Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide Review: Max Cushion, Max Fun, Max Comfort

Article by Sam Winebaum

S/Lab Extremely Glide ($250)

Introduction

Salomon launched the  2025 S/Lab Extremely Glide at UTMB positioning their most max cushion (41mm heel / 35mm forefoot) so far path runner as a shoe for lengthy hours on the path at extra average paces. Salomon’s purpose was to create “run in consolation from mile 1”. 

It’s not a lot an elite extremely racer, as S/Lab footwear historically have been usually particularly impressed by the wants of sure athletes, however is meant as a shoe for these out for 30 to 40 hours throughout 100 miler. It follows the same mid pack targeted S/Lab Spectur 2 for street as a cutting-edge racer/coach for the not so quick, though some Salomon elites raced it a UTMB. Please learn on for the shoe particulars (many!) and the outcomes of our testing.

The geometry is exclusive and for certain modern. We now have a layer of supercritical Vitality Foam+ under the foot as a central core with Vitality Foam (as discovered within the Genesis) surrounding and under. It is a softer midsole for certain from Salomon and for a path shoe with nice power return. 

The excessive rear midsole facet partitions present stability and are so excessive Salomon needed to mould the outer Vitality Foam in two sides/items. 

They then found that the glue becoming a member of the two sides plus the rocker creates a light propulsive impact whereas additionally stabilizing, with none plate, which is one thing  I clearly found on the run.

The showpiece of the geometry is a brand new expertise known as Relieve Sphere. It’s made up of concave strategically positioned round components positioned at underfoot strain factors entrance to again. 

I discovered they not solely work as supposed but additionally present  floor really feel, reduction from shock pressures and, a really pure trip ,however one which had some limits in additional technical terrain as a result of softness of the froth and constraints they create for outsole lug protection, 

Sitting on a broad platform to assist stabilize the gentle foam, with a roomy consolation targeted match the higher is product of a mix of a stretch knit toe field mono mesh and knit to the rear and overlays, No Matryx right here.  

The Extremely Glide weighs a really commendable 10.05 oz / 285g in my US8 /EU 41 1/3 pattern. 

I’m often a US8.5 with the dimensions down a minimum of in US dimension right here appropriate for my slim to medium ft. This shoe will for certain be far friendlier than prior Salomon for broader larger quantity ft

The S/Lab Extremely Glide follows within the footsteps and goal of the decrease stack about the identical weight Extremely Glide (RTR Assessment), certainly one of our favourite long term footwear of 2023 with an all new geometry, the twin foams and Relieve Sphere expertise.

I acquired my pair at Salomon’s introduction occasion on the slopes of Le Brevent the place members ran various distances on steep terrain with stations presenting the shoe and different 2025 Salomon gear alongside the best way. 

There was even a station presenting the Extremely Glide’s traits, design and styling with meals artwork designed to mirror in form and even tastes. Beneath Geometry.

Because the occasion, I’ve hiked them 10 miles on clean terrain, and run 7 miles on pavement, gravel and average trails.

My testing thus far exhibits it sits of their extremely lineup as much less technical trails targeted than the S/Lab Extremely FDH and as a extra cushioned various to the S/Lab Genesis and Genesis. It is usually a sensational street shoe as a non plated tremendous coach with grip for gravel if want be.

Execs:

Remarkably light-weight at about 10.2 oz / 289g (US 9 equal) for a max cushion, excessive stack, broad platform path shoe

Relieve Sphere geometry underfoot supplies a pressures free trip and nice floor really feel

Very versatile from considerably much less tech trails to street and for hike paces

Efficient plateless rocker geometry

Snug, broad becoming higher

Cons:

Match runs massive and roomy upfront  and will use extra entrance and mid foot lockdown for tech terrain

Furthest ahead medial Relieve Sphere‘s compression creates a very skinny toe off on that facet.

