Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL Review | Ultra-Cushioned Road-to-Trail Shoe

If you’re a road runner who occasionally dabbles in some trail running, the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL might be the do-everything shoe you’ve been looking for. We love a good road to trail shoe that can take us everywhere we want to go.

As Salomon’s latest addition to its line of gravel running shoes, the Aero Glide 3 GRVL is a solid high stack, max cushioned option for those runs where the terrain gets a little grittier than your average road run.

Previously we reviewed the road only option of this shoe and it has already gained a massive following. Many runners are calling it one of the best daily trainers they’ve tried. This as you might guess the more rugged version of the Salomon Aero Glide 3… so the question is did they mess up a good thing??

Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL Overview

At first glance, the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL is a great looking shoe.  A high stack, cushioned trainer that’s great for easy and long miles out on gravel, light trails, and the road. In fact, this is likely going to make our best road to trail shoe recommendations.

I’ve taken this shoe out for a couple of 4-6 mile runs on light urban trails, some longer 8-10 mile runs, and I even took them out for a hike on a non-technical trail. I’ve tried the shoe on the road, the trail, and the treadmill, indoors and in a rainstorm.

This shoe was a true surprise for me, as it looks outwardly like a trail/hybrid running shoe but feels much more like a road running shoe in terms of comfort, cushion, and weight. If you haven’t tried a Salomon shoe before, the brand is well known in the outdoor lifestyle space for their well engineered shoes, apparel, and gear. The Aero Glide 3 GRVL is the brand’s gravel-focused version of their max cushioned road running shoe, the Aero Glide 3.

What’s gravel running? That was my question too when I first tried these!

A gravel running shoe, a category Salomon is finding a niche in, is a running shoe category that blends a lighter weight, versatile shoe with an outsole that can offer heavier traction on light trails, mixed surfaces, and dirt roads while still being able to ride on paved roads and concrete.

With this newest edition of the Aero Glide 3, the Aero Glide 3 GRVL kept a lot of the components of its base model road runner while adding some signature technology to make the shoe primed for life beyond the road.

You can see from the tread here that it’s got more grip, but certainly not the 4mm lugs found on your trail shoes.The Aero Glide 3 GRVL features a new SalomonFOAM EVO midsole, which makes the shoe feel really cushioned and bouncy while still being lightweight.

This TPU foam in the midsole also means that the shoe will be extremely durable, which makes sense for an outdoor lifestyle brand that focuses so highly on mountain adventures. This foam packs a lot of punch while keeping the shoe’s overall weight down.

Salomon Glide 3 GRVL Fit

From a fit standpoint, this shoe felt BIG. I’d recommend taking a look at both the EU size and US size when choosing the right fit for you.

My usual US 9.5 ran longer than my other running shoes, and at first I felt a bit like my feet were swimming in these shoes. If I were to order these again, I would definitely size down a half size for some added security.

The shoe is certainly not a wide toe-box shoe, but I found the midfoot to run a bit wider than other shoes I’ve tried.

This wasn’t a problem once I laced up, as it gave my feet some room to breathe and stretch, especially on longer runs. This shoe could probably accommodate some wider footed runners thanks to the fit of the midfoot and the flexible, pliable upper.

As a true trail shoe, the wider midfoot combined with the longer length made the shoe feel too insecure to handle a more technical trail run.

My heel felt securely in place when I was striding, but I would want more stability and security out on a true trail run.

Salomon Glide 3 GRVL Feel

When I first tried these on, the shoes definitely felt a bit stiff on first wear. The shoes look and feel durable, but that also meant it took a bit of walking around in them to help break them in around my feet.

Once the shoes molded to my feet and I got used to the sizing, these shoes somehow felt both substantial and lightweight – two things I didn’t know could exist together in a shoe.

The shoes feel sturdy and durable, like they’d hold up on some rugged road runs and stand the test of time. That being said, they also feel bouncy and light in a way I would not have expected when I first opened the box.

The heel collar felt a bit stiff upon first wear, but it didn’t take long for the heel to break in and feel padded and comfortable.The tongue, like the rest of the shoe, is really light and long and has a lot of flexibility. Even with the longer tongue, I didn’t find I had any issues with rubbing at my ankle or the top of my foot.

The lacing system on these shoes felt really durable and held my foot in place without any slipping or loosening over the course of my runs.

While I liked these best for longer, easier runs, I didn’t feel like these shoes felt clunky when I tested them for speed.

The lightweight foam of the Aero Glide 3 GRVL kept these shoes smooth as I turned over and didn’t prevent me from a clean stride on my faster miles.

That being said, I still think these shoes are the most fun in easy runs on the urban trails and city parks.

All in all, the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRV is a ton of fun – it’s a shoe that can handle a lot of different runs on a variety of surfaces, giving it a top place in my rotation of shoes I’m grabbing when I head out the door. 

This shoe is best suited for long, easy miles on mixed surfaces, but its durable outsole and comfortable, cushioned foam midsole make it a shoe that can hold up in a variety of workouts.

This shoe is a fantastic option for an everyday trainer you can take out on the road or the trail.

Have you tried Salomon shoes? What’s your favorite?

Who tried it?

Hi! I’m Coral, a sales exec who runs a small business and runs out all my deep thoughts and big ideas on the roads and trails of Denver, Disneyland, or wherever I’m traveling next. I started running as a competitive sprinter and found myself falling in love with marathons and half marathons over the last 20+ years.

I typically run 20-25 miles a week, and when I’m not running or traveling, I’m usually out with our 2 dogs or cheering on my 3 kids at their next sporting event! You can catch me on Instagram at @CoralSC.

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