Salomon Ultra Glide Review
Published: September 13, 2021
Uniquely Soft and Efficient Ride
As one of the softest models in Salomon's lineup, this new trail runner just might be in the running for best all-around shoe
Likes
- Soft, resilient cushioning
- Strong lockdown
- Comfortable and smooth ride
Dislikes
- No rock plate
- Not super speedy
What's New
Salomon has become known for producing durable and capable trail running shoes, but while soft and maximally cushioned trail shoes have become increasingly popular from other brands, Salomon's products have remained on the firmer side of the spectrum. This all changes with the Ultra Glide. Featuring the brand's new Energy Surge foam, the Salomon Ultra Glide offers a plush underfoot feel with a touch of bouncy rebound. This softness is paired with an efficient rockered design to reduce fatigue and deliver smooth transitions between every stride. The SensiFit upper provides an excellent hold of the foot while the 3D mesh balances an accomodating fit with durable protection against the trail. Salomon finishes off the shoe with a Contragrip MA outsole that promises long-lasting traction that's ready to take on technical trails.
The Bottom Line
The new Ultra Glide is a game-changer in Salomon's trail running lineup. Beyond providing a soft step-in feel that lasts all run long, it also has good protection, a grippy outsole, high energy return, and a secure fit. While many highly cushioned trail running shoes compromise nimbleness and stability on rocky terrain, the new Ultra Glide maintains a stable ride and cushions the runner without losing a sense of the trail underfoot. That said, this shoe doesn't have a rock plate, so some runners may find it lacking in protection on rougher trails.
Another unique aspect of the Ultra Glide is its roomy upper. Where many Salomon trail running shoes are on the narrower side, the Ultra Glide's fit was adaptable enough for a variety of foot types. They especially enjoyed the roomy toe box that allowed their toes to splay. The secure fit and durability of the 3D-mesh upper also inspired confidence on rough trails. Overall, if you are looking for a cushioned trail running shoe that can go the distance, the Ultra Glide is sure to impress.
Shoe Performance
Shoe Softnessi
FirmSoftRide/Energy Returni
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protectioni
LowHighFlexibilityi
RigidElasticUpper Supporti
StructuredAdaptableSpecifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Medium |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium to Low |
| Heel Width | Medium to Narrow |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 9.9 oz (size 9) | Women's: 9.1 oz (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 34 mm (Heel), 28 mm (Forefoot), 6 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Trail |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
The Ultra Glide is making a name for itself in the maximum-cushioning category. Marketed as Salomon's softest trail shoe yet, the Ultra Glide delivers on that promise. It has a significantly thicker slab of cushioning than other models from the brand, with a stack height of 34 mm in the heel and 28 mm in the forefoot.
Matt: "Salomon has never really been a company that is known for its cushioning — until now! The Ultra Glide's lightweight, mid-level cushioning provides just the right amount of plushness for daily training without being overwhelmingly soft. This means runners still get that connected-to-the-ground feel but are treated with enough comfort for longer efforts. When I would hit technical descents with rocks and boulders, the cushioning softly absorbed the impact. When I needed some comfort on my training miles, the foam provided a refreshing amount of revitalising plushness."
Kaleb: "The Ultra Glide was soft at initial step-in, and that feeling carried onto the trails. I do not think that it is as soft as a HOKA Speedgoat, but for me, that's a positive, as I do not want a trail shoe to be too soft."
Ride/Energy Returni
This shoe features an Energy Surge midsole, also seen on the speedier Salomon S-Lab Pulsar and S-Lab Phantasm models, which provides excellent energy return along with a high level of cushioning and durability. The foam gives runners a consistently bouncy and soft underfoot experience.
Matt: "The Salomon Ultra Glide's high energy return midsole makes running in this shoe feel fun. When out on my longer trail efforts, this shoe's rocker geometry provided a smooth and effortless ride, and the overall lightweight, bouncy feel of the foam kept me energised when trekking up and down the trail."
Kaleb: "The Energy Surge midsole has an undeniable bounce to it that was more prevalent at slower paces. As the name would suggest, this shoe glides. There isn't a super aggressive energy return, but the ride feels very smooth and efficient, which was great for fun runs on the trails."
