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.
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 mid X ultra 3's are about the same age. I did approximately 525 miles on them over that period (mostly in very mild/ moderate terrain gravel grass mild snow rain) and I just ordered the 4 as the heels were falling apart. I bet there are better shoes to buy but I loved the fact I could wear them all year round and they were so comfortable while still offering me pretty good protection.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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 😅
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
