Salomon Aero Blaze ($140)
Introduction
The Salomon Aero Blaze is a moderately cushioned “uptempo” daily trainer. The Aero Blaze has Energy Foam midsole, a combination of EVA and Olefin copolymer block found in almost all Salomon road and trail shoes. The Aero is a straight up road shoe from one of our favorite companies best known for trail shoes and gear with its Contagrip outsole clearly coming from that heritage. So, where does the Aero Blaze fit in on the roads? Let’s find out.
Pros:
Leg friendly if firmer Energy Foam has a distinct quick rebound at faster paces Sam/Renee
Copious rubber coverage Sam/Peter/Renee
Light weight at 8.36 oz / 237g rubber coverage and 31/23 stack height Sam/Peter/Rene
R. Camber (plus flex and 8mm drop) is effective in at faster paces.Sam
Blaze fit is performance oriented narrower lasted and comfortable Sam/Peter
Cons:
Takes some midsole/outsole break in and is not particularly slow paces friendly Sam/Peter/Renee
Energy Foam is purposeful and quick rebounding but lacks supercritical foams wow factor Sam/Peter/Renee
Stats
Weight: men's 8.36oz / 237g (US9) , women's 7.83oz / 222g (US8)
Samples: men’s 8.36 oz / 237g (US9) , women’s 7.83oz / 222g (US8)
Stack Height: men’s mm 31 mm heel, 23 forefoot ( 8 mm drop spec)
$140. Available now
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Renee: The Aero Blaze is a traditional shoe with an excellent upper and foot hold. The shoe takes time to break in, as Peter wrote. For sizing, I suggest looking at the EU sizing instead of the US sizing for the women’s version. My women’s size 8 ran a bit long, and as someone between half sizes, I could probably wear a 7.5. The EU sizing for my US8 is 40.
The shoe has a roomy toebox and a very secure heel and midfoot hold. For having more length than I needed, I was surprised at how well the upper fits. I think runners who like a secure midfoot/ heel and a roomy toebox will like the Aero Blaze’s fit.
Sam: The upper construction is fairly conventional with the single layer fairly dense engineered mesh backed up by overlays.
I especially like how the yellow overlay ties midfoot to heel area This assures great heel lockdown
We have a smooth fit front to back, plenty of toe box room If on the performance side of the scale and a touch of stretch.
The tongue is moderately thick, quite long but not over puffy. It could be shorter and less present. There is no gusset tongue and none is needed, a tribute to the mesh, carefully placed overlays, rear hold and lacing all influenced by Salomon’s experience in trail shoes where such hold is vital.
My test pair is a half size up from my normal US8.5. I would recommend true to size in the Aero as they do run a bit long. I also note the Blaze has 56% recycled upper content
Peter: A solid, if traditional, looking shoe. The fit is true to size and the upper is excellent. The step-in feels good, the materials are top-notch and the foot hold is very good. First couple of runs the midsole felt pretty stiff, but then it started to break-in a bit.
Midsole
Sam: The midsole is a single slab of Energy Foam (renamed from Energy Surge). The foam is an EVA / Olefin block copolymer blend. The full stack height is 31 mm heel, 23 forefoot with a very reasonable weight, especially given all the rubber of 8.36oz / 237g (US9). There is no plate in either shoe and none is needed as the outsole (and R.Camber geometry) provides plenty of propulsion. The foam feel is for sure energetic and increasingly so as the pace picks up being a bit dull at jogging paces.
The return from compression is quicker than say Saucony’s PWRRUN or ASICS Flight Foam Blast+. It is not a plush soft foam It is not as bouncy soft as say TPU based foams such as PWRRUN+, Boost, or Skechers new Hyperburst Pro are, and neither is it as springy light feeling as say ZoomX.
The foam feel very nicely balances with an aggressive quick and stable return, so leg friendly enough cushion with a clear performance oriented feel. I have never been tired after runs even if the foam is firmer than what we are seeing in many shoes . The Blaze shines best at faster paces rather than at slower ones. The harder you push the more the Energy Foam kicks back, and decisively so, making for fast non plated riding shoes.
Peter: I’ll echo Sam’s thoughts here. The midsole foam is good, but not very exciting. The cushioning is adequate, but there’s just not the ‘magic’ feeling that some of the supercritical foams have. Break in period feels unusually long for a modern shoe.
Renee: I’ll echo Peter’s echo. The shoe is light underfoot, surprisingly so. My longest run in the Aero Blaze was 3 hours on hilly gravel roads (through sloppy conditions), and I had no issues with comfort underfoot. The midsole is good, but not exciting as compared to other options. That’s not necessarily a fault, especially for a daily trainer.
Outsole
Sam: The outsoles are Salomon’s always excellent trail heritage Contagrip rubber. While not highly profiled or lugged (smooth trails only here if you go there), contact is smooth and quite firm, magnifying the shoes responsiveness, pop off the road, and the outsole is well balanced with the foam’s rebound.
