Salomon Aero Glide 3 Review: Ridin’ and Glidin’

Introduction to the Salomon Aero Glide 3

MEAGHAN: I wore Salomon’s original Aero Glide, and then I followed it up with the second iteration, but for whatever reason, I always forget about this shoe. I mean, who knew that Salomon could casually drop a road shoe that slaps? As someone who believes that ground feel is the most overrated quality in a shoe, I was happy to find that the Aero Glide 3 takes what made its predecessor great — massive, plush cushioning — and dials it up with three additional millimeters of a new Energy Foam Evo. The upper got an overhaul, too, but you know what hasn’t changed? The $160 price tag. Let’s see if it’s still worth buying.

CHAD: I grew up in the rural backwoods of New Hampshire, so Salomon and I go way back — not with running, but with winter sports. When I first learned to ski, I did so in Salomon boots. Then, when I transitioned to snowboarding, I rocked a Salomon board and swapped my ski boots for snowboarding boots.

So, to me, the name Salomon is synonymous with winter, but I know that it’s been trying to build a bigger reputation in the running world — especially on trails. But alas, I’m not a trail reviewer, and this is not a review of a trail running shoe. Instead, we’re looking at the Aero Glide 3, a lightweight daily trainer with plenty of cushioning.

The Aero Glide 3 features what Salomon claims is a seamless upper for maximum comfort, an Energy Foam Evo midsole designed to be lightweight and resilient, and cambered midsole geometry supposed to make you “feel like you are floating over the ground.” Does the Aero Glide 3 pull a Tinkerbell and sprinkle you with fairy dust to fly to Never Never Land? Let’s find out.

JUSTIN: I’ll take a page from Chad’s book. Salomon has three very specific associations with me: The hydration vest that saves my summer marathon training. Courtney Dewaulter gracefully traversing thousands of feet of elevation with 10” inseam shorts. And finally, Killian’s dirt-stained one-piece spandex suit (2010 Western States. Look it up. You’re welcome). That being said, I’ve always associated the brand with ultra running, mountaineering, and hydration vests.

This is admittedly my first pair of Salomon shoes, and I have to say that based on the reviews I have seen of their road shoes in the past, I’m glad I waited. When I picked up the shoe, my first thoughts were, “Oh, this is going to be fun,” and “Oh, my ankles are going to hate these.” Tune in at ten to figure out what I really think. Or just scroll down…

THOMAS: Salomon straddles two worlds. In the rugged domain of trail running and hiking, they’re a giant — unshakable, established. Hoka may have beaten them to the cushioned frontier, but Salomon still carries weight, responding with its own modern takes on plush, trail-ready shoes. Their credibility on dirt remains unquestioned.

Then there’s the gorpcore craze, where Salomon thrives. The XT-6, once a technical mountain shoe, is now a fashion statement, praised by Harper’s Bazaar as the ideal footwear for braving the untamed streets of Brooklyn. In this space, they’ve won.

But there’s one battlefield they haven’t conquered: the road. Maybe Salomon’s image is too deeply rooted in adventure, too synonymous with rugged terrain to feel natural on the pavement. Yet, they’ve built road shoes that deserve attention. The S/Lab Spectur, for instance — a shoe designed for the everyday marathoner — runs as well as anything out there. And yet, sightings are rare. Salomon has made its way into the city, but on the roads? They’re still an outsider.

What we like about the Salomon Aero Glide 3

MEAGHAN: I always start with the aesthetics (which are very good in this case), but what really grabbed my attention was how light the Aero Glide 3 felt. Despite having more foam underfoot (now 41 mm / 33 mm), the shoes felt light in my hand and on my feet. And it turns out they are, my US W7.5 came in at 7.2 oz.

The step-in feel is exactly what you’d expect of a max-cushioned shoe: soft, comfortable, and very accommodating for my wider feet. Salomon has approached the upper with a full inside-out concept. All the components (stitching, support, etc.) that you’d usually find on the inside of the shoe are now on the outside to ensure the interior is completely seamless. And it really works.

Now, let’s talk about the new midsole formulation Salomon is calling Energy Foam Evo. It’s a supercritical TPU that is really light but also quite bouncy. The ride actually reminded me a bit of the Asics Superblast in the sense that you’ve got a huge stack of foam that’s really light but also nice and responsive (I can feel the Superblast fanboys coming at me just for typing that sentence, but it’s true). This is a shoe that works for just about any distance, whether you’re going out for a quick four-miler or a long run.

