Salomon Ultra Glide 3 First Run Review: A Cushioned Trail Workhorse Tested in Brutal Conditions

Introduction

Some shoes get tested in tidy conditions. The Salomon Ultra Glide 3 got thrown into the opposite of that: a first run across Dartmoor in wild weather, covering road, gravel, thick grass, knee-deep bog, stony descents, slippery rocks, and river crossings over roughly four and a half hours on foot. That is a proper shakedown for a shoe fresh out of the box, and the Ultra Glide 3 came through it with barely a complaint.

This is a maximal cushion trail shoe built for mixed terrain and high mileage. If you want a cushioned workhorse for long days rather than an agile racer, this first run report should help you decide whether it belongs on your shortlist.

First Run Test Conditions

The test route covered a bit of everything: wet roads, gravel, steep climbs, thick grass that made foot placement genuinely challenging, and some of the toughest terrain described from twenty years of running. The route was slow going, covering around 10 miles in roughly three and a half hours plus stops.

From the first hour, the priorities were grip, comfort, and security, and the Ultra Glide 3 delivered all three. The biggest compliment that can be paid here is simple: they were barely noticeable over the whole outing.

Design and Specifications

The stack height comes in at 41 mm in the heel and 35 mm in the forefoot, for a 6 mm drop. Salomon lists the weight at 290 g, and the launch price is £135. There is no confirmed US price yet, but the Ultra Glide 2 launched at $150, so expect something in that range.

The midsole uses a large stack of energy foam, Salomon’s EVA-based midsole foam, arranged in a wavy “relieve sphere” design. The concave elements are intended to dissipate impact and relieve pressure as you run. Up top, the engineered mesh upper is fairly thick with lightweight reinforcement at the toe box, and the gusseted tongue and heel collar offer plush padding for long-haul comfort. An internal sleeve adds to a supportive, secure fit, paired with Salomon’s quick lace system. Underfoot, a full covering of Contour Grip rubber with 4 mm lugs is described as nicely durable.

Grip and Stability on Mixed Terrain

The lug pattern is fairly sparse, with sizeable sections where there are no lugs at all. Instead, the outsole uses concave elements to help smooth the ride on hard ground while retaining grip on mixed surfaces. In practice, that balance worked well.

Grip across the conditions encountered was excellent, including on very slippy rocks, and the shoe provided real certainty underfoot. Everything felt controlled rather than fast and aggressive, which suits the shoe’s character. On thick grass, stability held up well despite the high stack, and the shoe felt nicely balanced for the terrain.

Comfort, Fit, and the Lacing System

Comfort was the standout. Over a four-and-a-half-hour run, foot fatigue was minimal, and the feet felt fresh at the end. The big stack of cushion was balanced with protection and energy, with smooth transitions on compacted ground while cruising.

Two caveats are worth noting. First, the lacing system was not a favourite: there was a bit of looseness that made the shoes harder to lock down, and with high insteps they were initially difficult to get on. They did not feel immediately secure on the foot, though once moving, everything settled and performance was solid. Anyone who prefers regular laces may feel the same friction. Second, the shoes are not waterproof. Feet got thoroughly soaked, the wet shoes picked up some weight, and they shed water from stream crossings reasonably quickly. For long and slow days, they remained light enough.

Who This Shoe Is For

The Ultra Glide 3 suits runners who want cushioning and reliability over all-out speed: ultrarunners, long-run specialists, and anyone mixing road, gravel, and trail in a single outing. There are more agile shoes with closer ground contact, but as a stable, cushioned platform for time on feet, it is a convincing option.

Buying Advice

At £135, and likely around $150 in the US based on the previous version, this sits in the mainstream premium trail shoe bracket. It makes sense if your priority is a comfortable, dependable platform for high mileage on mixed terrain, and it makes less sense if you want a fast, ground-feeling shoe for steep, technical descents at pace.

For the conditions tested, confidence in the Ultra Glide 3 as an ultrarun cushioned workhorse is high. If quicklace systems frustrate you, factor that into the decision, but for comfort and reliability over long days, it earns its place.

Conclusion

The Salomon Ultra Glide 3 passed a genuinely brutal first run test with rock-solid performance: excellent grip on slippery surfaces, cushioning that held up over four and a half hours, and enough stability for unpredictable ground. The quick lace system and lack of waterproofing are the main trade-offs, but as a long-distance cushioned trail shoe, it is an easy shoe to trust.