SHOE REVIEW: Salomon Ultra Glide

The Ultra Glide is Salomon’s effort at a high-cushioned trail shoe to tackle more mileage, it’s durable for all-terrain. This shoe is a big change for Salomon, which normally focuses on more streamlined, minimal-style trail shoes.

The shoe features the traditional qualities that make Salomon footwear popular: the quick-lacing technology and grippy rubber outsole. A high-cushioned trail model is something the brand hasn’t attempted yet, and the Ultra Glide is the answer.

Category: Trail Neutral cushioning
Drop: 6 mm
Weight: 283 g for men’s size 9
Stack height: 32 mm
Available: Now
MSRP: $179.99

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Upper

Similar to previous Salomon models, the upper features 3D mesh with welded overlays increasing durability. I love the quick-lace technology, which provides your foot with a secure fit with a single pull and includes a lace pocket. The Ultra Glide has a wider toebox than Salmon’s S-lab line, which fits narrow.

Midsole

A new feature in the Ultra Glide is the Energy Surge EVA and Olefin foam midsole, which provides durable cushioning and energy return. If you are looking for a soft and flexible shoe on the trails, this is it. The midsole features more cushioning than the popular Salomon Sense Ride. This shoe checks the boxes if you are looking for something protective, responsive, and bouncy for the trails.

Outsole

For this shoe to handle the hardest conditions on the trails, Salomon has added a Contagrip MA outsole, which is designed for varied terrain with reliable grip on wet or rocky surfaces. The hard rubberized outsole should wear slowly and be extra durable, which makes this shoe great for commuting to and from work in the wet seasons. The outsole can handle almost any terrain, but you may want an even more aggressive shoe for the super technical or wet runs, from Salomon’s S-lab series.

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My verdict

This is one of the most comfortable trail shoes I’ve ever worn. I am obsessed with the combination of the soft Energy Surge midsole and hardcore Contagrip outsole. I took these shoes for an 11 km run on Ontario’s Bruce Trail, and they did not disappoint – providing grip in wet areas and bouncy on the roads. I did not want to take the shoes off after my run. This shoe is built for ultra distances or long trail runs, offering more cushioning than the traditional trail shoe and featuring additional toebox width. I will be adding this shoe into my rotation this winter for more grip in the snow.