Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Review: These Trail Shoes Made Me a Max-Cushion Believer

Every time I slip on my trainers, I skip the pavement and hit the dirt as a substitute. I’ve at all times leaned toward minimal cushioning for my trail shoes, which I consider helps me higher feel the bottom under my feet and stay balanced.

So once I received a max-cushion shoe to check for SELF’s 2023 Sneaker Awards, I used to be a bit hesitant: An excessive amount of cushion tends to feel unsteady and sloppy to me. But as soon as I took just a few steps in Salomon’s Ultra Glide 2, I knew this trail shoe was different: It’s soft but responsive, supportive but not too bulky, and—most significantly—cushioned but still stable. Read on for my full experience with these trail runners.

Who it’s for

Salomon began as a mountain apparel and equipment company, originating within the French Alps. While it’s known for its streetwear-worthy Sportstyle and XT-6 sneakers, the brand has popular trail trainers too. The Ultra Glide is a warm welcome for people in search of a bit more padding than other options, and its second edition is just as cushy, but offers greater stability. Due to its wider toe box, it’s designed for long distances and cozy every day training, making it a solid pick for each pro or beginner trail runners.

Out of the box

As soon as I opened the box’s lid, I used to be impressed by the shoe’s earthy colours and ombré design. The red fades into yellow and beige, and jogs my memory of a desert sunset—a refreshing look in comparison with the brilliant colours or dull neutrals of other trainers. Once I picked them up, I noticed they’d a surprising amount of padding along the ankle cuff, tongue, and upper, but still felt pretty lightweight on my hands. The moderate rocker sole also caught my eye, and I barely noticed the claw-shaped lugs (the rubber knobs that help with traction) on the outsole. Mainly, the Ultra Glide 2 almost looks more like a road shoe than a trail shoe.

Fit and feel

As soon as I slipped on the Ultra Glide 2, it felt like an ideal fit—no rubbing or points of discomfort. The padded upper appears like a number of material at first, but during my runs, it created a softness that I haven’t experienced with many other trail runners, and my ankle bone felt nicely cradled. I also loved the roomy toe box; it’s wide enough that my toes could splay out naturally, but not an excessive amount of in order that it felt clunky once I was running over roots and rocks.

On the run

I attempted these shoes after a protracted running break and anticipated a rough reintroduction. Normally, regardless of how slowly I ease into the miles, I get shin splints on my first few sessions. But after a four-mile run on a narrow trail, my entire body felt surprisingly fresh—no aches or pains afterward. From there, I upped the ante and took these shoes on a mixture of surfaces: gravel roads, trails, and boulder-strewn paths. Every time, I nearly bounced off the bottom with each step, and my toes had loads of room to breathe in the summertime heat. And because of the pull-tab laces, I never once needed to worry about tying my shoes. What a relief.

I’ve now racked up a minimum of 40 miles in them, including within the Wasatch Mountains in Utah and on a sandy trail near San Diego, and located that moderate paths and trails are where they really shine. The traction on the soles sticks well to loose dirt, they usually’re light and agile enough to tackle some steep hills and rocks. While the cushioning creates a soft landing pad that I didn’t love on super tricky portions of the trail, it was a much needed relief in every single place else.

Bottom line

I’m completely satisfied to report that I’m now a cushion convert: The Ultra Glide 2 has turn into my go-to trail runner for all but essentially the most technical mountain terrain where I want the additional grip and agility. So should you’re anything like me and want all of the assist you can get to extend comfort and pleasure on a run, I’d highly recommend this pair.

Beyond that, I’m impressed by how truly versatile this runner is: The cushioning, traction, and fit all strike the right balance to feel good in most scenarios, and I’m rarely left wanting more out of anybody feature. Anyone from an ultra runner to someone just starting out on trails could appreciate the comfort-oriented cushion and fit. And while the Ultra Glide 2 is super fun on dirt, it’s also a rare breed that appears cool enough to decorate up for a day trip too.