Aero Blaze 3 GRVL Running Trainers

I’ve been testing the Aero Blaze 3 GRVL across mixed terrain—crushed gravel, towpaths, and light trail—and it’s quickly become my go-to for fast aerobic days. The shoe hits a rare combination: road-shoe smoothness with trail-shoe stability. The ride feels energetic without being harsh, and the outsole grips better than expected on looser sections. The upper holds the foot securely but still disappears once you settle into rhythm. What impressed me most: no ankle wobble on uneven gravel and no hot spots even on 10–12 mile efforts. If you like a shoe that feels light, fast, and confident underfoot—without going full trail—this one is a winner.

Upper: The material that the upper is constructed from is breathable and doesn't over stretch or weaken with time and accrued mileage. I have pretty narrow feet, and I actually find myself having to cinch the upper down pretty tight to get a good lock down. That's good news for folks with wider feet who have had trouble fitting into Salomon shoes that have been traditionally a more narrow-foot oriented. The only issue that I had with these shoes (as with a few other shoes on the aero line) is the evenness of the lockdown. The laces are a bit rigid and don't distribute tension well across the top of the foot. I frequently end up with too much tightness across the top of my foot near the ankle or too much tightness across the middle of the foot. I suspect that this issue could be easily corrected with some more supple laces or a slightly improved lacing system. Midsole: This is where the blaze 3 GRVL really shines in my opinion. The energy foam used in this shoe and across the rest of the aero line is some of the best foam on the market right now. The responsiveness that you get from the midsole does not fade over time like other short-distance trail or hybris shoes, even over rougher gravel or trails. It's impressively high quality and long lasting. Outsole: I suspect this is where most folks will be skeptical about the Salomon GRVL line. Yes, the Blaze 3 GRVL does not have the aggressive lugs that other mid range trail or hybrid shoes might have, but the density of lugs on the outsole helps the shoe to perform exceptionally well on the rocky and rooty east coast trails. I've used this shoe and tread pattern on 15-20 mile mountain trail runs without any grip-related issues. At the same time, the low profile of the lugs allows for fast turnover on packed dirt, gravel, and asphalt. In short, it seems like Salomon has cracked the code on the hybrid road/gravel/trail shoe with the Aero Blaze 3 GRVL.

Bought this shoe for post season running. As described it will handle smooth trail conditions as well as pavement. Great cushion and the rocker design makes for a smooth ride. The toe box is wonderful. Plenty of room for thicker socks in colder condiitions.

Transition from everyday walking to running easily!

Comfortable and flexible on varied terrain, from pavement to light gravel roads.

Recently added these to my collection after being a long time fan of the Aero Blaze line. They fit exactly like the aero blaze 3s I wear on the road with a really nice beefed up tread that is way more capable and gives me confidence on light to moderate trails. Where they really shine for me is on all the forest and county roads I run in rural NM where I used to debate wearing road or trail shoes. These fill the gap between a fully fledged trail shoe and a road shoe. A great addition to anyone's collection