7 Best Salomon Hiking Boots in 2023

Day hikers seeking an offering that provides sneaker-like comfort might want to try out the OUTline Mid GTX. Its superb performance on the trail can be attributed to its sticky outsole, supportiveness, and low weight. While it comes with caveats, the Salomon OUTline Mid GTX remains a likable gear and an easy recommendation.

Consider traversing rugged off-trail terrain with careful steps a thing of the past in the Quest Element GTX. Indeed, when your feet meet this mighty backpacking boot from Salomon, you get supercharged to decimate whatever's in your path with tank-like confidence minus the drag. And in shifting weather, the boot takes you places without leaving you with soggy feet.

Backpackers are magnetized by the Quest Rove GTX, wooed by the kick's barely-there, cloud-like feels, even in the presence of much moisture. Yet another doozy addition to the Quest lineup, this trekking boot from Salomon promotes confidence where sloppiness and ruggedness are at play. And those sharp and gnarly hazards along the way—they pose no threat to this bad boy.

Both in our lab tests and on hikes, the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX came out on top as the best overall hiking boot from Salomon. It’s impeccably waterproof, supportive, and insanely lightweight, making it the perfect companion for our long-distance hikes.

In the name of science, we gave them a good dunking, submerging them in water for over a minute. Not a drop of water made it through the faultless Gore-Tex membrane. The fully gusseted tongue and mid-height collar are a bonus in deeper puddles.

These boots exhibit stellar stability, and on closer inspection, we found this was due to several factors. We experienced excellent lockdown from the traditional lacing - rather unusual to find in a Salomon shoe these days, and it does the job perfectly in the X Ultra 4 Mid GTX. Our ankle was well-supported by the collar, and the shank in the midsole kept our foot from rolling on uneven terrain. We measured the stiffness of the midsole with a durometer and found it’s on the stiff side: 54 HA compared to the average 32.9 HA. This was good news for our hikes, as it supported our feet over long distances.

When we put these on the scales, we could hardly believe our eyes. At 13.8 oz (390g), these boots are an unbelievable 29% lighter than the average for the waterproof hiking boots we have tested! We could really tell the difference after long days on the hill, and our feet still had energy to spare!

On our winter hikes, we noticed these boots stiffened up a lot until they warmed up. We double-checked in the lab by placing them in the freezer for 20 minutes and then testing the flexibility with a force gauge. We recorded an astounding 126% increase in stiffness compared to room temperature! Therefore we don’t recommend them to those who want a flexible boot for cold-weather hiking.

Backpackers looking for a supportive, stable boot that will protect their feet every step of the way need look no further. With support and durability in bucketloads, the Salomon Quest 4 GTX is our best backpacking boot from the Salomon lineup.

With a whopping amount of ankle support, the Quest 4 GTX means business. Salomon’s tried-and-tested support system keeps our feet perfectly locked into the boot, and we experienced no slippage (bonus: no blisters!). Our manual tests of the heel counter showed it is among the stiffest we have tested, so we awarded it a solid 5/5 (5 being the stiffest). It held our feet securely without compressing or squeezing, and we felt confident even with the added weight of a heavy pack.

It goes the extra mile in terms of stability, too. The wide platform offers a solid landing surface underfoot, and we felt surefooted and stable while hiking on rough, rocky trails. Back in the lab, we measured the midsole width at the forefoot with a caliper. Sure enough, at 116.5 mm, the Quest 4 GTX is 2.7 mm wider than average at the forefoot. It’s no wonder it feels so stable on uneven ground!

The last thing we want on our multi-day hikes is to worry about our boots taking one bump too many. No need to worry about that with the Salomon Quest 4 GTX. It’s got durability written all over it, with the multi-layered overlays, and a protective toebox which combines a sturdy rubber toe cap, nubuck leather and robust nylon weave. We applied a Dremel to the toe cap for 12 seconds at a force of 3.2 N at 5K RPM to see what it’s really made of. Pretty stern stuff, as it happens - there was only a minor scrape to show for our efforts! This boot is tough as nails, and we trust them to keep going for a long time.

On the flip side, when we calculated the heel-to-toe drop, we found it was a jaw-dropping 18 mm. This is a significant increase from the average of 12.4 mm, and it may be uncomfortable for some hikers. We therefore don't recommend it to backpackers who prefer a more natural feel underfoot.

When the terrain is not always well-maintained, but you still prefer to be as mobile as possible, turn to the Outpulse Mid GTX. A shining example of lightness and tenacity, this plush hiker from Salomon can take you through nature trails and a little bit off the beaten path with extra surefootedness and fluidity. It also boosts adventuring confidence on warm and humid days.

Helping hikers move quickly on snowy landscapes, the Salomon X Ultra Mid Winter CS WP certainly has a lot to offer. Chief among its features is its waterproof construction, thin and lightweight insulation, and high-traction rubber outsole.