Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX review

Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX review and lab test

The 4th edition of Salomon’s X Ultra line of hiking shoes has kept a lot of features from previous versions, with a couple of noticeable differences. 

For a mid-height Gore-Tex hiking boot, the X Ultra 4 is insanely lightweight. Aside from this, it’s a brilliant boot, as I expect from a name like Salomon. 

Who the hiking shoe is for

The Salomon X Ultra 4 is a perfect shoe for longer, multi-day hikes with ankle support to help you carry the weight needed for these trips. Thanks to its lightweight construction, more customizable lacing, and waterproofing, this is a great option for long distances where your feet’s comfort is of the utmost importance.

Who the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX is not for

There’s probably a better option out there for you if: 

• You prefer breathability and saving a few extra grammes, I believe that the Salomon Outpulse Mid GTX is a better option
• You’re in need of serious ankle support, I recommend the Salomon Quest 4 GTX.

The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX can take you further

Coming in at 14.5oz (412g) in US size 10, the X Ultra 4 Mid GTX is super lightweight, which is incredibly welcome in any long-distance hiking boot. The energy saved over tens of thousands of footsteps trumps most other weight factors on trails. 

The X Ultra 4 Mid GTX runs a little large, but I would recommend going with your regular size if you prefer thick hiking socks. 

A midsole that’s sort of there

To get a boot this lightweight there was always going to be a bit of a tradeoff in the midsole. For those who love ground feel, this may actually be a pro. With a heel stack height of 31.5mm there’s actually quite a bit of material underfoot. 

Where this becomes a concern for some is in the 54HA Durometer, which is quite stiff. I’m guessing that the TPU “chassis” that is used for support makes it even more firm underfoot. 

I personally didn’t mind this so much, and you can replace the insoles with something a bit more padded if you want, which is always a good idea with any long distance hiking shoe anyway. 

The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX has some flex issues

The X Ultra 4 Mid is flexible at normal temperatures, scoring 27.9N in our flex test (avg. 37.4), this allows for lots of contact with the ground and an instantly broken-in feel. 

While super comfy, this is also the point of one of my concerns with the boot. I also performed a lab test on the flexibility of boots after placing them in a freezer for 20 minutes. The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX’s stiffness increased 126% to 63.17N! 

This is frankly absurd and I had to run a second test just to be sure. The biggest concern here is that if you’re hiking in cold climates, the boot isn’t going to function in an ideal way. 

A welcome respite from quick lacing for some

Salomon’s quick lacing has long been one of my favourite lacing systems on the market. With a self-closing buckle, you can tighten and loosen the shoe in a second. 

While useful in some circumstances and with certain foot shapes, it’s not ideal for long distance hiking, especially if you have wide feet and you can’t get a perfect, customised fit. The X Ultra 4 Mid GTX uses a more traditional lacing system to provide a firm lock through the ankle. 

This means that you can adjust the forefoot as needed, allowing for some wider feet. This also allows you to leave a bit of space in the ankle if needed (long-hikes result in swollen joints), whilst keeping the forefoot tight. 

The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX is more supportive than it looks

Although a mid-height boot, the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX provides more support that I expected. With a high flare in the collar and a TPU “chassis” within the midsole, my ankle was far more secure that usual. 

I felt confident on rocky terrain with weight, and would probably trust this as much as a full height boot. 

Consistent grip

I’m always confident with Salomon’s outsoles, the Contragrip works wonders in any shoe. 

There are 41 rubber lugs that are 5.1 mm deep. Alongside a relatively flexible midsole, this offers heaps of traction on any surface, from dry and dusty to wet and boggy. 

I will say, 41 lugs are quite a lot which can be great, but if you’re often going through super muddy terrain you may want to opt for something with fewer lugs and greater spacing

I’m a big fan of the heel lug on the outsole as well, which is there to help brake on descents. This is quite a common feature in hiking shoes and boots these days.

Gore-Tex is well implemented in the X Ultra 4 Mid GTX

I’m often one to suggest that our focus on Gore-Tex and waterproofing shoes is a bit mis-led. More often than not a hiking shoe is better without Gore-Tex but with lots of breathability to allow them to dry out. 

Being targeted at longer distances and multi-day hikes however, I really like the Gore-Tex in the X Ultra 4 Mid. The waterproofing works when submerged for over a minute and the gusseted tongue and higher ankle collar help keep water overflowing. 

I would always recommend a pair of gaiters to stop anything rolling down your legs and into the boot, but aside from that, the Gore-Tex gets huge tick from me. 

Conclusion

The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX is a super interesting hiking boot. It has the weight of a hiking shoe but the protection, grip and waterproofing of a serious boot. Perfect in many conditions this is a go-to boot for most hikes. Definitely reconsider if you’re looking to do some winter walking, as the inconsistent flex is a problem for me.

Complete lab-specs overview