Salomon Aero Glide review

We recommend the Aero Glide from Salomon for runners seeking:

• A resilient and reliable daily trainer—ideal for accumulating hundreds of miles without concern for outsole wear.
• A gentle rockered ride, providing a smooth heel-to-toe transition.
• A shoe with a flared heel and broad sole, offering a wide heel and forefoot for enhanced stability.

We think that runners who utilize a midfoot or forefoot striking technique may not find the Aero Glide as suitable as other options. The forefoot cushioning feels inadequate and the 11.0-mm drop appears excessively steep—making the Hoka Clifton 9 a more fitting choice for these runners, in our view.

Furthermore, we believe the Aero Glide is a bit overpriced at $160 for a standard daily trainer. For those looking to save a bit of money, we suggest the ASICS Novablast 4, which offers more cushioning and less weight at just 140 bucks.

Our initial impression of the Aero Glide was puzzling—the upper appears paper-thin, although Salomon didn't incorporate direct ventilation holes. At RunRepeat, we love testing, not guessing, so we dove right in.

Our first test pumped smoke into the shoe to see how effectively it escaped. Impressively, the Aero Glide managed very well, earning a solid 4/5 rating from us.

Next, we shone a light through the upper to assess its structure. We discovered that the material remains consistently thin until the heel, ensuring even ventilation—crucial for avoiding blisters in the arch during summer runs.

Under the microscope, the upper's intricacies became clear. It's crafted from standard engineered mesh with countless tiny openings, and painted with remarkable precision!

In our final assessment of the upper, we noted significant padding in critical areas—the midfoot and heel—adding comfort where it's needed most.

A major benefit of an upper without large ventilation holes is enhanced durability, as those holes could otherwise serve as weak points where the mesh might get ripped.

Using our standard Dremel test at 5K RPM and 3.2N of force, we assigned a durability score of 3/5 to the Aero Glide. While not groundbreaking, this result is satisfactory for this type of upper.

We conducted the same rigorous test on the shoe's heel padding and, unfortunately, the results were less than ideal.

This time, we scored the heel padding a disappointing 2/5, which in our view raises concerns for runners who typically experience wear in this area of their running shoes.

However, if you don't usually have issues with heel wear, this is not a dealbreaker, but it's a significant drawback for those who do.

Moving to the outsole, we focused first on Salomon's widely used CONTAGRIP rubber, which is a staple in both their road and trail lines.

The outsole includes a large central groove designed to enhance water evacuation and reduce torsional rigidity.

Our Shore C durometer test yielded a high score of 91.9 HC, indicating good durability. However, this comes at the expense of optimal grip.

To evaluate the durability of the Aero Glide, we revved up the Dremel in our lab for one final test.

Once complete, our measurements showed a 0.8 mm indentation in the rubber—decent, though we anticipated an even better performance given the exceptionally hard rubber Salomon typically uses.

To conclude our evaluation of the outsole, we measured its thickness, finding it to be 3.2 mm.

This thickness strikes a balance, ensuring durability without adding excessive weight to the shoe.

Despite its substantial rubber coverage and robust stack height, the Aero Glide impressively remains under the 10-oz mark, weighing in at just 9.3 oz or 264g.

Turning our focus to the midsole, our first test was to measure the heel stack height.

Our findings showed a generous 35.2 mm, categorizing this shoe within the maximal cushioning range, suitable for any distance, including grueling 20-milers for those training for a marathon.

The forefoot cushioning is less substantial than the heel, measuring only 24.2 mm under our digital calipers.

This moderate approach may cause heavier forefoot strikers to bottom out in the Aero Glide. However, it should be enough for the majority of runners.

As hinted by our prior measurements, the heel-to-toe drop in the Aero Glide is significant at 11.0 mm, aligning with the typical design cues from Salomon.

This wedge-like design benefits heel strikers and runners who experience Achilles tendon or calf discomfort, as the higher offset can help alleviate stress in these areas.

At 4.0 mm, the insole is slightly slimmer than what's usually found here in the lab, but it's far from being a drawback.

The midsole is 100% made of EnergyFOAM, which is an EVA+OBC compound similar to FF Blast+ from ASICS, although this one feels a bit firmer underfoot. 

