Salomon Aero Blaze 3 GRVL road to trail running shoes review

A steady, road-to-trail running shoe with improved grip but with a slight trade-off in breathability over the non-GRVL version
Salomon Aero Blaze 3 GRVL review
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For runners who mix pavement with parks, gravel, or forest paths, Salomon’s Aero Blaze 3 GRVL quietly fills a gap. It’s a more trail-ready spin on the already solid Aero Blaze 3 road version—and while it doesn’t overhaul the formula, the tweaks make a noticeable difference when your route takes you off-road.

This GRVL edition doesn’t try to be a flashy do-it-all trail shoe. It’s not built for technical singletrack or muddy scrambles.

What it does bring is consistent comfort, great ground control, and a bit more grip and protection; which is exactly what you want for those everyday “wherever the road leads” kind of runs.

Key specs

  • Price: $140 at salomon.com / £112 at sportsshoes.com (for UK readers)
  • Weight: 8.7oz / 247g (Men’s US 9 – tested pair)
  • Drop: 8mm
  • Upper: Engineered mesh with TPU overlays and padded collar
  • Midsole: optiFOAM² with Reverse Camber geometry
  • Outsole: Gravel ContaGRIP with chevron lugs
  • Extras: OrthoLite sockliner, traditional laces, made with recycled materials

Fit & feel: built for comfort

The GRVL version fits true to size, and actually feels a bit more forgiving than the road version, especially in the toe box.

It’s got a medium width overall with enough volume for runners with slightly wider or higher-volume feet.

The collar rises higher around the ankle (see photo above), which some runners will love for added support, though if you’re sensitive to extra padding or prefer lower-cut collars, it’s something to note.

Lockdown is reliable once the laces are snug, and even without a gusseted tongue, I didn’t notice any slippage or rubbing.

The overall step-in feel is solid—comfortable, structured, and ready to go.

Performance: stable and grounded

This isn’t a bouncy shoe, and it’s not trying to be. The Aero Blaze 3 GRVL shares the same optiFOAM² midsole and Reverse Camber rocker as the road version, which means the ride is stable, protective, and smooth but not particularly energetic.

Salomon Aero Blaze 3 GRVL road to trail running shoes review 5 - Trail and Kale | Trail Running & Adventure

It performs best at steady, aerobic paces. I’ve been running around 5–6 min/km in these, and they shine most when you’re not pushing the pace but covering ground steadily.

Salomon Aero Blaze 3 GRVL road to trail running shoes review 6 - Trail and Kale | Trail Running & Adventure

That makes it a great daily trainer for runners who value durability and control over rebound and speed.

Where the GRVL version steps up over the non-GRVL version, is in trail performance.

Salomon Aero Blaze 3 GRVL road to trail running shoes review 7 - Trail and Kale | Trail Running & Adventure

The chevron-lugged Gravel ContaGRIP outsole offers much better traction on dirt, crushed gravel, and wet pavement.

It’s a nice upgrade over the smoother road model, and one of the reasons to pick this version if your routes get a bit looser underfoot.

The added TPU overlays around the toe also give the shoe a bit more structure and protection on light trails, another detail that makes it more rugged without going full mountain-mode.

Salomon Aero Blaze 3 GRVL road to trail running shoes review 8 - Trail and Kale | Trail Running & Adventure

Breathability & trade-offs

As with most road-to-trail hybrids, there are compromises. In the GRVL, breathability takes a slight hit.

The upper traps more heat than the road version, which was more open and airy. On humid days, I noticed it running warm but as we head into fall and winter, that may actually be a plus.

Weight is up slightly too (about 12g more than the standard version), but honestly, I never noticed it during runs. For what you gain in traction and durability, the trade-off feels fair.

The OrthoLite sockliner adds decent comfort, but I did notice some subtle underfoot shift when cornering or running downhill, something that might vary depending on your foot shape and gait.

Final thoughts

The Salomon Aero Blaze 3 GRVL takes a solid road shoe and gives it just enough trail-readiness to make it versatile; at $140, it provides great value for money.

It doesn’t try to be a technical trail shoe, it’s not an all-mountain trail running shoe for mountain missions; it’s much better suited to those mixed-terrain daily runs.

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