Best Hiking Shoes of the Year 

My left ear loved this video!

As of May 7th, 2024, this video of yours is UNIQUE because of the following 2 reasons. 1. You tested 5 shoe brands. 2. The way you’re testing them is very THOROUGH. You hiked in them for 2 months and approximately 25 to 35 miles in each shoe. You tested them against 4 criteria: Comfort, stability, protection, and traction. Thank you for bringing the Salomon X Ultra 4 to my attention. I will try it out together with Brooks Cascadia 16 as recommended in another video by you.

In the past 8 years of hiking. I've had the luxury of buying all these top of the line branded hiking boots. From sportiva, merrel, northface ON Cloud and etc. I've worn 17 shoes in total with good miles in it. By far the best I had has been the salomon Ultra X4. Never buy Northface, ON cloud or over hyped athletes brand at all They all suck. Go merrel instead and its more than enough. But lately I have been rocking a Forclaz MT 100. I'm on my 13th Mountain with this boots. Not bad for a mere $150 CAD shoes! It's my new favorite now over Ultra X 4.

I wear out the soles on such shoes well before I wear out their overall structure. The Merrell Moab is the only one that comes close.

I've never trekked with a shoe, 50+ years of serious trekking. Always boots. Full ankle support. Yes they are heavier but not by much. I'm sure manufacturers have their quality variations. Over the years I've used: Asolo; Salomon and Scarpa. I think it kind of doesn't really matter, ... weight, materials, comfort and type of terrain feature in decisions. Salomon suit most of my needs, Scala I use in alpine terrain.

Salomon quality has plunged off a cliff. I'm tired of publications and reviewers continuing to praise them as if they're amazing. If you actually put substantial use in them, you'll find that they almost certainly will tear, rip, lose shoelace loops, come apart, etc within a couple months. I owned the XA Pro 3D v7, the X Ultra 3 mid GTX, and the X Ultra 4 mid GTX. Every one of them had a major mechanical failure within two months max of normal outdoor use. Their durability is some of the worst I've seen in the price range, truly unacceptable. And yeah, the Gore-Tex on the Ultra mid 3 and 4 GTX is definitely not really waterproof. Maybe for a short period of breaking them in, but before long you'll find they get saturated. I hope people STOP giving Salomon money for making a worse and worse product every time. I kept trying their shoes and boots because they were comfortable and light. But on every pair, I got burned by extremely substandard quality and durability. For around the same price, get the Oboz Bridger Bdry mid for a far superior quality product that's actually waterproof and will last.

My left ear is now well informed

Coming in last in this lineup is still a win.

I can only comment on the Merrell, and I must for its large toe box! I am flat footed and struggle to find comfortable shoes. If you are a flat foot like me, check the Merrell Moab 3. I also own the Merrell Nova 3 and love it.

Great video, I wonder if on future reviews you could do a section on how waterproof some of these are. Here in the UK that is very important most of the year. Thanks again.

Altra Olympus 6, Vivobarefoot Primus trail ii FG or Toetem sandals

thanks for the confirmation of what i thought about the ultra 4 gtx

What is a good shoe for travelling to Europe as a tourist? I am not a hiker, just doing popular tourist spots in places like Poland, Czech Reppublic, Austria, Germany (Munich, Berlin), Amsterdam, Stratford-upon-Avon, London city, Scotland, France, Milan, Florence, Rome, Santorini and Athens.

I would like to have seen Keen included. So far, I'm really liking the fit of my Zionics.

You should consider doing a test with Keen Targhee. I have both the shoes and the boots. They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I have used the shoes for over 15 years. Multiple pairs. I prefer them to my Merrels.

Thank you for this comprehensive comparison! I recently acquired the Teva Low GTX Grandview Hiking Shoes, mainly because of their Vibram "Megagrip" outsole, and their interesting heel locking/lacing system. I was wondering what your opinion is of the Vibram "Megagrip" outsole, especially since you feel that the Vibram outsole on the Merrill Moab wasn't very good in terms of traction. Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Great content! 👍👍👍

Hello, I don't know if anyone has ever told you, but you're recording the sound only on the left channel, this might be fine if you're editing/listening on speaker, but for headphone user it's almost unbearable. A quick fix is to either copy and past the left audio track onto the right one, or run the audio in mono. Thanks.

Great video!

I have been considering new shoes recently and found your video as a result. Nice job with the comparison. I've been wearing Altra Olympus 4s. I love them, but the new Olympus 5 is really expensive. However, I'm now addicted to the big toe box and the wider feel of the shoe. It's so comfortable. And the big stack height also is nice. What other shoe can I try that has a comparable toe box and feel?

