Salming2026 Review
Salming Eagle 2
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Buy at WePlay Handball · €64.90 (opens in a new tab)We only have it in stock at WePlay Handball
The Scandinavians' shoe. Unique grip and unrivalled ground feel.
Fit
Who is it for?
- Position
- WingBackCentre back
- For
- Men
- Player weight
- < 75 kg · 75 – 90 kg
- Level
- Intermediate, Advanced
We recommend it if…
- Intermediate-to-advanced wings and backs who value grip above all
- Players experienced with low drop who want to maximise court feel
- Those looking for the Salming character without going top of the range
- Normal foot types with a Scandinavian preference for a precise fit
Pick another if…
- Beginners with no low-drop experience (demanding adaptation)
- Pivots and contact positions (insufficient cushioning for high loads)
- Players with wide feet who don't fit the Salming last
- Those who need wide availability in physical shops in Spain
Our test
The good and the bad
Pros
- Exceptional grip from the Salming outsole
- Unique feel of contact with the floor
- Very light and efficient
- Great fit from the Scandinavian last
Cons
- Cushioning on the thin side for contact positions
- Low drop: requires adaptation
- Less well-known brand than Asics or Puma
Before you order
Sizes and fit
- Fit
- Regular
- Weight
- 275 g
- Drop
- 7 mm
Where to buy
Price at each shop
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WePlay Handball
Lowest price
How we score it
Score by category
- Grip
- 9.2
- Cushioning
- 7.8
- Stability
- 8.5
- Durability
- 8.7
- Value for money
- 8.8
Gorka Cabañas' opinion
Journalist. Former handball player and coach. Co-founder of Liftados
Salming is a brand that gets less visibility in Spain than it deserves, and the Eagle 2 is a perfect example of that. When I first reviewed it, the quality of the outsole surprised me: a thin, high-grip profile with a compound that's more reminiscent of the rubber on parquet socks than of conventional indoor outsoles. The grip on resin-treated wooden courts is simply exceptional.
Salming is a Swedish company founded by handball players, and you can tell from the design details: the 7 mm drop and the RunLite foam create a platform very close to the floor, which maximises proprioceptive feel. For players with good footwork, that connection with the floor is a real performance factor.
The limitation is the cushioning: RunLite foam is light but it isn't the most protective material for high-load impacts. For goalkeepers or pivots who take constant hits, I'd look at other models. But for wings and backs who value ground feel and maximum grip, the Eagle 2 deserves far more attention than it gets in the Spanish market.
Published on 20 February 2026 · Liftados.com
On-court review
Full review
Grip and traction
The thin-profile rubber outsole on the Salming Eagle 2 is the model's most distinctive feature and the one that explains its 9.2 for grip. Salming designs its outsoles to maximise the area of direct contact with the court: the thin profile means there is less material between foot and floor, and the high-grip rubber compound is in maximum contact with the parquet. The result is instant traction that Scandinavian players have appreciated for decades. For wings and backs whose main weapon is explosive changes of direction, the Eagle 2's grip offers a confidence that models with thicker outsoles can't match. On high-quality parquet courts, its 9.2 for grip places it among the best in the catalogue.
Cushioning and energy return
The RunLite foam on the Salming Eagle 2 scores 7.8 for cushioning, a result that reflects the brand's philosophy: prioritising connection with the floor and responsiveness over passive cushioning. RunLite is a lightweight Salming foam optimised for energy return rather than impact absorption: its character is firm and responsive. The 7 mm drop is the lowest in the Salming catalogue and one of the lowest in the handball market, putting the foot in an almost flat position that maximises the transfer of force to the floor. For players used to high-drop shoes (10-12 mm), adaptation can take 2-3 weeks. For wings with an active foot type and experience with low drop, the result is a unique feeling of speed.
Stability and support
With 8.5 for stability, the Salming Eagle 2 offers more support than you'd expect for its weight (275 g) and low drop. The upper's external ExoSkeleton system is Salming's big differentiator: an external support structure that wraps the foot along the side and midfoot without adding weight inside the shoe. This outside-over-inside approach gives cleaner, more direct lockdown than uppers with internal TPU reinforcements. For wings with a normal foot type who need the direct court feel of a low drop with the security of real lateral support, the ExoSkeleton is the most original solution on the market.
Who this shoe is for
The Salming Eagle 2 is Salming's wing shoe for intermediate-to-advanced players: mid-range, with grip almost identical to the Viper SL (9.2 vs 9.1) and a similar weight (275 g vs 265 g). The main difference is that the Viper SL has an XR Rubber outsole developed specifically for elite handball, while the Eagle 2 uses Salming's standard high-grip outsole. For advanced players on a mid-range budget who want the Salming character without going up to the top of the range, the Eagle 2 is the right answer.
Liftados verdict · 8.5/10
The Salming Eagle 2 brings the Scandinavian handball philosophy at a mid-range price: exceptional 9.2 grip, an ExoSkeleton system for real lateral support and a 7 mm drop, the lowest in the Salming catalogue. The favourite of Scandinavian players who know exactly what they want: maximum ground feel and speed without compromise.
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What you ask us about the Salming Eagle 2
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Salming Eagle 2 or Salming Viper SL for an advanced wing?
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