Salomon Elixir Activ GTX review

In our opinion, the Salomon Elixir Activ GTX hits a sweet spot for people who:

• need a less technical day hiking shoe for mixed terrain
• want Salomon quality in a cushier package
• prefer snug-fitting shoes or have narrow feet

If you are in search of ultimate comfort for mellower hikes on light-to-moderate terrain and city-to-trail use, the Freehiker SL GTX (133 SA) is a must to consider.

And if you could use an evel lighter and speedier shoe for fast-paced walks or even runs on gravel, Salomon's Aero Glide 4 GRVL and Aero Blaze 3 GRVL trail running shoes are some of the best in the game.

Of all the Salomon hiking shoes we've tested, the Elixir Activ GTX offers the highest shock absorption at 100 SA in the heel. That makes it feel more comfortable for long hikes on hard-packed, rolling trails as well as city-to-trail use.

But please note that outside of the Salomon range, it's not the most cushioned option, as its impact protection proved fairly typical for a hiking shoe.

But while the Elixir Activ GTX is good at softening the blow, its platform hardly offers any springback. With a low energy return of 46.2%, it doesn't feel dynamic but offers the benefits of stability and plantedness.

We were surprised to find that this Salomon shoe offers more cushioning without packing a thicker sole. With a moderate heel stack of 31.7 mm, it sits even lower than the category average, including other Salomon shoes.

It also has a relatively grounded forefoot stack of 23.1 mm, balancing ball-of-foot protection and ground feedback.

At 8.6 mm, our calliper measurements confirmed the shoe's stated 8 mm drop.

Even though it's a bit lower compared to other shoes, this offset still provides sufficient heel elevation to take the strain off the Achilles and calves during long hikes.

Salomon describes the Fuze Foam in the Elixir Activ GTX as 'soft and plush,' but our durometer reading paints a slightly different picture.

Sure, at 40.0 AC, it is slightly softer than the average hiking shoe foam and more forgiving than the brand's other cushioning foams. 'Palpable comfort' is a fitting way to explain its balanced, moderately soft nature.

However, there is no mushiness or sinking underfoot sensation here. And it hardly gets any firmer in cold conditions, as our freezer test showed a mild 9% decrease in softness.

Salomon shoes tend to fit more snugly compared to shoes from other outdoor brands, and that remains the case for the Elixir Activ GTX.

With a one-to-one gel cast of its interiors at our disposal, we measured the widest part of its forefoot at a moderate 92.1 mm. It's not critically narrow, but it definitely caters to slimmer feet.

On a positive note, the shoe's toebox shape is no tighter than average, measuring a standard width of 72.2 mm at the big toe.

The shoe's vertical space brought no surprises, showing a regular toebox height of 26.7 mm.

There is enough room above the toes to avoid pressure on the nails or knuckles, without compromising a secure fit.

The Salomon Elixir Activ GTX features the same proprietary All-Terrain Contagrip rubber in its outsole as the more technical X Ultra 5 GTX shoe. And in both cases, the compound showed excellent traction on wet concrete!

With a solid CoF of 0.67, the Elixir maintains a sticky bite on tricky surfaces like rocks, stones, and wood, even when wet and slippery.

A moderate lug depth of 3.6 mm makes this Salomon shoe versatile enough for mixed terrain and even some urban use.

It offers enough bite on hilly ground, grass, sand, light dirt, and mossy roots without feeling too luggy on hard-packed tracks and concrete pavements.

The same applies to the shoe’s lug shape and pattern. Sharp edges add bite on ascents and descents, while the overall broad and flat shape makes these lugs less aggressive on smoother terrain.

Unencumbered by any rigid materials or components in the forefoot, the Elixir Activ GTX allows for a relatively easy foot flexion.

Our measurements showed that it is 15% more pliable than the average hiking shoe, requiring a moderate force of 15.7N to bend by 30 degrees.

Additionally, this Salomon shoe makes heel-to-toe transitions smoother thanks to a 'Reverse Camber' design. It is a mildly curved sole geometry that helps the foot roll through the stride with less effort. It is also found in some of the brand's trail running shoes.

Lightweight design is yet another element of the shoe's comfort formula. At 12.5 oz (354g) in a men's US size 9, it is lighter than the average hiking shoe and the brand's flagship technical hiking shoe, the X Ultra 5 GTX (13.3 oz/377g).

As a shoe designed for less demanding trails and hiking endeavours, the Elixir Activ GTX doesn't require any massive stability structures to keep the foot and ankle steady. And yet, it left us impressed by the amount of lateral support it offers for its unassuming build.

The shoe's primary source of stability lies in the Active Chassis on both sides of the rearfoot. But it's not the same robust chassis we've seen on the X Ultra 5. Made of foam instead of TPU, these flanges feel pretty subtle on the Elixir but add a nice touch of side support.

And yet somehow, the Elixir's overall construction produced almost as much torsional rigidity as the average hiking boot!

Our machine measured a significant torque of 20.0 Nm required to twist this Salomon shoe by 10 degrees in either direction. That's about as much as it takes the Merrell Moab Speed 2 Mid GTX boot!

So, if you do encounter some occasional rocky stretches or steep inclines, this Salomon shoe won't let you roll an ankle that easily.

The shoe also packs a surprisingly rigid heel counter, earning a high stiffness score of 4 out of 5 in our manual test. Responsive for rearfoot stability, it adds even more structure to eliminate the risk of foot wobbling and rolling.

As for the Elixir's platform width, we found its dimensions perfectly average. Showing 112.8 mm in the widest part of the forefoot, the shoe doesn't have any oversized outriggers.

Its heel width also falls within the category average with a moderate calliper reading of 86.1 mm. Neither too slim nor too chunky.

A thin synthetic rand over knit mesh helped keep the shoe's toebox durability score at 3 out of 5 in our Dremel test. It's not the best wear resistance for thorny underbrush and sharp rocks, but that's not what this Salomon shoe is intended for either.

The fabric inside the shoe's collar looked more reassuring. With just a minor scuff, it easily earned a high score of 4 out of 5 for heel padding durability.

The Contagrip rubber showed strong performance as well, developing a minor 0.9 mm dent in our 18-second Dremel session. That's a solid result for a hiking shoe outsole.

The Elixir packs a slightly thinner 1.9 mm rubber layer, trading extra outsole material for a lighter, more pliable sole.

With an insole thickness of 3.8 mm, the shoe's underfoot padding is minimal but sufficient for general step-in comfort.

It's the moderately soft midsole foam underneath it that helps this Salomon shoe feel more forgiving than the brand's other trail shoes.

However, the insole is easily removable and can be replaced with a custom orthotic if more padding is preferred.

This Salomon shoe features no reflective elements.

In line with its more comfort-oriented design, the Elixir Activ GTX packs enough padding in the collar and tongue without going overboard. The tongue, in particular, measured 11.0 mm thick, which provides enough buffer to protect the instep from lace pressure.

The Elixir features a fully gusseted tongue to minimise the risk of water, sand, and small debris entering the shoe.

As the tongue gussets make the shoe’s opening rather snug, two finger loops (one in the heel and one on the tongue) come in handy when pulling it on.

The Elixir Activ GTX sits in the moderate price range of Salomon hiking shoes, which feels appropriate for its more casual hiking focus.