My favourite trail shoe is the Salomon Ultra Glide, from my sponsor, and it’s what I’ve used in all of my trail races so far this year and most of my trail running.
For me, it’s the most versatile trail shoe as it has lots of cushion (38mm stack height of responsive EVA) and yet is still lightweight (260g). Coming from the roads I need a shoe that is stable and protective and I feel comfortable on technical terrain in the Ultra Glide.
The toe bumper helps protect from rocks and roots, as long as you’re in the right size. I learned that the hard way when I ran an ultra with the same size shoe as I would on the roads, I now run in half a size larger and my toes are happy (even when I stub a rock).
The outsole is made of Contagrip with 4mm lugs (pictured above), and they are good in mud and fantastic on dry trails. I often run on the roads to get to the trails and the Ultra Glide feels smooth on all surfaces.
As with many shoes, I glue the insole into the shoe if I know I’m going to encounter both wet and steep conditions. Ultra Glides come with Salomon’s Quicklace system that allows you not to worry about your laces the entirety of a 100 miler. These shoes do a remarkable job of breathing well and keeping debris out, which is key on long adventures. The Ultra Glide differs from mainstay Salomon trail shoes with a slightly larger toe box and softer cushioning.
I recommend the Ultra Glide for any trail runner—especially those who are new to trail running.
