Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide Review: Rise of the Plateless Wonder

Introduction to the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide

TAYLOR: It really is otherlandish, that Chamonix. There’s no other place quite like it. Steep mountain terrain, lush valley floors, croissants, and trails to connect them all. This was the backdrop when I first stepped into the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide. I got to spend a whole day running from station to station in and around Le Brévent. We learned all of the specifics of their new products and design processes in an immersive way.

The premise behind the shoe itself is counter to the swing of modern run culture. Many are simply hoping for the almighty plate to bring them from trail zero to King or Queen of the mountain. That’s not exactly supported by the science that Salomon has synthesized. Sure, it has a carbon-plated road racing shoe, but the application isn’t a one-for-one trade when applied to the dynamic scene of trail running.

Leaning on its understanding, Salomon set out to create a race day shoe for those going out for hours on end or maybe even days. Some anecdotal information told them that the longer a runner is on their feet, the more they want a generous toe box and a softer ride.

The Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide is the answer to both of those points. Boldly. Innovatively. When I first saw the midsole/outsole design I’m sure I looked almost identical to the wide-eyed Joe Rogan GIF. It’s a very unique stature for a couple of reasons:

One — it’s a ton of foam for a Salomon shoe (41/35mm stack). Two — it’s a layered midsole. Three — it’s wavy like a white-capped lake. It’s simply something we haven’t seen from Salomon or the industry at large.

The upper isn’t quite as shocking, with softer engineered mesh, a generous forefoot with a dynamic vamp, and, of course, Salomon’s Quicklace system. All of these ingredients are there to provide performance and comfort to go far, no matter your place in the pack.

What we like about the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide

TAYLOR: Here’s what Salomon has always done well: Create mountain-centric performance shoes. The Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide is an exception in the sense of design, but it’s certainly not an exemption from their ethos. The S/Lab Ultra Glide is ready to roll.

For starters, this shoe reminds me of a mash-up of some of my current favorites in the category, like the North Face Altamesa 500, Brooks Caldera 7, and Speedland GS:PDX. Salomon was able to combine some of the best aspects of the modern maximal shoe into a single package.

Quite obviously, the underfoot experience is the major player here. It’s a modular midsole that utilizes some of Salomon’s best technology. It packs two pieces of Energy Foam (the same foam used in the Genesis and S/Lab Genesis), including the side wall and half of the underfoot midsole, which connect together to create a pool. Inside, that pool is filled with Energy Foam Plus, the same premium foam utilized in the Salomon S/Lab Spectur. An Energy Foam Plus sock liner slides over top of that, too.

What all that really means is that you get true cushion and stability from the outer foams/bathtub construction and an uber-soft and energetic feel directly underfoot. Let’s be honest here, doesn’t that sound like a dream concoction for going the distance? This is where the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide reminded me of our 2024 max cushion Best In Gear champ, the North Face Altamesa 500. The S/Lab Ultra Glide kicks performance on trails up a notch, comparatively.

The overall shape of the midsole gives it a rockered feel that gently but surely rolls you forward through each stride. When in motion, it feels almost effortless.

What’s the deal with the waves, though? Well, those are what allowed for straight-up monster trucking on the trails. The sheer amount of foam combined with the unique midsole/outsole geometry morphs around underfoot invaders like rocks, roots, and other things you might step on that start with the letter R. Why this is unique is because many shoes, even in this category, would act more like a suspension system and bending accommodatingly to terrain whereas the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide has the propensity to swallow it up.

The more purposeful reason for this unseen design was to disperse tension in high-stress areas on the foot. Less stress equals more comfort for the long haul. There will be skeptics, I know. I was, too, initially. Based on the many miles I was able to put in this shoe, it really seemed to practice what it preached. The waves seem to create an extra filter that synchronized well with the foams. My feet felt pretty fantastic after every run and long days on the trail. I’m a believer.

The S/Lab execution standard continues up top with the soft engineered mesh. It’s both performance-tuned and comfort-oriented to go far. This upper is on the heftier side when it comes to race-day materials. It’s not really a negative thing because of the structure and pleasant environment it creates for the foot. It sets the stage for a fit that we would all expect from Salomon.