Hey just found your channel and subbed. All the time in woods have you had any Supernatural/Sasquatch/Dogman/Missing 411 type of encounters?❤❤❤

Just picked up the best brand ever for outdoor adventure. The Alverstone 2 granite by Merrell Flipping great. I should get 5 to 6 years wroth of wear. Why pay more?

Good solid vid, now your at 1.94k subs

Only Merril has wide? On my 5th pair of merril moab 2, afraid to buy moab 3

They don't sell Meindl in America?

Thanks for the video, the Merrell Moab 3 has wrong link

I want more videos Man ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

Absolutetly hated the Salomon X Ultra 4...tried the normal and wide versions size 47 2/3 and 48...all where just way to tight at the midfoot at the lace...it was so bad that I couldnt even walk for an hour. My feet are quite wide but not extreme....its just has weird dimensions

Go try them on. Everyone's feet are different and comfort is number 1.

Any wide feet shoes?

a 'hiking platform' with an 'advanced chassis system' ... 😆😂😅🤣. give me strength! 🤪

Great insight, thanks for the video! I'd be interested to hear what you think of the x ultra 4's against the merrell moab speed's from the previous comparison video?

I am interested in your experience with AKU's Rocket Dfs GTX Hiking Shoe, particularly as it compares to the Salomon X Ultra 4? I have read your review and others on the Salomon X Ultra -- but not much on the AKU -- particularly in comparison to other hiking shoes. I am debating which to get.

If I go for Salomon then I can't buy ultraboost 😢. Please suggest something affordable as compared to Salomon

nice shoeses

nice content. What are your thoughts on the la sportiva ultra raptor 2? I'm stuck between the Salomon x ultra 4.

I bought a pair of Salomon hiking shoes at the recommendation of another hiking gear reviewer. The toe box was so narrow that it actually caused a blood blister under my big toe that my doctor first thought might be a type of melanoma (black toe nail). Sorry, but I will never buy another Solomon shoe.

great vid!! but there is only left side audio.

What would you recommend for someone that also needs water resistance/waterproof shoes? Thanks!

Just because it works for you doesn't meant it works for everyone else.

So I have poor blood circulation in my feet which causes them to go numb when hiking. I bought Merrels a year or so ago and they were a horrible experience... any recommendations?

Are Hokas in contention with these? Considering the speedgoat 5s?

Columbia not even in the list 😢?

Which one of these performed the best at regular walking in the city?

Why is the audio in the left ear only. Please it is irritating for headphone users. Thankyou.

What happens if the laces of the shoes are cut? Can these be bought somewhere or does salomon fix it for free???

Considering that the Moab Speed beat the Adidas R3 last year and the R3 was number two again this year, it would've been nice to see how the Speed competes with this year's Salomon... a champ deserves a chance to defend its title but was ignored instead. Disappointing.

Hoka take a lot of beating.

Anything above 10 celcius and my feet get too hot so gortex is no good for me.

I keep reading online that the Salomon X Ultra has really poor durability

I was concerned About the negative comments regarding Salomon and the crease in the toe box. I can see that the crease definitely is there from these videos. Yuck

salamon x ultra 4 good but as i see on your video the adiddas have strong outsole ?

Chapters would make me see the full video.

I need some shoes for spanish summer , what do you think about it ? About 5 shoes you show? Thanks from Barcelona ! Maybe Moab 3 ?

Your audio is only in the left speaker (head phone). Please check your recording settings or fix it in post. Good job otherwise.

Funny that in another video, where you compare Terrex to MOAN, you complain about the traction of Terrex, while here you praise it.

my left ear is deaf now

I have had a bad experience with the Salomon X4... is not what it used to be... X3 were pretty decent but the X4 is just a piece of garbage, not durable at all.

You “scamper” for less than 30 miles per pair of shoes and talk about our seriousness with hiking?

Good review with just one issue regarding the sound track. Only the left speaker has sound. This should be a easy fix for the future videos.

Thanks for giving your first choice first with rationale

please god spare my left ear

Keeping your feet dry is a MUST for walkers . On a sunny morning in the British country side, its often you will need to walk though wet grass. Wet grass even with waterproof/Gortex lined shoes often means damp feet. In 6 months i have returned, 1 pair of Karimor, and 2 pairs of Merells , all gortex , all took 24 hours or more to dry. Tiday i picked up some Adidas terrex East trails. Will they pass the wet grass test ? I hope so , thought i doubt it !

I bought a pair of Salomon boots last year and they are the bomb. Guess I'm up for the shoes now too.

Hiking shoes are so damn UGLY.

