Salomon - Aero Glide 3 GRVL

I asked a similar question recently and picked up a pair of Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL. Was a little skeptical because it’s a higher stack than I like, but man are they money on relatively flat gravel trails.

Salomon aero glide 3 GRVL I use these myself for a very similar purpose. Love them so far.

The shoe you want is actually the AG3 GRVL version but not sizing down! Trust me, the fit on the GRVL is snugger (more padding in the heel and perhaps the different tongue design, not sure but it does allow 1/2 size up compared to the road version). I have the road version in US 11 and the GRVL in 11.5. Both feel great, but the fit in the GRVL is better, it feels more comfortable and the outsole will surely by much more durable than the road version.

Salomon aero glide 3 TR. Best there is for less technical trails, and is great on the road. 

Sorry, yes, meant the gravel version. It’s a R2T shoe though in essence, following its predecessor Glide Max TR just with a name change. If 2.5mm lugs aren’t enough for you, and you want something a bit more, I’d check out the Mount to Coast H1. Haven’t tried it yet, but it has just released to some pretty rave reviews. 

Salomon aero glide 3 GRVL! It’s perfect for gravel/sandy terrain, and is amazing on the road. I use mine as primarily a road trainer, and for a groomed trail near my house as well as the beach about an hour away. It’s not great for super technical trails, due to the shorter lugs, but that’s what makes it a brilliant road to trail shoe imo. It’s great for long runs too, which is my primary use of them. 

Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL is the answer here

I bought these Salomon GRVL for the same purpose as you and I couldn’t be happier. Been travelling for 2 months around SEA and I’ve used them for exploring but also for 3 runs per week plus the occasional gym drop in. I love them!

I’ve got 30 miles on the GRVL edition of the Aero Glide 3, they are living up to the hype thus far and I bought them for this exact same surface OP. You can’t guarantee everyone will like/love the same models of shoes, but these are purpose built for that hard packed gravel. I would also tell you they run a “smidge” small, but they stretch a lot after your first few runs. I almost went up a half size but then read a couple reviews talking about the upper stretching out quickly. Glad I stayed true to size, they fit like a glove after the break in period.

Excellent to hear! I actually opted for the GRVL version (I saw you have those too), mainly for the fact that I had seen some reviews (the Youtuber Yowana being one; he's very complimentary of the shoe otherwise, or regardless of that) saying/showing that the outsole can be susceptible to wear. The cases I came across were mainly heel strikers though, with the wear showing on one side of the heel. Despite not being a heel striker myself I thus figured to go with the GRVL version for some extra outsole material. On top of that quite a few of the routes near me actually also have good stretches of gravel so they wouldn't be out of place also in that regard (even though based on what I've read the road version can just as well work on gravel, and vice versa). One thing I'm hoping for is for the upper of the GRVL version to also be decently breathable. I've seen the road version receive good comments on breathability. But if it isn't as breathable, that's a trade-off I'll just have to live with. One good thing about the upper (of both the road and the GRVL version) seems to be the tip of the shoe. Some sort of a guard that should keep water out in lightly wet conditions. For comparison, my current other shoe the Deviate Nitro 2 picks up moisture off the ground very easily via the front/tip. You mentioned the tongue on the road version: I've seen others make similar comments, and also saying the tongue in the GRVL version is an improvement in this regard. Fitwise. But as said, in terms of the breathability I wonder how good the neoprene tongue is (what's your impression so far?). If you're interested here's the Yowana clip RE the outsole wear (see from around 10:20 if the timestamp isn't working): [https://youtu.be/fcw-nVBSgXA?si=AWxiOfntPkIn6zNO&t=620](https://youtu.be/fcw-nVBSgXA?si=AWxiOfntPkIn6zNO&t=620) Also, I came across this in one of the reviews of the Aero Blaze 3 GRVL on the Salomon website: >While running I accidentally hit something sharp with the side sole, I think the edge of a sidewalk, and the sole was damaged as if it were polystyrene. See the photo. Don't know what this person had hit the shoe against, but just an FYI / passing on the info, that one might want to be careful to not graze the midsole against sth sharp. Well, I also don't have extensive experience of a number of shoes so don't know how durable (other) midsoles are in general against hits/grazes. https://preview.redd.it/s49o9wmohp8f1.jpeg?width=1532&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b9077594c61dccc6c9d409ec15bfc8e05be80d6a