CHAD: The thing I noticed immediately upon pulling the Aero Glide 3 of the box and lacing it up is how light it is. For a shoe with 41 mm of stack in the heel and 33 mm in the forefoot, that’s a lot of foam to still come in at 8.6 oz. for a US M9. The upper is a thin but still comfortable mesh that is breathable, while the tongue is sort of gusseted (more on that later) and thin enough to be unobtrusive but with enough padding to protect the top of the foot.

In terms of fit, the upper is fairly accommodating in the forefoot and heel while tapering a bit in the midfoot. I think those with wide feet would be able to get by with this one, as I imagine the upper would stretch to accommodate the width. The shoe features a molded OrthoLite sockliner, which provides even more cushioning underfoot.

The outsole, Road Contagrip, really shines on the Aero Glide 3. It’s thick and goes around the entire perimeter of the shoe, providing excellent grip with almost a feeling of lugs on the road… but in a good way.

JUSTIN: This shoe is LIGHT (Meg copied me). The only time where I feel shoes are this light is when I am lacing up a pair of racing shoes. My US M13 weighs in at a feather-light 296 g /10.5 oz. To put that into perspective, my Alphafly 2 is 304 g /10.7 oz. That’s wild, especially when most of the shoes I wear (Big Man Reviewer here) are very heavy, which I don’t mind. My nose usually turns up when someone hands me a shoe that weighs less than a bag of flour, but I had a feeling these would be different.

When I think “max cushion,” I think weight, heft, thiccc. I’m still new to this whole technical shoe review business, but damn, this foam feels nice. It’s firm but soft, responsive yet forgiving, and, most importantly, creates a wonderful midsole platform to support these tree trunks. I think when I took my first steps, I thought, “Wow, I can see why people call shoes fun!” This shoe is fun. It feels a little clunky for me if I move my foot strike to the mid/forefoot, but the heel-to-toe transition is buttery smooth, and I feel that I lose very little energy through it. I always try and pretend I’m a midfoot striker. I am not a midfoot striker. Heel to toe is the way to go.

I can’t wait to get some longer work in with these, and at $160, I plan on having these in my rotation for quite some time. A huge test for me is usually durability, as I usually only get between 250 and 350 miles out of most shoes. So I’m interested to see how these hold up, but from what I’m feeling so far, the built-up patch of midsole towards the forefoot leads me to believe it’ll last a while.

THOMAS: The best part about writing last is that you can skip the technical jargon and focus on what really matters. I had no expectations for the Aero Glide 3, but from the moment I saw it, I knew it was a fresh start for Salomon. It doesn’t just tweak the previous models — it reinvents them. And right away, I’ll say this: it’s their best daily trainer yet.

The formula is simple, as it should be. Start with a generous slab of foam. Add a lightweight, breathable upper. Finish with a no-fuss lacing system to keep everything in place. Sounds easy, but if it were, we wouldn’t need to review shoes.

The cushioning hits the sweet spot — not too soft, not too firm, not too stiff — just right. At 9.6 ounces (273 g), the shoe feels lively, propelling each step without weighing you down. The Contagrip Road outsole holds steady, ready to dig in when you pick up the pace. Unlike some of the other reviewers here, the upper fit my marrow foot true to size, with no slipping or hot spots.

Every mile in the Aero Glide 3 was a pleasure. Simple design, executed well — that’s all a good running shoe needs.

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

MEAGHAN: While I don’t agree with Chad’s thoughts that you’re about to read on the midsole material, I can agree with him on the fit. This baby is roomy. I actually prefer a wider build so I’m not complaining, but anyone with a narrow foot might feel like they’re throwing a hot dog down a hallway.

CHAD: I’ve seen a few of the colorways that will be released when the Aero Glide 3 drops, and I think they’re pretty solid (all white with purple accents, orange with white/black accents, royal blue with white/black accents). However, the grey colorway for me is just a bit dull. I know there are some people out there who dig the neutral colorways, and I do, too, sometimes when done right. I also don’t understand the fin on the back of the shoe, which, at first, I thought was an attempt at a pull-tab. I assume that is how Salomon achieves the “seamless” upper, but it’s an odd look.

