Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX review

The X Ultra 5 Mid GTX is one of our top-rated hiking boots that can be recommended to hikers who:

• need a lightweight yet supportive boot that can handle both day hikes and multi-day trips (but not a full-blown backpacking boot)
• prefer a grounded and trail-connected experience to abundant cushioning

Considering the firmness and lack of shock absorption in this Salomon boot's midsole, we don't think that it would make the best option for:

• beginner hikers
• folks with plantar fasciitis, foot pain, or prior injuries

HOKA offers some of the best cushioned boots for day hiking (the Anacapa 2 Mid GTX) and backpacking (the Kaha 3 GTX).

The Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX offers a rather firm and planted underfoot experience. We wouldn't describe it as jarring, but the boot is not a very generously cushioned one. Measuring its shock absorption in the heel, we recorded a below-average reading of 88 SA.

If you are accustomed to cushioned platforms or prone to heel pain, consider a cushier option like the HOKA Anacapa 2 Mid GTX (118.2 SA).

The absence of responsive cushioning technologies also keeps this Salomon boot pretty grounded. It doesn't feel particularly springy with a moderate energy return of 52.2%.

There is just a touch of responsiveness that prevents it from feeling completely dull.

The boot's trail-connected base is also reflected in its lower-than-average heel stack of 32.5 mm. It is notably thinner than many other hiking boots on the market.

The same is observed in the boot's forefoot stack of only 19.8 mm. Thinner-than-average, it's not a huge buffer between the ball of your foot and the ground.

However, it offers the benefit of increased proprioception and a more precise foot placement as a result.

Inside the boot, a 12.7 mm drop makes the X Ultra 5 Mid GTX feel familiar.

This offset is typical for most hiking boots as it puts the foot in a slightly forward-leaning position, taking the pressure off the Achilles, keeping the heel better cushioned, and helping the hiker transition to the next step with less effort.

Salomon features a pretty straightforward single-density foam for the X Ultra 5's midsole. Our Shore A durometer proved it to be quite firm at 32.9 HA.

Trying it on foot for the first time in our lab, it did feel firmer than most popular day hiking boots on the market.

We created a one-to-one gel mold of the boot's interiors to check how it fits in reference to other hiking boots we've tested in the same way.

And we must say that Salomon was perfectly on point with the X Ultra 5 Mid GTX's fit in a men's US size 9 (D medium width)!

The boot's widest part in the ball of the foot area clocked in at 93.0 mm, which is exactly on par with the category average. It is a perfect option for medium-width feet, and if you need more space, it is also available in a wide version.

The boot's toebox width also falls into the category average at 71.2 mm in the big toe area. It's not particularly spacious (like the foot-shaped Altra and Topo boots), but it's not aggressively tapered either.

No toe pinching is to be expected, as the boot's toebox height also turned out to be on par with the average at 26.4 mm. That means sufficient space above the toes as well. 

In its product description, Salomon promises that the X Ultra 5 Mid GTX can handle wet and rocky terrain.

And because we are particularly concerned about the boot's grip on slick wet rock, we measured the amount of friction its forefoot generates on wet concrete.

With a friction coefficient of 0.48, we are happy to confirm that this boot's Contragrip outsole can indeed provide a solid grip on wet coastal rocks and misty boulders. But if you want an even tackier bite, consider the HOKA Kaha 3 with a higher coefficient of 0.65.

Muddy terrain is also listed on this Salomon boot's track record, but we cannot wholeheartedly recommend it for any serious mud and dirt.

With a moderate lug depth of 3.5 mm, the X Ultra 5 Mid GTX is better suited for mixed terrain. For deep mud, consider Salewa's Alp Trainer 2 Mid GTX (5.2 mm lug depth).

The boot's tread pattern hasn't undergone any serious changes since the X Ultra 4.

Its lugs maintain their sharp, multi-directional shape, and the pronounced heel brake is still there to provide stopping power during descents.

Considering all of the above, we believe that this Salomon boot feels most at home on easy-to-moderate terrain with some mud, rocks, and other occasional obstacles.

Considering the stout nature of this hiking boot, we were utterly surprised by how effortlessly it bends in the forefoot.

Measuring the amount of force it takes to bend the X Ultra 5 Mid GTX to a 30-degree angle, we recorded a very moderate reading of 20.7N. This is significantly less than it takes for an average outdoor boot.

This made the ride feel more natural and maneuverable on rocky terrain, where the ability to feel the ground is more important.

We couldn't help but notice that the X Ultra 5 Mid GTX got a bit heavier than the preceding model, but not critically. At 15.4 oz (437g) in a men's US size 9, this Salomon boot is still a few solid ounces lighter than the category average.

