Salomon Genesis 2 vs Genesis: what's new in Salomon's updated trail shoes?
There are trail shoes that perform exceptionally well because they achieve something not always easy in the mountains: being good at practically everything. The Salomon Genesis belong precisely to that group.
Since their arrival, they have become a very interesting option for runners looking for comfort to rack up miles, protection when the terrain starts to get complicated, and enough stability to tackle technical areas with confidence.
That's why, with the arrival of the new Salomon Genesis 2, Salomon didn't want to completely change a formula that was already working. The second generation maintains much of the personality of the original Genesis, but introduces improvements in important areas such as stability, the upper, and traction.
The question is inevitable: Salomon Genesis 2 vs Genesis, what has really changed? Are the new Genesis 2 better? And is it worth upgrading if you already have the first ones?
Let's find out.
Salomon Genesis 2: evolving a shoe that was already working
The philosophy of the Genesis 2 remains very recognizable. They continue to be shoes designed to tackle mixed, rocky, and technical terrain, with soft and protective cushioning and a construction prepared to withstand many miles.
Therefore, we are not facing a revolution. We are facing an evolution. Salomon has worked especially on achieving more stability and control, maintaining that combination of comfort and agility that made the first Genesis such versatile shoes.
And we believe it's a wise decision. When a model works, it's often better to refine it than to try to reinvent it.
Genesis 2 vs Genesis: the main differences
Before delving into each section, this table allows for a quick understanding of where the changes are.
| Feature | Salomon Genesis | Salomon Genesis 2 |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Profile | 34 / 26 mm | 33.5 / 25.5 mm |
| Midsole | optiFOAM™ | optiFOAM™ |
| Chassis | activeCHASSIS™ | fully integrated activeCHASSIS™ |
| Upper | Matryx® | New lighter and more resistant Matryx® |
| Outsole | All-Terrain contaGRIP® | Redesigned All-Terrain contaGRIP® |
| Lugs | 4.5 mm | 4 mm |
| Protection | High | High |
| Terrain | Mixed, rocky and technical | Mixed, rocky and technical |
The first thing that stands out is that Salomon retains many of the main ingredients of the first Genesis.
The drop remains 8 mm, we still find optiFOAM™ in the midsole, Matryx® in the upper, and All-Terrain contaGRIP® underfoot.
So, where is the evolution?
Mainly in how all these elements are integrated and work together. A wider platform for increased stability. Probably one of the most interesting changes in the Genesis 2 is something that doesn't appear directly when you just look at the names of the technologies.
Salomon has developed a wider midsole platform. The goal? To gain stability.
In the mountains, a few millimeters can significantly change the feel. A slightly wider base provides a larger support surface when landing on uneven terrain, especially on descents, rocky areas, or when you've been running for many hours and your technique starts to lose precision.
And this fits perfectly with the Genesis philosophy. We are not talking about shoes designed only for fast running on easy trails. Their natural terrain begins precisely when stones appear, changes of support, and areas where you need to trust what's under your feet.
The original Genesis was already a stable shoe, but this second generation tries to take a step further in this regard.
ActiveCHASSIS™ also evolves
Directly related to this increased stability, we find another of the main changes.
The Genesis already incorporated activeCHASSIS™, but in the new Genesis 2, Salomon uses a fully integrated construction.
Its function remains to provide guidance and stability to the foot without eliminating the agility necessary to move naturally over technical terrain. And this part is important.
A trail shoe can be very stable, but if it becomes excessively rigid or heavy to achieve this, it loses much of its versatility.
With the Genesis 2, Salomon seeks to find that balance: providing support when the terrain demands it, but allowing the foot to continue moving with some freedom.
For runners tackling long distances, this type of stability can be especially interesting as the miles accumulate.
The midsole retains optiFOAM™
Here's an important difference from the S/LAB Genesis 2, and precisely why we shouldn't confuse both models.
The regular Salomon Genesis 2 retain optiFOAM™, a lightweight and cushioned EVA foam developed to offer comfort and performance.
optiFOAM™² does not appear, as it belongs to the S/LAB renovation.
The philosophy of the conventional Genesis 2 continues to prioritize soft, protective, and sufficiently dynamic cushioning to tackle varied terrain.
The Genesis has always stood out more for its balance than for offering an extremely explosive feel. It's a shoe that wants to accompany you for miles and miles without you having to constantly think about what you're wearing.
In this second generation, Salomon has preferred to work on the platform and the chassis integration rather than completely transforming the foam.
New Matryx® upper: resistance without turning it into armor
Another of the changes highlighted by Salomon is in the upper.
The original Genesis already used Matryx®, a high-performance fabric reinforced with Kevlar® fibers designed to offer abrasion resistance without penalizing breathability too much.
And anyone who regularly runs in the mountains knows how important this can be.
Branches, stones, rubbing, dust, mud... The upper of trail shoes takes a lot of punishment.
The new Genesis 2 maintain Matryx®, but Salomon has worked on a lighter and more resistant construction, seeking to preserve the necessary protection for demanding terrain without making the shoe excessively heavy or rigid.
We also find endoFit™ again, an internal sleeve designed to hug the foot and achieve a precise fit, in addition to Salomon's characteristic quickLACE™ lacing system. These are elements that worked in the first generation and that it made little sense to eliminate.
The contaGRIP® sole changes its geometry
Both generations use All-Terrain contaGRIP®, the compound developed by Salomon to offer grip on a wide variety of surfaces.
But in the Genesis 2, we find a revised lug geometry with the aim of increasing traction. Their depth also changes slightly. We go from 4.5 mm in the original Genesis to 4 mm in the Genesis 2.
