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Buyer's Guide

Salomon Ultra Glide 3 Review & Sizing Guide

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Buy Ultra Glide 3 if you want a soft, cushioned Salomon for ultra distances on non-technical trail; skip it if you loved the UG2 specifically for the locked-down heel, since the new last is the most common complaint, or if you need a shoe that survives more than two months of weekly miles.

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Key facts

Use case
Long-distance ultras on fire roads, gravel, and non-technical single track.
Fit
SensiFit upper with Quicklace; the new last loses the perfect UG2 heel lock for some owners.
Cushion
Higher stack and softer foam than UG2; long-run comfort upgrade for non-technical terrain.
Outsole
Contagrip with shallow lugs; not built for mud or technical rocky terrain.
Durability
Real owner reports of toebox and heel tearing inside 2 months of moderate use.
Lineage
Replaces the UG2 (now discontinued and missed by many fans for fit reasons).

Full breakdown

Salomon Ultra Glide 3 is the brand's max-cushion ultra trainer: a higher-stack, softer-foam evolution of the popular UG2, with the SensiFit upper, a less aggressive Contagrip outsole, and the Quicklace system. The midsole and outsole are completely redesigned from the UG2 even though the upper feels similar to past owners I've tried the 3's and they feel similar if not the same in the upper, but since the midsole and outsole are different I wanna hear from someone who has already put at least 200km. Buy it for long, soft-ground ultras only; durability is its weakest point.

FAQ

How does the Ultra Glide 3 compare to the UG2?

Owners who loved the UG2 are nearly unanimous that the UG3 changed the wrong things. The most-upvoted UG2-replacement thread is from a runner who literally went through the Genesis, S/Lab Ultra Glide, and UG3 looking for the UG2 heel lock and never found it I've tried the genesis, s/lab ultra glide, and ultra glide 3 but they just weren't the same. The shoe is still cushioned and softer, but if your UG2 selling point was that perfect zero-heel-slip fit, the UG3 is a real risk. Try in-store before committing.

Is Ultra Glide 3 durable enough for ultra training?

It is the weakest part of the shoe, and you should plan accordingly. A buyer who picked the UG3 specifically for cushion on long runs and speedwork reports tears at the toebox and torn material in both heels after just two months of non-technical training. If your weekly mileage is high, plan to either return on warranty quickly, rotate with a tougher shoe like Salomon Genesis, or wait for sale pricing on a backup pair.

Is the Ultra Glide 3 a good 50K or 100K race shoe?

It can work for fire-road, low-elevation ultras, and it is the shoe owners reach for when they want Salomon cushion without going to the S/Lab tier. A 56K ultra prep thread frames the choice as UG3 versus Salomon Genesis depending on whether the runner wants more cushion or more lockdown the shoes I've looked at are either the Salomon Genesis or the Salomon ultra glide 3, and a flat 100-miler thread asks specifically whether UG3 has enough cushion for the distance versus the more locked-down Genesis would you recommend I try out the Ultra Glide 3, Genesis, or S Lab Genesis?. Choose UG3 for soft cushion on long, flatter days; choose Genesis for technical terrain.

What is the best alternative if my Speedgoats are too stiff?

Ultra Glide 3 is one of the standard answers when ultra runners complain that Speedgoats feel stiff for long efforts. The same 56K race-prep buyer who liked their Hierro V9 but found it too stack-heavy on side slopes is steered toward the UG3 as a cushion-upgrade option I am doing my first ultra in 4 weeks time, it's 54km with 2600 metres of elevation. If you need wider toe room, also consider Altra Olympus or Nnormal Tomir 2.0. Avoid the UG3 if your trails are wet and technical; the shallow lugs do not handle mud or off-camber wet rock the way Speedcross or Genesis do.

Should I size up in the Ultra Glide 3?

Most owners stay true to size, but the new last fits differently than the UG2 around the heel and midfoot, so try in-store if you can. The 200km-confirmation thread is itself a sign that owners are not confident in the fit from photos and want long-mileage data before they commit comfort and durability wise, how are they?. If your UG2 was true to size, start there; if your usual Salomon size felt snug, do not assume the UG3 last opens up.