In terms of flex, the Aero is not at the flexibility level of say a Saucony Kinvara which has no outsole to speak of but with a clearly snappier flex than say the latest Saucony Rides, the 15 and 16 with their less extensive rubber coverage.
The Aero has a long flex noting in the photo above. I found after a few miles things got smoother as the shoe broke in.
Peter: Lots of rubber outsole. Grip is good. Should last for many miles. It all takes a while to break-in.
Renee: Sam wrote a good recap. I ran on gravel through some ice/snow/mud, and while the outsole does not have trail lugs, it’s good enough to provide some balance and durability.
Ride
Sam: Simple, modern, and “serious”; the Aero can be thought of as a successor to the Sonic Accelerate (RTR Review) weighing about the same and adding a welcome 2mm more heel stack, as the Accelerate for me was just a touch too low slung and firm for daily training.
I also thought of the Saucony Ride 13/14, New Balance 880 v11/v2 and various Pegasus running the Aero but in the Salomon with a slightly more dynamically responsive midsole. The new Clifton 9 is clearly softer and bouncier overall even if its foam is about the same in firmness to pressing. It has less outsole coverage and I feel its foam is also not as quick returning of down forces. That said it is more pleasant run slow than the Aero if softer.
Peter: The ride of the Aero Blaze is a little frustrating for me. I like some of the energy return as I go faster, but the shoe doesn’t feel great at all paces. Again, it has started to wear in, which is having a positive effect on the ride. I’ve been alternating between the Craft CTM Ultra and the Aero Blaze, and they are both a bit problematic for me, but for different reasons. The overall stiffness and lack of ‘magic’ in the foam make the Aero Blaze feel firmly in the camp of old-school daily trainer. The Craft CTM Ultra camp has an upper that is tough to get on and has given me some blisters. Toebox is pretty narrow, but the turnover is quicker. I’d say a little less cushioning and more responsive. Does better at slower tempos than Aero, but still feels better going fast.
Renee: I had a similar experience to Peter. The shoe takes some time to break in, and I appreciated it the more I ran with it. As a daily trainer, I think the ride offers a lot of options. The ride is surprisingly light weight, which encourages a quick (although not dynamic) transition. Like Peter, I can’t say the Aero Blaze feels great or magical at any pace.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Sam: This new offering from Salomon deserves serious consideration in the category of daily trainer all- arounder. Check them out if you are seeking a modern geometry, light for decent stack height, durable trainer with moderately rebounding foam and a more old school, snappy firmer get up and go ride, a rarity these days. They do take some break in due to the extensive outsole but all that rubber should make them very durable.
The Energy Foam common to all 2023 Salomon road and trail could be softer with more rebound as it is in the Ultra Glide trail shoe and even the S/Lab Pulsar trail racer.
Sam’s Score: 8.9 /10
a little more excitement (softer more rebounding foam as in many Salomon 2023 trail and a little less stiffness please
😊😊😊 ½ Smiles for the snappy more old school feel in a modern package.
Peter: Ultimately the stiff ride and lack of joy at slower paces take the Salomon Aero Blaze down a notch for me. They are comfortable and I like running in them, but I don’t LOVE running in them. It will be interesting to see how they continue to break in.
Peter Score: 8/10
Could be a more exciting foam, could feel better at all tempos.
😊😊😊
Renee: With an abundant number of trainers with “super foams”, a traditional shoe can get lost in the mix. The Aero Blaze rides very traditionalyl underfoot, which is a pro or con depending on a runner’s preference. The midsole is neither super soft nor bouncy/dynamic. The upper security is great and the outsole adds durability. My favorite quality is the light weight for the stack height. While I can’t say the Aero Blaze is a top pick for any particular pace/workout, it does work for basically anything. For runner’s who want one shoe for everything, from pavement to light trail or gravel, the Aero Blaze is a good choice.
Renee’s Score: 8.9/10 (-not dynamic)
😊😊😊
10 Comparisons
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Salomon Aero Blaze vs. Salomon Aero Glide (RTR Review)
Sam: The weights at 9.05 oz / 256g for the max cushion Glide at 37mm heel / 29mm forefoot and 8.36 oz / 237g for the Blaze uptempo daily trainer at 31mm heel / 23 forefoot. The Glide has a more generous fit (too generous for me) while the Blaze’s is more secure and performance oriented. The midsole is the same but as we have 6mm more stack in the Glide we have more cushion but as its outsole is more extensive not as much more as one might expect. I did appreciate the extra forefoot cushion in the Glide. The Aero as a result of a lower forefoot stack is more flexible while the Glide really takes advantage of its R_Camber rocker. Aero is the classic daily trainer while Glide is a more max cushion fast cruiser and long run shoe.
