Salomon/Canva

Salomon Aero Blaze 4 GRVL GORE-TEX | £145 | Tester: Laura Fountain

An enjoyable, versatile road-to-trail shoe that keeps your feet dry when the grass is wet.

Road-to-trail is probably my favourite category of running shoe because it’s where I do most of my running. A typical run for me involves a mixture of roads, gravel paths and light trails, so I love a shoe that can comfortably handle all three without feeling out of place on any of them and I was excited to try the Salomon Aero Blaze 4.

Salomon Aero Blaze 4 GRVL GORE-TEX technical details

Price: £145
Size: 3.5 – 9.5
Midsole: optiFOAM²
Drop: 8mm
Stack: 37mm/29mm
Outsole: Gravel Contagrip
Special tech: Gore-Tex coating

Image: Salomon

Salomon Aero Blaze 4 GRVL GORE-TEX pros and cons

Pros

• Comfortable with a lively feel
• Waterproof GORE-TEX protection
• Versatile across road and light trail

Cons

• Less reassuring on wet pavelents
• Not deigned for deep mud or technical trails

 Who and what is this shoe for?

The Salomon Aero Blaze 4 GRVL GORE-TEX is a road to trail shoe designed for runners who want one shoe that can handle both road and light trail in the same run. And it does exactly that, with the added benefit of waterproof protection. It’s an everyday running shoe with enough grip for heading off-road, but without the aggressive lugs that can make some trail shoes feel uncomfortable on tarmac.

The midsole uses Salomon’s optiFOAM² cushioning, while the Gravel Contagrip outsole has relatively shallow lugs. It’s designed for mixed surfaces rather than particularly muddy or technical trails.

How does it fit?

I found it fitted true to size in my UK size 6. The lacing uses Salomon’s quickLACE™ neo which means you don’t tie them, you just tighten and loosen them via a little toggle. As someone who doesn’t untie their shoes before taking them off this was a big plus for me. The shoe stayed in place on my run and felt secure.

Is the Salomon Aero Blaze 4 comfortable?

I’ve found this a really comfortable shoe to run in. There’s a nice amount of cushioning underfoot, but it also feels quite lively rather than simply soft. You can definitely feel the rocker, even when walking, and it helps give the shoe a smooth, forward-rolling feel. It’s a shoe that feels good as soon as you put it on.

The GORE-TEX upper hasn’t caused me any comfort issues on the runs I’ve done so far, and the waterproof protection has been particularly welcome when running through wet grass.

Image: Laura Fountain

Run test: Salomon Aero Blaze 4 GRVL GORE-TEX

I’ve been testing the Aero Blaze 4 GRVL GORE-TEX on my regular three to four-mile loop with the dog. It’s a great route for testing road-to-trail shoes because it includes grass, woodland paths, gravel and short sections of road, so I get to try them on several different surfaces in one run.

The Aero Blaze 4 GRVL has handled that mixture really well. It feels comfortable on the road and there’s enough response from the cushioning to make it enjoyable when you pick up the pace. The rocker is noticeable and gives the shoe a nice forward-rolling feel.

Off-road, the Gravel Contagrip outsole has provided good grip on the grass, gravel and woodland paths I’ve been running on. The lugs aren’t particularly deep, but that’s what makes this shoe so versatile. You don’t feel as though you’re wearing a traditional trail shoe when you hit the tarmac.

I’ve also been impressed with the GORE-TEX protection. Some of the grass on my regular route has been quite long and wet, but my toes have stayed dry when running through it.

The one place I noticed the grip wasn’t quite as reassuring was on wet pavement. In fairness, I did have the added challenge of a dog pulling on the lead, which puts the grip to a slightly different test than running on my own. It’s not been a major issue, but it was noticeable compared with the grip I experienced on the other surfaces.

Overall, I’ve really enjoyed running in these. They’re comfortable, have a bit of life to them and make switching between different surfaces feel easy.

Where can I buy them?

The Salomon Aero Blaze 4 GRVL GORE-TEX is available from Salomon. There’s also a version without GORE-TEX which will have you £20.

Looking for more grip? Check out out favourite trail shoes.