We are amazed at how much stability and protection Salomon managed to pack into such a moderate weight. But if you're curious if there is an even lighter option with similar parameters, try the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX (14.7 oz).

Choosing the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX for hiking in temperatures above 70°F (20°C) is not the best idea, as the combination of a tightly woven Matryx upper and a waterproof Gore-Tex membrane makes for a pretty toasty experience.

Pumping smoke through the boot's toebox, we discovered that not even a tiny streak of it passed through the fabric.

Our transparency test further confirmed that this boot's upper is 100% sealed with no visible ventilation pores whatsoever.

And to resolve any remaining doubts about its permeability, here is a close-up look at the Matryx through our microscope.

Thus, we can confidently rate this Salomon boot's breathability with the lowest score of 1 out of 5.

However, we can't ignore the fact that its insole is perforated in the forefoot to provide some air circulation inside the boot itself.

Choosing a waterproof Gore-Tex hiking boot like the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX only makes sense if you often traverse wet and soggy areas, cross creeks and streams, or get caught in rainy weather.

Its mid-cut upper and gusseted tongue also help to raise the boot's waterline to prevent water from seeping inside.

As a bonus, the Gore-Tex lining of this specific Salomon boot is claimed to be PFC-free. This means no synthetic chemicals that could build up in the human body or the environment.

The X Ultra 5 Mid GTX retains the familiar Advanced Chassis that we've come to love in its predecessor. This stiff and unyielding TPU brace wraps around the midfoot like a cage, preventing it from buckling over.

We could feel the Advanced Chassis in action as we were trying to twist the boot in our manual test of torsional rigidity. You can see how resistant the boot was to this action, maintaining its structure at all costs. That's a clear 5 out of 5 on the stiffness scale!

And it's also one of the factors that gives us the confidence to recommend this Salomon boot for backpacking trips over uneven terrain.

Meanwhile, the heel counter of this Salomon boot turned out to be a bit more pliable. Showing a moderate give in our manual test, we gave it a lower stiffness score of 3 out of 5.

But there is nothing to worry about, as this setup keeps the heel and ankle pretty securely in place while bending along with the leg during ascents and descents. There is no aggressive collar digging into the shin or Achilles.

The Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX's platform is not overly bulky and showed just a standard reading of 109.6 mm in the widest part of the forefoot.

The widest part of the heel, however, proved to be slightly slimmer than average at 84.2 mm.

We found that these midsole dimensions walk a fine line between stability and maneuverability on rocky and obstacle-laden terrain.

Featuring a bulletproof Kevlar fabric, the boot's Matryx upper material is quite durable itself. But it is also reinforced by protective overlayers in all the high-wear areas, particularly in the toebox.

In addition to a sturdy rubber toe bumper, the front of the toebox also features a thick synthetic rand around it. Taking the latter through our Dremel test, we found that it doesn't give in so easily and rated its durability with a high score of 4 out of 5.

This is quite reassuring for those who frequently wade through sharp vegetation or squeeze their feet in between rocks.

But the lining inside this Salomon boot raised concerns about its longevity. After a very mild Dremel test, the material inside the collar tore up badly enough to lower the durability score to 3 out of 5.

Developing a hole in this area can result in ankle irritation or even compromise waterproofing!

But checking the X Ultra 5 Mid GTX's outsole durability, we expected better results, to be honest.

Even though a dent of 1.1 mm is not so critical and still indicates good longevity, most other Salomon shoes and boots we've tested have shown less than a millimeter of outsole damage. We simply expected the same level of abrasion resistance from a boot in this price range.

We also found that the boot's outsole layer is a bit thinner than average (2.2 mm without lugs). Again, not bad, but a little less than expected.

The firm and grounded platform of the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX is somewhat compensated by a well-padded 6.1 mm insole. It's a high-quality Ortholite insole that kept our feet pretty comfortable.

Given the firm nature of this Salomon boot's midsole, it doesn't get much harder when the temperatures drop. As our 20-minute freezer test showed, its foam only firmed up by 11%.

There is no stopping you from replacing the boot's stock insole with a custom orthotic if you need more cushioning or arch support.

No low-light visibility is guaranteed here.

A generous tongue padding of 13.5 mm buffers lace bites and pressure rather well. But on the downside, hikers with skinnier feet and ankles might have trouble getting a truly secure lockdown.

A fully gusseted tongue complements the boot's Gore-Tex waterproofing to keep water and debris at bay.

Released several years after the 4th iteration, we believe that the price hike in the X Ultra 5 Mid GTX is reasonable. It's not the most expensive hiking boot, but it is on par with the premium offerings from other brands that have similar parameters.

A fabric finger loop is handy for putting the boot on and can also be used to hook it onto the carabiner.