Article by Kelly McHenry Jennings and Sam Winebaum
Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL ($160)
Introduction
Sam: The Aero Glide 4 GRVL is Salomon entry into the rising “gravel” class or actually any highway floor to mild trails so far as I’m involved.
The GRVL can now take you from the highway, the place even with its enhanced traction over a highway shoe it runs easily, to now even reasonably rougher trails than earlier than, growing its versatility.
The Aero Glide 3 GRVL was enjoyable and bouncy resulting from its supercritical expanded TPU beads foam, had ample mild trails traction however basically had a highway shoe higher that didn’t sustain for me on any form of rougher terrain.
The replace right here is to the higher and this stouter higher with a brand new one handed closure system is now much more trails worthy than earlier than because it now higher controls the gentle and bouncy foam beneath.
The underfoot platform of froth, with a giant 41mm heel / 33mm forefoot full stack top, reasonably broad on the floor platform and outsole of 2mm and 3mm lug depth stay unchanged. Please learn on for all the main points as I examined them on the highway and exhausting packed snow right here in Park Metropolis. Precise gravel to return!
Kelly: One of many nice issues about dwelling in Park Metropolis, Utah is the straightforward entry to an unbelievable number of trails and operating surfaces. The choices are so plentiful that I usually favor to run straight from my entrance door to the trailhead, selecting up a mixture of terrain alongside the way in which. That’s precisely the place the Salomon Aeroglide 4 GRVL matches into my shoe rotation. It sits within the rising hybrid area between highway trainers and light-weight path or gravel footwear, designed for runners who don’t wish to suppose twice about what floor comes subsequent.
Whereas I haven’t been capable of put in vital miles on true gravel simply but—present circumstances are a mixture of hard-packed snow, asphalt, and muddy trails—the Aeroglide 4 GRVL has already proven its versatility. It delivers a easy, comfy journey on pavement, with sufficient traction and safety to really feel assured when the run heads off-road. For anybody on the lookout for a single shoe that transitions simply from asphalt to mild path with out feeling heavy or overly rugged, the Aeroglide 4 GRVL makes a robust early impression.
Professionals
New safe and trails worthy higher, improved over v3, new single handed closure system: Sam
Verstile: Energetic gentle bouncier journey is now extra steady because of the new higher and may higher vary off gravel and highway to trails: Sam
Outsole has strong grip and performs properly on the highway: Sam
Notable in depth reflective highlights: Sam
Breathable mesh higher (however maybe a bit too breathable for moist winter operating!): Kelly
Straightforward to step into and really fast to safe: Kelly
Cons:
Vital 24g distinction in weight between left and proper shoe pattern: Sam
Plastic wire closure clip is massive and exhausting to stuff into the entrance storage: Sam
Plastic wire feels cumbersome and barely uncomfortable on the highest of my foot once I safe it within the entrance storage, so I’ve been principally operating with the wire out, which is a bit distracting: Kelly
Laborious to drag on, additionally a Professional because the match could be very safe: Sam
Stats
Approx. Weight: males’s 9.5 oz / 269g
Pattern Weights:
males’s v4: 9.63 oz / 273g US8.5/ EU42 (common L/R-261g left shoe, 285g proper shoe)
v3: 9.2 oz / 261g US8.5
ladies’s 9.175oz/ 260g US W8
Stack Peak: 41mm heel / 33 mm forefoot (unchanged)
Platform Width: 90mm heel / 75mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot (unchanged)
Most comparable footwear
Mount to Coast H1 (RTR Overview)
Brooks Ghost Path (RTR Overview)
Adizero EVO SL ATR (RTR Overview)
First Impressions, Match and Higher
Sam: The higher materials is a comparatively gentle and pliable mesh with a raised outer texture and easy internal texture. A considerable overlay extends from the ankle collars all the way in which in parallel strains on both facet to create the webbing wire ace loop holders all over the toe field ending because the outer layer of a reasonably stiff toe bumper.
Down the middle of the toe field we now have a “Dynamic Vamp” of very gentle very skinny mesh which along with creating as wanted toe field quantity can also be a storage for the brand new one handed pull lacing system.
The toe field is reasonably broad in look and match and due to the vamp very adaptable to completely different quantity toes whereas remaining safe and over the toes comfy
Salomon is well-known for its QuickLace system of skinny cords. Right here the cords are greater in diameter.
