Men's Hiking Shoes x Ultra 4 Kelp / Dark Earth / Black 10.5 Salomon

These are the most uncomfortable Salomon shoes Ive bought. Within a few hours of wearing them my feet are in pain. It feels like Im walking on concrete, it seems to have no cushion at all. Compared to my Quest Forces or the running shoes I have, I cant even wear these. Ive tried them on a hike and at work and Im limping by the time I get home. No clue whats up with this design but if you are older and looking for a comfortable shoe for being on your feet all day or doing day hikes this isnt it.Also the REI rep told me I could replace the laces but this just isnt true. Regular laces wont fit in these shoes unless you modify them because of the plastic inserts in the eyelets. I normally love Salomon and am not sure who these shoes are made for but they are useless ... MoreThese are the most uncomfortable Salomon shoes Ive bought. Within a few hours of wearing them my feet are in pain. It feels like Im walking on concrete, it seems to have no cushion at all. Compared to my Quest Forces or the running shoes I have, I cant even wear these. Ive tried them on a hike and at work and Im limping by the time I get home. No clue whats up with this design but if you are older and looking for a comfortable shoe for being on your feet all day or doing day hikes this isnt it.Also the REI rep told me I could replace the laces but this just isnt true. Regular laces wont fit in these shoes unless you modify them because of the plastic inserts in the eyelets. I normally love Salomon and am not sure who these shoes are made for but they are useless to for my use cases (working on concrete all day and/or day hikes).

Beautiful shoe, right size, but hard on my feet

This is my fifth pair of Salomon's, but the first ourchased in about 4 years. All earlier shoes were found in retail stores where I could try them on. Pairs 2-thru-4 are all still in use, but showing wear. Pair #2 is a XA Pro 3D (size 10) with Quicklace. Pair #3 is my work boot, an X Ultra GoreTex mid height (size 10.5) with regular laces. Pair #4 (my best fit) is an X Ultra GoreTex (size 10.5) with quicklaces.I needed a brown pair of casual shoes and decided Salomon X Ultra would be the brand, based on their ability to fit perfectly and provide all-day-wear support. I also love the Quicklaces because I have had one hip replaced 11 years ago and the other is getting stiff. These are easy to reach and secure.This pair arrived two days ago and I have given them ... MoreThis is my fifth pair of Salomon's, but the first ourchased in about 4 years. All earlier shoes were found in retail stores where I could try them on. Pairs 2-thru-4 are all still in use, but showing wear. Pair #2 is a XA Pro 3D (size 10) with Quicklace. Pair #3 is my work boot, an X Ultra GoreTex mid height (size 10.5) with regular laces. Pair #4 (my best fit) is an X Ultra GoreTex (size 10.5) with quicklaces.I needed a brown pair of casual shoes and decided Salomon X Ultra would be the brand, based on their ability to fit perfectly and provide all-day-wear support. I also love the Quicklaces because I have had one hip replaced 11 years ago and the other is getting stiff. These are easy to reach and secure.This pair arrived two days ago and I have given them wear around the house and around the 1-mile walking path in town, two days in a row. They are a great color and the size 10.5 fit around my foot is still perfect, but THEY ARE HARD ON MY 73-year-old FEET. I wore a better pair of socks on day #2 and they felt a bit better, but I have discovered the "problem". My old black X Ultra with Quicklaces had a much better made Ortholite insole; however, the real issue is below that removable insole. The older pair (made in India) also had a slightly soft and springy layer on the insole. The new brown pair (made in Cambodia) has a very hard plastic insole which feels like concrete when walking briskly. Guess I'll have to invest in some extra pads for the balls of my feet.A younger person might not even notice this. I will keep the shoe since in every other way they are just what I expected. I doubt that I will ever again buy Salomion's online; I will reserve my shopping for the oddball occasion when I am in a city large enough to have an outdoor sporting gods store large enough to stock a few Salomon's in-store.

