I'm coming off a 48 mile backpacking trip where I wore my X Ultra 3s. I've had these shoes for maybe 3 years and wear them exclusively for day hiking and backpacking trips. Definitely less than 300 miles on them. Great grip, decent stability, definitely average comfort. My issue is the durability. The treads have plenty of life left on them, but the uppers are falling apart. That cheap plastic-y material is cracking and tearing. I had at least 4 holes appear on this trip. I have the gore-tex version, but thanks to the cracks and holes, I had wet feet for two days after walking through wet grass to a spring. These have always been less breathable than other gore-tex shoes I've had, which has led to some issues with blisters due to sweaty feet. Overall, I'd say I got a vastly inferior product for the same cost as other shoes. I won't be gambling with the X Ultra 4s.
I had exactly the same problem you went through with Ultra 3 GTX’s- sent first pair back within guarantee period as failed like yours did, then so did the replacements in the same way, and I’m no hardcore hiker. Still buy Salomon but not in Goretex.
I’ve done over 1000km in my ultra x 3 mid gtx wide model and haven’t had any of the issues you’ve talked about. Was hiking through snow and mud in Scotland last weekend and they have held up great. No issues at all with the uppers and the side of the soles. Not discounting your experience but doesn’t reflect mine or my partner who has the same shoe in women’s model too.
i have the X ultra 4 GTX low cut. Bought it for more than a year ago. I took it into bad terrain with mud multiple times. No problem so far but the complaint i have is the sole is a bit too hard for me / not so comfortable but the grip on mud is superb. So i went and bought the Elixir Mid cut GTX which is more comfortable
My initial impressions of these shoes are very good. Durability with Salomon shoes has always been a challenge no matter what shoe it is. Their hiking boots are the only Salomon footwear I have had that have lasted a long time. The X Ultra 4 are very light weight and they incorporate many of the positive attributes of the XA Pro however they work better for narrow feet! I have a narrow foot and heel retention is always a major challenge for me. So far... the heel retention a very good with the X Ultra 4, even with a superfeet hike cushion insole. The forefoot has plenty room and the mid sole and instep are snug but comfortable. The lacing system works just like any other shoe with Salomon's quicklace platform. Hoping to do some more lengthy backpacking trips with them to really see how well my heels hold up but initially these shoes seem promising.
Just got mine. Good timing as I just completed my morning run so my feet were swollen a bit. They are going back. Walking around the house for 30 minutes in them and no amount of cinching the laces would get my heel to lock. No heel lock, no bueno. Toe box is small as well and I still lace up football boots weekly to play so I know crammed in toe boxes. Wides wouldn't help the heel lock problem.
Too bad. They are a precise fit and I have a normal to slightly narrow foot so they work for me. Shoe industry needs a program for folks to know their foot type and then get a better fitting shoe.
Thanks for your review! I was looking into buying this shoe for a few months now. The other shoe I was considering was the Adidas Terrex that you covered. I think your head to head was the nail in the coffin and I pulled the trigger on them. I don't hike but I wanted an overkill shoe for everyday life and these are it! Now Adidas is having a sale on the Terrex shoe and I might have the pull the trigger again haha
bought ultra 3 gtx after loving my old v1/2. Something has changed with the material used in tread sole and there just dont grip on some flat stone if damp. My old ones were fine so not risking buying v4
I think they look cool. I am sure they feel great at first. And have plenty traction and feel for the terrain. But one thing they don't look like they are. And that is durable. But that is the trade-off isn't it. The more lightweight. The less durable they get. I have known salomon to be a brand with shoes that last quite a while. And you could basically wear their shoes daily for walks. But these look like they will wear out pretty fast. I guess i will pass on anything "super lightweight". It just spells "won't last very long" to me. They seem like awesome shoes for people who have the expendable income and can replace them when they have reached their end. I would not mind having a shoe that weighs just a tiny bit more but lasts significantly longer. Those thin strips on these shoes that cross the mesh on top do not look like they will handle being flexed and endure tention a whole lot. It looks flimsy. I will browse around the other options out there. See if i can find something that has sufficient comfort traction and grip, but is just a bit more durable than this. I wish there would be comparisons of these "main brands" to less "famous" brands. I also recently ordered some brand i didn't hear of before. And, because of a total lack of reviews on those shoes. I will just take a chance of them. They were severely discounted. Its an austrian brand called Dachstein. Curious to see how they feel and perform. What would be interesting is finding great alternatives and have them compared against these mainstream shoes.
