Salomon S/LAB Ultra Glide: First Run Impressions of an Unusual Trail Shoe

Introduction

The Salomon S/LAB range is the brand’s high-performance tier, the line that pushes running shoe design and innovation furthest, and the new S/LAB Ultra Glide is no exception. It arrives with one of the most unusual looking midsole designs we have seen in recent years, and after a first eight-mile run across mixed terrain it left a genuinely positive impression.

It is not a cheap shoe. In the UK it retails for £230, and it is not the lightest trail shoe either, so the real question is whether the comfort-focused design justifies that price. Here is what the first run revealed.

Specs and First Impressions

In a UK 10, this shoe weighs 326g. That is a fair bit, but understandable given the deep stack of soft cushioning and the fact that this is a shoe built to run long distances.

The upper is very S/LAB: a thin gusseted tongue with Salomon’s Quicklace cord system rather than conventional laces. You pull the cord down tight around the midfoot, slide the plastic lock down, and tuck the cord into the mesh pocket at the top of the tongue. Quicklace is a love-it-or-hate-it feature, but it worked well here once properly set up.

The ankle collar and heel cup have moderate to thin padding, and there is a double-layered mesh construction with an almost transparent outer mesh. Finishing is typically meticulous, with overlays up the heel center, around the Quicklace system, and wrapping the toe box, plus a decent toe bumper for on-trail protection.

Underfoot there is a chunky 4mm lug design on a Contagrip rubber outsole, and most strikingly, a wavy geometry running along the shoe. Salomon calls this Relief Sphere technology, designed to diffuse pressure and break down repeated underfoot impact for enhanced long-distance comfort.

A Different Kind of Midsole

The wave geometry is what first caught attention at the UTMB Expo, because no trail shoe looked like this. It is a reminder of why the brand is admired: a willingness to think outside the box.

The midsole uses a core of Energy Foam Plus surrounded by a cradle of slightly firmer standard Energy Foam. That cradle effectively creates a guide-rail effect, and with no carbon plate in the construction the shoe feels forgiving while still remaining grounded and stable, even on technical sections. The 6mm heel offset felt nicely balanced, and the foam delivered good energy return on compacted trail and tarmac, though perhaps less bouncy than expected.

Traction on Every Kind of Trail

The test run covered nearly everything: compacted trail, loose trail, rocky trail and plenty of wet, slippery mud. Despite the muddy, boggy conditions after days of rain, the 4mm lug outsole delivered a surprisingly high level of traction, performing well throughout.

Fit and Sizing

One important note on sizing: S/LAB shoes tend to run small. This tester normally wears UK 9.5 in most brands, including Brooks, Nike, Saucony, Altra, Topo, Reebok and Puma, but went half a size up to a UK 10, which fitted just right with ideal toe-box length. For an S/LAB shoe it also offers pretty good toe-box width.

The secure midfoot hold that defines the brand’s fit is present here, along with a good hold in the heel. The Quicklace cord needed some initial fiddling to remove all the slack from the bottom up, but once set it did not work loose at all during the run. No rubbing, digging or early signs of discomfort appeared even with the thin gusseted tongue, and the collar and heel cup felt plush enough that a much longer run should be no problem.

Buying Advice

If you are shopping for a long-run or ultra-distance trail shoe, there is a lot to like: deep cushioning, a stable and forgiving ride, no rigid carbon plate, and a comfortable fit straight out of the box. The 8.1-mile first run was not long enough to fully test the pressure-diffusion claims behind the Relief Sphere design, so more miles are needed before making a final call.

The one sticking point is the price. £230 is a lot to spend on a pair of running shoes, and whether the S/LAB Ultra Glide is worth every penny remains an open question until a longer test is complete. If you tend to run long distances at non-elite paces, the plate-free, forgiving construction makes a compelling case.

Conclusion

The S/LAB Ultra Glide is an intriguing, well-executed trail shoe with genuine long-distance intent, excellent all-round traction, and a fit that works well for anyone used to Salomon’s S/LAB last. The unusual Relief Sphere geometry is the headline, and it ran comfortably across every surface thrown at it. Whether that innovation justifies the £230 price tag is the question more mileage will answer, but as a first impression, it is a very promising start.