Underfoot Protectioni
With its sticky Contragrip MA outsole, the Ultra Glide inspires confidence on a variety of terrain. This shoe can help keep runners comfortable over long efforts and tricky footing thanks to the thick stack of cushioning underfoot.
Matt: "The Salomon Ultra Glide has become my go-to workhorse trail shoe for a reason. This model feels super comfortable and really protects my legs on all kinds of terrain. After a few regular training sessions and even some longer runs, my legs always felt ready for the next effort."
Kaleb: "This is where the Ultra Glide confused me a bit. I thought it was highly protective and did not feel like my legs were beaten up after my trail runs. That said, the Ultra Glide does not have an embedded rock plate, and at times I was surprised by how much of the ground I could feel underfoot. I never had a rock cause any pain, but I had to dedicate a little more attention to foot placement in an effort to avoid potential discomfort."
Flexibilityi
The Salomon Ultra Glide is a lightweight, durable trail shoe that is highly protective, yet still decently flexible. Transitions are a breeze thanks to the Reverse Camber geometry, which provides a rocker shape.
Matt: "With a good amount of rubber on the outsole, there isn't a ton of flex in the Ultra Glide. That said, the Reverse Camber rocker shape provides a natural and efficient ride."
Kaleb: "The Ultra Glide had a smooth flex in my opinion, which made for some very efficient transitions. Unfortunately, I was not able to push a very fast pace, as I continue to manage an abdominal injury, but the underfoot flexibility added another dimension of fun to the ride."
Upper Supporti
Our testers were big fans of the Ultra Glide's upper, which features breathable 3D open mesh and provides a secure lockdown for a variety of foot types. Runners familiar with Salomon will recognise the minimalistic Quicklace system, which helps to cradle the foot.
Matt: "The Ultra Glide's SensiFit upper feels super comfortable and plush and cradles the midfoot. Overall, this Salomon shoe provides a strong but easily adaptable fit for a wide variety of feet."
Kaleb: "I was really impressed with the Ultra Glide's upper. It was well padded and provided a secure lockdown. The toe box also allowed considerable space for toe splay. I think if I was trying to go fast on the trails, I would prefer a more performance-based fit and seek out one of Salomon's more race-specific trail shoes (Pulsar or S-Lab Ultra). The Ultra Glide is designed more with comfort at the forefront, and it has proven itself to be ideal for runs on various types of trails."
Men's Salomon Ultra Glide
The Salomon Ultra Glide is a comfortably cushioned trail shoe made for long miles and all day adventuring.
Women's Salomon Ultra Glide
Individual Thoughts
Matt9.5/10
To sum this shoe up in a few words, the Salomon Ultra Glide is a winner. Salomon wanted to provide runners with a more cushioned model and ended up creating something awesome. From the initial step-in, I felt like the Ultra Glide was comfortable and ready to rock on any trail. The Quicklace system is easy to use and can provide a solid lockdown for a variety of foot shapes. On my runs, the new lightweight foam felt resilient and provided the perfect amount of cushioning for any length of mileage. In true Salomon fashion, the sticky Contragrip outsole performed tremendously, and I fully trusted the shoe whether I was on soft, sandy segments or rough and rugged terrain. This is a shoe that gets me excited to run, and I will continue to reach for the Ultra Glide whenever I hit the trails.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
Kaleb8.5/10
I really enjoyed all of my test runs in the Salomon Ultra Glide. This shoe provided a secure fit, and I appreciated the roomy forefoot and ample padding in the heel collar. I could always rely on the upper to keep my feet comfortable and protected. I do wonder how breathable it would be on hot days, but in 75-degree weather, it was more than fine.
The midsole felt balanced, but the ride was not especially fast or responsive; there are other Salomon trail options better outfitted for speed if you are looking for that experience. That said, the Ultra Glide delivered a delightfully smooth ride that was protective enough to handle all of my trail runs. My legs never felt overly beat up when I was finished with my runs, but I do prefer a trail shoe that has a rock plate for added protection against sharp rocks, and I noticed a fair bit of ground feel underfoot. As I said earlier, this never caused any discomfort but rather encouraged me to be more mindful of foot placement, which is not a bad thing while trail running. All in all, I think the Ultra Glide is a fun trail shoe that a lot of runners will enjoy. It is a functional road-to-trail option that would also be well-suited for beginner runners.
