Ultra Glide 3: Quick Facts
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What's the Ultra Glide 3 all about?
Salomon has long been synonymous with trail running. However, in recent years, as more brands jumped into the trail game—embracing the maximalist trend—Salomon’s traditionally firm, lower to the ground mountain focused shoes started to feel a bit outpaced.
But things have changed. The French brand has made some big moves, releasing innovative models like the Genesis, which showed that Salomon was evolving. Now, we have the Ultra Glide 3 inspired by the S/Lab Ultra Glide, a shoe that, while technically following up on the Ultra Glide 2, feels like an entirely new shoe.
With max cushion, a soft midsole, and a clean, modern design, this might be the least “Salomon-like” Salomon shoe yet—in the best possible way.
There's three key features in Ultra Glide 3:
1) energyFOAM, cushion all over the distance
Salomon set out to make a shoe that keeps you comfortable from mile one to mile 100 and they’ve gone all in. With a 41mm heel stack and 35mm forefoot, this is the highest-stack Salomon shoe ever. Combined with what feels like their softest energyFOAM midsole yet, it’s clear they nailed the comfort factor.
Max cushioning usually means less stability, but the Ultra Glide 3 does a great job balancing both. With deep sidewalls and a wide base, it feels pretty stable—almost like you're on rails. The bucket seat-inspired design helps guide your foot placement, making for a smooth and controlled ride on uneven terrain.
While the midsole sidewalls are an important feature to create stability, it's worth noting that if you're particularly sensitive to sidewalls, you may notice a more structured feel. Finding the right balance between support and comfort is essential, so it's worth considering how pronounced the sidewalls are based on your preferences.
2) relieveSPHERE outsole - no pain, is gain
At first glance the outsole looks pretty unusual, but once you understand the wavy geometry it makes a lot of sense. It’s designed to distribute pressure and absorb repetitive impacts, an idea backed by six years of research at the Salomon Science Lab.
If you’ve ever run an ultra, you know what many hours on the trails can do to your feet, especially rocky uneven terrain. This outsole aims to spread tension and reduce discomfort, keeping your feet fresher for longer. I haven’t put it to the test yet, but if it works as intended, this could be a real game-changer.
Paired with Salomon’s All-Terrain contaGRIP and 4mm lugs, the traction feels solid—similar to what I experience with the Genesis, which worked well for me on a variety of surfaces.
One thing that will be interesting to see is if the relieveSPHERE impacts the durability and grip, given there's less contact area with the trails. We're confident it'll perform well consider Salomon work closely with their athletes during product test, it's just a technology we haven't seen in any other trail shoe before.
3) Adaptive upper, refined simplicity
The Ultra Glide 3 upper keeps some classic Salomon elements, like the quickLACE system, which I personally like (though I know it’s divisive). But this shoe feels roomier than traditional Salomon models. If you’re used to their typically narrow fit, you’ll notice a more generous toebox—not a wide fit, but definitely accommodating.
The engineered mesh with sensiFIT and endoFIT provides a snug midfoot lockdown while still allowing for some stretch, which helps with foot swelling over long distances. It’s lightweight, breathable, and does a great job securing the foot without feeling restrictive.
Our first thoughts
So far, I really like the Ultra Glide 3. It looks great, feels fantastic underfoot, and it’s exciting to see Salomon bringing fresh innovation to the market.
One thing that stands out is how Salomon has clearly listened to the needs of ultra-distance runners—understanding that what they need at the beginning of the race is not what they need towards the back end. They’ve built this shoe with that in mind.
I haven’t taken it for a proper run yet, so I can’t draw final conclusions, but on paper, it’s shaping up to be an exciting, comfortable, and well-balanced trail shoe. Let’s see if it lives up to expectations on the trails!
About the author
Seb Lopez - Trail Runner & Photographer
I’m passionate about trail running, hiking, adventure racing, and the outdoors in general. My favourite runs are long days spent with mates, exploring new places.
I also appreciate how different shoes allow me to connect with the terrain in unique ways and how that affects the running experience. When I’m not out on the trails, you’ll probably find me behind the camera as a sports photographer. It’s great to be on the other side and see the sport from a different angle.
