Salomon Aero Glide 4 Review | Max Cushion Without the Bulky Feel

Salomon promises the Aero Glide 4 will provide “High comfort and a flawless running experience guaranteed.” What more could you ask for? Turns out, not much.

Salomon has been quitely gaining ground in the road shoe space the last few years. In fact the last AeroGlide was a favorite of many which has us eager to test out the changes!

For max cushion shoes, they’re not only surprisingly lightweight but also don’t feel like you’re wearing clown shoes – two big pros in my book.

“A lot of shoe that doesn’t feel like a lot of shoe” was my first impression of the Salomon Aero Glide 4. Let’s look at what’s new and what you’ll love.

This is a max cushioned shoe that will comfortably carry you for easy runs through any distance.

Salomon Aero Glide 4 Overview

The Aero Glide 4 looks the part of a Salomon shoe – not flashy, but with a fun pop of color (at least in the lime green Butterfly/White colorway I received) and utilitarian design that just screams “take me outside where I belong.”

The first thing you’re likely to notice (as I did) is the small fin-like protrusion of the upper on the heel of the shoe. This is evidence of the Aero Glide 4’s seamless inside-out construction, designed to surround your foot like a second skin.

The real comfort, however, is found in the midsole. Exclusively containing a generous stack of Salomon’s optiFOAM², which gives you a really nice bouncy feel. Instead of a plush cushion that you sink into, you feel the ride on top of the shoe which is probably part of why they don’t feel as clunky as something like the Bondi. The midsole also features decoupling and a reverse camber for soft landings and easy transitions.

These are among the lightest shoes in the max cushioning category, yet still provide a fairly stable and smooth ride.

Coach Amanda: The Aero Glide 3 was a hit with us and runners all over. The overall updates here are to the upper and some fit, so if you loved the previous model then you’ll be thrilled to hop in to the newest version.

We love a max cushion shoe that gives you all that underfoot comfort without feeling heavy over cumbersome on the run. I think that’s why so many gravitated to this for longer miles.

Because Salmon is known for their trail shoes, it’s no surprise that the outsole is well designed. It’s got enough coverage to enjoy crushed gravel paths without picking up rocks and traction for wet days.

Salomon Aero Glide 4 Fit

One issue I’ve typically had in the past with max cushioned shoes is that they tend to fit roomier even in regular widths – which is fine and maybe even preferable for those with wider or higher-volume feet, but my narrower and lower volume feet sometimes felt like they were swimming.

This is where the inside-out construction of the Aero Glide 4 shines for me – the midfoot felt just snug enough without being too tight, and the forefoot had just enough room for my toes without feeling sloppy.

The heel collar is firm but has a nice thick padding, and the heel counter kept my heels secured in place without any rubbing.

The tongue, however, is……not my favorite. It’s gusseted only about halfway up the foot and is a touch longer and wider than it needs to be, making it a little difficult to secure comfortably especially under the relatively thin laces.

It’s not a dealbreaker for me, but does seem to be a common complaint based on a few other reviews I read, so hopefully it will be changed in future versions.

As I already mentioned, the laces are a bit thin but they did stay secured in a double knot just fine.

They’re also on the shorter side, so if you need to do any creative lacing for heel lock or other purposes, you may find them a little too short.

They were just fine for me lacing up to the highest eyelet, however.

Salomon Aero Glide 4 Feel

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Aero Glide 4 felt great right out of the box – soft but not squishy.

I remembered that my old Salomon trail shoes were rather firm, but the Aero Glide 4 felt soft and resilient – especially once I started running.

These aren’t the super cush shoes you’ll want to wear everyday for just standing and walking around in, but once you get running you really feel the optiFOAM² come alive to propel you forward.

My overall thought for the majority of the 3-7 mile runs I test drove these shoes for was “These are FUN!” For such a high stack, they really handled well even on corners – I never felt unstable.

The reverse camber of the midsole meant there was way less ground feel than I’m used to from more mid-level cushioned daily trainers – instead it felt more like I was floating over the ground sometimes. My aging joints (and left partial knee replacement in particular) didn’t mind that so much, but my mind still prefers to feel the ground a little more.

The 8mm drop is pretty typical among higher stack shoes these days and therefore should be a fairly easy shoe to transition into for most runners.

It splits the difference between the other shoes I’ve been wearing on a regular basis lately, which have 6mm and 10mm drops, and switching between these has not been a problem for me.

Your mileage may vary if you have particularly sensitive Achilles or IT bands.

Similar Shoes to the Salomon Aero Glide 4

We’ve tested a few high cushioned shoes that feel similar, but different based on the brand fit. 

Will I continue to reach for the Aero Glide 4 for my everyday and long runs? I can confidently say these have earned a place in my usual rotation for now. The springy cushion and easy transitions make them a prime candidate for most of my easy runs, and likely many of my longer runs as well.

They’ve proven themselves well over a variety of terrain (asphalt, dirt road, gravel trail) and in both warm and cold temperatures. All in all – very glad to have a pair of Salomon running shoes back in my closet after I said goodbye to those trusty Salomon trail runners many years ago.

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