https://preview.redd.it/u00hiigcy44f1.jpg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e25ed6341dd60f8f5985866a5109c9ed892fcad1 https://preview.redd.it/lsoshr1ey44f1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6af9b353183a608bcbad8f309c47f1b842dbfffc I have 300 miles on the road version of the Salomon Aero Glide 3 (including a 50k, a marathon, and several 20-30 mile long runs) and recently attended two demo runs to try out the GRVL version (\~10 miles total), so I thought I’d create a write-up mostly about the road version and add some notes toward the end of the post about the GRVL version’s slight differences. **About me:** Female, 5’7”, 150 pounds, 50-75 miles per week, heel striker, less than ideal running form, paces in the 8:30-11:00/mi pace range on road/light trail. **General shoe description:**  It’s like the Saucony Triumph 20 and Nike Invincible had a baby, but lighter. I loved my several pairs of Triumph 20s (and 21s) because they were workhorses with a smooth ride and ideal cushion level. I loved my Nike Invincibles because they were bouncy and fun, but protective. The Salomon Aero Glide 3 is the best combination of these two shoes - smooth ride, goldilocks cushion, maximal protection on long runs, *and* bounce - but lighter. Noticeably lighter.  **Fit:**  The fit on these shoes is not quite standard. They do run long, as many have stated, but not so long that I felt I needed to size down. I stuck to my standard size and it has worked out well, especially for longer runs. I just tighten the laces. The upper is baggy too. It doesn’t impact how my foot feels, but it does look a little funny. Some shoe nerds may notice I am wearing a men’s colorway. I just liked it better and crossed my fingers that they wouldn’t be too wide when I ordered it online. Later, while attending the GRVL demo, I learned that *these shoes are unisex fit,* according to the Salomon reps. I tried on both the men’s and women’s to confirm for myself. I have a slightly narrow foot and did find these wider than other Salomon shoes I have tried on, but not too wide. But, I do have my laces tied pretty tight. All around, this shoe is just slightly bigger than one would think it would be at a given size, but again, this does not bother me. I do not think it is worth sizing down.  **Running Feel/Ride:** On my first run in it, I said out loud, “This is my new favorite shoe,” and I meant it. The ride is bouncy, but stable.  I don’t notice much of a rocker feel. It’s similar to the Triumph 20/21’s rocker. I like that, but it might be a downfall in the mind of some runners. The cushion level is my ideal level of cushion… not a sinking in feeling, but a soft, stable cushion. The best part about the cushion is that it does not bottom out. As stated before, I ran in these for a 50k race (gravel), marathon (road), and several various terrain 20-30 mile runs. My feet felt protected the whole way through. I do notice the bounce less over longer runs though. I haven’t tried to push pace in these much. I am running long runs and recovery runs in them. Though they are light for being a max cushion shoe, I can’t see them being great for pace pickups. These shoes excel in the long run realm.  **Durability:** I have 300 miles on my pair and they still feel well-cushioned and bouncy. There is some wear and tear on the bottom, but nothing crazy (see photo above). If anything, I am noticing less wear than I have in other shoes I own at this milage. I suspect I'll take this to \~450-500 miles. **Using the road version on gravel & light dirt trails:** I have been using the road version on gravel and dirt trails primarily. I have maybe \~⅓ of the 300 miles on road, and the rest on gravel or dirt trails. I have noticed no problems with this. The cushion level is such that I am not feeling rocks under foot, the shoe is stable even across roots and such, etc. However, I do think the GRVL version would be slightly better for these use cases. I will talk about that later in the post.  A positive worth noting related to trails and such - this shoe sheds mud like crazy. I went through a super muddy trail and after I got out of the mud, I could see the mud sliding off the shoes. Even the fabric parts of the upper! The shoes looked almost fully clean by the end of the run. I have never seen a shoe do that before. It dries fast too. The grip is solid in the road version. I am a PNW’er and have used this in the rain more than I have used it in the sun. The only time I have slipped a little was in the mud. The GRVL version’s grip is likely better for muddy situations. Edit: I ended up buying the GRVL and have since used it on wet rocks and pavement, as well as mud. I can confirm grip is better. **Using the GRVL version on road:** I’ll give a short, general run down of the GRVL version toward the end of the post, but wanted to make a quick note here about using the GRVL version on the road. In the demo runs, we ran on roads to get to trails. I didn’t notice any difference between the road and GRVL version on roads.  **Slight annoyances**:  The road version makes a sound when running, especially on the road. It’s like it’s suctioning to the ground? I can’t quite describe it. This is not something I noticed with the GRVL version. It doesn’t bother me, but I thought I would mention it in case others are more sensitive to this sort of thing.  Also, the laces are slippery. I have to double knot them every run or they are untied within 20 minutes. **Road vs GRVL version:**  As stated before, I have 300 miles on the road version across a variety of terrains, and recently went to two demo runs to test the GRVL version for a total of \~10 miles, also on a variety of terrains.  I did not notice any difference in fit between the two, nor did I notice a difference in feel or ride.  The reps said the main difference between the two is that the outsole is hardier, which makes the shoe slightly heavier (I did not notice a weight difference on foot) but grippier and with more protection/less ground feel (ground feel is *not* a problem in the road shoe, but a little more protection certainly can’t hurt).  The other difference is the tongue. The road version doesn’t have a plush tongue, but plusher than the GRVL version. It has an odd shape that makes it stick out from the foot, practically inviting debris in. The GRVL version is sock-like to keep gravel and other things out. I prefer the tongue on the GRVL version.  If I were to order this shoe again (and I think I will), I would order the GRVL version, simply because both shoes *feel* the same, but the GRVL version is just slightly hardier. I don’t think wearing down the outsole of the GRVL version on roads would be super problematic because there aren’t really deep lugs, just a thicker outsole in general.  See edit at the end - I *did* end up buying the GRVL too! **Overall:** The Salomon Aero Glide 3 makes an amazing long run shoe across a variety of terrains. The GRVL version is simply a hardier version. Edit: I ended up buying the GRVL and put 150 miles on it in just a few weeks, including 40 and 50-mile ultras (50 mile was sand & gravel, 40 mile was semi-technical trail, gravel trail, and road). Grip is better on the GRVL version and the ride is just fine on the roads too.