You pull in direction of you to tighten, first taking on slack in direction of the toe as you usually would do , shifting your hand facet to facet to take up the slack as you pull. Then to complete slide the plastic holder (I believe it could possibly be smaller) down.
Tuck the laces into the entrance pocket which is an extension of the vamp To loosen press each facet buttons of the clip and slide up. They’re simpler to take off than placed on, a great signal by me that the help is strong however want the pocket had a bit extra room
The heel counter is semi inflexible with foot sitting down into the midsole facet partitions.
The collars aren’t significantly deeply padded and suitably inflexible to stabilize the foot in what’s a 41mm heel stack top of fairly gentle foam.
Together: the wire system, the evenly padded gusset tongue, heel counter and full size overlays ship basically a path shoe worthy maintain and slot in a gentle and pliable extra highway shoe like mainupper mesh.
The AeroGide 3 GRVL proven above had basically a really evenly extra supportive highway higher of comparable materials with a number of minor overlays at midfoot that together with the excessive stack and gentle foam made them not likely trails price for me. Right here in Glide 4 we now have no compromises in maintain or consolation for just about any “terrain” besides extra technical trails.
Kelly: From the preliminary step-in, the Salomon Aeroglide 4 GRVL felt instantly comfy and properly supported, with a light-weight, energetic really feel that made me keen to place in additional miles. On the run, that first impression held up: the journey felt bouncy and fascinating whereas remaining comfy over longer, hillier efforts on non-technical terrain. A second outing—a 10-mile hill exercise spanning pavement, snow, ice, and small sections of gravel—highlighted the shoe’s versatility. Even in combined winter circumstances, the Aeroglide 4 GRVL transitioned easily between surfaces and by no means felt misplaced. Total, it feels impressively mild on foot and genuinely pleasing to run in.
The higher is gentle, extremely breathable, and cozy in opposition to the foot, whereas nonetheless offering sufficient construction for mild off-road use. Throughout early-morning runs in ~20°F temperatures, the breathability was virtually too efficient, permitting some chill by way of the higher—although this feels extra like a operate of testing a gravel-focused shoe in winter circumstances. In hotter climate and on dry terrain, the higher ought to excel.
Match by way of the toe field struck a balanced center floor for my medium-width foot. It felt barely on the broader facet however remained safe and supportive, avoiding the constricted really feel of slender designs or the instability of overly huge ones. Notably, even after getting into icy water and operating with moist socks, I skilled no sizzling spots or blisters on longer efforts.
The higher leans extra road-like in its light-weight, versatile really feel, however the Quicklace system permits for simple adjustment and provides trail-style safety when wanted. This steadiness between consolation and lockdown is without doubt one of the shoe’s strengths.
This was my first expertise with Salomon’s Quicklace system, and I discovered it intuitive and simple to make use of. My one level of suggestions is the lace storage: as a result of the higher mesh is so skinny and breathable, the tucked lace pocket often pressed on the highest of my foot and required minor adjustment mid-run. Working with the laces untucked was attainable however lower than ideally suited, making correct stowage price the additional effort.
Midfoot lockdown felt safe and confidence-inspiring, even on slick, icy stretches. Heel match was equally strong, with no irritation or undesirable motion all through my runs.
Total, I felt assured shifting between surfaces. That mentioned, toe safety is reasonable, so for rocky or root-heavy trails—significantly for runners like me who’re vulnerable to toe strikes—I’d go for a shoe with extra reinforcement up entrance.
Midsole & Platform
The OptiFoam 2 midsole is fabricated from tremendous vital expanded TPU beads stack excessive at 41mm on the heel and 33mm on the forefoot so we’re in max cushion territory right here. The platform is suitably broad and particularly at 90mm on the heel to help landings of the excessive stack top and gentle foam.
The midsole is gentle and bouncy as TPU foams often are with a pleasant full of life really feel. There’s loads of deep enjoyable cushioning with extra bounce than fast firmer spring as one usually finds in PEBA or PEBA blends leaning nearer to a supercritical EVA kind foam
Shock absorption is great with noticeable rebound. The outsole performs a key position in additionally offering some response to go along with the bouncy really feel. The shoe has developed some snappy flex according to the final lace loop, useful for choosing up the tempo on highway and for climbing on trails.
