Salomon hiking boots and shoes really stand out. By my count, the brand not only makes the world's best backpacking boot, but also one of the best lightweight hiking boots, one of the best hiking shoes, and three of the best trail running shoes for hiking. It's the rare brand that's good across the board. Still, that doesn't mean that Salomon will fit your feet or your hiking style. Plus, with so many strong options for hikers, it's not easy picking the best Salomon hiking boots and shoes for you.
That's why I wrote this Salomon brand review for hikers. I've personally hiked thousands of miles in Salomons and sold more of their boots and shoes than any other brand. My brand review gives you the scoop on the brand's best features and recommendations for the best Salomon hiking boots, hiking shoes, and trail runners for hikers.
Backpacking the Grand Canyon in Salomon hiking boots
Salomon Brand Review
Salomon was founded in the French Alps in 1947. The brand first made its mark in the ski industry before establishing itself as an innovator in hiking footwear, too. It's a leading European brand that's now part of Amer Sports— an international sporting goods company (based in Ogden, Utah) that specializes in premium outdoor brands.
What's so good about Salomon hiking boots and shoes?
Salomon is smart about giving hikers just enough support—and no more. And just enough cushioning—and no more. It's that special mix of weight savings and support that makes Salomon hiking boots and shoes so special.
But that's just the first of many Salomon selling points:
Lightweight support
Salomon hiking boots and shoes generally provide better support at lighter weights than other brands. Hikers usually need to choose lightweight OR supportive footwear. The best Salomon hiking boots and shoes are BOTH lightweight AND supportive, thanks to Salomon' light but supportive chassis.
Traction
Salomons generally have deep lugs for great traction on mud, snow, scree, and gravel. They're particularly good on steep trails, thanks to aggressive climbing lugs up front and braking lugs in the heel. That means Salomons work for many hikers, from the average day hiker to hikers who prefer moderate to difficult trails.
High Quality
Salomon is known for its build quality and high quality materials. Their brand's Contragrip outsoles stand out for their traction while their Sensfit uppers cup around your feet to cradle them snugly yet comfortably. They use GORE-TEX, which remains the industry standard for waterproof-breathable membranes. Hikers can trust Salomon's quality and know that their boots/shoes will be worth the price.
The key to buying your best brand is to pick the one that best fits your feet and your hikes. Salomons generally favor hikers with slightly narrow (standard size) to moderately wide feet (wide sizes). With a couple exceptions, they mostly have moderate cushioning and moderately stiff feels. Thanks to their special mix of support and weight savings, Salomons work for more kinds of hiking than most brands—from fast hikers with light packs to the average day hiker and weekend warrior to serious hikers and backpackers who mostly hike moderate to difficult terrain.
best Salomon hiking boots
Backpacking Tasmania's Overland Track in Salomon Quest backpacking boots
Salomon Quest 4
Best Salomon Backpacking Boot
Main Benefits:
The Salomon Quest is an iconic backpacking boot that's dominated award lists in backpacking magazines and outdoor gear sites for years. The Quest is built on a chassis that feels like a trail running shoe, but it nearly matches the stability and support of much heavier backpacking boots. In other words, it's a ton of boot that doesn't weigh a ton. This boot also features excellent ankle protection, waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX, a locking shoelace system, and versatile outsoles for traction that works on most trails. With its moderate weight and athletic chassis, you technically could day hike in the Salomon Quest 4; however, it's a much better match for backpacking or gnarly, off trail hiking. I've worn this hiking boot to hike the Grand Canyon and several of Australia's signature hiking trails.
best fit
standard feet (not as narrow in the toes as most Salomons)
best match
backpackers,
off-trail hikers
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Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid
Lightweight Salomon Hiking Boot
Main Benefits:
The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid nearly matches the stability and support of many mid-weight hiking boots, but it doesn’t weigh much more than a trail-running shoe. That lightweight support makes it one of the most versatile hiking boots around. The X Ultra 4 doesn't have burly ankle collars. However, it does have stiff and supportive soles, good torsional rigidity (for some ankle support), aggressive traction for steeper trails, and waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX for wet trails and iffy weather. More than anything, though, it's the exceptional weight to performance that makes the X Ultra 4 stand out as one of the best hiking boots. It's a good, all-around hiking boot for day hiking, fastpacking, and backpacking with a lighter pack. When I worked in outdoor specialty retail, I sold more Salomon X Ultras than any other hiking boot.
best fit
standard to slightly narrow feet, available in wide
best match
day hikers,
lightweight backpackers
best Salomon hiking shoes
Day hiking Goblin Valley (Utah) in Salomon X Ultra hiking shoes
Salomon is a good brand for hiking shoes that pack plenty of support into a relatively lightweight package with excellent trail traction, too. Salomon's best hiking shoe is the X Ultra 4 Low, and the XA Pro trail running shoe is a perennial best seller for hikers. However, two new trail runners—the Salomon Ultra Glide 2 and Salomon Thundercross—provide hikers with ultralight alternatives with more cushioning and roomier fits than Salomon's long-time best-sellers.
