Salomon’s new hybrid shoe, Solamphibian, is performance without boundaries

As the name suggests, Salomon’s Solamphibian is an amphibious shoe that is do well both on land and water. The kicks do pass off as rugged footwear that the brand is known for, but the shoe’s specialized design pushes it beyond a typical trail sneaker. It’s a hybrid water shoe, built with specific features for draining water, quick-drying, and providing grip on wet surfaces, such as the poolside or Orchard Road after the rain. It’s footwear that deserve consideration even if you do not go near a body of water, except, maybe, to make it through a flood.

According to Salomon, the Solamphibian features a hydrophobic, breathable, and ultra-resistant mesh upper with perforations that help water drain quickly and the shoe dry fast. Even sweat is quickly wickered off your feet, but it’s hard to say if the rapid drying has anything to with the fact that you will unlikely wear socks with them. And this is where the Solamphibian stands out. Despite the rather rigid upper, the shoe is comfortable in the internals. Scrapy seams are noticeably absent.

Another standout feature is the lightness of the Solamphibian—just 307g. This could be because of the generally slim profile of the shoe (but nowhere near as streamlined as the trending ‘sneakerina’) and an interior that offers a sense of going barefoot. Even the midsole won’t weigh the foot down as it features Salomon’s proprietary Fuze foam that, like the mesh upper, is light and resistant to abrasion. While the shoe may not be ideal for activities that require a lot of ankle support, like technical trail running or serious backpacking, the Solamphibian is a strong contender for a casual, everyday city shoe, especially in warm, humid, or rainy climates, like ours here.

Salomon Solamphibian, SGD199, are available in three colour ways at Salomon stores and online. Photo: Chin Boh Kay