Blisters on my heels

I was excited to try them despite having concerns about durability. Yes, they do seem like they are not very durable. But lightweight shoes seldomly are. But nothing could have prepared me for the real dissapointment. They cause blisters on my feet extremely fast. I have owned different pairs of salomon shoes and loved how they fit my feet. But these were a nightmare, causing blisters within just a few kilometers. It is like the active supports pushes the shoe against my heel at a single point of contact, where it causes enough friction to cause a blister in just a few kilometers. I never had that happen with any shoe i bought in my whole life. And it turns out i am not the only one who experienced this. Now i have to look around for a different pair of shoes. Or ... MoreI was excited to try them despite having concerns about durability. Yes, they do seem like they are not very durable. But lightweight shoes seldomly are. But nothing could have prepared me for the real dissapointment. They cause blisters on my feet extremely fast. I have owned different pairs of salomon shoes and loved how they fit my feet. But these were a nightmare, causing blisters within just a few kilometers. It is like the active supports pushes the shoe against my heel at a single point of contact, where it causes enough friction to cause a blister in just a few kilometers. I never had that happen with any shoe i bought in my whole life. And it turns out i am not the only one who experienced this. Now i have to look around for a different pair of shoes. Or maybe try a different brand for a change. I just kept buying Salomon because they used to work for me. Salomon seems to tell me that these shoes just do not fit my anatomy. I think the design of these probably cause problems for a lot more people than just me. They might work for you. I just never had any shoe causing me injuries this quickly. It left me feeling dissapointed. A shame, i liked how they looked and i liked how lightweight they were. But the blistering was so bad i couldn't go for walks for days so my feet could heal. Might have just lost my go to brand for walking shoes? I don't know what to buy next.

Bulky and Loose Fit

Bought a pair of X Ultra 4 hiking shoes to replace my X Ultra 3s. The fit is entirely different than the 3. The sides are bulky and bunched up while just standing in the shoes. Makes me fearful of getting blisters should I try them on a long hike or trails with significant climbs and descents. Even when cinching the laces tight, the sides of the shoes appear loose and feel baggy (which is a weird descriptor for a shoe). The tongue seems shorter than the 3 also. Once the laces are tightened, it's difficult to stow the extra in the tongue pocket due to the pocket opening being too low toward the toe of the shoe. Had I known what these would be, I would have shopped like crazy to find a leftover pair of X Ultra 3s. The 4 is quite a disappointment. Hope the next gen ... MoreBought a pair of X Ultra 4 hiking shoes to replace my X Ultra 3s. The fit is entirely different than the 3. The sides are bulky and bunched up while just standing in the shoes. Makes me fearful of getting blisters should I try them on a long hike or trails with significant climbs and descents. Even when cinching the laces tight, the sides of the shoes appear loose and feel baggy (which is a weird descriptor for a shoe). The tongue seems shorter than the 3 also. Once the laces are tightened, it's difficult to stow the extra in the tongue pocket due to the pocket opening being too low toward the toe of the shoe. Had I known what these would be, I would have shopped like crazy to find a leftover pair of X Ultra 3s. The 4 is quite a disappointment. Hope the next gen builds on the strengths of the 3. Pass on this model if you're able.

Couldn’t tighten

I’ve lost all faith in Salomon with these draw string laced shoes. I have the boot version of this shoe and really like it so I thought I would like these. I tried them in two different sizes and no matter what I did, I could not get the shoes to tighten around my ankle. I pulled on these draw-string laces like a lawnmower and tightened them as hard as I could. After a mile or two, they would still feel loose around my ankle. I also noticed the dumb fastener wouldn’t hold. After a mile or two, I noticed some loosening. I inquired to see if these dumb draw string laces could be replaced with regular boot laces and they could not. It seemed like it was only a matter of time until the fastener or the strings broke. Nothing replaces a quality pair of laces on a hiking ... MoreI’ve lost all faith in Salomon with these draw string laced shoes. I have the boot version of this shoe and really like it so I thought I would like these. I tried them in two different sizes and no matter what I did, I could not get the shoes to tighten around my ankle. I pulled on these draw-string laces like a lawnmower and tightened them as hard as I could. After a mile or two, they would still feel loose around my ankle. I also noticed the dumb fastener wouldn’t hold. After a mile or two, I noticed some loosening. I inquired to see if these dumb draw string laces could be replaced with regular boot laces and they could not. It seemed like it was only a matter of time until the fastener or the strings broke. Nothing replaces a quality pair of laces on a hiking boot or shoe. I would not recommend these and I’m now considering other brands of shoes all together after enjoying the boot version so much.