I liked salewa and merrel over adidas and salomon. The natural feel against salomon and adidas and orice against salewa made me buy moab 3 today. I am so happy! 😊

Thanks, you've just saved me lots of time, I was thinking of the Salomans and your review has just confirmed it.

First-time visitor, liked and subscribed. I'm looking for a good quality, affordable hiking shoes that are offered in a wide width; which, has led me to the Merrell line thus far. I'd be just a recreational hiker, not traversing too challenging of terrain. Thanks for your reviews - I'll have to check them out!

The huge problem with the TERREX and I have 3 pairs is that the sizing is absolutely ridiculous, I wear 45 and need 47-48 for TERREX, the toe box is small , why can't they just get it right, although i likex the design i stoped buying them. SALEWA are amazing , they have their base in Dolomiten mountains , traction is amazing, they are a bit more technical with a mountain character for off trail, they do have a thinner more athletic shape, Columbia has started producing seriously comfortable shoes and hard working have a couple of pairs since years and they really really hold up. Merrel unfortunately whenever i bought them they didn't hold up after a year or so, their quality was low

Every type of Salewa approach shoe I've tried, at least as sold to the U.S., run QUITE narrow in the toe box. I think that's intentional - think of them as climbing shoes, with a much thicker sole. They seem to be designed to prevent movement around your feet, so that you can almost smear with them. I love the engineering, love the design, but if you have wider feet you might be very careful about sizing.

ultra x 4 gave me blisters at the heels like no other shoe ever has. Many other people have the same issue with them. Was an avid Salomon buyer.. This shoe makes me want to look around for something else.

How would the Salomon X Ultra (in mid top) compare to the Danner Mountain 600 GTX for backpacking? I know you really liked the Danner. I’m torn between these two strikingly different boots for my next pair. Thanks for the video, good work!

Has anyone tried Lems? In particular the boulder summit waterproof boot?

Salomon OutPulse has not let me down. I only wish the shoe strings gripped better.

What about scarpa, la sportiva and oboz? These premium shoes and boots are missing!

I ended up with Northface vector low cuts ... They were absolutely amazing they probably didn't last as long as they should but I do Photography and essentially my backpack is quite heavy with gear and I'm really hard on my shoes. Stepping on rocks a lot. I'm not doing long distance hiking what I'm doing is walking across some pretty sharp rocks and uneven surfaces in out of salt water so I'm really happy to get one year out of them considering how often I wear them. I may professional landscape photographer so I'm probably wearing them three times a week for a good two hours so to get that many hikes out of them I'm really happy and I'm gonna get the same pair. I've probably got another two or three months worth of wear out of them and then I'm going to get the very same pair in yellow for the next one. I was really happy with them. I found the north face grip really well on uneven surfaces and on rocks that were slippery. I'm doing a lot of ocean photography as well some often, stepping through puddles, saltwater, and even grimy black stuff and I found these shoes actually gripped really well. I never slipped over never fell over and I'm really happy with the north face shoes that is just my summary and everyone will be different

Number one is the “not uncomfortable” one.

I’ve been looking for someone to review hiking shoes… thx

maybe best value? Thanks.

Recently wasted £120 on a pair of Salomon trail shoes. They don't fit. Toe box is too tight.They are my size. I have very regular shaped feet. What is this company doing?

you should fix your sound. mono sucks

Thx for the information

Thanks for sharing, I must buy new one for my next 800 kms hiking

thanks for the info! liked and subbed!

By the way salomon cross hike 2... is ot ortholite? What do you think about that shoe?

Great video! Where do you come from? You don’t sound Italian!

Hi can u tell hows cascadia 14 trail runners by brooks for hicking

hello can you please set the audio in stereo via headset i hear only in my left ear.

Thanks for content 🔥

Good lord sir, boost your mic by like 20 db

what was the story with the hoka? I was hoping to see it on this list. thanks for doing a comparison of the others though

Hi Dusty, Great video's, I have question I'd really like to get your opinion on due to your vast knowledge and experience using these shoes. I'm looking for a good quality shoe for lawn mowing, something that will be used a lot, comfort and light weight would be most important, followed by traction durability and waterproof. Any suggestions on which one you think I should look into. Thank you

I was able to but a pair of the Terrex R3 for 50% off as a high alpine hiking and off trail hunting shoe. I went with a full size up but saw several reviews saying they run big but I was curious how the sizing fit for you compared to street shoes.

Salomon’s quality & reliability is HORRIBLE.

The Salomon X Ultra 4 are distinctly average as a hiking shoe. Walk through a wet field and you'll wish you had saved your money. They're are advertised as waterproof which is laughable.