Why I Chose the Salomon Ultra Glide 4 for South Downs Way 50

If you’ve got a spring or summer ultra on the South Downs Way this year, like SDW100, Race to the King or UKUltra 100k, this might be worth a read.

A couple of days after SDW50, I shared a photo on Instagram of my feet… still in surprisingly good condition. Alongside that, I posted the shoes I wore, the Salomon Ultra Glide 4.

I didn’t expect that much reaction,to a photo of my feet while I drank my morning coffee but I got a lot of replies. People had questions about the shoes and my kit in general.

One message stood out. A friend and incredible ultra runner Nathan replied to my story saying:“These definitely have my interest after your reviews on them!”

I told him:“You know I won’t talk about the things I don’t like. I’m really glad I went with these.”

His reply made me smile:“That’s why they have my interest. I ignore most other reviews. I’m very tempted to try a pair.”

Hearing this matters to me, a lot; Yes, I’m a Salomon ambassador, but I’m not interested in talking about kit just for the sake of it. If I’m wearing something, it’s because I genuinely rate it, trust is important to me.

Why I Chose the Salomon Ultra Glide 4 for South Downs Way 50

I usually lean towards the Salomon Genesis, but this time I made a deliberate choice to go with the Ultra Glide 4. I had two main reasons for choosing the Salomon Ultra Glide 4 for South Downs Way 50:

Foot protection on the SDW

If you’ve run the South Downs Way, you’ll know… the flint can absolutely destroy your feet. As a coach, one of the most common issues I see after long races on this trail is badly beaten-up feet. And once you’ve received a few unsolicited post-race foot photos from athletes, you start thinking about your own choices a bit more carefully.

Because I entered SDW50 late

I hadn’t done as much specific long running on the route as I normally would. So I wanted more protection underfoot. That’s what pushed me towards the Ultra Glide.

Grip and Confidence

I’d used earlier versions of the Ultra Glide before, but always thought of them as more of a spring/summer shoe as the grip in thick winter mud wasn’t their strength.

That's changed.

Im a little bit embarrassed to admit, when version 3 came out with an updated outsole, I didn’t properly test it in really muddy conditions.

Version 4 though… straight out into the worst of it and they handled it better than I expected.

The 4mm lugs combined with that wavy outsole feel a bit like fat bike tyres, they just seem to hold on better than you’d think for a shoe in this category. That said, like most max-cushion shoes, they’re not designed specifically for deep, boggy ground but for mixed terrain, they’ve felt reliable and confidence-inspiring and really are a great allrounder.

Comfort Over Long Distance

This is where they really stood out.

The Ultra Glide 4 is built for ultra distance, designed to absorb impact and diffuse pressure across your feet over long distances. That’s something I really noticed on the SDW, especially over the harder, flint-heavy sections.

For me:

• No blisters

• No hotspots

• No damaged toenails

Over 50 miles, that’s not something I take for granted. They may be highly cushioned, but they still feel responsive when you want to move, which isn’t always the case with shoes that are higher stacked.

Fit and Feel

The new upper on version 4 is noticeably lighter and more breathable (around 255g for the women’s).

My feet didn’t overheat, even over a long day out.

The fit felt secure, particularly on descents, and the toe box is roomy, which is actually a benefit over ultra distances when your feet might start to swell.

Despite the cushioning, they feel stable rather than wobbly, which is something I’m always wary of with max-cushioned shoes, worrying about rolling an ankle, this doesn’t cross my mind in these shoes.

The 6mm drop sits right in my sweet spot too.

As always with Salomon, the quick laces are a win helping secure that foot in place and no stopping mid-race to retie anything.

Where I’d Use Them

So far I’ve used them on:

• Dry trails

• Wet conditions

• Proper muddy runs

And they’ve felt consistently comfortable and reliable.

I haven’t taken them onto very technical terrain yet, but I will and feel confident doing so.

If you’re running more technical terrain, it’s worth checking out fellow Salomon ambassador Nige’s review of the men’s version, as he’s put them through those kind of trails up in the North.

Final Thoughts

For this race, the decision came down to one thing:

Protecting my feet without sacrificing comfort or confidence.

The Ultra Glide 4 delivered on all of that, and more importantly, they did exactly what I needed them to do on that course and finishing 50 miles in 9hours 2 minutes with happy feet probably says more than anything else.

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