I ended up buying a pair of the GRVL version, so I have more miles in it now and can confidently say I don't notice any difference aside from the outsole and weight. I just took it traveling and ran a mix of roads and trails on it. It did great! I haven't tried it on treadmill, but I think it would be fine.

I haven't gone on a walk in them, but they have felt fine for the short walk breaks I took on trail.

I ended up buying the GRVL version and can safely say they are grippier in all situations (road, gravel, dirt trail, mud, and sand) after ~200 miles in them, including two ultras (40 and 50 milers on mixed terrain).

I do think the grip of the GRVL would be better on the treadmill because they lack the slippy part the front of the road version has. I don't think it would be overkill. It's not very aggressive tread. Another option I would recommend would be Puma MagMax. Heavier, but awesome grip and bouncy.

I have only tried the NB Rebel v5, so I can't compare to v4, and I tried a women's size in the v5, so it's hard to compare it to the unisex Aero Glide 3 fit. I can't speak much to width, but I can safely say the Aero Glide 3 is longer, pretty significantly. In the size I usually wear, my toes were hitting the front of the shoe in the Rebel v5, whereas they have extra room in the Aero Glide. I do know Salomon is known for running narrower, but this is one of their wider shoes. I would guess it's still slightly narrower than the Rebel v4, but I can't say for sure.

