REASONS TO BUY
Good midsole
Premium upper materials
Secure fit
REASONS TO AVOID
Narrow
Reduced room for foot swelling
Pinches midfoot
Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Review
A stable base with good midsole comfort, but underwhelming traction that is best suited for narrow feet and moderate terrain
Credit: Matthew Richardson
RELATED: Best Trail Running Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
The Salomon Ultra Glide 2 has an excellent midsole but the upper comfort gives us pause in recommending it unless you have narrow feet. Salomon continues to feature more narrow options than the competition which are great for confidence in more technical terrain. However, this isn't ideal for many runners — including our team — on easier runs and during normal training. Otherwise, the model is well-built and features solid crossover traction. It's a good option for those with narrower feet who want terrain versatility and comfort.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Salomon Ultra Glide 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best for Long Distance Trail Runs |  Best Value Men's Trail Runners | |||
| Price | $149.99 at Public Lands Compare at 3 sellers | $145.00 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $130.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $109.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods Compare at 4 sellers | $58.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Narrow shoes that aren't for all feet, but a solid, if underwhelming, option for those it fits | While comfortable, sometimes the heel rigidity felt overbearing, but this is still a great option for technical terrain | This version's upper fit is narrower, which adds more technical performance but may feel tighter than some like | While great in moderate terrain those in technical or loose may opt for something more rugged | More serious runners should opt for a shoe with a better midsole |
| Rating Categories | Salomon Ultra Glide 2 | La Sportiva Bushido... | Hoka Torrent 4 | Brooks Divide 5 | Asics Gel-Venture 9 |
| Foot Protection (25%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Sensitivity (15%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (15%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Salomon Ultra Glide 2 | La Sportiva Bushido... | Hoka Torrent 4 | Brooks Divide 5 | Asics Gel-Venture 9 |
| Sizes Available | 7 - 14 US regular |
6 - 14.5 US regular and wide | 7 - 15 US regular |
7 - 15 US regular |
7 - 15 US regular |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 34 mm | 30 mm | 31 mm | 38 mm | 36 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 9 mm | 8 mm | 5 mm | 11 mm | 11 mm |
| Rock Plate | No | 1.5mm EVA | No | No | No |
| Measured Lug Depth | 3.52 mm | 4.2 mm | 4.32 mm | 2.79 mm | 3.18 mm |
| Measured Weight | 11.05 oz | 11.60 oz | 9.40 oz | 10.55 oz | 11.82 oz |
| Upper | Textile/Synthetic | AirMesh, thermal adhesive microfiber, high-frequency welded ripstop overlays with mono-burr mesh inlays, TPU toe cap | Single layer mesh upper | Mesh | Mesh |
| Midsole | energyFOAM | 4mm LaSpEVA, compression-molded MEMlex, 1.5 mm dual-density compressed EVA rock guard in forefoot, TPU STB inserts | Foam | Foam | AMPLIFOAM™ cushioning |
| Outsole | Rubber | Bi-Compound FriXion XT 2.0 V-Groove3, FLEX Inserts | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | None | Finger Loop | Finger Loop | None | Finger Loop |
| Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 6 mm | 6 mm | 5 mm | 8 mm | 10 mm |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Salomon Ultra Glide 2 is a well-crafted trail shoe that stands out for its reliable crossover traction and excellent midsole performance. It's a great choice for runners who value terrain versatility and need a shoe capable of handling a variety of surfaces. However, the upper comfort might not appeal to everyone, as it is tailored toward those with narrow feet.
Performance Comparison
The responsive midsole of the Ultra Glide 2 works well over moderate terrain, but the narrow and tight fit of this shoe makes it not a great choice for most runners.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Foot Protection
The Ultra Glide 2 feels fairly neutral underfoot, featuring responsive cushioning that blends well with a more rigid platform. Its narrower fit keeps this shoe feeling responsive and agile. We recommend it most for consistent terrain, where you can let the midsole work for you. The EnergyFOAM midsole compound is the Ultra Glide's standout feature and it provides good terrain versatility. This is a protective underfoot, reducing long-run fatigue, but isn't so protective that the model feels slow or clunky.
