Our verdict
- Our top pick in best hiking boots
- Our top pick in best waterproof hiking boots
Pros
- The boot of choice for multi-day hikes
- Lightweight
- Waterproof
- Excellent grip
- Supportive midsole
- Detailed ground feel
- Great ankle support
- Protective
- Perfect lacing system
Cons
- Midsole may be thin for some
- Very stiff in colder climates
Audience verdict
- Top 16% most popular hiking boots
Comparison
The most similar hiking boots compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience score | 85 Good! | 85 Good! | 76 Decent! | 84 Good! | |
Price | $175 | $165 | $170 | $185 | |
Trail terrain | ModerateTechnical | LightModerate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Weight lab Weight brand | ‐ 15 oz / 425g | 13.6 oz / 386g 13.4 oz / 380g | 11.7 oz / 332g 10.6 oz / 300g | 15.4 oz / 436g 16 oz / 454g | |
Lightweight | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Breathability | - | Moderate | Moderate | Warm | |
Use | Day HikingSpeed HikingSnow | Day HikingSpeed HikingSnow | Day HikingSpeed HikingLight HikingSnow | Day HikingSpeed HikingLight HikingSnow | |
Foot condition | Flat feetPlantar fasciitisOverpronation | - | - | Flat feetPlantar fasciitisOverpronation | |
Orthotic-friendly | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Drop lab | ‐ | 10.5 mm | 14.7 mm | 10.6 mm | |
Midsole softness | - | Soft | Soft | Soft | |
Difference in midsole softness in cold | - | Normal | Small | Big | |
Heel counter stiffness | - | Flexible | Moderate | Moderate | |
Stiffness | - | Flexible | Moderate | Moderate | |
Difference in stiffness in cold | - | Normal | Big | Big | |
Outsole hardness | ✗ | ||||
Waterproofing | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | |
Material | Textile | Textile | Mesh | Leather | |
Season | Winter | Winter | Winter | Winter | |
Toebox durability | - | Decent | Decent | Bad | |
Heel padding durability | - | Decent | Decent | Bad | |
Outsole durability | - | Decent | Good | - | |
Toebox width at the widest part | - | Medium | Medium | Narrow | |
Toebox width at the big toe | - | Narrow | Medium | Narrow | |
Lug depth | ‐ | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm | 4.7 mm | |
Heel stack lab | ‐ | 31.9 mm | 38.1 mm | 36.7 mm | |
Forefoot | ‐ | 21.4 mm | 23.4 mm | 26.1 mm | |
Widths available | NormalWide | Normal | NormalWide | Normal | |
Technology | Gore-TexOrtholite | Gore-TexOrtholite | Gore-TexVibram | Gore-TexVibram | |
Cut | Mid cut | Mid cut | Mid cut | Mid cut | |
Removable-insole | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ranking | #19 Bottom 40% | #18 Bottom 43% | #31 Bottom 3% | #21 Bottom 34% | |
Popularity | #5 Top 16% | #20 Bottom 37% | #26 Bottom 18% | #9 Top 29% |
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
Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX | |
Whole shoe |
|
Weight (g) | 412g |
Drop (mm) |
11 |
Flexibility of the shoe (N) |
27.9 |
Flexibility of the shoe (Freezer 20 min) (N) | 63.2 |
Flexibility of the shoe (% of change) | 126.1 |
Lace slip test with the knot (N) | 36.3 |
Longitudinal flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 4.0 |
Torsional flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 2.0 |
Upper |
|
Thickness - Tongue (mm) | 17.09 |
Width Upper - Forefoot (mm) | 98.67 |
Width Upper - Heel (mm) |
68.35 |
Lace Stretch (1-5 scale, 5 being the most stretchy) | 2.0 |
Flexibility of the heel counter (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 3.0 |
Thickness of Heel Counter (mm) | 12.99 |
Toe Guard | Yes |
Durometer Toe Guard (Room temperature) (HA) | 87.5 |
Tongue: gusset type | Full |
Heel: pull tab | Yes |
Midsole |
|
Width Midsole - Forefoot (mm) | 106.6 |
Width Midsole - Heel (mm) | 84.4 |
Stack - Forefoot with insole (mm) | 20.5 |
Stack - Heel with insole (mm) | 31.5 |
Durometer Midsole Heel (Room temperature) (HA) | 54 |
Durometer Midsole Heel (Freezer) (HA) | 56 |
Outsole |
|
Outsole thickness (Heel) (mm) | 9.7 |
Lugs Depth (mm) | 5.2 |
Lugs (Amount) | 41 |
Durometer Outsole Heel (Room temperature) (HC) | 82.0 |
Insole | |
Insole Heel Thickness (mm) | 7.65 |
Insole: removable | Yes |