Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX vs Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX (Did the BEST Hiking Boots Get Even Better?) 

Fantastic review. I love 2 boot reviews vs each other. I've had 2 pairs of the the 3's. Absolutely brilliant for what they are designed to do. Not easy now to source because they brought out the 4's. This review goes into the depth of information that is very helpful. It's what I do when researching about tech and outdoor gear. There is nothing about the 4's unless I was running that would make me change from the 3's. Thank you. Now to find the 3's I'll buy 2 pairs which will last me 4 years.

Was very useful. Thank you for the comprehensive review.

10 months old, wore everyday, bought another pair today!!

freaking amazingly thorough review! I love how you broke down the waterproof and traction designs and performance. I've been comparing the 3 & 4 on trails, and I gotta say that I'm sticking with the Ultra 3

very descriptive review and professional, got +1 sub!

Great review. Thanks. Bought the 4. I have wide feet so the extra space in the toebox is great. No more sore toes.

favourite gear youtuber! Fantastic video!

Thanks for taking the time reviewing this two, unfortunately here in the U.K. there has been reported that the X Ultra 4 is not as reliable as the previous one in terms of quality, many sent them back for that reason and another important think worth pointing out is the firmness of the soles, are ridiculously soft and mind you Salomon rate these, “suitable for technical trail”, hiking on scree hurts and if you have a 65L backpack surely one would turn back. I am surprised you didn’t mention anything about that, I might have missed it though. Regards, Florin

I bought both to try out and returned 4 GTX through Decathlon( so 3 wins in my personal review). Cost had nothing to do in this case. I have flat feet and twists my ankle often. My respect for 2019 technology has gone high towards the end of 2021 :D. It was pretty simple for me. Ultra 3 Mid GTX fits well and seems very agile and I immediately fell in love! I wanted to use it for all outdoor occasions even when it is not much of a hike. While 4 X seems a bit rigid and you may use it only for good hikes. 4 x has the ankle protection which lets your toes off the tip(so you get extra space there) so I had to use 41 size when my actual size is 42. Ultra 3 Mid GTX is soft and has cushioning feel but you will feel every stones or bumps you come across. While 4 is not so soft and because of that you will not feel the stones. I still decided to use 3 because from my experience we only walk through 'feelable' stones 20% of our journey. And it is not that the stone hurts you , you just feel it. I had problems with twisted ankle and 4 gives amazing protection and it is not possible for your ankle to twist. I tried purposefully twisting and it locks your foot. 3 gives 40% less protection for twisting but it still gives some protection. When I tried, my ankle twists more than 4 but still protected from complete twist. Also 3 is more grounded hence the chance of twist is less where as in 4 your heel is a bit high. So I was okay with 3. Again if you want ankle protection then your shoe lace need to be tighter which makes walking a bit difficult for both shoes. The more difficult in this case would be 4 as it has higher ankles. About winter protection, when the weather was 2 degrees celsius, I biked with Ultra 3 Mid GTX for a photograhy shoot. I had to stand with out moving for an hour and it started freezing. But after I biked back for 15 mins, I felt better. I think if we keep moving then it could stand the cold (0 degree Celsius) for 2-3 hours. Also depends on the socks you use( I used a thin cotton summer socks) and how tight the boots are(so that the air does not seep in). A gamaschen could also keep the boot warm. Locking of shoe lace is the only feature I miss in Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX. My right feet was tight while left leg was super fit in the beginning. But after wearing for two days both feet is comfortable now for 3. I am happy for this 2019 product! 3 X has amazing grip down the hill and up the hill . I did not try 4 GTX on a hill but grip would not be a problem for both these boots. In short, I think it is cushioning and the perfect fit that made me buy this wonderful 'Made in India:Ultra 3 Mid GTX' in October 2021.

i love and use the 3 as mid and as wide model, like the technical specs like you have explained also. better than the 4 but little more weight... i am totally happy with 3 and in bad conditions i never lost traction with it...

Thanks. Helped me make my decision to by the Version 3. I liked the looks of it better anyway. I think the 4 may have the changes to lower costs.

