Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL Review: Gravel, So Hot Right Now

Introduction to the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL

MATT: I have seen a spike in hybrid, gravel, and road-to-trail models over the past year, as it seems more and more brands are attempting to enter the market for these Swiss Army Knife-style shoes. The gravel category is a tough one to really nail, because when you scale a shoe to handle a variety of terrain, you run the risk of spreading the design features too thin and producing a shoe that doesn’t really do anything significant because it does a bunch of things just OK.

In my opinion, the best-performing gravel-style shoes are the ones that lean towards the roads while providing extra security to handle gravel, rec paths, dirt, and fire roads. They also eliminate trying to cater to technical trails.
At first glance, the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL passed the eye test, as it definitely had more of a road feel, but I was skeptical of how it would translate under foot.

In general, I’ve been a big fan of Salomon’s recent models, namely the S/Lab Ultra Glide, which has been one of my favorites and has a steady presence in my shoe rotation. The Aero Glide 3 GRVL would need to perform in a much different way than the Ultra Glide for it to be deemed a success, so it was time to lace them up and get some miles.

SAM: I keep hearing that road-to-trail shoes are a fast-growing segment of the running market. Every time it gets floated in conversation, I can’t help but see Will Ferrell’s Mugatu from Zoolander snipping “SO HOT RIGHT NOW,” while sporting some garishly colored running shoes with beefy soles. “SO HOT RIGHT NOW,” my imaginary Mugatu screams again as he kicks up the heels on his newest pair of reasonably priced door-to-trail trainers. An equally imaginary crowd of overdressed urbanites “oohs,” and “ahhs,” and gives a chorus of little golf claps.

Apparently, I view everything in life through a series of oblique film references, and I’m sorry that you, person on the internet just looking for a normal running shoe review, are subjected to this (but I’m not sorry enough to stop).

In the past few weeks, this stupid little Zoolander-derived vignette that lives in my head has featured a very specific shoe: the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL. This is undoubtedly because I’ve been testing this shoe, and is even more certainly because I’ve had a really nice time running in it. Now, Believe in the Run has already reviewed the strictly road version of this shoe, the Salomon Aero Glide 3, but this GRVL version is a bit more than just that shoe with a trail(ish) outsole. The upper weave is different, there is more toe guard, and the heel seams and overlays are totally reworked. Most importantly, the tongue (a point of contention for the road version) is entirely different here. Promising.

What we like about the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL

MATT: If I were told that I needed to do a one-word review for the Aero Glide 3 GRVL, it would be a no-brainer: Comfort. I was blown away at how amazing this shoe feels underfoot, to the point that long after my review miles were complete, I have continued to lace them up for everything from trips to the grocery store to backyard wiffleball games.

A couple of key features, when combined, contribute to the superb comfort of the Aero Glide 3 GRVL. First, the upper is a 3D mesh material that breathes well and has the perfect amount of flex. The highlight of the upper is a built-in molded Ortholite sockliner.

The sockliner not only hugs your foot but also has a sleek and seamless feel that is comfortable enough to actually go sockless (it can’t help you with the smell, though, so this may be discouraged unless you live alone).

The next core feature contributing to overall comfort is the super plush and squishy midsole. Salomon uses a thick slab of its EnergyFoam Evo, which might be one of the most comfortable foams I have experienced. It is certainly on the marshmallow end of the durometer spectrum, so if you happen to be a runner like me who leans towards the plush and bouncy, I think you’ll be quite happy.

If we shift away from the fit and comfort, the Aero Glide 3 GRVL does more than feel good standing around in the coffee line (although it is also great for that). I took the shoe out on a few mixed terrain runs that spanned blacktop, recreation paths, crushed gravel, and non-technical fire roads. I must say that none of the surfaces I threw at it seemed to be too much for the Aero Glide 3 GRVL.

The outsole features a Gravel Contagrip rubber along with minimal chevron lugs. This outsole combo seemed to provide just enough teeth to separate the shoe from a true road shoe and dig in with some added stability when hitting the gravel and dirt.

I think the main pro in the design balance is that when on the true road sections, the Aero Glide 3 GRVL felt light enough and springy enough to feel like a road shoe underfoot. This is typically one of the downfalls of other hybrid models, as when the design leans too far towards true trail features, the shoe can feel super clunky and heavy on the roads.

