The Best Road Running Shoes of 2021

The third model in the brand's Sonic series, the Salomon Sonic 3 Confidence, is all about added cushioning, support, and traction. The Confidence gives users an added "spring" in their step with its forward-propelling design, serving to energize runners and make it that much easier for them to achieve their desired speed. The Confidence also provides reliable traction for navigating a variety of terrains —though it is probably best for standard road use. Compared with its siblings, the Accelerate, and the Balance, the Confidence stands out for its optimal padding, which better accommodates long-distance runners with this added cushioning. Also, despite the thick stack height of 31 mm for the heel and 21 mm for the forefoot, the cushioning is rather firm to offer a good pop for a more responsive ride. Confidence also commented that the lacing area and tongue have an elastic quality, which means that the shoe can be molded to each user's uniquely-shaped foot. Overall, it's a supportive and reliable running shoe that works perfectly for most longer outdoor excursions and activities. There are a few potential drawbacks to the Confidence's design, including a restrictive midfoot area and an insecure heel collar, which isn't as supportive as the rest of the shoe. Users also noted that the Confidence's design is much clunkier than the Accelerate or the Balance. Perhaps because of this overall big design, the shoe itself tends to run on the larger side, so it's a good idea for users to size down when purchasing. In addition, the unusually-dense mesh fabric of the Confidence combined with its gusseted tongue takes away from foot breathability, especially when compared with other Sonic options. Pricing for the Salomon Sonic 3 Confidence is $130, which is decent, but perhaps not an excellent value given some of the downsides of the shoe. Ultimately, the Sonic 3 Confidence is a good choice for beginner to moderate runners planning to run medium to long distances, due to its extra padding for absorbing the shock of pounding.