I've just been looking through your videos, how do you only have this many subscribers? Reviews are excellent! (Subbed) The greater flexibility in the 4 makes me wonder if it would affect stability on uneven terrain... that coupled with the lighter weight makes me think they'd be quieter. About going up a half-size for less fatigue, someone once told me that half sizes indicated slightly more WIDTH, unsure if that would apply to the Salomons though.

Nice review thanks bro 🤙

Very useful review.. thanks

I got the 3 on sale. Such an amazing piece of kit

The reason why you felt like the 4 was more spacious is because you got the wide fit version. The standard fit is all black and the grey is at different areas.

Great review! Would you consider doing a review on the lalo rapid assult boots?

Dude the best video I ever seen on shoe review! I went w/the 4's thanks!

While I like the weight savings and flex of the 4, I still prefer the 3. I think the compromise of build quality and protection is not worth the weight savings. 4 might be better looking but the build looks flimsier, look when he flexes the heel of the shoe @6:45 and the indentation that is left behind after. My 3's are still going strong 2 years now. Probably wait to see what the 5's look like.

Ordered the 4 last week and they should be here tomorrow. I ended up going with the 4 just because it’s newer and I personally like a bit more spacious feel. And the biggest factor was that it was priced the same as the 3, so I just went with the 4. Excited to test them out on some mountain hiking trails at the end of the month.

Very good review ! I think I'm gonna take the 4, because it's lighter and looks more flexible than the 3, and I prefer the look of the 4 😁. I think I will try it in a shop this week. Thank you for your review !

awesome reviews, as always!.. can you do the X ultra 3 GTX vs the X ultra 3 PRIME GTX?

I just buy an ultra 3 gtx ,will see how it's works for me. Nice revew as always. 👌

Nice review. What were your top picks for 2020 and 2021? Did Quest 4D GTX ever make #1? The Quest 4D GTX seems to be the all around “ultimate survival boot.” Lightweight enough for running if needed,super tough, Gore-Tex ,very functional in hot weather and with the right socks,very good in cold weather too but not extreme cold weather. What do you think?

3s are on sale at REI right now for 122.95. Just grabbed a pair, really like them so far.

I absolutely love the 3s the best boot I've ever owned I don't think I'm going to take a chance with the 4 and I'm just going to stick with what I know

I have the shoe version of the X3 and have done 100s of miles with it, I am very happy with them I have just bought the Mid X3, before I saw your video! Based on your comments I now feel I made the right decision Thanks!

I have been a huge fan of the 3 (low cut....best light hiking shoe I have ever owned). My solution to the tightness/less volume: I use superfeet carbon insole!

Thanks for the review! Very helpful! My apologies if this question is rude, but I love your accent - where are you from?

My X Uktra 3s mid gtxs, Ive been through two pairs over the years. Many jumps out of planes, a lot of patrols, and many hunts, blah blah fell apart after 1.5 years. My second set is maybe 14-16 months old and I just had to shoegoo them back together! Still my fav until maybe I try these Salewas

Thank you

Awesome video. Your videos have been recommending mine. I do reviews on some shoes and boots. Wish I had mor money to do mor reviews.

Toe box is wider In x4 but grip wasn’t nearly as good as the 3. I’ve recently gone back to the 3. Most of the new Salomons shrink length wise. It’s almost as if the rubber outsole is shrinking. Been having to go a half size or even an entire size up due to this. It has happened with both x3 and x4 in the mids ANd the lows! Be aware of that.

...or maybe some kind of waterproof test? Interesting comparison of the two models. Best regards from Poland 🇵🇱👍😉

Very good review, 👍💪🏻 from indonesia 🇮🇩🇮🇩🇮🇩🇮🇩

Im from europe and found an outlet store throwing the 3 out of the windows at 30 to 50% reductions so thanks to your review that became a no brainer to me. ordered it for 90€ ( while 4 is in euros also 160)

I had 3 and bought 4 for replacement and tried it for 1 day. It felt so cheep, narrow fit on front, and not comfortable. I return it back next day and will get another 3 if i can find one.

Ok I bring it out here. Because I am a humunges Hanwag fan. Is there a possibility for you to do a B2B test to Salomon Vs Hanwag because I have to buy a new pair of shoes 😊

Excellent review as always! In most of your reviews you always recommend going up half a size. And that has been great for any shoe i have bought since watching your reviews. Do you recommend going up a half size on either of these versions? Or just get your Normal size? Thanks!