Ended up buying them and regretting it. They were on offer. Instant blister machines.. I always used to buy Salomon. These were the biggest dissapointment ever. Sent them back.
I found this channel today after returning from a 10 day 14000ft expedition. My Salomon predict hike were horrible and I may never wear them again. Great review!
I bought these.. And i usually buy Salomon. And normally i enjoy their shoes. But these were a nightmare. I could not walk in them. They gave me blisters on my heels within only just a few kilometer.. They were the worst walking shoes for me. Too bad, because i liked how they looked. And i was excited for them. Owning Salomon before is no guarantee these are right for you. After this happened to me, i found many people who complained of the same issue. So a WARNING for people. These cause problems for many people.
@@intothedragon i bought the damn shoes for 90 euros. Which is a great price. I wish they didnt give me issues. I was excited for them. Had to send them back. Why would i be a bot? Cause i dont share your opinion on the shoes? I also have the leather salomon x Ward leather Mid Gore-tex. I have no issues with them. But they aren't suitable for warm weather. The ultra x 4 just really were a nightmare for me. The shoes i sent back. But i still have the spots on my feet from healing blisters. Heck do a little googling. I even sound a former Salomon employee who stated that there are design flaws with the hiking shoes. But the trailrunners are still good. The amount of complaints i found in reviews of people who loved the ultra x 3. But hate the x4 are not a few either. Who don't you go read some reviews on the salomon website itself. And stop your conspiratorial madness.
Bought them, my normal size. My toes dont touch the front, but I don't think they are comfortable at all. It just supports the wrong spots on my foot. Also I got blisters on my achilles. I just ordered the Moab 3's. Hope they fit better with their wider profile. Update: The Moab 3's are way more comfortable. I would recommend those.
Hello! Thanks for the review! I'm seriously considering buying them. However, I was a bit puzzled by the mention that they are not very "comfortable". I need shoes more for lighter terrain (street photography). Do you think they would be suitable for city wear? Thanks for the reply, have a nice day!
Their comfort is fine but against other shoes they lag in comfort. They are NOT uncomfortable. My testing is relative the four other shoes which are all great hiking shoes. You should be fine. I choose to wear mine all the time and I have many, many hiking shoes in my closet.
What are your thoughts on goretex vs. non goretex? Some say that goretex just traps moisture, it is far slower to dry, and when it rains, water flows down your legs.
I prefer non goretex for multi day hikes except in winter and the shoulder seasons (late fall/early spring). So for me it’s a question of temperature. If it’s cold then goretex, all the way. For everything else I bring multiple pairs of of socks. Wet feet on long hikes are prone to blisters. Tomorrow I finish a five day thru hike and it’s going to rain all day over the 18 mile leg. I will just swap out my socks and hope for the best.
Thank you for answering the queries so thoughtfully People suggest goretex socks with non goretex boots, left too much to chance? Sorry I could not find where I made the comment 😅
Hi, tks for all the explanations. Can you recommend me the best hiking shoes in your opinion, we will go 2 weeks in Peru this summer. I’m looking for something comfortable, mixed between city and trails (like rainbow mountain, 1 day Inca Trail, etc). I will have them all day long, so they must be comfortable. I’m not doing technical trails. Looking for 3 seasons, waterproof and gore-tex. Thanks.