The Ultra Glide 2 has firm cushioning that provides great foot protection and feel against impacts and trail debris.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Traction
The Ultra Glide 2 has traction abilities best suited for moderate terrain. This pattern is almost identical to the Salomon Sense Ride 5. Our in-house lab team measured the Ultra Glide lug depth at 3.5 mm. Their angular design helps keep a nice ground feel without a sensation of grip slowing you down on easier terrain. A hardness value of 71 makes for a nice blend of wet performance and durability.
The traction on the Ultra Glide 2 is comfortable and dependable and is similar to what is found on our other tested Salomon models.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Sensitivity
Average sensitivity accompanies the Ultra Glide 2, thanks largely to its forefoot stack height, which we measured at 25 mm. This combined with the supportive midsole makes landing performance feel precise and surefooted. There is less rocker than other models so the shoe provides little influence over your running form. Sensitivity can often lead to fatigue at longer distances so Salmon does a nice job implementing a good blend that allows these shoes to be used for long days. After our testing, we think this shoe works best for distances between the half-marathon and 50k.
The slimmer design and lighter midsole provide average sensitivity which gives good brain feedback on a wide variety of trail types.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Stability
The Ultra Glide 2 provides good stability, but expect to recruit more of your leg muscles than some shoes with a wider platform. We didn't mind this because it kept us feeling engaged, which led to better form. The heel stack feels largely average, at 34 mm, but we felt supported through our ankles, knees, and hips. In more technical terrain we had to be a bit more cautious as the Ultra Glide doesn't love off-camber terrain but it's plenty capable in bursts. This could be a great option for beginners who are looking to upgrade if you find the slimmer profile works well for you.
The narrow platform for firm cushioning led to good supportive running and we never felt the model to be overly tippy or unruly.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Comfort and Fit
The Ultra Glide 2 excels in this category — but also has us hesitating to recommend it. If you have a narrow foot and want an excellent midsole compound this could be a great model for you. If you don't like the sensation of snugness, you may want to look at something with a wider platform. There is a time and place for a snug shoe — especially when wanting to have a fast descending performance. But this model speaks more as a cruiser for long-distance running, which is not where we typically want a snug upper. If the shoe fits your feet well we think this is one of the better midsole compounds in our lineup.
The cushioning on the Ultra Glide 2 is excellent but the narrow upper could feel more restrictive than some like.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Weight
Measured at 11.05 oz per shoe (size US men's 10.5), the Ultra Glide 2 provides a great midsole and durable outsole for a roughly average weight. In our testing, however, the shoe felt lighter and more agile than this measurement would suggest.
Our in-house and field team did tons of testing over the weeks to narrow down our thoughts on the Ultra Glide 2. Here is some of that footage.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Salomon Ultra Glide 2?
We think there are better options on the market than the Salomon Ultra Glide 2, and we'd recommend them unless you have narrow feet. The midsole is the standout feature here, providing good comfort and energy return. The Ultra Glide works well over shorter ultra distances (sub 30 miles). The turnover felt consistent and the more narrow upper gives the sensation of performance and speed. However, there are multiple other options that fit this same bill without feeling constricted through the midfoot and we'd opt for those instead. Salmon provides great quality so if the shoe fits your foot it's likely you'll be happy with your purchase.
The Salomon Ultra Glide 2 is a great option for folks with narrow feet. For others, we'd opt for something with a little more comfort through the upper.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
What Other Men's Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
For similar terrain, we'd recommend the better-performing Hoka Torrent 4, with more well-rounded comfort, a lighter weight, and a lower price. For more technical terrain the Nnormal Tomir 2.0 offers a much more universally comfortable fit and more versatile traction. Both of these options have good foothold and performance but more comfortable uppers. Their midsoles also match that of the Ultra Glide 2 well, providing good cushioning with high energy return.
Matthew here tests out the Salmon Ultra Glide 2 in SW Colorado.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
—Matthew Richardson
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