Outsole lug protection (and grip) is constrained by Relieve Sphere. Potential early outsole put on

Most  comparable footwear

Salomon Extremely Glide

La Sportiva Prodigio Professional (2025)

Hoka Mafate Velocity

Hoka Speedgoat

New Steadiness Contemporary Foam Extra Path

Stats

Pattern Weight: males’s  10.05 oz / 285g US8

Stack Peak: males’s  41 mm heel /  35mm forefoot (  6mm drop)

Platform Width: mm 90 heel / 85 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot 

$250. Obtainable 2025

First Impressions, Match and Higher

The higher is a mix of non-stretch mono mesh with minima knit to the rear and midfoot with rising quantities of knit and fewer mono mesh excessive of the toes. 

Very elaborate, it seems Salomon has mixed two very totally different supplies: a considerably stretchy knit with a non stretch mono mesh in a single steady knitting course of with softer knit towards the foot all through the higher.

The heel space is semi inflexible with help at its sides from the very excessive rising foam facet partitions which attain virtually to the highest fringe of the collars. These foam partitions lengthen ahead seating the foot down into the shoe permitting the higher to be skinny and pliable but supportive on the identical time.

The tongue is gusseted its complete size to create a sleeve. Not a leatherette kind tongue, it’s a barely stretchy very flippantly padded mesh materials.

After all now we have Salomon’s Quicklaces with a “storage” which is straightforward to entry,

The toe field space over the toes has essentially the most knit materials within the higher and is broad and fairly unstructured.  A reasonably gentle and pliable  toe bumper retains the foot in place and supplies entrance safety.

This toe field is clearly the broadest and most accommodating of any Salomon I can recall and will accommodate broader larger quantity ft and swelling throughout lengthy runs and races. 

I feel it goes a contact too far within the “consolation” division and will have a bit extra construction and entrance lockdown particularly contemplating the excessive stack peak and gentle foam. It was completely positive on average trails, at hike paces all over the place and on street however when issues received rougher it was a bit shakier. Understanding the product transient as a shoe for the 30-40 hour 100 mile racer, Salomon needed to steadiness many hours consolation on foot with efficiency they usually do get shut. It seems some Salomon elites additionally wished for some extra entrance construction and their prototypes have it.

I discovered the Extremely Glide breathable and particles resistant however haven’t gotten them absolutely soaked to find out draining and drying occasions.

As beforehand stated, the match is about appropriate in size in my take a look at pair when it comes to sizing however not when it comes to shoe marking. I’m often a US8.5 and right here the pattern is labeled US8 / EU 41 ⅓. I do assume for a extra exact match given the stretch upfront I may go a half dimension down US for my narrower to medium ft. 

Midsole & Platform

The midsole has a central core (on the foot prime layer) of supercritical Vitality Foam +   with a  gentle 42A  Shore firmness score. This is identical foam as present in Salomon’s S/Lab Spectur 2 and S/Lab Illusion 2 street racers 

The outer service and on the floor backside layer is Vitality Foam with a 45A Shore firmness score, the identical firmness and foam as within the Genesis and S/Lab Genesis and I imagine additionally non S/Lab Extremely Glide

With its 41mm heel and 35mm forefoot now we have plenty of deep, deep but additionally energetic cushioning right here. That is the “softest” Salomon path shoe but for me and by far essentially the most cushioned. It is usually the softest and most deeply cushioned path shoe that may truly transfer alongside on trails I can recall.

To make the large stack of soppy foam “useful” for path operating and to boost lengthy hours of path consolation  Salomon incorporates three components:

The platform is broad at 90 heel / 85 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot. When these excessive sidewalls are additionally introduced into the image  with the 90mm large heel now we have nice heel stability right here and each had been clearly important to stabilize the rear of the shoe and achieve this,

Salomon tells us the excessive sidewalls offered a producing problem, after which a possibility, as the entire backside service which incorporates them couldn’t be molded in a single piece. So it was molded in two sides and glued collectively down the middle. 