Speed is closer to a trail runner. Very light, very comfortable, great outsole. The X Ultra 4 is closer to a proper hiking shoe. More stable, good traction, but not as comfortable as the Speed. I would say it depends on what you want and the type of hiking you plan to do. Light, fast hiking with minimal gear then the Speed is a good option. X Ultra 4 are ready for backpacking though not as comfortable.
Thank you for the reply! I have opted for the ultra, based on the fact I will be using them for wild camping in the UK mostly. The videos have been a massive help, thanks!
Upper material breaks very easily, after a few months mine look like they have been through 2 wars and 5 years of hardship. Salomon used to be better quality..
I just go a pair of them.. the left is not as the right. Has a defect wich I think is natural for a shoe company , what is not natural is that the official store did not respond so I got to keep a defected product with such discomfort that I give Salomon thumbs down. They were not cheap on the pricetag, only cheap on the construction of the product and the careless customer service.
Its way to narrow in the toe box area. I have tried it and being flat footed it was way to narrow. Now i have only tested it for 1 day in the house. But i would give it another try IF they make a wide version. So Alan. Whats your best tip for a wide/flatfoot. Thank you for you videos
Sorry to hear that. Keen Targhee 3 are very wide in the standard width. The other would be the Merrell Moab 3. They also felt wide or me in the standard width.
There's enough variation in human feet that shoe recommendations are essentially worthless. One person's perfect fit could be pure torture to someone else. Get a fitting from someone who knows what they're doing.
You're certainly right about fit, but people can dial it in at least a little by being specific about their feet. For instance, I have wide, flat feet and a knobby heel - so if you have a similar foot shape and any recommendations ... I am having a hard time finding shoes.
Good comment. The author talked about stability and his experience, but I had exactly the opposite of that. For me the X ultra 4 has too soft soles, it twists too easily and my heel is not held in position. As I walk I have slight movement up and down of the heel, with laces as tight as possible , which is not that comfortable also. But I didn't have such issues with Swift R3.
I'm coming off a 48 mile backpacking trip where I wore my X Ultra 3s. I've had these shoes for maybe 3 years and wear them exclusively for day hiking and backpacking trips. Definitely less than 300 miles on them.
Great grip, decent stability, definitely average comfort. My issue is the durability. The treads have plenty of life left on them, but the uppers are falling apart. That cheap plastic-y material is cracking and tearing. I had at least 4 holes appear on this trip. I have the gore-tex version, but thanks to the cracks and holes, I had wet feet for two days after walking through wet grass to a spring. These have always been less breathable than other gore-tex shoes I've had, which has led to some issues with blisters due to sweaty feet. Overall, I'd say I got a vastly inferior product for the same cost as other shoes.
I won't be gambling with the X Ultra 4s.
let me know if you find a better alternative! looking for a pair for my self!
I had exactly the same problem you went through with Ultra 3 GTX’s- sent first pair back within guarantee period as failed like yours did, then so did the replacements in the same way, and I’m no hardcore hiker. Still buy Salomon but not in Goretex.
I’ve done over 1000km in my ultra x 3 mid gtx wide model and haven’t had any of the issues you’ve talked about. Was hiking through snow and mud in Scotland last weekend and they have held up great. No issues at all with the uppers and the side of the soles. Not discounting your experience but doesn’t reflect mine or my partner who has the same shoe in women’s model too.
i have the X ultra 4 GTX low cut. Bought it for more than a year ago. I took it into bad terrain with mud multiple times. No problem so far but the complaint i have is the sole is a bit too hard for me / not so comfortable but the grip on mud is superb. So i went and bought the Elixir Mid cut GTX which is more comfortable
My initial impressions of these shoes are very good. Durability with Salomon shoes has always been a challenge no matter what shoe it is. Their hiking boots are the only Salomon footwear I have had that have lasted a long time. The X Ultra 4 are very light weight and they incorporate many of the positive attributes of the XA Pro however they work better for narrow feet! I have a narrow foot and heel retention is always a major challenge for me. So far... the heel retention a very good with the X Ultra 4, even with a superfeet hike cushion insole. The forefoot has plenty room and the mid sole and instep are snug but comfortable. The lacing system works just like any other shoe with Salomon's quicklace platform. Hoping to do some more lengthy backpacking trips with them to really see how well my heels hold up but initially these shoes seem promising.