Checking its softness with our Shore A durometer after cutting in half the shoe—which is a necessary condition to obtain precise results—we found a 20.6 HA score, which confirms that the formulation strikes a balance between a plush and a firm ride.

Moreover, we discovered that the energy return is good—superior to any standard EVA foam. However, it doesn't match the exceptional energy return found in PEBA-based shoes like the Nike Invincible 3.

Blending EVA with Olefin co-polymers (OBC) significantly enhances not only energy return but also performance in cold conditions.

Impressively, the EnergyFOAM midsole only stiffened by 18.8% after a rigorous 20-minute cold test in our freezer—a testament to its great resilience against low temperatures. It earns our seal of approval for winter conditions.

We believe runners looking for a moderately rockered daily trainer will be quite pleased with the Aero Glide. While it doesn’t offer an extreme rocker effect, the noticeable curvature at both ends effectively guides you forward from heel to toe, making for a smooth stride.

The Aero Glide stands out as a neutral daily trainer. However, its impressively wide dimensions—which we’ll discuss shortly—enhance its stability, making it a viable option even for those requiring slight support.

Despite featuring a substantial hollow in its midsole, the Aero Glide maintains strong torsional rigidity, earning a rating of 4/5 from us.

This means that, in our view, runners seeking a daily trainer that offers a more flexible and natural running sensation might prefer something like the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4.

The heel counter of the Aero Glide is pretty standard, similar to those found in most daily trainers, with a stiffness rating of 3/5.

We found it strikes a balance between comfort and support, offering enough structure to enhance heel stability without being too rigid or irritating the Achilles area.

Earlier we hinted at the spacious build of the Aero Glide—now it's time for specifics. We measured the forefoot at a substantial 121.7mm, akin to stability shoes with a vast landing platform.

Yet, every design has its compromises, and for the Aero Glide, it's the loss of agility. The wide build makes the shoe could feel somewhat cumbersome, especially when fast turns are required.

The heel mirrors the forefoot's design philosophy, measuring an impressive 97.3 mm at its widest point. This dimension confirms to us that the shoe is mostly crafted for rearfoot strikers.

Previously, we confirmed that the Aero Glide exhibits surprisingly-high torsional rigidity. However, our focus now shifts to its longitudinal flexibility.

Using our 90-degree bend test—a favorite here in the lab due to its uniform application across all models—we measured the Aero Glide at 23.0N. This places it on the more flexible end of the spectrum, which is ideal for a daily running shoe.

Continuing our tests similar to the midsole softness assessment, we examined how longitudinal stiffness varied under cold conditions.

We chilled the shoe in the freezer for another 20 minutes and then tested it back. The stiffness increased by 28%, which isn't remarkable, but it's satisfactory for practical purposes.

Given Salomon's reputation for crafting snug uppers, we did not anticipate a roomy toebox.

However, to our pleasant surprise, the Aero Glide offers a slightly wider fit than typical Salomon shoes. We measured the widest part of the toebox at 98.5 mm, providing ample space for most runners' comfort.

Our second measurement confirmed a narrower fit at 76.2 mm, aligning more closely with Salomon's typically snug design. While not necessarily a drawback, this tighter space in the toe area may not suit runners who prefer a roomier toe cap.

Additionally, during our tests, we noted that the vertical space in the toebox is somewhat limited.

Unfortunately, we discovered that the tongue of the Salomon Aero Glide is not attached to the sides, which is disappointing for a shoe priced at $160.

The tongue is well designed, featuring 6.9 mm of padding made from dual foam slabs. We believe this is an ideal setup for a daily trainer—not overly padded like some heavier shoes, yet it offers ample comfort for long runs.

We're also fans of the flat laces and the overall lacing system. Notably, Salomon opted out of their QuickLace system this time, a choice we appreciate since it might feel out of place on road running shoes.

The heel lacks a finger-loop pull tab; however, it includes a slightly extended Achilles zone that can be used to help slip the shoe on more easily.

The insole is removable, so it's easily replaceable with third-party footbeds for enhanced comfort or support.

Unfortunately, we discovered that the Aero Glide lacks any reflective elements. While it's not a trail shoe, we still expect more from Salomon, a brand known for catering to the adventurous runner.