The third are the best for trekking and survive

Thanks for the review. I just bought the x3 mid of Amazon for $107 Australian(80us) prime sale! I am so excited for the post tomorrow, like a boy receiving new shoes, and I am 50!

I tried the 3 and the tongue felt uncomfortable any I could feel pressure on top of my foot. Will the 4 be any better? I noticed the Salomon winter lined boots feel much more comfortable to me. I found the X ultra mid winter WP v1 the best so far

which one more comfortable for long walking ? salomon ultra x4 or adidas terrex swift R3 ?

Good video

Speed laces are dangerous also..thats why they arent used on military boots

The design updates seem to be the perfect blend of the Outline and the Ultra 3. Lighter, more flexible, thinner upper (like outline), lacing system. Seems like the perfect boot.

How do you make it better? Use thick stitches instead of glue.

I wear a 11.5 to a 12 and wide. Which one would you recommend. Also, i will be moving to Hawaii and doing alot of Hiking and much of that will be in wet areas

Are the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX good for winter weather? snow and max -15 degrees Celsius

The voice cracks me up. 😅😅😅

Both these shoes comfortable for everyday city life?

It seems overall that the 3 gets better reviews than the 4. I do love my 3's and haven't tried the 4's yet and maybe never well?

Do they make this in a wide ? I unfortunately bought the ultra x low off ebay and they are way too narrow..size is 12 and the length is good but too narrow

is there a rock plate in the ultra 4 sole like there was in the ultra 3? Very important

the shoes are good for 4 seasons? in th summer as well?

Vasque breeze LT mid gtx or Salomon x ultra 4 mid gtx?

I was going to get a pair of these for a couple of months in Europe around Christmas for mainly cities, a little light hiking and a week in Norway doing Northern lights activities and some guided dog sledding, but then I got to the part where you said they're not really winter boots :/ would you have any better suggestions instead as a good winter all rounder please?

I got the 3s coming in from Amazon any day now. I've been reading a lot about the 3s being made either in Vietnam or India. Which ones do you have and which versions are better made if you have any info on this?

Do the 3s run small?

Would be nice to include side flexibility, ankle support, and where they were made at. From what I have seen in this review, 3 is a much better boot for longer hikes. The newer model looks like something that came from payless shoes. I would not call 4, the newer model, a hiking boot but rather a casual sneaker. More flexibility and less padding means you will feel every single rock you step on. I have owned several Salomon hiking boots, the quality seems to be deteriorating every year.

They need a stronger flatter bottom sole like Salewas

Dude i agree with a lot of your stuff its nice but saying the grooving gives better grip on flat shiny surfaces is just completely wrong. There is no connection there at all. The active support lace eyelet can't be a tripping hazard as you will have tied your laces and they will be stuck to the shoe's shape.

Thank you for the great video.. Oh ,and yes... The wrong person is in office and that's why I'm leaving...👍

Honestly said a lot of blabla, not mentioned the *cheap feeling* of version 3 (I only own these), not mentioned that horrible PLOPP noise on every roll off. I m not sure where it comes from? Maybe from the midsole. Maybe only a problem with mine - although I know this problem from other shoes like the Haix army boots. They are too hot in summer as well, but thats a problem with most of these GTX versions. Traction is on the better side. Also you have to go an entire size up. Will go back to Hanwag or Meindl. Wanna get rid of them.

Yo compré la MID 3 y me he metido por donde sea

4s look better and love the grip

Have you ever used barefoot hiking shoes?

HOLD UP MY MAN GOT EM DUNUNUNUNU BAD TO THE BONE

🔥🤙

Once a merrell, always a merrell!!

I have had the X Ultra 2, 3 and 4 (all are the low version). My personal opinion is each upgrade sacrificed some comfort for other features that I couldn't tell directly. I really hate the X Ultra 4 since its surface is the hardest and the least comfortable compared to 2 and 3. I had a trek on a rocky trail with 4 and one severe blister on my right foot palm occurred after just about 10 kilometers, which I had not had with the 2 and 3. I love the 2 so much but Salomon seems not to reproduce such a comfortable version and its comfort anymore. What a pity!

The 4s are sold out everywhere

3's all the way. 4's are more of a city boot. That's about it.