Hi there, I've been a sneaker geek for a while, even my line of work gets me to work with several footwear companies. During my last onebag travel of 6 months I started running quite a lot. I wore some Nike trail sneakers as only footwear, I picked some cheap ones (nike juniper) but running on them took a bit of its toll to my body. For this year's trip I literally ordered and tried on most trail runners from: nike, on, hoka, new balance, asics etc. I found two main challenges with good trail runners: * Looks: accent colors that would not blend well with day to day urban city exploration or night life. * Rocker and cushioning: shape and midsole very geared towards running that does not allow for a natural walking pattern. Unstable at walking paces: * Sole: geared toward heavy trails, mud and such. would wear out fast on asphalt just walking. This would apply to: nike zegama, nike pegasus trail, on cloudvista, hoka speedgoat , new balance hierro, new balance garoe, asics trabuco. To a lesser extent (had less agressive rocker patterns, typically cheaper): nike juniper, new balance nitrel, hoka challenger. The brand I found mixed the best of both worlds was the lineup of Salomon Aero, wether for asphalt or trail. In particular the Aero Blaze or Aero Glide in their GRVL (gravel) versions. They are cushy when running but have no noticeable rocker or unstability whilst walking. Their gravel line is a hybrid for asphalt and relatively easy trails so the sole is suitable for most amateur trekking. I went for the **Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL** as their had an all black colorway, also have an all white one. https://preview.redd.it/9ks3ch9035jf1.jpg?width=1801&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6a6cbbb3e1e431483ce12796f0ed028c75eb6661 The only drawback is that the sole is massive, although again, not unstable, but when packing them they will take up some extra space compared to a normal shoe, although they are very light for such a big midsole on a "trail" runner. I am just surprised at the amount of non-runners using Hoka's aggressive rocker shoes for walking, some advanced runners already have stability issues with Hoka whilst running. Anyhow, I hope this helps someone, if you want specific personal feedback on any of the shoe models I tried on feel free. I guess the one that let me down the most were the pegasus trail, the fit was not ideal for me and the rocker and specially how soft the heel area was made it probably one of worse from the list although I had the highest expectations based on all the recommendations. The good thing is that nowadays you can order most online and if not used you can return them back, so you can really try them on side by side with other models.

I’ve put 80k into a pair of these and love them. They’re very well cushioned without being too soft, are very stable and feel nice and bouncy. Light too.

I love mine, especially the deep cushion and bounce.

I love my Salomon Aero Glide 3 Gravel shoes for that exact purpose.

https://preview.redd.it/tqxfaswtyw8f1.jpeg?width=585&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2d2239ccdef45de30015c1f7f47a8ec516b2ab60 Nearly half of my weekly 80\~90 miles are on the trails so I have the corresponding trail shoes collection in the garage. With summer having arrived, I've got the light colored shoes out right now. I have black or darker versions for some of these for the rainy winter season. The most recent additions this year are the Mount to Coast T1, La Sportiva Progidio Pro, Norda 005, VJ Ultra 3, Puma DNE Trail, and The North Face Enduris 4, which are all fantastic in their own ways. Old faves are the Salomon S/Lab Genesis, Hoka Tecton X 3, Terrex Speed Ultra and Speed, TNF Vectiv Pro 2, and Norda 001. I also got the Salomon Aero Glide 3 GRVL that I got specifically for road-to-trail and mainly running on gravel paths, which is working out very nicely. There are two more shoes that I'll probably add later in the year - the TNF Vectiv Sky 2 and Nnormal Kjerag 2. Kinda curious about the Prodigio Max based on my extremely positive experience with the Prodigio Pro. Overall, I'm very happy with what each shoe offers and how they complement each other. They all beckon me to go out and run long and hard every day.

