Many of us have waited years for the new Salomon X Ultra 5—and it's finally here in 2025. X Ultras and I go way back. I've not only hiked more than 1000 miles in previous X Ultras, including the X Ultra 3 and X Ultra 4, but also sold more X Ultras than any other hiking boot when I was Backcountry Gearhead and footwear manager at Appalachian Outdoors. So I was stoked to pick up the 2025 update to one of the world's best hiking boots to test and review over a series of day hikes in New Mexico. My early Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid review gives you what you want to know about this 2025 update: What's new? Did Salomon address small gripes about the old X Ultra 4? Is the X Ultra 5 one of the best hiking boots for 2025?
Testing the new Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX at Mt. Taylor (New Mexico)
Salomon X Ultra 5 vs. X Ultra 4
New for 2025, the Salomon X Ultra 5 includes several updates compared with the X Ultra 4, including
- cushier ankle collars (+ more ankle coverage in the men's mid)
- new synthetic uppers with a nylon-Kevlar blend called Matryx
- new PFC-free GORE-TEX ePE waterproofing
- modified tread pattern for better multi-terrain traction
- more reycled materials to reduce environmental impact
- small aesthetic changes
Salomon clearly listened to customers' occasional complaints about the X Ultra 4 (which received some mixed reviews when it was released in 2021). The brand went back to a more traditional ankle collar and tweaked its traction, presumably to be better on rocks. At the same time, the X Ultra 5 is still an X Ultra. That is, a lightweight yet supportive hiking boot that sits at, or near the top of the list of the best hiking boots.
Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid Review
My Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX Review is based on a series of diverse test hikes that I hand-picked to evaluate my boots' support, weight, fit, comfort, weather protection, and traction. I broke them in on a speed hike around Bear Canyon Arroyo, took them into alpine conditions on 11,300 foot Mt Taylor, strolled casually around Petroglyph National Monument, and taxed their traction and support on steep and scrambly routes up and down Embudito Canyon outside Albuquerque. I'll continue to update this post as I log more miles in my X Ultra 5s. As always, my reviews are 100% independent and based on my personal hiking experience and my professional experience in the outdoor gear industry.
Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid test hike at Embudito Canyon
Support
The X Ultra 5 doesn't have the best ankle support, but it's surprisingly supportive for a lightweight hiking boot. This boot's ankle collars aren't tall enough or rigid enough for lock-down ankle protection. However, Salomon's secret sauce is a stiff plastic chassis that runs down both sides of the boot for 3/4 of its length. This adds lateral stability, making it tougher to turn an ankle on rocks, roots, or pebbles. Plus, it provides excellent support through the midfoot while letting your feet flex naturally at your toes.
My feet and ankles felt confident when I scaled 11,300-ft Mt Taylor and navigated sketchy footing in Embudito Canyon. And, of course, I've hiked well over 1,000 miles in X Ultras over 12+ years without any foot or ankle injuries.
Weight
https://hikingfeet.com/topo-trailventure-2-review/The Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX meets my definition of a lightweight hiking boot. It weighs around 2 pounds for men and 1 lb 12 oz for women. The typical, mid-weight hiking boot averages between 2.5 and 3 pounds. My men's 12 wide weighed 2 lbs 2 ounces on my kitchen scale. That's 10-12 ounces less than typical hiking boots in my (large) size. This boot really stands out for providing adequate support at a lighter weight than most hiking boots.
Women's Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX for 2025
Fit
The X Ultra 5 is a good fit for standard-sized feet and also available in wide fits. It has a classic Salomon fit. It's snug in the heel (to prevent slippage) with average width in the forefoot. Most people should order this boot a half-size larger than their everyday shoe size to get adequate clearance in the toes. Thanks to its snug heel cup and toe box, the X Ultra 5 may work for men and women with narrower feet. Its wide size isn't super wide but works for me. My everyday shoe size is a 11.5, and the size 12 wide fit my moderately wide feet well. Hikers really wide feet might try ordering the wide and sizing up a full size (or check out the Topo Trailventure 2, with its wide toe box).
Comfort
Comfort has a lot to do with fit and with matching your footwear to your hiking style. This boot fits a wide range of feet and a variety of hiking styles, too. The Salomon X Ultra 5 has moderate cushioning—just enough to keep you comfortable without adding too much weight. In my experience, the snug, performance fit prevents feet from slipping around, which reduces hot spots and blisters.
That being said, this is more of a performance hiking boot than a casual hiking boot. As the former footwear manager at an outdoor gear shop, I know that less experienced hikers and casual hikes sometimes find X Ultras too stiff for their taste. After hiking several trails in the X Ultra 5, I have no comfort complaints, whatsoever. But I don't crave this boot's feel, either. I often add Superfeet insoles to X Ultras to get a little more cushion and support under my (flat) feet. Overall, I'd rate this boot's comfort as average.
Weather Protection
So far, my test hikes have only included some light precipitation in the Sandia Mountains and a few snow fields at Mt Taylor. My feet stayed dry, as expected, thanks to the X Ultra 5's GORE-TEX waterproofing. New for this season, the X Ultra 5 GTX features the new PFC-free GORE-TEX ePE, which is not as hard on the environment (and complies with several state's PFAS restrictions). In my experience, GORE-TEX is more durable and breathable than most waterproof membranes, so this is another plus for the new X Ultra 5 GTX.
Traction
For the most part, traction is another plus for the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid. In the past, this boot's traction has excelled on steep trails with mud or gravel but struggled on solid rock. For 2025, Salomon has tweaked the tread. It's slightly less aggressive than the X Ultra 4's lug pattern for better multi-terrain traction. My favorite feature of this outsole is its deep heel brake, which helped me dig into mud and scree on steep descents during my test hikes.
My New Mexico test hikes included almost every terrain a hiker will encounter: mud, sand, gravel, scree, snow, boulders, weathered granite, and solid rock. On my Mt Taylor hike, the X Ultra 5 handled pine needles, scree, rock, and snow well. Like all hiking boots, it struggled on short sections of solid ice. At Embudito canyon, the tread crushed gravel, mud, and rough rock but struggled on smooth rock boulders—much like the old tread. I slipped (without falling) on several boulders as I scrambled down the deep desert wash. If you mostly hike solid rock, I'd choose another lightweight hiking boot, such as the mid-cut Scarpa Rush 2 or HOKA Anacapa 2. If you mostly hike mixed terrain or steep trails with mud, sand, or scree, the X Ultra 5's traction should come up clutch.
Value
With a MSRP of $180, the new Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX is an excellent value. Most of the best hiking boots now start around $200. This one costs less while providing an outstanding weight : support ratio and premium traction and waterproofing. If the X Ultra 5 fits your feet and matches your hiking style, it's an outstanding value.
Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid: Pros vs Cons
New for 2025, the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX has similar pros and cons to the old X Ultra 4—which Hiking Feet rated as one of the best hiking boots:
Should you buy the new Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid?
The Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid is a good buy for men and women who want a lightweight hiking boot with enough support, weather protection, and traction for tougher trails. This is a versatile hiking boot that matches most hiking styles. However, it really struts its stuff on steep trails with soft or loose sediment. If you're looking for the best ankle support or an extra-cushy ride, you may want to browse my other hiking boot reviews. But there's a reason I've hiked more than 1,000 miles in X Ultras and sold more X Ultras than any other hiking boot when I worked at Backcountry and Appalachian Outdoors. The new Salomon X Ultra 5 addressed my minor concerns about the old X Ultra 4. After this early review, it sits near the top of my list for the best hiking boots of 2025.