Kelly: The midsole delivers a full of life, energetic really feel with a noticeable however managed bounce. Cushioning is beneficiant and properly fitted to longer runs, persistently lowering fatigue over time. The shoe additionally dealt with pickups and quick intervals higher than anticipated for a max-cushioned platform, remaining responsive with out feeling sluggish.
Regardless of the excessive stack top, the shoe by no means felt overly tall or unstable. Cushioning compresses easily on touchdown and transitions naturally into toe-off, which helps clarify why the stack top felt largely unobtrusive through the run. Moderately than an aggressive or propulsive sensation, the power return is easy and managed, offering impression safety with a mild rebound.
The platform feels steady and properly balanced throughout combined terrain, guiding foot placement with out drawing consideration to itself. There was no sense of combating the shoe or compensating for instability, even on uneven surfaces.
Outsole
The Contagrip rubber outsole combines on the entrance outdoors edges 3mm depth lugs tapering to 2mm in direction of the middle with a middle pod of tightly spaced 2mm hexagonal lugs. The heel bars are about 2.5mm in depth. A big central rear cavity has no lugs and I want the middle entrance pod had extra substantial lugs. Whereas the higher for me can now be thought of any trails worthy, the outsole clearly is “gravel”, highway and light-weight trails centered. Up to now, I’ve run them on very exhausting packed snow and highway and the grip has been wonderful.
And, very notably this outsole performs very very properly on these exhausting surfaces with minimal slapping, solely a slight sense it is a trails kind outsole and a really easy circulate with no disconnect between the outsole and midsole, that over agency sensation of a path outsole on highway that’s usually felt.
Kelly: My testing to this point has been restricted to packed snow, asphalt, grime, and temporary sections of gravel. Inside these circumstances, the outsole carried out higher than anticipated—significantly on agency, packed snow—although on ice I’d personally favor extra aggressive traction. That mentioned, it is a gravel-focused shoe fairly than a winter-specific mannequin, and expectations ought to mirror that.
On pavement, the outsole feels easy and unobtrusive, avoiding the stiffness typically related to trail-oriented designs. Traction is reliable fairly than sticky, contributing to a predictable and managed journey.
On the restricted gravel and grime encountered between snow patches, the shoe carried out significantly properly. Rocks have been properly muted underfoot whereas sustaining good management and stability. Primarily based on this early expertise, I’m particularly desperate to revisit the shoe as soon as true gravel circumstances return.
Trip, Conclusions and Suggestions
Kelly: As a whole system, the Aeroglide 4 GRVL delivers exceptionally properly. It stands out as one of the vital succesful crossover footwear I’ve used and feels ideally fitted to non-technical terrain round Park Metropolis. I’d confidently run from my entrance door, up the highway to the native path system, by way of lengthy gravel miles and a few single monitor, and again on pavement with out hesitation.
The shoe excels in consolation, help, and flexibility, whereas nonetheless providing sufficient responsiveness to maintain runs participating. Aesthetically, it’s a attractive shoe. The pair I examined has a clear mixture of whites, greys, and refined blue accents that translate properly past operating. It is a shoe I’d fortunately put on casually post-run.
For extremely technical, rocky terrain, I’d select one thing with extra safety. Nevertheless, for runners on the lookout for a single shoe that may seamlessly transition between highway and light-weight off-road runs with out compromise, the Aeroglide 4 GRVL stands out as probably the greatest choices in its class.
Kelly’s Rating 9.22 /10 😊😊😊😊
Trip (30%): 9.5 Match (30%): 9.3 Worth (10%): 9.3 Type (5%) 10 Traction (15%): 9 Rock Safety (10%): 8
Sam: I assumed the Glide 3 GRVL had a so-so off highway efficiency, saying within the overview: “GRVL is clearly a “highway” shoe, with improved traction”. Model 4 resulting from its higher maintain enhancements clearly strikes the mannequin in direction of notably extra versatility on a greater diversity of path terrain past easy and gravel. On the similar time the higher additionally improves its highway efficiency serving to tame and direct the enjoyable and energetic foam, and there may be numerous it right here (as earlier than), placing the Aero Glide 4 in max cushion class.