Thanks for explaining the lacing system... looking online and it was a mystery until you revealed.
Just got mine. Good timing as I just completed my morning run so my feet were swollen a bit. They are going back. Walking around the house for 30 minutes in them and no amount of cinching the laces would get my heel to lock. No heel lock, no bueno. Toe box is small as well and I still lace up football boots weekly to play so I know crammed in toe boxes. Wides wouldn't help the heel lock problem.
Too bad. They are a precise fit and I have a normal to slightly narrow foot so they work for me. Shoe industry needs a program for folks to know their foot type and then get a better fitting shoe.
Thanks for reviewing ❤
Thanks for your review! I was looking into buying this shoe for a few months now. The other shoe I was considering was the Adidas Terrex that you covered. I think your head to head was the nail in the coffin and I pulled the trigger on them. I don't hike but I wanted an overkill shoe for everyday life and these are it!
Now Adidas is having a sale on the Terrex shoe and I might have the pull the trigger again haha
Glad I could help. They are both good shoes.
After watching this video I decided to order them, next week I will share if my feelings are also as good as yours! :)
Especially share if your feelings are NOT as good as mine. Shoes are tricky because feet are all so different.
What are your thoughts @adampajda3204?
@ those shoes are great, honestly, I have had a lot of hiking shoes but this model is my best. I have even used them for some trail races :D
Thanks for this great overview video! Would you recommend this shoe for general hiking + walking for travels?
bought ultra 3 gtx after loving my old v1/2. Something has changed with the material used in tread sole and there just dont grip on some flat stone if damp. My old ones were fine so not risking buying v4
Thanks from Barcelona 😊
My pleasure!
Just bought these thanks for the vote of confidence 👍
Let us know how they work for you! 🥾
Thank you
Thanks. Just bought!
Grande! Let us know how they work for you.
How have they been?
I think they look cool. I am sure they feel great at first. And have plenty traction and feel for the terrain. But one thing they don't look like they are. And that is durable. But that is the trade-off isn't it. The more lightweight. The less durable they get. I have known salomon to be a brand with shoes that last quite a while. And you could basically wear their shoes daily for walks. But these look like they will wear out pretty fast. I guess i will pass on anything "super lightweight". It just spells "won't last very long" to me. They seem like awesome shoes for people who have the expendable income and can replace them when they have reached their end. I would not mind having a shoe that weighs just a tiny bit more but lasts significantly longer. Those thin strips on these shoes that cross the mesh on top do not look like they will handle being flexed and endure tention a whole lot. It looks flimsy. I will browse around the other options out there. See if i can find something that has sufficient comfort traction and grip, but is just a bit more durable than this. I wish there would be comparisons of these "main brands" to less "famous" brands. I also recently ordered some brand i didn't hear of before. And, because of a total lack of reviews on those shoes. I will just take a chance of them. They were severely discounted. Its an austrian brand called Dachstein. Curious to see how they feel and perform. What would be interesting is finding great alternatives and have them compared against these mainstream shoes.
Ended up buying them and regretting it. They were on offer. Instant blister machines.. I always used to buy Salomon. These were the biggest dissapointment ever. Sent them back.
Good nice shoes
Hey man , its like salomon is sponsored that video :)
Hahahaha! I wish! I purchase and hike in all the shoes. Actually not sure what I would do if they sent me free shoes.
@@Dusty_Hikers :) I thought you dont like contagrip tec.
@@jepue in my testing from previous years I tested the shoes for grip and not traction. Contagrip is slippery on smooth surfaces compared to Vibram.
Epic shoe
I found this channel today after returning from a 10 day 14000ft expedition. My Salomon predict hike were horrible and I may never wear them again. Great review!