I'm a big fan of Mount to Coast. In fact, I just got back from a 13-mile trail run with 2,500ft of elevation gain in the T1. I've got over 50 miles on the two pairs over the past two weeks and they've become one of my 2\~3 new favorites. They are so comfortable over the long runs. Even after 15 miles, my feet and legs feel fresh and I feel like I could keep going on and on. I guess the foam tech isn't up to par with the full-PEBA on the Tecton X 3, the full LSP on the Speed Ultra, the "super" TPU on the 005, or the Dream foam on the TNF Vectiv Pro 2/3, but MTC's LightCell is really nice - very balanced with just the right amount of bounce, very good responsiveness, and excellent stability without having a plate. It's tuned very well for the trails and feels quite different from their LightCell foam on their road shoes R1, S1, and P1. I'd say midsole foam "tuning" for trail running is quite different from that for the road. All-out speed isn't as important. I think the right balance between bounce/propulsion (speed), stability, comfort, responsiveness, resilience, durability, and consistency over long distances is what really matters for the trails, and I feel the MTC T1 has that balance that makes it a joy to run in. The T1 isn't as exciting or as fast as the aforementioned plated race shoes or the 005, but it isn't far behind, and over ultra distances, it'll be up to the runner, not the shoes. Of course, that can be said for road super shoes as well, but Courtney Dauwalter is still winning ultra races in the "outdated" S/Lab Genesis (still a great shoe by the way!). Trail running is such a different game from road running. At the very least, the T1 is a great lightweight workhorse trainer (8.5oz in my US men's size 8), but I'm sure it'd handle ultra races very well. MTC started out specializing in ultra distance running for the road, which is a niche field, but that tech adapts very nicely for trail running. In fact, I get the feeling that trail running is where their focus will be in the future. I really like their road shoes but I absolutely *love* the T1. Saw the review of it by Humble Running (my favorite trail shoes/gear channel) and I knew it'd work for me and it has exceeded my expectations. For me, it's neck-to-neck between the Prodigio Pro and T1 for 2025 Trail Shoe of the Year.

Oh yeah, the Aero Glide 3 (both road and GRVL) is the surprise shoe of the year for me. It wasn't on my radar at all and I was skeptical about another road shoe from Salomon but, after seeing all the positive reviews from ShoeTubers I trust, it seemed they would fit in very well and they have. Again, very balanced - not too squishy soft and not firm with good bounce and a solid and stable feel on the landings. Did a 10-mile road run in the AG3 yesterday at various paces and I enjoyed every step of it.

Big fan of MTC shoes and just got this ordered based on all the positive reviews, especially by Mike at Humble Running. I really like the Salomon AG3 Gravel (and some others like the Terrex Agravic Speed and Deviate Nitro Elite Trail) for the weekly long 15~17 mile road-to-trail excursions, but the H1 seems irresistible.

My split between the road and trail is 65/35 based on the mileage I have on various road and trail shoes. I never run on dirt/gravel or the trails with my road shoes and limit the tarmac as much as possible with my trail shoes. The MTC H1 is the first shoe that I can take on both road and trail (although nothing technical) and feel and ride great on. I also have the Salomon AG3 Gravel but I find that it’s too tipsy for the trails. On the road, it’s like an excellent lightweight daily trainer with very good energy return that keeps me going. On the trail, I wasn’t too confident initially about the grip of the 2mm lugs but, eventually, I found it to be grippy and able to handle most terrains on the trails very well. The cushion and the bounce of the H1 are better than all other MTC shoes I have. I’m very impressed. Stability is fine on both road and trail. Very happy with this and suits my road-to-trail excursions better than any other shoe for such purposes. Besides the Salomon AG3 Grvl, I had been using the Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra, Agravic Speed, and Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail when I want to cover both road and trail on a long run.