Oh, and there’s a fully gusseted tongue for comfort and security, too. The Quicklace system shows up in its typical manner, of course. The three ingredients made it possible to cinch up the shoe enough for solid performance on gnarly terrain. The Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide enters the ranks of the Brooks Caldera 7 and Speedland GS:PDX as max-cushion shoes that can tread on the heights. Because it is lighter than most other maximal race day options, I felt that much more confident to send it in the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide.

As we lay among the towering peaks of the French Alps, the designers of the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide explained their design process and the different components of the shoe. They spent a good amount of time explaining the forefoot, which is both noticeably accommodating (even for wider feet) and dynamic. It has a really nice amount of volume for daily runs or long trail races. I was worried the vamp would be too stretchy, but it maintained its tenacity through my test miles.

Contagrip always seems to find its spot in this segment of our reviews. The particular formula earned a solid A grade in the durability department. The grip was up there, too, with the outsole completely covered with rubber and 4 mm lugs reaching out from the tops of each wave. I am simply satisfied.

What we don’t like about the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide

TAYLOR: I’m pleased to say that this segment will be shorter, showing how solid of a shoe the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide is. All of my knocks on this shoe can be taken with a grain of salt. I would put them in the “priorities” category more than proper complaints. It’s hard to have it all in a single shoe.

First, note the sizing. I first had my normal US M10.5, and that felt way too big all the way around — too long and too much volume. Going a half-size down made the difference for me, but I do know of some folks who went down a full size.

Second, it’s well-documented that I am a fit snob. For most terrain, fit is going to be the most important aspect for leveraging performance. With that being said, I did have to take a few pit stops on my maiden runs in the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide to dial in the fit around the upper midfoot and heel. If you’re familiar with Salomon’s Quicklace system, you’ll know how to get the best fit. Start from the toe end of the lacing chain and work your way up to tighten the shoe just right. This particular lace garage makes it a little challenging to get the desired lockdown around the ankle collar, but it is possible. Once my heel got sucked into the rear pocket, it was smooth sailing through the hills of Chamonix and beyond.

Prior to finding the sweet spot, I also struggled with bunching in the tongue and vamp area, especially on the downhills. Again, this was a solvable problem, but one to be aware of going in.

My third complaint was the weight. If weight isn’t a top priority in a shoe for you, you can pretty much ignore this section. If you care about weight as much as I do, read on. As mentioned, the S/Lab Ultra Glide is on the lighter end of high-stack trail shoes, but that’s kinda like calling it the prettiest warthog at the watering hole. Its main competitors in the race day category (albeit with different design priorities) are the North Face Summit Vectiv Pro 2 (9.7 oz), Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra (9.5 oz), and Hoka Tecton X 3 (9.7 oz).

Salomon chose comfort and performance over weight, and you feel it in both positive and negative ways. I would argue that the positives certainly outweigh (pun intended) the added ounces, but it’s still a 10.2 oz shoe for a sample size US M9, and it doesn’t necessarily radiate the race day vibes from that standpoint. I’d still call it a racer, but it’s more comparable to shoes like the Speedland GS:RAR (10.5 oz), Brooks Caldera 7 (10.6 oz), The North Face Altamesa (10.9 oz), and Altra Olympus (12.5oz).

Final thoughts on the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide

TAYLOR: No plate, no problem. That’s my conclusion of the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide in a nutshell.

It’s labeled as a racer and has the price tag to go with it. At the same time, it could easily be one of those top-tier day-to-day shoes that are just incredibly well made. As for where it fits in the landscape of trail racers, it would fit an equal distance between the Brooks Caldera 7 and the Hoka Tecton X 3 in terms of efficiency, comfort, technical performance, and energy return.

The underfoot experience is surely Salomon’s selling point. It offers gobs of soft cushion along with high-performance layers for a true bounce when you push a little harder. The Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide is aptly named, as I could actually feel myself gliding over the trail. Honestly, it is one of the smoothest shoes I have ever had the pleasure of running in. This is one for the long-distance runner who prioritizes comfort over all else, and it delivers in spades.

You can pick up the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide for $250 in February 2025 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.