Salomon trail shoes started with the Speedcross, which stands out for its deep, chunky lugs, making climbing feel like walking on flat ground with no chance of slipping. The downside, however, is that it feels very harsh when running on paved roads or concrete. There aren't many runners who enjoy this kind of trail shoe character.
Next, Salomon wanted to add even more comfort when running, so they introduced the Sense Ride. The outsole lugs were redesigned to be smaller and shallower, focusing on traction through the lug pattern instead, and a new foam material was used for a softer, more comfortable feel. As a result, it doesn't feel as harsh as the Speedcross on paved roads or concrete, but it still isn't completely comfortable because the midsole is thin, allowing you to still feel the trail conditions while running—true to its name, "Sense Ride."
And most recently, the Salomon Ultra Glide was designed with a thicker midsole that significantly reduces impact. It also features a rocker shape with a raised forefoot and heel, making the running motion smoother... If we compare the Ultra Glide with the Speedcross, you can clearly see that "this is truly a new chapter for Salomon."
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I took the Salomon Ultra Glide out for a test run myself, and I'll start by saying: "On the road, it felt like running in Hoka Rincons, and it had pretty good grip when climbing."
Video of me training in the Salomon Ultra Glide
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Let's start with the key features of the Salomon Ultra Glide first.
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Energy Surge Midsole Technology
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It uses an EVA foam material that is soft without feeling mushy, with energy return that provides a responsive feel. Salomon also used this in the Sense Ride 4 and Sense Ride Pro trail shoes, so anyone who has tried them before will likely enjoy it.
Rocker Shape
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The midsole is designed with a more pronounced curve at the front and back than usual, making the stepping motion smoother. This is Salomon's first time incorporating this into a trail running shoe.
Contagrip Outsole
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The outsole features the same lug design as the Sense Ride series, focusing on traction on steep inclines through the lug pattern. Although it isn't the best at digging into the ground, it performed much better than expected when climbing steep terrain.
Hybrid Trail Shoe
Based on the three key features above, I was quite impressed when I encountered concrete. It felt like running in Hoka Rincons—soft without feeling mushy, with a smooth stride and very little of the harshness usually associated with lugs.
For those who like trail shoes that are comfortable on the road and provide grip on steep trails, the Salomon Ultra Glide will not disappoint.
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Other Key Features
Sensifit Wing
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The laces pass through a wing structure sewn into the bottom of the shoe. This technology makes lacing and securing the instep very effective, while also helping to keep the foot more stable on uneven terrain and reducing the risk of ankle rolls.
Quick Laces
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The quick-lace system requires no tying—just pull it tight. There is also a lace pocket on the top of the tongue, which keeps everything looking very neat.
3D Open Mesh Upper
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The upper is made of mesh with fairly large ventilation holes and very durable fabric, with a rubber overlay printed around the shoe.
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Areas for Improvement
Forefoot Width
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This model has a standard forefoot width (D Width), which might be normal for some, but it felt quite snug on me—though not to the point of being tight. Personally, I prefer trail shoes with a wider forefoot, such as E or EE, because it prevents the forefoot from feeling squeezed when running downhill, making it much more comfortable.
Insole
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I turned the Ultra Glide upside down to take a look, and I noticed that the brand had added some grooves. I assume this is to make the insole more flexible and help it grip the shoe's surface better, as the top of the midsole is made of very smooth foam... My problem is that I sweat a lot, so the shoes get wet quickly. When running fast downhill, my toes slide forward, and after a while, the insole loses its grip, folds, and bunches up at the front. I have to stop and pull it out to put it back in.
If you have the same problem, the solution is to use the insole from another pair of running shoes.
Conclusion
For those who like trail shoes that are comfortable to run in, provide good grip when climbing, and don't feel harsh on concrete, the Salomon Ultra Glide is definitely one of the top choices to consider.