Welcome aboard! I am so jealous. Where were you hiking?
@@Dusty_Hikers in a mountain pass called Bali pass in Uttrakhand, India.
Between these and the Merrel moab speed 2: Which do you prefer? Which has more cushion and more stability?
I bought these.. And i usually buy Salomon. And normally i enjoy their shoes. But these were a nightmare. I could not walk in them. They gave me blisters on my heels within only just a few kilometer.. They were the worst walking shoes for me. Too bad, because i liked how they looked. And i was excited for them. Owning Salomon before is no guarantee these are right for you. After this happened to me, i found many people who complained of the same issue. So a WARNING for people. These cause problems for many people.
such a liar BOT
@@intothedragon why would i lie? Go check some reviews. Im not the only one.
@@MrMastadox " I found many people who complained of the same issue" where?
@@intothedragon i bought the damn shoes for 90 euros. Which is a great price. I wish they didnt give me issues. I was excited for them. Had to send them back. Why would i be a bot? Cause i dont share your opinion on the shoes? I also have the leather salomon x Ward leather Mid Gore-tex. I have no issues with them. But they aren't suitable for warm weather. The ultra x 4 just really were a nightmare for me. The shoes i sent back. But i still have the spots on my feet from healing blisters. Heck do a little googling. I even sound a former Salomon employee who stated that there are design flaws with the hiking shoes. But the trailrunners are still good. The amount of complaints i found in reviews of people who loved the ultra x 3. But hate the x4 are not a few either. Who don't you go read some reviews on the salomon website itself. And stop your conspiratorial madness.
@@MrMastadox what a pathetic reply, so typical. You said you found many people with the same problem, where? where did you find these people?
Does Adidas Terrex Swift have non-GTX version? All I have seen are GTX versions, which is a deal breaker when I look for non-GRX shoes intentionally…
Bought them, my normal size. My toes dont touch the front, but I don't think they are comfortable at all. It just supports the wrong spots on my foot. Also I got blisters on my achilles. I just ordered the Moab 3's. Hope they fit better with their wider profile.
Update: The Moab 3's are way more comfortable. I would recommend those.
Sorry to hear that. Good luck with the Moab 3s!
Hello! Thanks for the review! I'm seriously considering buying them. However, I was a bit puzzled by the mention that they are not very "comfortable". I need shoes more for lighter terrain (street photography). Do you think they would be suitable for city wear? Thanks for the reply, have a nice day!
Their comfort is fine but against other shoes they lag in comfort. They are NOT uncomfortable. My testing is relative the four other shoes which are all great hiking shoes. You should be fine. I choose to wear mine all the time and I have many, many hiking shoes in my closet.
They would be great for wear on streets. I wear them on weekends to go to town and work in the garden.
I love salomen shoes but why do they seem so determined to have boring colorless shoes??
for new shoes, does this shoes feel tight at the middle side?
What are your thoughts on goretex vs. non goretex?
Some say that goretex just traps moisture, it is far slower to dry, and when it rains, water flows down your legs.
I prefer non goretex for multi day hikes except in winter and the shoulder seasons (late fall/early spring). So for me it’s a question of temperature. If it’s cold then goretex, all the way. For everything else I bring multiple pairs of of socks. Wet feet on long hikes are prone to blisters. Tomorrow I finish a five day thru hike and it’s going to rain all day over the 18 mile leg. I will just swap out my socks and hope for the best.
Thank you for answering the queries so thoughtfully
People suggest goretex socks with non goretex boots, left too much to chance?
Sorry I could not find where I made the comment 😅
How about for walking everyday
How long does it take to dry?
@@ozziepatino9104 I think they would be great.
hi! what about multi day hikes?
Hi, tks for all the explanations. Can you recommend me the best hiking shoes in your opinion, we will go 2 weeks in Peru this summer. I’m looking for something comfortable, mixed between city and trails (like rainbow mountain, 1 day Inca Trail, etc). I will have them all day long, so they must be comfortable. I’m not doing technical trails. Looking for 3 seasons, waterproof and gore-tex. Thanks.
