Salomon’s new Aero Glide 3 road shoe has been crafted with more cushion than ever before. And yet somehow the shoe remains on the light side for all that stack height. Let’s talk about how it runs!
Having a recovery running shoe that is dependable, sturdy, and comfortable is a runner’s dream. Brands like Hoka have made max-cushioned trainers trendy nowadays. But does the extra cushion have any benefit (other than making you look three inches taller)?
The best part of these shoes is how durable and versatile they are, which is a great thing when you are looking for an all around running shoe.
Who is This Shoe Good For?
Who is the Salomon Aero Glide 3 good for, let’s break it down by some common categories:
- Wide Feet: Lots of room in the upper and toe box should make it accommodating.
- Heavier Runners: TPU foam is one of the most durable.
- Long Runs: Remain comfortable and stable throughout many miles.
- Front of the Pack: While it’s designed for easy runs, you can pick up the pace thanks to the weight.
This shoe is for runners and walkers who want max cushion comfort and a sturdy sole for stability.
Salomon Aero Glide 3 Overview
When I first opened the shoe box, I was shocked to see how LARGE they looked. Not only were they maximally padded on the bottom, but the toe box looked wide as well. It’s hared to find wide toe box running shoes, so put that in the plus column!
When I picked the shoe up, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the shoe didn’t feel like a brick. In fact, it’s one of the lighter max cushion style shoes!
This shoe utilizes Salomon’s energyFOAM evo in the midsole. This supercritical TPU foam means that the shoe is going to be extremely durable, which makes sense for a brand that has focused so long on adventure. It’s also how they were able to get in so much cushion at such a light weight.
The lightness of the shoe allowed me to pick up the pace without feeling like the shoes were slowing me down. With that being said, it didn’t have the classic “pop” like other lightweight running shoes designed for speed.
This shoe made me want to do more easy miles in them. Once on the road, it felt smooth, controlled, and exceptionally comfortable. While running, I didn’t think of them on my feet and they felt good throughout the entire run. I love shoes that require no mid-run adjustments, and these shoes definitely stepped up! I could definitely see myself wearing these for long, easy runs up to marathon distance because of its consistent durability.
Compared to Salomon’s previous model, the Aero Glide 2, the Aero Glide 3 has a smaller heel drop and a taller stack height. Additionally, the new Aero Glide 3 is almost one ounce lighter than the previous model!! That is crazy to me, considering how cushioned this shoe remains.
Salomon Aero Glide 3 SPECS
- Weight: 8.6 oz Men’s, 7.2 oz Women’s
- Stack Height: 41mm
- Heel Drop: 8 mm
- Available in 5 Colors
- Not available in wide
- Available on Salomon.com for $160
The company notes that the SalomonFOAM midsole has the tallest stack in their road lineup with a reduced weight – and that might just be the secret for never-ending strides that feel so pleasant.
Salomon Aero Glide 3 Fit
To be completely honest, the shoes felt stiff and rigid when I first put them on. It definitely did not feel limber on my feet immediately and it took a bit of walking around for the shoe to mold to my feet.
In addition, the shoe felt LARGE.
Salomon’s website provides a shoe sizing guide, which can help you find the perfect size. If I were to get these shoes again, I would go down a half size so that they wouldn’t feel as big.
My feet were slipping a bit and my toes felt like they were swimming in the large toe box. I wasn’t sure if this was a blessing or curse. I am prone to blisters on my toes, but also I didn’t want my feet to be sliding while trying to run. 
Luckily, the heel felt sturdy and cushioned. Once I laced my feet in, the shoes felt much better.
The tongue is super long and thin. However, it did not hit my ankle or move around at all during the run, which was a major success!!
Salomon Aero Glide 3 Feel
The shoe does not have a curved bottom; instead, it sits sturdily against the ground. The mesh on the top of the shoe is very breathable and soft!
The laces are an underrated feature of the shoes. I appreciated the durability of the laces and they seem resistant to fraying (my pet peeve!)
This shoe gets a 10/10 for sturdiness. The foam is super squishy but still responsive to each stride. To my surprise, the shoe didn’t feel heavy, even though it had a massive stack height.
This shoe is good on a variety of surfaces. I ran about 30 miles in these shoes over the roads, trails, track, and treadmill. Overall, running on the road or treadmill was the best bang for your buck when it comes to different surfaces.
Because of the max cushion and the Road Contagrip® outsole, it withstands the demands of road running very well. It is super durable and nicely adheres to the road/treadmill surface. I didn’t have a chance to take it out in the rain, but wouldn’t be afraid to or worry about any grip issues.
Thanks to its simple sole design, the shoe did not pick up much road or trail debris.
A common complaint about max-cushioned shoes is that it alters running gait because it makes it harder to feel the ground beneath your feet. However, I did not notice any changes to my running form, and the extra padding felt great under my heel.
These shoes are made to last for hundreds of miles, thanks to the outsole. The foam remained firm and bouncy throughout all of my runs and had no signs of deteriorating.
Similar Shoes to the Salomon Aero Glide 3
We’ve tested a few that feel similar, but different based on the brand fit:
- Brooks Glycerin Max (a max-cushioned recovery run shoe with some pop)
- Saucony Hurricane 24 (a stability shoe with lots of cushion)
- Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 (another max cushion shoe meant for many easy miles!)
All right, hopefully this Salomon Aero Glide 3 review helped you figure out if it’s worth a test. We’d definitely say if you want some room in the toe box and a light cushioned easy run shoe, it should be on the lists.
Who Tried It?
Hi! I’m Laura, a college student in California majoring in exercise physiology with a minor in nutrition. I’ve been running for about six years now, and it has become one of my favorite things ever. You can find me running on California trails, drinking matcha in the early hours of the morning, or creating epic playlists for my next adventure.
I love racing trail half marathons, and have recently gotten into triathlons. I typically run about 40 miles a week, and it’s the purest form of adventure I know. You can find me on Strava @ Laura W!
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