Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Introduction

1

11

The Salomon Ultra Glide 2 is a shoe that was built to adapt to whatever comes its way. It’s a cushiony daily trainer that will make you happy you picked it. You can wear them on trails and paths, and they even do well outdoors. It wears many hats.

You’ll pay the typical trail shoe price of $150, but it’s typical and well worth it. These shoes offer a lot and are quite durable.

I haven’t taken it easy on them in the past few weeks, and there hasn’t been any noticeable wear on them yet other than looking dirty.

They are max cushioned shoes but feel lightweight. They weigh 9.1 ounces for males and 8.4 ounces for females. Heel stack height is 32mm and forefoot stack is 26mm.

This is the second edition of this model from Salomon and the small updates make the shoe better.

One of their highlights would be their Quickless lacing system which is a personal favourite. They have a Contagrip outsole, an EnergyFoam midsole with a reverse camber. This gives the shoe a curved midsole geometry that makes it feel like you’re gliding over the ground while running.

The upper provides a completely secure lock-down fit and you can thank Salmon’s Endofit and Sensifit for that.

A similar shoe in Salomon’s line would be the Glide Max TR. It offers a lot of the same features, but they’re a bit more cushioned and recommended for those long ultra distances.

salomon ultra glide 2 impressions

When I first took them out of the box I was surprised by how light they felt. In my mind, I think a trail shoe should be heavy. This was not the case when I wore them and laced them up for the first run.

Initially, I noticed how incredibly plush they felt on my feet. It seriously feels like my feet are being smothered by pillows.

Right out of the box, they look pretty similar to the previous version. The upper is different, with a sturdier feel to them. They quickly break down after a run or two and I’m stuck. I really can’t think of anything negative to say about them. They are by far the softest salmon shoes I’ve run in.

My first run was on a gravel road. It was loose stone, denser and firmer in parts. It was a moderate run that was 5 miles. Hitting the ground in the midfoot helped me move smoothly and my legs didn’t feel fatigued.

In terms of traction, the outsole is made of Terrain Contagrip. They grip every surface and have no problem slipping. In wet conditions, I got a bit slippery. They have a good ground feel which makes them very stable.

I’ve had ankle problems in the past, so I’m a little hesitant if a surface isn’t flat. The UG2s gave me a great sense of stability no matter what the conditions.

I suggest using the UG2s for moderate trails that don’t have a lot of boulders. They work very well for easy-ish runs that aren’t maxing out your speed.

Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Protection

Shoe protection is moderate. It’s designed to handle all kinds of conditions, but I wouldn’t say they’re the best choice for very rocky trails.

The upper is decently breathable and protective. Its layers ensure that your feet are protected and covered. The toe is slightly different from the previous model and manages to be protected where it should be.

The outsole provides full coverage keeping your feet from feeling any trail stones or roots but, allows you to still feel connected to the ground. This feeling can be attributed to Salomon’s Profile Film which helps give a stable and smooth feel to your steps by acting as a buffer between the terrain and your feet.

salomon ultra glide 2 durability

I’ve put this shoe through the ringer. Apart from looking dirty it has held up very well. There is no visible wear on the upper and the lugs on the outsole look brand new.

Overall this is a very well made shoe.

I will be using them for 15k to ultra distances and there is no doubt in my mind that they will give me any trouble.

Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Responsiveness and Speed

I have used this shoe on several trail runs and the responsiveness is great. It’s only when my feet are getting tired that I notice the EnergyFoam midsole.

This can create long-lasting cushioning as well as provide a spring-like return to every step. Another great feature from Salomon in the UG2 will be their reverse camber. It creates a curve in the midsole that makes it feel like you’re floating on the ground. On flatter surfaces, it is dutifully seen but on more technical terrain I find it hard to tell.

Using them for fast runs is fine as long as the course is dry. Trying to reach their full speed in wet or muddy conditions is where I found them to be a bit lacking.

The outsole is Contagrip rubber with lugs great for dry terrain, but if I knew a course was going to be wet and dirty, I’d probably choose another shoe like the Salomon Supercross Blast GTX.

salomon ultra glide 2 comfort and fit

The comfort and fit of the shoe is a great feel. You can attribute this to the construction of the Salomon upper which is made with their Endofit and Sensifit.

EndoFit offers a sleeve that is inside the shoe that was designed to hold the foot in place to ensure that it fits properly. SensiFit™ “cradles the foot from the midsole to the lacing system, providing a secure, snug and virtually customized fit around the foot.” It is easily felt as soon as you wear the shoes.

While the upper is very comfortable, cushiony, and protective, I found that they didn’t turn out very well when I ran through a creek or got them wet.

One of the most popular products from Salomon that they add to their trail shoes would be their Quicklace™ lacing system.

I find this feature to be a great lockdown feel that doesn’t cause hotspots or pressure on the top of your foot. I wish more companies had this lacing option and I also wish children’s shoes had it. Once you have them pulled tight and secure there is no loosening or undoing.

All those features that Salomon added to the UG2 make it my most comfortable trail shoe.

Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Conclusion

The Salomon Ultra Glide 2 did not disappoint me. It was built to be a maximum cushioned trail shoe that is ready to face whatever comes its way.

Its noticeable overall padding makes it a great choice for a daily trainer but can also withstand miles of long-distance running.

If you are in the market for a new trail shoe then do yourself a favor and snag a pair of these!