Great shoe, but not as comfy as my older X Ultras

I am 73 and have found over the past 20 years that only Salomon trail running and hiking shoes support my feet well enough for all-day wear. My daily wear needs are for walking and yard work, as well as shopping. Salomon X Ultras simply make my feet feel good. I have two pairs, a 4-yr-old black low goretex pair and a 6-yr-old green mid goretex pair. Both were made in india. I also have a 10-yr-old low blue XA Pro 30, size 10, which I still use for more casual wear (made in Vietnam).I really needed a brown shoe for wear with lighter-colored shoes, so ordered this brown X Ultra 4 which is not goretex. It fits perfectly in size 10.5 same as my two newest pairs.My only disappointment is that the shoe has a hard insole, which is tougher on the soles of my feet. The ... MoreI am 73 and have found over the past 20 years that only Salomon trail running and hiking shoes support my feet well enough for all-day wear. My daily wear needs are for walking and yard work, as well as shopping. Salomon X Ultras simply make my feet feel good. I have two pairs, a 4-yr-old black low goretex pair and a 6-yr-old green mid goretex pair. Both were made in india. I also have a 10-yr-old low blue XA Pro 30, size 10, which I still use for more casual wear (made in Vietnam).I really needed a brown shoe for wear with lighter-colored shoes, so ordered this brown X Ultra 4 which is not goretex. It fits perfectly in size 10.5 same as my two newest pairs.My only disappointment is that the shoe has a hard insole, which is tougher on the soles of my feet. The reason appears to be the composition of the insole material which is below the Ortholite insole. In my older shoes that layer is a somewhat squishy blue material. In this new brown pair, made in Cambodia, the layer under the Ortholite insole is a pretty stiff and hard light-colored material which does not give much.Luckily, I have been able to compensate for that by wearing thicker socks.The shoe is a keeper and the sole will hopefully soften a biyt as I break it in.

Once you go with these, you can't go back..

I used to hike with typical Danner military boots, all the time. But this pair of shoes are my very first hiking shoes. They are so comfortable and so lightweight, with so much ventilation. I doubt if I will ever go back to the conventional boots anymore. The grip is insane for both mud and dry rock, and the mid foot locks to the terrain with zero foot roll. It give me some much confidences.I took off one star because after 4 miles of mountain hiking, my right ankle bone hurts a lot due to constant pressing against the heel cup. I have a low ankle bone and got problems with shoes that have high heel-cups. So if you have low ankle bone like me, you might need some break-in.

