Who should buy the Salomon X Ultra Pioneer

The featured shoe, a.k.a. the X Ultra Pioneer Aero, is as light on your feet as it is on your wallet. Buy it if:

  • You prefer to hike in warm, moisture-free conditions.
  • Instantly comfy hiking shoes that don't make your feet look bulky are what you want.
  • You're a big fan of Ortholite footbeds and the way they keep in-shoe odor in check.

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer buya

Who should not buy it

If you need a roomier pair with no issues about its laces, check out the wide Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator. And if what you're after is excellent top-to-bottom durability, consider the Salomon X Crest instead.

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer no

Comfy right off the bat

Hikers are convinced that the X Ultra Pioneer feels amazing straight out of the gate. "Incredibly comfortable" and "felt wonderfully right at the start" are two of the most convincing remarks about it.

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer comf

Grippy while it lasts

"I like the grip on them," says an experienced hiker about his X Ultra Pioneers. That said, it has been reported that the shoe's proprietary outsole tends to detach from the upper way too soon, with one reviewer calling the issue "unacceptable."

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer grip

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer equals barely-there hikes

Reviewers, including a professional vlogger, find the X Ultra Pioneer quite light. It "wears like slippers," says one of them. FYI: The average weight of hiking shoes is 380 g apiece, while the featured shoe weighs only 390 g per kick. Also note that, in the realm of trail kicks, anything less than 450 g is considered light.

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer light

Freshness in every pair

With comments like "my feet don't overheat" and "didn't make my feet stink," it is quite clear that the X Ultra Pioneer is yet another doozy summer hiking shoe from Salomon.

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer summer

Poke-free rides in the X Ultra Pioneer

An expert is floored by the cushy sole unit of the Salomon X Ultra Pioneer, saying that it provides "a lot of protection underfoot."

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer cushy

But its confines could be roomier

A gear pundit finds the X Ultra Pioneer a tad too narrow overall. He says that this issue is "the root of all the problems" he has about the shoe.

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer narrowa

The X Ultra Pioneer's slippery laces

One of the few misfires of the Salomon X Ultra Pioneer, according to a footwear maven, is its unruly shoestrings. He said that they come undone too often, forcing him to do a double knot all the time.

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer laces

Not a bulky look

The X Ultra Pioneer's profile has that slimming effect, according to a vlogger. "My foot doesn't look like a club while wearing these," says the same reviewer.

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer slim

For the thrifty trail-goer

On the pricing front, the Salomon X Ultra Pioneer is nothing to be sneezed at. Case in point: at $110 a pop, this super-breathable hiker is among the budget-friendliest kicks on the market.

Salomon X Ultra Pioneer cheap

Facts / Specs

Weight: Men 13.8oz / Women 13.4oz
Base model: Salomon X Ultra
Use: Day Hiking
Cut: Low cut
Collection: Salomon X Ultra, Salomon X
Features: Lightweight / Lace-to-toe / Breathable / Orthotic friendly / Removable insole / Heel brake, Antimicrobial
Width: Normal

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Author
Paul Ronto
Paul Ronto

Over the past 20 years, Paul has climbed, hiked, and run all over the world. He has summited peaks throughout the Americas, trekked through Africa, and tested his endurance in 24-hour trail races as well as 6 marathons. On average, he runs 30-50 miles a week in the foothills of Northern Colorado. His research is regularly cited in The New York Times, Washington Post, National Geographic, etc. On top of this, Paul is leading the running shoe lab where he cuts shoes apart and analyzes every detail of the shoes that you might buy.