Here's how to chose the best Salomon hiking shoes for you:
Salomon X Ultra 4 Low
Best Salomon Hiking Shoe
Main Benefits:
The low-cut X Ultra 4 is the latest version of Salomon’s signature hiking shoe. The X Ultra 4 Low is even lighter than the mid-cut (above) with much better support and durability than trail running shoes that weigh just a couple ounces less. This premium hiking shoe crushes the weight-to-performance of popular hiking shoes, such as the Merrell Moab and KEEN Targhee. It also matches or beats most hiking shoes in support, torsional rigidity, waterproofing, traction, and durability—even though it weighs less than two pounds per pair. My pair performed well for about 500 miles. If you're looking for a hiking shoe that cuts weight without losing support, there's a good chance the X Ultra 4 is the best hiking shoe for you.
best fit
standard to slightly narrow feet, available in wide
best match
average day hikers, serious hikers, travelers
Salomon XA Pro
Best Traditional Trail Running Shoe
Main Benefits:
Salomon's XA Pro is the brand's traditional trail running shoe for hikers. The XA Pro is a moderately stiff and supportive shoe that's stacked with sturdy soles, optional GORE-TEX waterproofing, and a Quicklace system that I like (but it's not for everybody). This shoe runs heavier than most trail runners, but that means it can handle harder terrain and heavier packs than most trail running shoes, too. Plus, as a trail runner, it's still lighter than a true hiking shoe. This iconic trail running shoe has been one of Salomon's best sellers since it debuted in 2005. I've personally owned several pairs for travel, urban hikes, and trail-to-town use.
best fit
standard to slightly narrow feet, wides available (men)
best match
day hikers, hikers who prefer more support to less weight
Salomon Ultra Glide 2
Ultralight Trail Runner for Hikers
Main Benefits:
If you're looking for an ultralight trail runner with maximum cushioning, the relatively new Salomon Ultra Glide 2 is the best Salomon trail running shoe for your hiking style. Much like the Hoka Speedgoat, the Salomon Ultra Glide features a thick stack of lightweight foam to cushion feet on long runs or hikes. It also weighs 5-6 ounces less than the Salomon XA Pro (per pair) for hikers who are focused on weight savings. I wear mine to run and hike the desert wash behind my house. The Ultra Glide 2 has a roomier fit than most Salomons to give toes some extra wiggle room, and it's also available in wide sizes. Lightweight with lots of cushioning, the Ultra Glide 2 is a good trail-running shoe for fast-and-light hikers, thru-hikers, max cushion fans, casual hikers, and day hikers.
best fit
standard to wide feet, also available in wide
best match
long-distance hikers, fast hikers, casual hikers
Salomon Thundercross
All-Around Trail Runner for Hikers
Main Benefits:
Brand new for fall, 2023, the Salomon Thundercross may be the best Salomon trail runner yet. Kind of a cross between the Salomon Speedcross and Ultra Glide (above), this shoe is exceptionally lightweight with oodles of cushioning and more support than most trail runners (including the Ultra Glide). It may be in a class all by itself by somehow providing so much cushioning and support at such a light weight. The Thundercross offers a softer ride and roomier fit in the toe box than most Salomons and is available in waterproof-breathable GORE-TEX. Lightweight yet sturdy, cushy yet tough, the Thundercross seems destined to become another Salomon best-seller—and one of the best trail runners for hikers. This is probably my personal favorite trail running shoe for my feet and my hiking style.
best fit
standard to wide feet
best match
fast-and-light hikers,
day hikers
Are Salomon hiking boots and shoes for YOU?
Salomon is one of the best brands for hiking footwear. However, Salomons may or may not fit your feet, and they may or may not match your hiking style. That's why hikers and backpackers should weigh Salomon's pros and cons before buying a pair of Salomon hiking boots, hiking shoes, or trail running shoes:
Overall recommendation:
My official position on Hiking Feet is that there is no such thing as "the best brand"— because your best brand depends on what fits you best and what best matches your hiking style. That being said, if forced to vote for the best overall brand for hiking boots and hiking shoes, I'd probably pick Salomon. Hikers generally need to choose either lightweight OR supportive footwear. With Salomon, you can get lightweight AND supportive hiking boots and shoes. That suits many styles of hiking. They also fit a wide range of feet now that Salomon offers their best-sellers in wide sizes, too.
That's why outdoor industry pros can recommend Salomon to a wide range of hikers. Personally, I've sold more Salomon hiking boots and shoes than any other brand—and often recommend them to friends and family members who hike.
Buying Salomon hiking boots and shoes
Thanks for checking out my Salomon brand review and pro picks for the best Salomon hiking boots and shoes.
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If Salomon doesn't seem like your best match, no problem. No brand works for everybody. Feel free to check out my other brand recommendations and my other brand reviews. You can also scroll down the Hiking Feet homepage for curated lists of the best hiking boots, best hiking shoes, and best trail running shoes for hiking. There's a good chance that you'll find your next hiking boot or hiking shoe at hikingfeet.com.