Unfortunately, the ride of this shoe was also not what I expected. With 41 mm of stack, a foam that Salomon describes as “responsive and cushioned for resilient bounce and pop,” a claimed rocker profile, and a light weight, I was hoping for more. The foam didn’t feel as lively as described — it sort of felt in between the softness of the New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v14 and the 1080v14. It certainly didn’t feel dead, but I didn’t get the energy return promised. I got the rocker feel from the cambered midsole but not the bounce. It also could require a bit more of a break-in period, so that could very well explain why it didn’t feel as lively as I hoped.

Also, the shoe’s fit was a bit problematic for me. I have fairly regular-width feet, and there were times I felt like I was swimming in this upper, especially in the heel. That extra wiggle room then caused me some stability issues on longer efforts. Despite comparing the Aero Glide 3 to the 1080v14 just a moment ago, it in no way feels as good as that shoe (which is one of my favorites) on the run.

Lastly, the tongue on this thing is just a mess, in my opinion. It is half-gusseted, with the top half just flopping around aimlessly. The tongue itself is a bit too long and feels awkward when tied, and is a bit of a nuisance to tie in the first place, as you have to ensure the upper portion is laying perfectly flat. I think my time with Believe in the Run is turning me into a tongue snob…

JUSTIN: Listen, it can’t be all sunshine and rainbows, and though this shoe will most definitely maintain its role in my rotation, there are some opportunities for improvement. Meg mentioned that all of the stitching was on the outside, which is great, especially to climate hot spots from the seams, but with that it is definitely a roomy shoe. I usually heel-lock my laces, and even with that, I still feel my heels floating a bit, especially in the inner portion. There are no hot spots or anything from the collar, but it’s definitely a little distracting. Another comment on fit, I was wearing a pair of socks that I felt adhered to the upper a bit and caused my foot to slide around a little bit in the sock itself. I don’t know how to explain this any better, but listen chat, IYKYK.

The turning radius on these bad boys also left me feeling like Austin Powers trying to turn the cart around in Dr. Evil’s lair. I did not feel confident making tight turns as I rounded out my .99 miles in the parking lot. This isn’t a huge issue, as most running is very directionally mundane.

THOMAS: The tongue feels rough, almost like an afterthought. In fact, the whole shoe has an unfinished look—more prototype than polished product. Maybe it’s the all-blue upper. Who keeps asking for these? Royal blue has become the new gray, the default color no one wants, but brands keep churning out. And the midsole? It could use a touch of color to keep it from looking like a chunk of styrofoam pulled from a 7-11 cooler.

Final thoughts on the Salomon Aero Glide 3

MEAGHAN: Maybe I’m excited to be back in the grind of marathon training, maybe I love a max cushioned shoe, or maybe the Salomon Aero Glide 3 is a really great trainer. I think it’s the latter. I’ve enjoyed all of my runs in this shoe. It’s simple in design and build, but it’s comfortable and responsive, and it just works. I don’t know what Chad’s on about. This one is staying in my rotation.

CHAD: If I had to pick just one word to describe the Salomon Aero Glide 3, it would be “fine.” Everything about the shoe to me was just okay. The fit was okay, the ride was average, and the foam was decent. Only a few things, like the weight and the outsole traction, were standouts. At $160, there are a lot of shoes on the market that provide a far better experience all around. Despite Salomon and I having a long-tenured relationship going back to my youth, the Aero Glide 3 likely won’t make many more appearances for me. However, I’m willing to give it a few more chances to liven up, given Meaghan’s glowing review.

JUSTIN: Honestly? I can’t wait to get more miles in this shoe. I will say that I usually wear a US M13 in running shoes and sized down to an M12.5 for this, so definitely keep that in mind. I really do think that this will be a tough shoe to beat as all the spring releases start trickling in, and it is 100% Big-Guy-approved! I can’t wait to lace up my Aero Glide, squeeze into my white spandex running suit, and scar multiple people innocently completing their long runs on the Tobacco Trail this summer. Or maybe I’ll just stick to the 10-inch inseams… We’ll see. Try this shoe; it’s really, really good. #TeamMeg

THOMAS: I really like this shoe. If it had three stripes or a swoosh on the side, runners would be all over it. At $160, the price isn’t outrageous, but if it dropped to $150 or less, it would be right up there with the Mizuno Neo Zen and Adidas Evo SL — strong competition. If you’re looking to break away from the usual brands at run clubs and races, the Aero Glide 3 is a smart pick. It shows you know your gear and aren’t just following the crowd. This one gets a thumbs-up from me.

You can pick up the Salomon Aero Glide 3 for $160 from Holabird Sports by using the buttons below.