2026 is yet another year where everything has to be hyper or at least super. Big brands show up with superfoams and EVA seems totally out of place. It seems that no influencer or so-called real runner wants to train in a classic daily model.
What if there was a shoe that would do the job wonderfully, was lightweight and did not cost a fortune. No plate, no superfoam, no pretentions. Let’s talk about the Salomon Aero Blaze 4.
Upper and Fit of the Salomon Aero Blaze 4
What works for me
What a nice surprise the Salomon Aero Blaze 4 is. A pleasant step in feeling and the foot sits comfortably on an Ortholite insole.
Furthermore, there is enough room in the forefoot so my toes do not get squeezed together. Thankfully, it is not too wide so the foot remains held in place. The improved engineered mesh wraps my midfoot while still feeling soft on the inside. However this softness belies the strength which keeps my foot in place on every run. To aid the lockdown, the mesh is structured by some stitching and partial overlays.
A classic lacing system works together with a comfortable padded tongue to keep the lockdown secure. On the run, I did not mind at all that the tongue is not gusseted. There is a band on the top where the laces go through that keeps them in place.
I usually wear a size US 8W or 8.5W. In the Aero Blaze 4, I went for the 8W and that worked perfectly. Unlike another French brand they do not run extraordinarily long and they also do not run narrow like the KIPRUN KIPRIDE.
What I really enjoy about the Aero Blaze 4 is that it is not overly plush. The padding around the collar and heel provide just the right amount of softness! I also actually quite like that the heel isn’t too rigid.
For your safety in the early morning or evening training on the roads Salomon has also added some reflective elements to the upper.
What doesn’t work for me
Overall, I cannot complain. The laces are slightly long but on the other hand it is easier to tie a runner’s knot if you need to.
The heel is slightly wider than I would prefer. But after some minutes on the run I got used to that and forgot about it.
Midsole and Ride of the Salomon Aero Blaze 4
What works for me
If there were anything I could complain about regarding the upper of the Aero Blaze 4, the ride would make up for it.
Facts on paper: the Aero Blaze 4 has an 8mm drop giving you 36mm in the heel and 28mm in the forefoot. This an extra one millimeter of foam compared to the previous version.
I just love the light weight feeling of the Aero Blaze 4. This low weight paired with that incredible rolling rocker makes it an easy to grab everyday option. Although the midsole feels slightly stiff to bend, it is quite flexible laterally. The sidewalls at the back of the midsole keep the ride stable, while the forefoot does not feel restricted in its movement.
Salomon equipped the Aero Blaze 4 with optiFoam² which is a lightweight beaded TPU foam with superior energy absorption and bounce. There might be different versions of this optiFoam² but it seems like Salomon are using it on multiple models. For example, the Aero Glide 4, or the new S/Lab Genesis.
To sum it up, you are getting honest feedback from your feet. A direct and closer to the ground ride. There is no super-squishy, wild, unstable effect going on with the midsole of the Aero Blaze 4.
What doesn’t work for me
Little to nothing to report here. Personally, I would have liked it if the drop would be 6-7mm, so I could have a bit more foam under my mid foot.
Outsole of the Salomon Aero Blaze 4
Grip and Traction
Another area where the Aero Blaze 4 can prove its talent is traction and outsole.
Everyone knows Salomon delivers great grip with their trail shoes. This Road Contagrip material is superb as well. It sticks at every turn under dry conditions and when it finally rained after weeks, wet surfaces have been no problem for the Aero Blaze 4.
I often run partially on streets and on gravelly paths and that is where I found they could do better with Salomon’s Aero Blaze gravel option. The outsole pattern of the roadrunner is just not that suited for loose gravel.
Durability
100km might not be enough to tell really about the durability. However, the foam still feels great and like there should be no signs of wear on the upper.
Conclusion
Value for Money
I find that the Aero Blaze 4 provides great value. At €140 for a daily trainer, it is a bargain when you compare it to other competitors. With their daily options at about €150. It seems that Salomon only changed the upper and added 1mm of foam while the rocker looks almost exactly the same. You can find the previous model, the Aero Blaze 3 now reduced on Salomons website for €100. So that might be an even more advantageous offer.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
The Aero Blaze 4 truly can do all of my daily training miles. I can pick up the pace whenever I want. Of course, it is not a super squishy or bouncy shoe and if I want to run a more tempo specific workout I would choose a different model.
For me the Aero Blaze4 works perfectly at distances up to 15k or for about one hour and a ½. When I am running for a longer time the midsole tends to thin out and I have to work much harder to maintain a faster tempo.
Final Verdict
I was curious what I would get before trying the Aero Blaze 4. Now I can say blimey! What a great shoe! Even at 10g heavier, I think that every gram is worth it. The Aero Blaze 4 is not an EVO SL competitor. It does not have a super foam, a plate or any other gimmick. It is just a very good lightweight daily trainer. One that makes it an easy decision of what to wear at six in the morning and I like that.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
Salomon Aero Blaze 4 vs. KIPRUN KIPRIDE
I do like the KIPRUN KIPRIDE even though it runs very narrow and my feet hurt afterwards. Due to its narrow platform and higher stack it feels a lot more unstable and I really have to watch out where I put my feet above all on gravelly parts. The TPU blended midsole feels way more bouncy and over the distance it provides more of that.
The KIPRIDE comes with a stack height of 40mm in the heel and 34mm in the forefoot with a six mm drop. So it has obviously more foam and after longer runs I feel that my legs approved of that.
I would pick the KIPRIDE before the Aero Blaze 4 but my feet would pick the Salomon.
Aero Blaze 4 vs. adidas EVO SL
I said in my final verdict. The Aero Blaze 4 is no EVO SL competitor. It lacks the energetic bouncy foam. On the other hand the upper of the Aero Blaze is way more structured and comfortable than the EVO SL’s. When it comes to choosing between them it really depends on how I want to run. The EVO SL to me gives more fun at changing paces. Hill sprints during my morning run? I would grab the EVO SL. Maintaining a comfortable pace uphill? The Aero Blaze 4 is perfectly suited for that.