A slightly shorter lug does not automatically mean less grip. The distribution, orientation, and geometry of the lugs also greatly influence how a shoe performs on the terrain.
Salomon precisely points to this new geometry as one of the improvements aimed at increasing traction.
The result seeks to maintain the enormous versatility that has always characterized the Genesis: trails, paths, rock, compact terrain, and technical areas.
It's not intended to be a specific shoe for deep mud. It wants to be that shoe you can pull out of the closet when you don't know exactly what you're going to encounter in the next few hours.
Have the sensations changed much?
Probably less than it might seem when we see a new generation. And that doesn't have to be negative.
The Genesis 2 maintain the 8 mm drop and practically identical stack heights. The original Genesis feature 34 mm in the heel and 26 mm in the forefoot, while the second generation stands at 33.5 and 25.5 mm respectively. That is, the vertical geometry barely changes.
The difference should be felt mainly in greater stability thanks to the wider platform and the new activeCHASSIS, in addition to the changes introduced in the upper and outsole.
In fact, that seems to be the general idea of this update: that someone coming from a Genesis immediately recognizes the shoe, but finds small refinements when they start demanding more from it.
What kind of runner are the Salomon Genesis 2 for?
One of their greatest virtues remains versatility.
The Genesis 2 can work for runners looking for shoes for regular trail training, but they also have enough arguments to tackle long runs and competitions.
We would especially recommend them to runners who move over mixed and technical terrain, where they need protection and stability but don't want an excessively heavy or bulky shoe.
They can also be a great choice if you prefer to have a single shoe capable of handling most of your mountain training instead of using very specific models for each type of outing. In short, it continues to be a true all-rounder.
According to our expert Andrés Astrua…
According to our expert Andrés Astrua, an ultrarunner from BeUrban Alcoy and UTMB Mont-Blanc finisher, stability becomes increasingly important as the distance increases:
"On a short outing, we can maintain fairly precise technique, but when you've been in the mountains for many hours, that changes. You start to land less well, react slower, and any stone can complicate things. That's why, over long distances, I really value a shoe that is stable and protective without being too rigid. The evolution proposed by Genesis 2 makes sense precisely because it improves that support without completely changing a shoe that was already very versatile."
And we believe this reflection summarizes the philosophy of the new generation quite well.
Genesis 2 vs Genesis: which one to choose?
The original Salomon Genesis are still excellent trail shoes. They maintain a very complete construction, good protection, Matryx®, optiFOAM™, activeCHASSIS™, and a contaGRIP® outsole capable of tackling very different terrains.
If you already have a pair of Genesis and they are still in good condition, we don't think you need to replace them simply because a new version has appeared.
However, if you are currently thinking of buying a Genesis and the price difference doesn't affect your decision, we would choose the Genesis 2.
Why?
Because Salomon has kept practically everything that worked and has precisely refined some of the most important aspects when the terrain gets complicated: stability, fit, durability, and traction.
We are not looking at a completely new Genesis. We are looking at a slightly more mature Genesis. But, is it worth upgrading from Genesis to Genesis 2?
If your current Genesis have few miles, you can continue to enjoy them perfectly. The first generation remains a very competitive shoe within its category.
If they are nearing the end of their useful life, the answer changes. In that case, we would take the leap to go directly to the Genesis 2, especially if you use your shoes on technical terrain or highly value stability.
We would also directly choose the second generation if you have never had a Genesis and are currently looking for versatile trail shoes.
Salomon has not tried to reinvent the model and, precisely for that reason, we believe the update makes sense.
Frequently asked questions about Salomon Genesis 2 vs Genesis
What changes from Salomon Genesis to Genesis 2?
The main changes are in a wider midsole platform, a fully integrated activeCHASSIS™, a new Matryx® upper construction, and a revised lug geometry to improve traction.
What is the drop of the Salomon Genesis 2?
They maintain the 8 mm drop of the previous generation.
Do the Genesis 2 feature optiFOAM™²?
No. The conventional Genesis 2 use optiFOAM™. They should not be confused with the S/LAB Genesis 2, which feature a different construction and technologies.
What kind of lugs do the Genesis 2 have?
The new Genesis 2 use 4 mm lugs, compared to the 4.5 mm of the original Genesis, in addition to incorporating a revised geometry.
Are the Genesis 2 better for technical terrain?
Salomon has specifically worked on increasing the stability and traction of this second generation, so on paper they should offer more controlled performance when the terrain gets complicated.
Is it worth upgrading from Genesis to Genesis 2?
If your Genesis are still in good condition, there is no real need to replace them. If you need to renew your shoes or are buying a Genesis for the first time, the second generation is the option we would choose for the improvements introduced.
Salomon Genesis 2: changing just enough to keep improving
There are redesigns that aim to attract attention and others that simply try to improve something that was already working. The Salomon Genesis 2 clearly belong to the second group.
They maintain the comfort of optiFOAM™, the resistance of Matryx®, Salomon's characteristic fit, and the versatility of All-Terrain contaGRIP®, but evolve important elements such as the platform, activeCHASSIS™, and the outsole geometry.
The result is a shoe that is still very much a Genesis, but aims to offer more confidence and stability when the terrain starts to get serious. And perhaps that is precisely its greatest virtue.
If you are looking for shoes capable of accompanying you on training runs, long runs, and adventures over varied terrain without having to think too much about which model to choose each day, the Genesis 2 once again present themselves as one of Salomon's most complete options.
At BeUrban, you can discover the new Salomon Genesis 2 and find the model that best suits your running style, the terrain you train on, and your upcoming goals. You can find us online and visit our stores in Elche, Valencia, Murcia, Alcoy, Villena, Cartagena, Yecla, and Torrevieja, where our team can help you choose your next trail running shoes.
