, a specialised Contagrip may serve you better.
How All Terrain Contagrip compares
| Outsole | Owner | Tuned for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Terrain Contagrip | Salomon | Mixed surfaces | Versatile, not specialised |
| Mud Contagrip | Salomon | Soft, muddy ground | Soft rubber wears faster |
| Winter Contagrip | Salomon | Cold and snow | Flexible in the cold |
All Terrain Contagrip is the all-rounder in Salomon's Contagrip family. The Mud and Winter versions are specialists; the All Terrain version trades a little of that specialism for the ability to cope with almost anything.
Buying considerations
If your trail runs cross many different surfaces, or you want one shoe that does not need swapping as the ground changes, All Terrain Contagrip is the sensible pick. If you run almost entirely in deep mud or in winter snow, consider the matching specialised Contagrip instead. Match the sole to the ground you cover most.
Common misconceptions
All Terrain Contagrip is not a single rubber; it is a mix of soft and hard rubbers placed in different zones. It is also not the best sole for every surface. Its strength is versatility, and a specialist Contagrip will outperform it on the specific ground that specialist was made for.
Related terms
Some connected terms help. An outsole is the ground-contact layer of a shoe and a lug is one of its raised studs. Contagrip is Salomon's family of outsole rubbers. Mud Contagrip and Winter Contagrip are the specialist members of that family.
All Terrain Contagrip at OD's
At OD's Designer Clothing in St Helens we stock Salomon running shoes alongside a wide range of running footwear from other leading brands. If you want to know which shoes in store use All Terrain Contagrip, or you would like help choosing the right shoe for the way you run, message us and we will help. We offer next-day delivery and free click and collect.