While gravel running shoes are a relatively new trend, in my mind, they are just all-terrain or road-to-trail shoes by another name. The Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL certainly fits that bill as an all-terrain version of the Aero Glide 4 road running shoe, with a different upper and outsole to make it trail-ready.
However, even to pigeonhole the Aero Glide 4 GRVL as an all-terrain shoe actually undersells it, because it’s one of the best running shoes available for the road in my opinion, with the added benefit of a durable outsole that can handle light trails too.
If you’re in the market for a cushioned daily trainer, the Aero Glide 4 GRVL is one that I’d put near the top of my list, especially if you do like to run on both road and trail.
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Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL review: price and availability
The Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL will be available to buy from 1 March 2026 and costs $160 in the U.S. and £145 in the U.K., which is about middle of the pack with regards to pricing for a top cushioned running shoe these days. It’s the same price as the Salomon Aero Glide 4 road running shoe.
Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL review: design and fit
The Aero Glide 4 GRVL is available in five colors at launch, including the white and brown design I tested, which is called Vanilla Ice / Black on the Salomon website, somewhat confusingly.
It’s a max-cushioned shoe with a stack height of 41mm at the heel and 33mm at the forefoot for an 8mm drop. Despite all that cushioning, it’s pretty lightweight, tipping the scales at 9.7oz in my US men’s size 9.
I tested a half size down on my normal running shoe size, which was a bit short on length, so I would stick to your normal size with the shoe. Otherwise, the fit was good for me, with the quick-lace system holding my foot securely.
Upper
The Aero Glide 4 GRVL has a mesh upper with overlays and a reinforced toe bumper, adding some extra protection for off-road runs.
It uses a quick-lace system rather than traditional laces, which means you can pull the toggle on the top to quickly do up your shoes.
Sometimes I find this kind of lacing system a little uncomfortable and it won’t be to everyone’s taste, but I had no major trouble with the Aero Glide 4 GRVL, and the flexible heel design on the shoe is more comfortable for me than the stiffer feel of the Aero Glide 4 road shoe.
Midsole
The Aero Glide 4 GRVL uses a supercritical TPU foam called OptiFoam Squared in its midsole, which has a lively feel. It’s not the squishiest foam out there, but comfortable for long runs and quite responsive.
Like many max-cushioned shoes, the Aero Glide 4 GRVL has a rocker shape, which Salomon calls its Reverse Camber midsole geometry. This isn’t too sharp a rocker, but rolls you smoothly from heel to toe with each stride.
Outsole
The Gravel Contagrip rubber used on the outsole of the shoe has quite wide 2.5mm chevron-shaped lugs, which help to grip on light trails while still delivering a smooth ride on the road.
I found the outsole performed very well on wet roads as well as light trails, and the thick rubber used should help to ensure the Aero Glide 4 GRVL is a durable shoe.
Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL review: running performance
I did a variety of training runs in the Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL on a mix of surfaces, including a 13-mile long run and several easy or easy-to-steady progression runs. Some of these runs were entirely on the road and some on the trail, but most were a mix.
In my experience, road-to-trail shoes can end up being either quite niche shoes or very versatile ones. The Adidas Adizero Evo SL ATR is a great shoe, but quite niche, for example, in that it only really excels on road runs in wet or slushy conditions.
The Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL is an example of a very versatile one, in that it feels great on wet and dry roads, as well as being a capable option for off-road runs. It’s not the best option for technical, mountain tracks, but for light trails like park or woodland paths, and indeed gravel roads, it’s perfect.
I loved the ride feel of the shoe on both road and trail, too. It has a lot of cushioning in the midsole, but still feels quite light and nimble, and the mild rocker on the shoe helps to roll you through your footstrike smoothly.
The midsole foam is comfortable, and the ride is stable and supportive at easy paces, but there’s enough energy return to pick up the pace as well. It’s not as versatile as a super-trainer like the Asics Megablast, but the Aero Glide 4 GRVL has more speed than most max-cushioned shoes.
Crucially for me, the ride on the road wasn’t hampered by the thicker outsole on the shoe, even when compared with the standard Salomon Aero Glide 4, which I’m also testing right now.
I enjoyed using the Aero Glide 4 GRVL for runs entirely on the road, and the outsole grips well on wet pavements, and then it has more durability and dependability on light trails too.
It’s a little heavier than the Aero Glide 4 road shoe, but still quite light compared to most cushioned sneakers, so I’d trade the extra weight for its added grip.
Should you buy the Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL?
For a lot of runners, the answer is yes, you should buy the Salomon Aero Glide 4 GRVL, or at least consider it. It’s such a versatile and fun shoe to run in, it can find a place in any running shoe rotation, or be your only option for all kinds of run.
It’s the perfect shoe for a trip, in that it even looks good, is comfortable for walking, and can handle a variety of runs on any surface you’re likely to encounter, unless you frequently run up steep mountains on your trips, in which case a dedicated trail shoe will be worth having.
Another great option in this category is the Hoka Challenger 8, which is similarly versatile and has a softer ride feel, but isn’t quite as stable as the Aero Glide 4 GRVL when you are on uneven ground, and I also find the foam in the Salomon to be a bit more responsive.
If you do actually run on gravel roads a lot, then the Aero Glide 4 GRVL is certainly a great pick, but don’t be deterred if you never touch gravel tracks; it’s still a great all-terrain option.
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