Salomon Aero Blaze vs. Craft CTM Ultra 3 (RTR Review)
Peter: I’m a little frustrated by both of these shoes. The upper and fit are better for me in the Salomon, but the ride of the Craft is just more exciting. It’s not as highly cushioned, but it feels more efficient. Neither one is a total home run for me, but I lean towards the Craft on Smile factor.
Salomon Aero Blaze vs. NB FuelCell SC Trainer (RTR Review)
Peter: The SC trainer is significantly heavier than the Aero Blaze, but feels more fluid and fun at any pace.
Salomon Aero Blaze vs. New Balance FuelCell Propel v4 (RTR Review)
Renee: Both shoes offer a good amount of cushion underfoot and work as daily trainers. The Blaze has the advantage of a more secure upper, more outsole coverage, and lighter weight. It is more stable as well. The Propelv4, although much heavier, has a fun/smooth transition underfoot thanks to the FuelCell midsole and TPU plate. For a workhorse, I’d choose the Blaze. For a cost-efficient easy-day shoe, I’d choose the Propel v4. Sizing is comparable, although the Blaze is a tad longer in the same size.
Salomon Aero Blaze vs. New Balance FuelCell 880 v13 (RTR Review soon)
Sam: Both of these shoes have an old school firmer daily trainer responsive vibe and similar fitting and feeling uppers with the 880v13 a bit less soft on the foot. Both have lots of outsole rubber and a fairly stiff flex with the 880v13 a bit stiffer. While the 880’s rubber is thicker and firmer than the Blaze, its Fresh Foam midsole a touch softer and bouncier.
Salomon Aero Blaze vs. Nike Zoom Air Pegasus 37-40 (RTR Review)
Renee: The Pegasus has a prepper ride in comparison to the Blaze and it will be the faster/more uptempo shoe for most runners. For me, the Pegasus feels somewhat clunky/inflexible under the midfoot, and it’s not a shoe I like for daily miles. While the Blaze is an 8mm drop shoe, it runs like a lower drop. In contrast, the Pegasus’ drop feels high, which is not my preference. I wore a women’s size 8 in both; the Blaze has more length and width in the toebox.
Salomon Aero Blaze vs. Saucony Ride 15 and 16 (RTR Review)
Sam: With 4mm more front and rear cushion stack, the latest Rides are more cushioned with their PWRRUN foam similar in feel to Energy Foam in being dense, vibration absorbing with a touch of bounce/rebound. With its extra stack height and more minimal rubber the Ride ends somewhat more forgiving in feel. The 16’s upper takes the performance fit a bit too far for me with a somewhat overdone heel area hold. For fit I pick the Salomon for ride the Ride. Both true to size.
Renee: The Ride 16 was a surprise for me. I’ll agree with Sam that the Ride has a better bounce/rebound as compared to the Blaze. Both shoes have enough cushion/stack for long runs, although the Ride 16 works better for faster paces. The Blaze has more outsole coverage and runs more stable. Sizing is comparable, although the Blaze has a roomier toebox.
Salomon Aero Blaze vs.Clifton 9 (RTR Review)
Sam: Softer and not quite as snappy and responsive the Cllfton 9 has a more pleasant ride and a touch more comfortable and more refined upper, if similar in fit. Clifton leans a bit further towards the slower side of training than the Aero Blaze. Both true to size.
Salomon Aero Blaze vs.ON Cloudsurfer 7- 2023 (RTR Review)
Sam: Softer yet than the Clifton 9 and for sure the Blaze,the newest Cloudsurfer with its carefully angled CloudTec Phase pods has a softer, smoother more fluid ride, a considerably more refined and comfortable upper and for me.. an overly compressive soft (yet more rebounding) forefoot that gets thin in feel as pace and miles increase. A more fun shoe, it is not as “serious” an all around daily trainer as the Blaze is.
The Aero Blaze is available now including at our partners
SALOMON
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FLEET FEET
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Tester Profiles
Renee is a former U.S.Marine journalist, which is when her enjoyment of running and writing started. She isn’t that awesome of a runner, but she tries really hard. Most of her weekly 50-60 miles take place on rural country roads in Nebraska, meaning mud, gravel, dirt, hills, and the occasional field. She has PR’s of 1:30:59 for the half marathon and 3:26:45 for the marathon.
Peter lives in Austin, Texas and has been a sub 3 hour marathoner as well as a 1:21 half marathoner in recent years.
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is 65 with a 2018 3:40 Boston qualifier. 2022 was Sam’s 50th year of running. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets lucky,, training 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run or nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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2 comments:
Hi Sam --
Thanks for this review. Will you also be looking at the Aero Volt? I understand it's pretty similar.
Great review, I have never had a Salomon shoe, question about the width. I usually wear a wide shoe and New Balance fits well, I see that you have a comparison with the 880v13. Just wondering how similar the toe box width compares with these two shoes. Thanks for any input you have.
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