Prone to wear and tear not covered by warranty

Some of these shoes have a very short lifespan. Even though Salomon warrants their shoes for two years that doesn't include what they consider to be 'wear and tear'. The soles don't last the full two years, but that is wear and tear. The padding around the collar, especially in the heel area, breaks down very quickly. The mesh upper tears and splits as seen in other reviews. I have a pair bought in 2022 that are 18 months old and the soles are just about on their last legs, but they've lasted as long as I expected. And they were really comfortable on Camino in 2022, and I wear them frequently even now.However the photo shows the heel collar area of another pair bought in 2023 for that year's Camino. Their soles are barely worn, but the shoes have worn through the ... MoreSome of these shoes have a very short lifespan. Even though Salomon warrants their shoes for two years that doesn't include what they consider to be 'wear and tear'. The soles don't last the full two years, but that is wear and tear. The padding around the collar, especially in the heel area, breaks down very quickly. The mesh upper tears and splits as seen in other reviews. I have a pair bought in 2022 that are 18 months old and the soles are just about on their last legs, but they've lasted as long as I expected. And they were really comfortable on Camino in 2022, and I wear them frequently even now.However the photo shows the heel collar area of another pair bought in 2023 for that year's Camino. Their soles are barely worn, but the shoes have worn through the padding in the heel completely. They were worn for 21 days on Camino in June/July. That's all - and the heel broke down during that time. However this is not covered under warranty - because it's wear and tear caused by 'excessive friction.' I am not pleased and based on this experience will be reluctant about buying Salomon shoes again, they're too expensive , for just a few months wear out of them. It seems like it's luck of the draw with this model as to whether you get shoes that last or fail quickly. Manufacturring quality control is too erratic to trust.

Solid but not as good as the X Ultra Aero

I bought these to replace some X Ultra Aeros that I loved, but unfortunately are not made anymore. I was hesitant because I really wanted a mid height boot without any waterproofing but at the moment Salomon doesn't offer anything like that. The low cut is comfortable for around town, but if I need to go out into the woods I will switch to a different boot with a higher cut.These are very comfortable and lightweight, and they breathe very good in the hot and humid weather.The quicklaces...are not the best. The idea is okay, but the buckle/clasp/whatever they call the mechanism that is supposed to keep the laces tight is not very good. It loosens up all the time. The laces themselves are also really long, so by the time you tighten them there is a ton of extra ... MoreI bought these to replace some X Ultra Aeros that I loved, but unfortunately are not made anymore. I was hesitant because I really wanted a mid height boot without any waterproofing but at the moment Salomon doesn't offer anything like that. The low cut is comfortable for around town, but if I need to go out into the woods I will switch to a different boot with a higher cut.These are very comfortable and lightweight, and they breathe very good in the hot and humid weather.The quicklaces...are not the best. The idea is okay, but the buckle/clasp/whatever they call the mechanism that is supposed to keep the laces tight is not very good. It loosens up all the time. The laces themselves are also really long, so by the time you tighten them there is a ton of extra lace you have to try to tuck into the little pocket thing on the tongue.It was an interesting idea...but it seems like a solution to something that wasn't really a problem to begin with...I got them on sale and even with the laces I'm happy with them. If I had paid full price...I would be less happy.

These are great!

While looking to buy these, I read some negative reviews that made me a bit hesitant...be sure to size up, not durable, they are ugly, the free floating tongue makes me mad, the lacing system is bad....I did see one guy whos eylet broke out, but Salomon covers that in their warranty so just send em back....I have a pair of Salomon real deal hiking boots, which are impractical to wear to the office or around town, so unless I am hunting or on the trail I don't wear them. So I got these because I love the durability and the support that Salomon provides, I can step into the office or the woods with these and be perfectly fine. I have wide feet and these run true to size, so people who say order a size up, you might not know what your actual shoe size is. Patagonia ... MoreWhile looking to buy these, I read some negative reviews that made me a bit hesitant...be sure to size up, not durable, they are ugly, the free floating tongue makes me mad, the lacing system is bad....I did see one guy whos eylet broke out, but Salomon covers that in their warranty so just send em back....I have a pair of Salomon real deal hiking boots, which are impractical to wear to the office or around town, so unless I am hunting or on the trail I don't wear them. So I got these because I love the durability and the support that Salomon provides, I can step into the office or the woods with these and be perfectly fine. I have wide feet and these run true to size, so people who say order a size up, you might not know what your actual shoe size is. Patagonia stuff runs small, these do not, I ordered a half size larger simply because when I do take these to the mountains, my feet will swell and Ill have heavier socks on, but its not because they don't run true to size. These are great shoes in my opinion and I have thousands of miles under my feet all around the country that can verify I know a good shoe when I walk in it. These are great, if you're not a nitpicky baby about stuff, you won't be disappointed.