Nice review! I just got both the Aero Glide 3 road and GRVL versions and had a great 5-mile first run in the road and will take the GRVL version out on some mild gravely trails (with about a mile on the road to and from the trails) in the coming week. I have more than enough shoes and am currently using the Neo Zen, NB5, and the SL2 for easy daily runs, but could not resist the AG3 based on all the positive reviews. The NZ and NB5 are pretty soft, even for a light guy like me who's 5'7 (167cm) and 127lbs (57kg), so I thought something a little firmer and balanced but still bouncy would be a good thing and the AG3 is exactly what I was looking for. The AG3 reminds me a little of the SB2, which is my favorite all-rounder and what I use most of the time on long runs (steady long runs at fixed paces or long workouts with various types of runs and paces). It feels very responsive and solid and I really like the more balanced feel without too much compression. About half of my mileage are on the trails and most of the trails in my neighborhood have steep rocky hills and can get technical, but I can string together some routes that are relatively flatter with gravel and dirt, so I figured the GRVL version would be nice to have when I want to go on easy long road-to-trail runs. Looking forward to it. I'm very impressed with the AG3. It complements my other non-plated daily trainers nicely and will also work great for long runs along with the SB2, MTC R1, and MagMax. Salomon seems on their way to make serious inroads to the road running market.

I’ve tried on a few shoes with higher stacks while looking for a softer and foamier ride and it feels really unstable to me. I’ve been rocking the ASICS Fuji Lite Trails and Topo Mtn Racer 3s which have nice cushion but not the aggressive drop and I like that middle ground. I tried on the Salomon “GRVL” shoe recently (idk the model) and I’m feeling like this style is going to get more popular. The stack was massive. It was kinda fun but I only tested it out of the door on the road and can’t imagine it working for me. Even the two-track I regularly run is steeper and rockier than they feel stable on.

I would look out for a "gravel" shoe. Salomon Ultra Glide3 Gravel or one of the Craft Gravel Shoes

I use Solomon trail runners, non-waterproof because my feet overheat easily in the summer. They've seen the presis in the summer without issues, and have decent grip.

I just ordered a pair from my local running store, only commenting to suggest you try them on first. I'm a 12 in Salomons and a 12 to 12.5 in Hokas, and I had to size up to a 13 in the 001s.

The best ones are the ones that fit!! I have wide toes and wore Solomon trail runners for a long time. I switched to Merrell Moab hikers a couple of years ago. Both are 13 Wide (EEE).

The downside of trail runners to me (Solomans) was I would sometimes get foot bruises on sharp rocky ground. I switched to hiking shoes (Merrell's) and I feel it's a better compromise between trail runners and boots. Pretty light and more comfortable.

My Solomans had a rock plate (thank you for pointing out my omission), but I feel a big difference with my Murrell Moab's. To each there own, I know trail runners are the favorite, the Moab works better for me (I have dainty feet, I guess).

I've run the 10mi of this race a few times I've run it in Brooks Cascadias and some kind of Solomans. I run at Goverment canyon all the time with Merrill Antoras. I like having a rockplate because the canyon is full of rocks but I wouldn't consider it a need for McAllister park.

What do you want to do? I love my Solomon trail runners but if I'm sliding down shale I'll take the Keens all day long. Both are good brands in my experience.

Over the years I’ve worn trail runners from Merrill and Salomon, or standard running shoes from Nike and NB. A comfortable fit was the main criteria. Even on wet ground I’d rather have fast drying sneakers than boots.

I like Oboz boots. I also like my Solomon trail runners. I've done massive days in both, totally depends what you are more comfortable in. I do personally find benefit in some ankle protection and waterproofness. Some folks poopoo that... but I bet they have wet feet.

Yes! this is a great point. I always hate wearing my Salomon trail runners in the city on sidewalks… I do it because I absolutely need trailer runners and my other pair of shoes is usually something more dressy.

Salomon trail runners. They’re my goat shoes - the only thing they don’t get a grip on is wet wood.

Absolutely, did all of the ABC trek in trail runners (Hoka, Salomon). You really appreciate the lightness of them.

I love my Salomon trail runners. I prefer them to my hiking boots and exclusively use them for hiking.

I'm a fan of Solomon hiking shoes (or really their trail runners) with Gore Tex and micro spikes! The spikes stay in my pack most of the year, just in case I go further than planned or I got unexpected conditions. A must have for me.

Current Salomon trail runners have to thick of a sole and cant feel rock well beneath them but I do agree that ideally trail runner style would be cool. maybe the ones I have just dont work well for this specific use case.