Salomon Mens x Ultra 4 Mid GTX Deep Lichen Green / Peat / Kelp 12.5 Men's

I recently tested the following light hiking boots head-to-head: REI Flash TT, La Sportiva TX Hike, Oboz Sypes, Oboz Katabatic, Salomon X-Ultra 4 (love Merrells, but their quality has declined and their prices have not.) The testing was indoors (to facilitate returns), but included flights of stairs, a slant board and squatting. All boots were initially tested with their own insole and then with a SuperFeet Hike insole.Pros: Good heel loop & mid-high tongue gusset for easy donning; Super ankle cushioning; Medium volume leads to slightly odd fit (this was rectified by the Superfeet insole); Construction looks & feels solid enough for Sierra graniteCons: Slight pinch point across instep (break in?); Lacing points slightly off for heel lock, but OK; Tongue flares ... MoreI recently tested the following light hiking boots head-to-head: REI Flash TT, La Sportiva TX Hike, Oboz Sypes, Oboz Katabatic, Salomon X-Ultra 4 (love Merrells, but their quality has declined and their prices have not.) The testing was indoors (to facilitate returns), but included flights of stairs, a slant board and squatting. All boots were initially tested with their own insole and then with a SuperFeet Hike insole.Pros: Good heel loop & mid-high tongue gusset for easy donning; Super ankle cushioning; Medium volume leads to slightly odd fit (this was rectified by the Superfeet insole); Construction looks & feels solid enough for Sierra graniteCons: Slight pinch point across instep (break in?); Lacing points slightly off for heel lock, but OK; Tongue flares after lacing and could allow debris into ankle openingThoughts: I so wanted to love this boot based on its reputation and appearance. Ultimately, it fell short in the fit area & had a slight tendency to pronate even with Superfeet.Verdict: Great rugged hiker & decent UL-backpacker

DO NOT BUY THESE BOOTS and if you can, AVOID SALOMON ENTIRELY. I am very disappointed to have to write this about what I thought was a highly reputable brand.These boots are meant to be fully waterproof, they are far from that! I used them for dog walking in parks and would end every walk with soaking feet - mainly walking on paths and occasionally walking through damp grass 3-5cm tall. Not exactly a challenge for "hiking boots" suitable for "Alpine Terrain".I was happy to receive a replacement for my first pair, thinking I was simply unlucky with that set (they had lasted a couple of months).The second pair also lasted a couple of months but again I was left disappointed and with soaking feet (soles of my socks). I again liaised with the warranty team, ... MoreDO NOT BUY THESE BOOTS and if you can, AVOID SALOMON ENTIRELY. I am very disappointed to have to write this about what I thought was a highly reputable brand.These boots are meant to be fully waterproof, they are far from that! I used them for dog walking in parks and would end every walk with soaking feet - mainly walking on paths and occasionally walking through damp grass 3-5cm tall. Not exactly a challenge for "hiking boots" suitable for "Alpine Terrain".I was happy to receive a replacement for my first pair, thinking I was simply unlucky with that set (they had lasted a couple of months).The second pair also lasted a couple of months but again I was left disappointed and with soaking feet (soles of my socks). I again liaised with the warranty team, completed their required tests (standing in a bucket of water and videoing yourself) and was given a credit note. I was reluctant to buy more boots from Salomon so was going to buy other products, only to find that they voucher was locked to use on boots only.My third pair of these boots lasted less than a month, when again, with no signs of wear and tear, water came rising up where the sole meets the "gortex" fabric of the boot - at no point was I wading through standing water higher than the collar of the boot.I explained all of this to the warranty team and rather than accepting fault in their product, they pointed the finger directly at me, citing inappropriate use. When I explained that the boots are used for less rigorous activities than their testing, I was again held entirely to blame for their poor product and told that that was the end of the matter.If you are looking for a comfortable boot and can guarantee no moisture on your walks, these will be great, however, if there is a remote possibility that you will see a puddle when out in them, please avoid!!!

I bought a pair of Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX last year.Since then I've used the shoes once or twice per month for hiking. I've always taken care of them and used the official Salomon products for cleaning (NST Wash) and maintenance (NST Proof, so that the DWR (durable water repellent) of the gore-tex membrane could be restored) as recommended on their site.Recently during a hike my feet were soaking wet after a few minutes of walking through wet grass (it wasn't even raining), so that I had to walk the rest of the hike with my feet squishing inside my shoes.. Besides that, even though I wore the shoes only occasionally (once or twice per month for hikes, keep this in mind.. I didn't wear it every day, I didn't hike every day) it is already showing signs of ... MoreI bought a pair of Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX last year.Since then I've used the shoes once or twice per month for hiking. I've always taken care of them and used the official Salomon products for cleaning (NST Wash) and maintenance (NST Proof, so that the DWR (durable water repellent) of the gore-tex membrane could be restored) as recommended on their site.Recently during a hike my feet were soaking wet after a few minutes of walking through wet grass (it wasn't even raining), so that I had to walk the rest of the hike with my feet squishing inside my shoes.. Besides that, even though I wore the shoes only occasionally (once or twice per month for hikes, keep this in mind.. I didn't wear it every day, I didn't hike every day) it is already showing signs of tearing on the right side, wearing out in the soles plus holes in the heel area..I find it absurd that such expensive shoes (180€) wear out so quickly and are sold as waterproof when they are not waterproof. I am very disappointed with their lack of quality and durability. I contacted the seller, sent the pictures and he refused to change the shoes or give a refund.If you want to pay 180€ for a pair of shoes that start desintegrating after 1 year even though you wear it rarely, go ahead. I won't buy from Salomon ever again. The durability is a joke..