SAM: For the most part, this is a really good-looking shoe, and it brings just a smidge of Salomon’s sportstyle pedigree into the road running space. The offered colorways are really attractive, and the EnergyFoam Evo midsole has nice detailing. The upper that sports those colorways is a thicker woven engineered mesh that’s still plenty breathable. It’s very comfortable, and a clear winner is its reworked tongue, which is fully gusseted and made of a stretchy, almost neoprene-like material.

The gusset is the same material as the tongue and runs its entire length. It’s not neoprene, as that would be miserable on a running shoe, but the tongue and gussets stretch and hold your foot well (no chance of that tongue sliding around here), and are thick enough to protect from lace bite.

EnergyFoam Evo is a new eTPU midsole compound for Salomon with the Aero Glide 3. Its softness in that shoe and in this GRVL version is enhanced by a large heel cutout to maximize compression that extends into two narrower channels in the forefoot. It has the softness and springy energy return expected with eTPU foams, but EnergyFoam Evo is notable in its lightness and durability. I’m a big fan of how this feels underfoot, especially if you are a heel striker who likes a soft landing that transitions to a fun, poppy rebound. The weight savings inherent in the foam are enhanced by the cutouts, without compromising how long this foam will last. I think I have 50 miles in the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL, and I haven’t seen any degradation in the foam.

To enhance the dual-purpose nature of the Aero Glide 3 GRVL, its Contagrip outsole comes in two parts, something that’s become more common on door-to-trail shoes. We’ve seen similar configurations in shoes like the Craft Xplor Hybrid 1 and 2, and the Reebok Floatride Energy Adventure 2 and 3, and it certainly helps with promoting a smoother, more comfortable underfoot feeling on roads. On the Aero Glide 3 GRVL, the middle of the forefoot is a closely dotted compact tread, and the sides are close-set, but deeper, long lugs. This combination gives a consistent underfoot sensation while offering the grip you need on gravel and groomed paths.

What we don’t like about the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL

MATT: There wasn’t a lot I didn’t enjoy with the Aero Glide 3 GRVL. It would be unfair to complain that the shoe doesn’t provide enough protection to navigate technical terrain because that is not the intent of a gravel shoe, but I will just use that as a caution and reminder to runners to not buy a shoe and then get mad when it performs poorly doing something it never claimed to do.

The 43 mm heel stack, combined with the soft foam, could be an issue for those who need extra stability or are prone to rolling their ankles. I did not have any issues, but I could certainly see cornering being problematic for runners who fit that mold.

I also would avoid muddy or sloppy conditions, even if it’s a non-technical trail. The lug depth is quite minimal, and I could see it not being enough to handle those conditions.

SAM: It really doesn’t have to be stated, but this is a shoe with a pretty specific use case. This is meant for roads and friendly, decidedly non-technical trails. It doesn’t have the grip or the structure to service on anything more serious, and the midsole is a little too wobbly, as Matt said. Keep it to that GRVL, ya hear?

While the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL’s upper is by no means restrictive, the forefoot is just a touch on the narrow side. I found that the midsole compression there (heightened by the grooves cut into the bottom) bent the sidewall of the shoe into the medial ball of my foot, right where the upper and midsole meet. This caused aggravation on runs over 6 miles.

Final thoughts on the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL

MATT: I think Salomon nailed it with the Aero Glide 3 GRVL when it comes to providing a top-notch option in the hybrid/gravel game. I would also say that if you live in an area where the majority of the trails are not technical or full of roots and rocks, for the price, this could be an amazing do-everything trail shoe for you.

The Aero Glide 3 GRVL feels more at home on the asphalt than any other hybrid shoe I have tested, which is such a great feeling when you are out on a long mixed terrain run, as the last thing you want is to hit long stretches of roads where you can open things up and then feel like you have two bricks attached to your feet.

SAM: I’m with Matt here. Salomon really has something with the Aero Glide 3 GRVL. The shoe drops into a field of door-to-trail shoes packed with viable options and stakes out its claim. If you keep it to the use-case (and maybe have narrower feet), this is a shoe that will be fun, look great, and perform for many miles. Sure, it’s a touch expensive, but the durability and comfort are here to take you the distance. Truly, it’s just so hot right now.

You can pick up the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL for $160 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.