The Salomon Ultra Glide 4 and the Salomon Genesis are two trail shoes from Salomon, but they don’t target the same runner. The Ultra Glide 4 is the long-distance specialist, with maximum cushioning to eat up the miles. The Genesis is the versatile one, built for every terrain.
The Ultra Glide 4 is taller and lighter: a maximal stack of 41 / 35 mm versus 34 / 26 mm for the Genesis, and 267 g / 9.4 oz versus 277 g / 9.8 oz. On drop, 6 mm for the Ultra Glide, 8 mm for the Genesis.
Underfoot, the Ultra Glide 4 is built around a plush foam (optiFOAM) and a pronounced rocker that rolls the stride along: the feel is soft, protective and comfortable, designed for distance rather than speed. The Genesis relies on its Energy Foam, closer to the ground and more responsive, for a lively ride and smooth transitions.
Both rely on Salomon’s Contagrip rubber, but with different roles. The Ultra Glide 4 is at ease on runnable paths and moderate trails, a bit less in pure technical terrain. The Genesis delivers flawless grip for taking on any type of ground, technical sections included, thanks to its deeper lugs.
Both uppers are comfortable and protective, with the in-house Quicklace system. The Ultra Glide 4 stands out for its roomy fit, the Genesis for its excellent, closer-to-the-foot lockdown.
Ultra Glide 4 or Genesis: which should you choose?
It all depends on how you run. For most trail runners, the Genesis (9.3/10) is the more versatile choice: responsive and equipped with flawless grip, it goes everywhere, from runnable trails to technical sections.
The Ultra Glide 4 is the long-distance specialist. Its maximum cushioning, plushness and rocker make it an excellent ally for runnable ultras and long runs, where comfort matters more than speed.
Take the Genesis for versatility and technical terrain, and the Ultra Glide 4 if long-distance comfort is what you want above all.