Salomon examined varied variations, some with carbon and different plates however discovered that the glue line down the middle plus the rocker geometry offered sufficient stiffness and rolling movement {that a} plate was not required for the shoe’s goal and leaving it out would save weight. I usually agree however surprise what a skinny woven plate would possibly do up entrance to stabilize and supply a contact extra propulsion.

The third key ingredient, and essentially the most modern are the Relieve Spheres underfoot geometry, 

The concave components are designed to alleviate foot pressures at key factors and had been designed utilizing lab information. They embody the toe off space, metatarsals, simply forward of midfoot, the arch and heel. 

On the run there’s a sensation of not solely strain reduction however of a pure floor conforming really feel. 

Given the large stack of froth I’m not certain the heel Sphere is actually required. The arch and midfoot to metatarsal Spheres are extremely efficient. 

The very entrance Spheres are a miss for me as they create a very skinny very entrance of the shoe, compressing too far. I feel they could possibly be eradicated or decreased in depth. This may additionally enable for a extra intensive outsole lug protection up entrance as steep free gravel toe offs had bit extra slip than I would really like. 

Outsole

The outsole is Salomon’s glorious Contagrip rubber with 4mm lugs. Given the Spheres cavities upfront and on the heel, the density of lug protection is considerably lighter there than I’d choose however for average path terrain and paces the tradeoff for the Spheres tech, lighter weight and clean non slappy trip on any agency terrain is price it.

This taste of Contragrip seems to be on the gentle facet which reinforces the trip however which, in my early non last manufacturing pair is exhibiting under common put on up entrance at 30 miles of operating and climbing on usually tough rocky terrain and arduous smoother surfaces together with street.  

I feel the comparatively low variety of entrance lugs given the Spheres is placing extra strain on these lugs on toe off. 

I might add that at 30 miles the Extremely Glide, regardless of the enormous 35mm entrance stack peak has a comparatively snappy flex level positioned the place the laces finish. Good!

Trip, Conclusions and Suggestions

The Extremely Glide has a pleasant, energetic and deeply cushioned trip. That is one versatile shoe with a spotlight, as supposed on the extremely runner who’s mid pack to again of pack. Salomon clearly realized that a big section of path runners had been shifting to extremely cushioned forgiving footwear reminiscent of Hoka’s Speedgoat and Mafate Velocity. Whereas their Genesis and S/Lab Extremely FDH had been positive choices, a softer extra energetic trip and extra consolation targeted higher was so as and thus the Extremely Glide.  

I’ve very a lot loved all my runs and hikes within the Extremely Glide. Its strengths are at hike paces on any terrain, any uphills, smoother terrain on the run and curiously on the street the place they simply compete with any of the max cushion unplated tremendous foam cushioned trainers reminiscent of Hoka’s new Sklyflow and for certain the ponderous Contemporary Foam Extra.

The consolation targeted higher and deep cushion softness begins to make issues shakier on extra technical terrain at quicker paces. I feel it could possibly be perfected by dialing within the toe field maintain a bit extra, eliminating the very entrance Spheres or rising the entrance proportion of firmer Vitality Foam there and rising the entrance outsole lug protection there considerably.

All in all of the S/Lab Extremely Glide is one enjoyable shoe. Completely fashionable in building and modern through its Relieve Spheres, if lengthy hours consolation on the path (and even street) with a full of life excessive power huge smiles trip is your factor it is going to be price contemplating in 2025.

Sam’s Rating: 9.3/10

Deductions for a bit extra entrance maintain and construction and formore very entrance outsole protection and massive toe toe off space cushion depth. Potential deductions for outsole put on (TBD with extra testing).

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Detailed Comparisons to comply with shortly.

The S/Lab Extremely Glide shall be out there 2025

Tester Profiles

Sam is the Editor and Founding father of Highway Path Run. He’s in his 60’s  with 2024 Sam’s 52th yr of operating roads and trails. He has a a long time previous 2:28 marathon PR. Today he runs halves within the simply sub 1:40 vary if he will get very, very fortunate. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week largely at average paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, climbing or on nordic skis. He’s 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he’s not having fun with too many positive New England IPA’s.

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