Review: Salomon DRX Defy GRVL running shoe
Feature type Review
Read time 4 min read
Published Mar 14, 2025
Author Matthew Pink
Photographer Ed Smith
OUR VERDICT
The Salomon DRX Defy GRVL blurs the line between road and trail, it’s designed to handle the wild without making you feel like you’ve strapped bricks to your feet. Wide, roomy, cushioned, stable, and built with some obvious precision engineering, it’s a gravel shoe that offers both comfort and performance – provided your legs can keep up.
| Features | Road Contagrip®, Chevron lugs, energyFOAM, activeCHASSIS™, 3D mesh upper, SensiFit™ upper, Internal sensiFIT™, OrthoLite® diecut sockliner |
Pros
- Excellent cushioning for long-distance comfort.
- Solid grip without feeling like you’re running in hiking boots.
- Surprisingly stable.
- Versatile enough for mixed-surface runs.
Cons
- Not the lightest shoe in its category.
- Less aggressive tread than a pure trail shoe.
- Touching into the higher reaches on price as per Salomon norm. Quality costs, as ever.
- Road performance is decent but not its strongest suit.
WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR
When it comes to running shoes, I want something that can handle an (my own?) identity crisis. I need comfort for long miles, grip for when the terrain gets questionable, and enough energy return that I don’t feel like I’m dragging my feet through wet cement by kilometre 15. Bonus points if they don’t make my feet feel like they’ve gone 10 rounds with a meat tenderiser.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Out of the box, they’re a good-looking pair – modern without being garish, rugged without being overly clumpy. The build feels solid, but there’s a surprising lightness to them. The Energy Foam midsole looks promising, and the outsole suggests it’ll hold its own when the tarmac ends and the air freshens up.
THE TEST
Several weeks of chalk and gravel tracks, muddy footpaths, even a few stretches of tarmac when I couldn’t be bothered to find a proper trail. The cushioning is generous without feeling mushy, and there’s a reassuring stability underfoot. They grip well on loose surfaces, and while they’re not a full-on mountain shoe, they handle tricky terrain without any unnerving slippage. They even did a respectable job on the road, though the trail pedigree is obvious. No blisters, no hotspots – just a smooth, responsive ride that let me focus on my suboptimal pacing strategy instead of foot pain.
WHO IS THIS ITEM FOR?
If you’re the sort who can’t decide whether you’re a road runner, a trail runner, or just someone who enjoys suffering in scenic locations, the DRX Defy GRVL is probably a fair bet.
WHAT STANDS OUT?
- The cushioning – plush but responsive, like a vocal, supportive yet slightly judgmental running coach.
- The stability – reassuring on uneven terrain, without feeling overbuilt.
- The grip – confident on gravel, dirt, and other questionable surfaces.
- The versatility – handles mixed terrain like it was built for indecisive runners.
VALUE FOR MONEY
At £125, the DRX Defy GRVL need to provide a return on that price. But given the durability, comfort, and versatility, it earns its tag – particularly if you like your running with a side of variety and don’t fancy clogging up (or stinking up) the entry hall with five different pairs for different terrains.
BASE BOTTOM LINE
If you think running should involve both dirt and tarmac but you also like your knees to remain functional, the Salomon DRX Defy GRVL makes a compelling, if silent, argument. It’s not a hardcore trail shoe, nor a road racer – but if, like me, you exist in the messy, indecisive middle, this might just be your perfect match. It’s the running shoe equivalent of a gravel bike: capable, comfortable, and ready for whatever best intentions/bad decisions you throw at it.
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