In an effort to help you see how it measures up in the world of hiking boots, we put together our comprehensive Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX hiking boot review. The complete pro and con guide that helps you make the right choice in boots for your next hike.
When it comes to hiking, comfort is important. Salomon understands and they design hiking boots that promise to make every step of your journey as comfortable as possible. They do it by creating boots like the X Ultra 3 Mid GTX, which promises to be lightweight, durable, comfortable, and provides you with outstanding traction as a bonus.
Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Review
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Performance
When it comes to performance, the X Ultra 3 Mid GTX seems like a strong contender for one of the best hiking boots available. They promise stability, durability, and comfort when you are hiking even in harsh environments.
Weight
When choosing a size 9 men’s boot, you are looking at approximately 2-pounds 1.5-ounces. If you have ever looked at hiking boots before, you know that this is lightweight by comparison to others. However, this does not mean you sacrifice durability or comfort. Quite the opposite is true because they seem to be able to stand up against even rough terrain without causing you to feel sore spots from a jagged rock.
Traction
In our opinion, these boots seem more than able to handle all types of terrain. There are people who enjoy wearing them to climb rocky, muddy terrain and feel that they are securely able to stick where they step. There are also people who go just hiking over steep, sometimes slick hills and trails. In all cases, these shoes hold up. They have deep lugs and shed mud easily. They also don’t seem to hold pebbles in the thread which gives you ample “grip” no matter how many hours you hike. Together with these boots, we advise to take a look at these extra traction cleat, since they are pocket-sized, if you might plan for an unpredictable slippery path.
Stability and Support
These boots are the type that will sit low on your ankle. This simple fact makes some question how stable and supportive it could actually be, ourselves included. The truth is these boots are surprisingly supportive. They do not allow ankle rolls, even if you are on steep terrain. They also do not feel stiff because of the well-padded, yet flexible, areas around the collar. Overall, we think that they are a shoe that is good for protection and stability.
Waterproofing
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One of the first things we wanted to know about was how waterproof are they. They claim to have GORE-TEX performance, which are waterproof bootie liners that allow your feet to breathe while protecting them from the elements. This is further enhanced by waterproof PU coated leather, mud guards, and more.
What we found was that these boots do seem to provide reliable protection for your feet in rain, snow, and other situations. However, if you step into a stream that is over the height of your boot, water can, and likely will, pour in. This could pose a problem for some. With this in mind, we will also say that if it happens to you, they will typically dry quickly. You can also check out our list of the best boot waterproofing products that provide extremely tough water barrier for more optional.
Breathability
These hiking books are ideal for all climates according to most people. They breathe well so that you don’t feel overheated, even when the temperatures are high. However, they are also comfortable to wear in the winter months if you wear a slightly thicker sock.
Toe and Ankle Protection
This boot has a surprising ability to support your ankle while you are hiking. With only three eyelets and two hooks, they can hold your foot and ankle securely. All the padding also helps to protect your ankles from direct hits from limbs and other things. They also have rubber toe covers around the front which will help you avoid impacts from rocks. The one potentially “weak” area is the sides of the boot, which aren’t protected very well, but still seem to hold up well against issues.
Quality and Durability
From all that we have seen and heard about the Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid, it is durable enough to last through many seasons. It has a lot of stitching in the upper, good thread, and a dependable lug.
Fit and Sizing
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When you are hiking down a steep incline, you want to know that your toes will not get banged up. On average, these boots do well to fit loosely enough that you won’t have to worry about it. This does not mean they are loose-fitting in a way that makes them uncomfortable. Quite the opposite thanks to the way that they lace up and the fact that they do have a somewhat narrow fit.
Pros & Cons
Things that We Enjoy
- These shoes are very durable, even if you enjoy extreme hiking.
- They are mostly waterproof and any water that does get inside dries quickly.
- These boots are designed for versatility. They handle any situation and environment that you choose to explore.
What Could Be Improved?
We would like there to be more support higher on the ankles, but this is purely preference and not a knock against the shoe.
They do tend to be a little narrow, which could be a problem for other people.
Compare to Salomon X Ultra 3
The biggest thing you will notice differences between the Ultra and the Mid is their height. The Ultra is a little lower around the collar. The X Ultra 3 also ditches the synthetic mesh for a full-grain leather to give it more water resistance.
Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Vs Other Hiking Boots
#1. The Newton Ridge hiking boot promises to be waterproof and lightweight. They have a durable midsole and impressive cushioning. They have less breathability because of leather in all areas.
#2. Timberland White Ledge promises trail-ready performance. They have full-grain waterproof and leather uppers. They have more of a “work boot” style that some people will enjoy, but others may feel they are a bit clunky.
#3. The Merrell’s Moab 2 Mid WP boasts that it is waterproof and made of suede leather and a mesh upper. In our opinion, where they may top the X Ultra 3 Mid is their cushioning. It is notably more comfortable on the bottom side. However, when you need to shed weight, these are not going to make you happy.
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Final Word on Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX
Although we cannot say that they will be comfortable for you, we can say that even people who have worn these shoes for several hikes, find comfort within. They seem extremely durable no matter where your adventures may lead you, provided you do not have an exceptionally wide foot or weakened ankles. For the most part, we say that they are worth considering if you love the great outdoors as much as we do.