The brand new wire pull closure system helps tie the match collectively and is straightforward to make use of however I do suppose the plastic clip and webbing strap could possibly be slimmed down. Not straightforward to placed on, that is one shoe the place I believe a rear pull tab could be actually helpful
They name it GRVL and sure the Aero Glide 4 may be simply that however I see it as extra. It is usually a flexible pavement coach, and particularly so in slippery circumstances, and it’s a now higher mild to reasonable max cushion trails choice. It’s the close to ideally suited single shoe to tackle a visit the place you may solely take one shoe for runs of all kinds, hikes, and informal put on.
Sam’s Rating 9.11 /10 😊😊😊 1/2
Trip (30%): 9.2 Match (30%): 9.1 Worth (10%): 9.2 Type (5%) 9.2 Traction (15%): 8.8 Rock Safety (10%): 9
5 Comparisons
Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL (RTR Overview)
Sam: As lined within the overview, underfoot the identical with an improved higher that higher holds the foot and extra securely directs the massive gentle and bouncy stack of eTPU foam on all terrain. Each true to dimension with a giant much less midfoot quantity in v4 because of the higher adjustments.
Mount to Coast H1 (RTR Overview)
Sam: The present “gravel” and do-anything shoe for me, the H1 has a considerably firmer decrease stack (35/29) extra responsive journey and weighs over 40g much less.. Its higher additionally has a pull wire system however solely on the entrance and that is easier. I discover the H1 extra comfy and equally as supportive. I’m true to dimension within the GRVL and went a half dimension down within the H1 (a really early pattern) so please test the overview linked above for different testers dimension take.
Brooks Ghost Path (RTR Overview)
Sam: Very shut opponents, the Ghost Path is significantly heavier at 10.4oz / 293g US8.5 on a decrease stackheight: 36.5 mm heel / 28.5 mm forefoot. Its journey is denser, extra steady and protecting as is its clearly trails centered higher. Each are true to dimension Whereas the outsoles are comparable in having bar shapes the Ghost Path has significantly extra protection and considerably deeper 3mm lugs. When you lean extra path than highway (or gravel) in a multi floor shoe the Ghost Path. If you need a livelier lighter journey Aero Glide 4 GRVL. I favor the Salomon on this match up for its lighter weight and extra energetic journey.
Adizero EVO SL ATR (RTR Overview)
Sam: A variant of the favored EVO SL, the ATR contains a very supportive evenly climate resistant higher, Lightstrike Professional tremendous foam and a Continental rubber 1.5mm lug outsole. Its stack top and weight are about the identical because the Salomon. The adidas leans extra highway and lighter trails than the Salomon and has a extra exact considerably decrease quantity near true to dimension match for me with my pattern a half US dimension up and a contact roomy.
Salomon Pulsar 4 (RTR Overview)
Utilizing the identical Optifoam on a decrease 35/29 stack top the considerably heavier Pulsar has extra aggressive traction and a decrease quantity ( a half dimension up for me was cosy within the toe field) extra old fashioned path centered higher. The Genesis is a greater trails centered choice from Salomon.
Index to all RTR opinions: HERE
The Aero Glide 4 GRVL can be obtainable March 2026
Tester Profile
Kelly, age 36, is a former Division I athlete turned distance runner and path fanatic. Initially from the East Coast and now dwelling in Park Metropolis, Utah, Kelly discovered her technique to operating after graduating from Dartmouth School, the place she performed on the sector hockey workforce. She ran her first half marathon in 2012 and adopted it together with her debut marathon a yr later. Since then, she has run quite a few marathons and set her PR of three:08 at her second Boston Marathon. Lately, Kelly spends most of her time on the paths within the Wasatch Mountains and is at the moment coaching for her first 50K, which she plans to run in fall 2025. Standing 5’2” and 115 lbs, Kelly lives in Park Metropolis together with her husband and their two younger boys, ages 3 and a couple of. She beforehand labored in tech at Google within the SF Bay Space, and is now centered on her household’s actual property enterprise in Park Metropolis.
Sam is the Editor and Founding father of Street Path Run. He’s in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th yr of operating roads and trails. He has a many years outdated 2:28 marathon PR. Lately he runs halves within the simply sub 1:43 vary. if he will get very, very fortunate. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week principally at reasonable paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Park Metropolis, Utah be it on the run, mountaineering or on nordic skis. He’s 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he isn’t having fun with too many wonderful New England IPA’s.
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