Purchased on rei because I don't support Amazon sorry

the weight will come out the mid sole and the 4 won't have the same strength compared to the 3.

Sportiva stream GTX or Salomon ultra 4?

Or... The president you don't like won the election, and now you have to leave. 😂 I like this guy. ok I'm subscribed.

China bought Salomon in 2019. Since then "weight" savings i.e. less expensive material is in the shoe, the build quality is messy and asymmetrical, and the design is less adventure and more "i'm walking on the moon in an urbanite environment while pretending to hike."

I disagree that Salomon Ultra 4 Mid GTX is comfortable. I've been wearing the 3 for a while before I switched to the new 4. Big disappointment. Cushioning and protection in the front-foot is non-existent - you feel every stone, even on small hikes the foot hurts, a better insole didn't resolve this - maybe the issue is present in the mid-sole as well, how much would it cost for them to add the gel as in the 3 really?! Padding on the heel is not present in the 4 and I get bruises, with thick socks it's reduced to slight pain. Padding around the ankle is so thin that when I try to tie my laces tight the metal lace hook goes into my ankle and I am forced to loosen the laces. Definitely not recommended to wear these over 3.

Also Salomkns are too flat on the toes they rub often also above the toes

I have big toes so the roomier and lighter ultra 4 was a clear winner for me.

I tried on the X ultra 4 13 wide width, and was not impressed. I did try on the x ultra 3 a while back, but it was the medium fit. I ordered those (3s) in 13 wide. Just looking at the two, the 3 seems to really stand out more as far as overall fit and comfort

The X Ultra 3 is a comfortable boot, one big problem I have with this boot is the sole wears out quickly and cannot be resoled. my 2019 purchase lasted two years, the heel is worn into the next layer. The newest which I purchased one year ago is already worn down in the heel. I wish they would make to soles more durable. This is a throw away boot and the sole should last longer.

Actually flexibility on bottom sole is not a good feature ....the bottom solenisnt suppose to just flex like I'm bare foot..thats ridiculous...you want support that helps spring your foot forward...sloppy bottom soles AR are bad for your feet and don't assist you like a strong bottom sole...thats why ayetes tape their feet and shoes etc..ice skates to make them stronger...not sloppy and more flexible......if I just wanted flex I would ho barefoot..I want support not week toes flexibility

Borat doing walking boot reviews lol.

Affff, you didn't make it any easier! :,) I hate that the answer is always 'depends what you prefer' :,)

Cesar 🥾

🥾

all plastic. As well as 80% of winter boots. The foot does not breathe, the shoes will inevitably stink. In addition to the plastic boots, the sole cannot be redone. When it is consumed you have to throw everything away. The real boots are the ones where you can replace the sole. Those of leather sewn.

❤️🇮🇱❤️

Review is 4/10 for me.. You must look at things from an engineering point of view more. As an engineer I must notice, these two cannot get in the same box.. By large margin 3s are better!!!!!!!!! Significantly less material used on the sole of 4s (surface contact area), worse heal support.. I mean, I still have my X-Ultra 2 low. Bought those in 2017., wear those almost every day and I would give 300eur if I could find new ones again.. To compare 4s with 3s is like comparing VW Golf 7 quality to VW Golf 5. Like comparing 1.8L naturally aspirated engine reliability/longevity to 1.0TSI engine .. It is obvious Salomon's engineering (like almost everything else these days) goes in direction of less material used, cheaper production, making you buy more often.. The fact the price is the same is a robbery my friend.. If 4s are 50 eur cheaper, maaaaaaybe it would make sense to buy over 3s.

All of Salomon's footwear has gotten peogressively worse, lower quality, and less durable. The X Ultra 4 mid is no exception. I'm done buying Salomon, I've tried several times since the X Ultra 3 and they fall apart faster and faster.

Hey man just some feedback. Get to the point more. This is first review video ive watched of yours and you did a great job but just spent a lot of time before getting to the point which led me wanting to not continue watching

I just got the Salomon x ultra 04 They become most uncomfotrable every step I take with them. I would not sugest this company at All. They wont change them .. they are brand new. Worn them for 10 minutes in my house. They are not good. Period

My god you ramble on, just get to it man.

poor quality.

Cesar 🥾