Enjoy your trip. I love the Brooks Cascadia for a light trail runner/hiker. For an over the ankle you could try the Salomon X Ultras.
I did the Ausumgate trek in 2019. Spend time in the sacred valley before doing higher elevation routes. 5000 meters is no joke.
Out of this shoe and the winner from last year the Merrell moab speed gtx, in your opinion which one is best ?
Speed is closer to a trail runner. Very light, very comfortable, great outsole. The X Ultra 4 is closer to a proper hiking shoe. More stable, good traction, but not as comfortable as the Speed. I would say it depends on what you want and the type of hiking you plan to do. Light, fast hiking with minimal gear then the Speed is a good option. X Ultra 4 are ready for backpacking though not as comfortable.
Thank you for the reply!
I have opted for the ultra, based on the fact I will be using them for wild camping in the UK mostly.
The videos have been a massive help, thanks!
How are they for wide fitting feet? Also, recommended actual size or half size up?
They are precise in width so go for a wide version for wider feet. Length was spot on for me. I am 12 US and they were accurate.
But the mesh-covered edges of those is the worst part of them. They won't survive ur trail. But the LTR version is great.
Thank you for sharing.
If I walk, where the top “bends”, it pushes into my foot. Is that normal? I have this in two sizes.
I did not experience that.
Upper material breaks very easily, after a few months mine look like they have been through 2 wars and 5 years of hardship. Salomon used to be better quality..
I just go a pair of them.. the left is not as the right. Has a defect wich I think is natural for a shoe company , what is not natural is that the official store did not respond so I got to keep a defected product with such discomfort that I give Salomon thumbs down.
They were not cheap on the pricetag, only cheap on the construction of the product and the careless customer service.
What happens if the laces of the shoes are cut? Can these be bought somewhere or does salomon fix it for free?
Great question.
yes they sell the replacement but you will only cut these with a knife or scissor
Its way to narrow in the toe box area. I have tried it and being flat footed it was way to narrow. Now i have only tested it for 1 day in the house. But i would give it another try IF they make a wide version. So Alan. Whats your best tip for a wide/flatfoot. Thank you for you videos
Sorry to hear that. Keen Targhee 3 are very wide in the standard width. The other would be the Merrell Moab 3. They also felt wide or me in the standard width.
They have wide version :) standard was too narrow for me as well :)
@@nienormalnyVLOG whats then name of the wide model?
@@unseen1228 X ULTRA 4 MID WIDE GORE-TEX
@@nienormalnyVLOG thank you
I do 5 to 7km per Day walking my dog in forest and beach,The only thing i didnt liked in this shoes...too hot in warm weather ...
probably not for trail running..
How many miles to break them in?
Zero
@@Dusty_Hikers not the case for me
@@MrDogtown22 thank you. Please share here your experience so others can be more informed.
@Dusty Hikers found they hurt my feet so I returned them and got the Merrell Moab 3 gtx goretex. Much better for me.
dusty hikers never went to hike :)hahhahahaaaaa
are they stinky ?
There's enough variation in human feet that shoe recommendations are essentially worthless. One person's perfect fit could be pure torture to someone else. Get a fitting from someone who knows what they're doing.
You're certainly right about fit, but people can dial it in at least a little by being specific about their feet. For instance, I have wide, flat feet and a knobby heel - so if you have a similar foot shape and any recommendations ... I am having a hard time finding shoes.
Good comment. The author talked about stability and his experience, but I had exactly the opposite of that. For me the X ultra 4 has too soft soles, it twists too easily and my heel is not held in position. As I walk I have slight movement up and down of the heel, with laces as tight as possible , which is not that comfortable also. But I didn't have such issues with Swift R3.
I have tried Salomon x Ultra 3 and they fit me really well.
Average person buys shoes from Nike/addidas. Now you tell me what are you comparing with?