Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Introduction

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The Salomon Ultra Glide 2 is a shoe that was created to be able to adapt to whatever is thrown its way. It’s a cushioned daily trainer that will make you happy you chose it. You can wear them on trails, and paths, and even does well on the road. It wears many hats.

You’ll pay a typical trail shoe price of $150, but that’s normal and worth it. These shoes offer so much and are quite durable.

I have not taken it easy on them the past few weeks, and other than looking dirty there has been no noticeable wear on them yet.

They are a maximum cushioned shoe but feel lightweight. They weigh in at 9.1 oz for the men and 8.4 oz for the women. The heel stack height is 32 mm and the forefoot stack is 26mm.

This is Salomon’s second version of this model and the little updates improve the shoe.

Key features of them would be their Quicklace lacing system which is a personal favorite. They have the Contagrip outsole, an energyFoam midsole with a Reverse Camber. This gives the shoe a curved midsole geometry that makes it feel like you are gliding over the ground when running.

The upper offers an all-over secure locked-down fit and you can thank Salmons Endofit and Sensifit for that.

A similar shoe in the Salomons line would be Glide Max TR. It offers a lot of the same features but they are a tad more cushioned and recommended for those longer ultra distances.

Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Impressions

When I first pulled them out of the box I was surprised by how light they felt. In my mind, I think a trail shoe should be heavier. This was not the case when I put them on 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 getting smothered by pillows.

Right out ofthe box, they do look pretty similar to the previous version. The upper is different, with a firmer feel to them. They quickly are broken in after one or two runs in them and I am hooked. I really can’t think of a negative to say about them. They are by far the softest Salmon shoes I have run in.

My first run was on a gravel road. It was loose stones, compact in parts, and paved. It was a moderate run that was 5 miles. Striking the ground right in the midfoot allowed me to be easily propelled forward and helped my legs to not feel fatigued.

Traction-wise, the outsole is made out of a terrain Contagrip. They grip each surface and have no problems with slipping. In wet conditions, I did have some slipping. They have a nice ground feel to them that makes them very stable.

I have had ankle issues in the past so if any surface isn’t flat I tend to be a little hesitant. The UG2s gave me a great sense of stability no matter what the situation was.

I would suggest the UG2s be used for moderate trails that don’t have too many boulders. They work very well for easy-ish runs that are not having you max out your speeds.

Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Protection

The protection of the shoe is moderate. It’s made to be able to handle all types of situations but I wouldn’t say they are the best choice for very rocky trails.

The upper is decently breathable and protective. Its layers make sure your foot is secure and covered. The toe box is slightly different from the previous model and manages to protect where it should be.

The outsole provides your feet with full coverage from feeling the stones or roots of a trail but, allows you to still feel connected with the ground. This feeling can be attributed to Salomons Profeel Film which helps give your stride a stable and smooth feel by acting as a buffer between the terrain and your feet.

Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Durability

I have put this shoe through the wringer. Other than looking dirty it’s held up very well. There has been no wear on the upper that is visible and the lugs on the outsole look brand new.

Overall it’s a very well-made shoe.

I would use them for 15k to ultra distances and have no doubt in my mind that they would cause me any trouble.

Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Responsiveness & speed

I have used this shoe on numerous trail runs and the responsiveness is great. When my legs are getting fatigued, that’s when I can notice the energyFoam midsole.

It can create long last cushioning while also offering a springy return at each step. Another great feature Salomon has in the UG2 would be their Reverse Camber. This creates a curve in the midsole that makes it feel like you are floating over the ground. On flatter surfaces, this is dutifully noticed but on more technical terrain I find it hard to tell.

Using them for faster runs is fine as long as the course is dry. Trying to reach your full speed in wet or muddy conditions is where I found they lacked a little.

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

Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Comfort and fit

The comfort and fit of the shoe is a luxurious feel. You can attribute this to Salomon’s upper construction that is made with their EndoFit and SensiFit.

The EndoFit provides a sleeve that’s inside the shoe that was made to hug the foot in all the right places to make sure it fits exactly. The SensiFit™ “cradles the foot from the midsole to the lacing system, providing a secure, snug, and virtually customized fit all around the foot.” This is easily felt as soon as you put the shoes on.

While the upper is very comfortable, cushioned, and protective I did find that when I ran through a creek or got them wet, they didn’t drain very well.

One of Salomon’s most popular products they add to their trail shoes would be their Quicklace™ lacing system.

I feel this attributes to a fantastic lockdown 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 kids’ shoes had it as well. Once you have them pulled tight and secure there is no loosening or coming undone.

All of those features that Salomon adds to the UG2, make it my comfiest trail shoe.

Salomon Ultra Glide 2 Conclusions

The Salomon Ultra Glide 2 has not disappointed me. It was built to be a maximum cushioned trail shoe that is ready to take on anything thrown in its path.

Its noticeable all-over padding makes it a great option for a daily trainer but can also withstand the miles of a long-distance run.

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