Brooks Caldera 8 vs Salomon Ultra Glide 4

Brooks Caldera 8

€150

Salomon Ultra Glide 4

€149.95

Quick verdict

Brooks Caldera 8

€150

The better pick if you want:

No clear advantage on the specs we track.

Salomon Ultra Glide 4

€149.95

The better pick if you want:

A higher overall score (90 vs 78)
A lighter option (37 g less)

Spec profile

Each axis ranks against the 174 products in Shoes on the site: the further out, the more it stands out in that spec (lighter, cheaper…).

Center: lowest in the category · Edge: highest

Brooks Caldera 8· leads in none

Salomon Ultra Glide 4· leads in 1

Lightness

Tied

CushioningGripAffordability

Cushioning
39 mmTop 17%
39 mmTop 13%
Lightness
312 g
275 gTop 31%
Grip
4 mmTop 50%
4 mmTop 50%
Drophigher isn't better or worse
6 mm
6 mm
Affordability
$150Top 38%
$150Top 38%

Technical Specifications

Compare features between Brooks Caldera 8 vs Salomon Ultra Glide 4

Best value in this comparisonOnly differences (14)

Essentials

€150

€149.95

2025

2026

312 g

275 g

Overview

Trail Running Shoe

rugged trails, mountainous terrain, dirt paths

Mixed trails and long distances

Technical trail running, long distance trail runs, mountain races

Long-distance trail running and ultras

Cushioning

6 mm

38.5 mm

39 mm

32.5 mm

33 mm

DNA Loft v2 cushioning for plush but responsive ride

optiFOAM cushioning with relieveSPHERE geometry

Plush, responsive cushioning for long runs

Maximum cushioning for endurance trail runs

Grip & protection

TrailTack Green Rubber with high-traction lugs

All Terrain Contagrip® rubber with ~4 mm lugs

Ballistic Rock Shield underfoot for rock and debris protection

High foot protection for long runs

Aggressive lugs for technical grip on varied surfaces

All Terrain Contagrip® for grip on mixed trails

Upper & fit

Breathable engineered mesh with reinforced overlays

Engineered mesh with integrated reinforcements

—

OrthoLite® sockliner

—

Quicklace™ lacing, neutral support, regular width

Ready to buy?

On the terrain

How Brooks Caldera 8 vs Salomon Ultra Glide 4 should behave on each kind of ground, estimated from lug depth, stack height, weight and outsole rubber. Pick a ground to see what decides it.

Pick a ground							Average
Brooks Caldera 8							53
Salomon Ultra Glide 4							56

FlatPacked, runnable trail

Cushioning and low weight make the kilometres easier; very deep lugs squirm on hard ground.

Brooks Caldera 872

Cushioning37/40
Lightness10/35
Smooth roll25/25

Salomon Ultra Glide 483

Cushioning38/40
Lightness20/35
Smooth roll25/25

A model built from the specs to compare shoes, not a lab measurement.

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Video Reviews

Watch real-world YouTube reviews from content creators and the Trail Running community.

See all 10 video reviews

Brooks Caldera 8

Salomon Ultra Glide 4

Visual Comparison

See the differences between Brooks Caldera 8 and Salomon Ultra Glide 4 in a side-by-side slider comparison.

Comparison Questions

Answers based on product data and key differences.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which offers better value: Brooks Caldera 8 vs Salomon Ultra Glide 4?

For value comparison: The Brooks Caldera 8 ($150) provides premium features compared to the Salomon Ultra Glide 4 ($150). Consider your budget and the specific features that matter most for your trail running setup.

Which is newer, the Brooks Caldera 8 or the Salomon Ultra Glide 4?

The Salomon Ultra Glide 4 is newer: it came out in 2026, and the Brooks Caldera 8 in 2025.

Looking for alternatives to Brooks Caldera 8?

Closest in price, with what each one does better.

See all alternatives

Hoka Challenger 8

Hoka

$150Score 93+15

Better than Brooks Caldera 8 at:

A higher overall score (93 vs 78)
A lighter option (37 g less)
More cushioning (44 vs 38.5 mm heel stack)

Compare with Brooks Caldera 8

Kiprun Kipsummit Max

Kiprun

$150Score 86+8

Better than Brooks Caldera 8 at:

A higher overall score (86 vs 78)
A lighter option (26 g less)

Compare with Brooks Caldera 8

Salomon Genesis

Salomon

$150Score 85+7

Better than Brooks Caldera 8 at:

A higher overall score (85 vs 78)
A lighter option (37 g less)
Deeper lugs for grip (4.5 vs 4 mm)

Compare with Brooks Caldera 8

Popular Comparisons

Compare Brooks Caldera 8 or Salomon Ultra Glide 4 with other top trail running shoes from brands such as Brooks, Salomon and more.

Shoes

Spec profile

Each axis ranks against the 174 products in Shoes on the site: the further out, the more it stands out in that spec (lighter, cheaper…).

Center: lowest in the category · Edge: highest

Brooks Caldera 8· leads in none

Salomon Ultra Glide 4· leads in 1

Lightness

Tied

CushioningGripAffordability

Cushioning
39 mmTop 17%
39 mmTop 13%
Lightness
312 g
275 gTop 31%
Grip
4 mmTop 50%
4 mmTop 50%
Drophigher isn't better or worse
6 mm
6 mm
Affordability
$150Top 38%
$150Top 38%

Pick a ground

Average

Brooks Caldera 8

Salomon Ultra Glide 4

Brooks Caldera 8 vs Salomon Ultra Glide 4

Brooks Caldera 8

Salomon Ultra Glide 4

Quick verdict

Spec profile