Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe review – price, comparison, who it’s for

Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe upper

The Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe upper is made from a mesh material with good breathability. One of the upper’s distinctive features is that it looks almost inside out, with the seams and joins placed on the outside so they do not irritate the foot on the inside. The outer material is a stronger, slightly rougher fabric, while the inside feels soft. The tongue is moderately padded, and most of it is stitched to the upper, with only the top 1/3 moving freely. It is wide and wraps around the instep well, but it is a little harder to position properly. The heel collar is padded but not overly padded, and it is rigid, so it holds the foot very securely. The upper uses sensiFIT technology, which means there is a reinforcement running from the lacing system down to the midsole to hold the foot more securely. The upper fits true to size in length and has a medium width.

Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe midsole

The Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe midsole is made from a supercritical TPU foam called OptiFoam², which has impressive properties across the board. Its energy return is far above average, ranking among the best in the category of non-carbon-plated daily trainers. Its cushioning is also well above average. The foam is moderately soft, so despite the 41 mm stack height it does not feel wobbly, and stability is good. There is a large and deep longitudinal cutout in the lower part of the midsole, which improves the shoe’s torsional flexibility and makes it comfortable at lower intensities as well, but even so the midsole is still a little stiffer than average, which also improves stability. The midsole is very versatile: it supports faster running, yet it remains comfortable at lower intensities. The midsole geometry is curved both at the front and at the back, which contributes to quick transitions. Salomon calls this curved midsole shape Reverse Camber geometry.

Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe outsole

The Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe outsole is made from Salomon’s in-house, widely used Contagrip rubber compound, which sits in the medium-soft to medium-firm range. Although there is also a GRVL version of the shoe that is suitable for lighter trail running, the outsole of the standard version is also thicker than average and has deep grooves, so its grip is better than average as well. Its durability is good: even after 200 km, it shows only minimal signs of wear. The outsole is segmented and does not cover the entire midsole. There is a large longitudinal cutout in the middle so the shoe does not become too stiff, and around it there is a ring-shaped outsole layout. The fact that this ring almost wraps all the way around improves not only grip but also stability. There is also a large outsole section in the middle of the forefoot, with small rubber lugs on it that provide excellent traction and are a big help when running uphill and downhill. At the same time, this central outsole section also improves toe-off dynamics.

What is it like to run in the Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe?

Cushioning and midsole

The Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe midsole delivers a high level of cushioning, performing well above average, which makes it suitable for longer runs too. The OptiFoam² foam used in the midsole also has energy return that is comfortably above average: it is very springy and bouncy, and it provides a lot of assistance at toe-off. It is easy to pick up and hold the pace in this shoe, yet it is flexible enough that lower-intensity runs do not feel harsh in it, when you are pushing off with less force.

Stability and guidance

Despite the fact that the Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe midsole is tall and moderately wide, its stability is good, and that comes down to several factors. First, the OptiFoam² foam used in the midsole is not too soft, but not hard either, so it resists collapsing inward or outward. Second, the midsole foam rises high up around the upper, which holds the foot securely. Third, the outsole forms a ring around the midsole, giving substantial support in every direction. The midsole uses Reverse Camber geometry, which means it is curved both at the front and at the back, helping create quick, smooth transitions.

Upper and comfort

The Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe upper is moderately padded and well balanced, providing enough comfort without feeling heavy. It looks as if it were built inside out, with the reinforcing layers on the sides and around the heel collar placed on the outside rather than the inside, which makes it comfortable and eliminates irritating pressure points on the inside. The upper is lightweight, breathes well, and remains very comfortable even over longer periods of wear.

Ground contact and traction

The outsole makes contact with the ground over a relatively large surface area, and the midsole rocker does not start too early either at the front or the rear. The outsole contacts the ground over a large area and is moderately soft, so it provides good grip on both wet and dry hard surfaces.

Pace and dynamics

The OptiFoam² foam used in the midsole of the Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe is a distinctly energetic, dynamic foam, which is why the shoe is suitable for faster running even over longer distances. It is not a race shoe, but among daily trainers its level of dynamism is well above average.

Long run vs tempo vs daily training

Because both the cushioning and the energy return of the midsole are high, the Aero Glide 4 works equally well for longer runs and for faster workouts. It is not an all-out speed shoe, so there are better options even within the Salomon range for short, very fast efforts, but over half marathon and marathon distances it belongs among the quicker shoes.

Who is the Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe recommended for – and who is it not for?

Because the Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe is such a versatile running shoe, both in terms of pace and distance, it can be recommended for practically any type of daily training. It can be a good choice for beginner runners, but also for advanced runners for longer or faster runs. Because the upper is very durable and the outsole covers a relatively large area of the midsole, it can also work well for runners with a higher body weight or even overweight runners.

What changed compared to the previous version? Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe vs Salomon Aero Glide 3.

The Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe changed mainly in the upper compared to the previous version. The upper became more breathable, and it is made from a slightly stiffer, stronger material that also feels lighter.

The midsole of the shoe also changed a little: it became 1 mm taller and perhaps slightly firmer, although that is genuinely barely noticeable. When I first picked up the shoe and noticed the OptiFoam² label on the midsole, I was a little disappointed. The previous version has energyFOAM evo written on the midsole, and I really like and enjoy that foam, so I would have hated it if it had changed, but it turned out that only the name changed and the foam itself stayed the same.

The outsole of the new version did not change compared to the previous version, which is good news, because the outsole of the Salomon Aero Glide 3 running shoe worked very well, with good grip and good durability.

Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe alternatives – comparison

It is worth comparing the Salomon Aero Glide 4 running shoe with its GRVL version. Salomon offers a real choice here, because both shoes cost the same, so your needs determine the decision, not your wallet. The midsoles of the two shoes are identical and deliver a similar ride. The GRVL version has a deeper outsole pattern so it can grip better on looser surfaces. Their uppers differ significantly: the standard model has traditional laces, and only the upper part of the tongue is free, while the lower part is stitched in. Its upper is lighter, thinner and more breathable. Because of the outsole and the differences that come with it, in my EU 42 size the GRVL version is 20 grams heavier.

An alternative to the Salomon Aero Glide 4 could be:

• Adidas Adizero Evo SL, which is a little lighter and softer, but not as stable as the Aero Glide 4
• ASICS Novablast 5, which is almost identical to the Aero Glide 4 running shoe in its physical parameters, but the latter is more stable
• Saucony Endorphin Azura, which is a little more aggressive and more tempo-focused, but whose midsole has similar dynamics
• Hoka Mach 7, which is a little lighter, but its midsole is also lower, so it offers less cushioning
• Mizuno Neo Zen 2, which is a little less dynamic, but similarly versatile and has similar physical parameters
• Puma Magnify Nitro 3, which offers a similarly fun ride, with a slightly snugger foothold and upper