The Salomon X Ultra has been one of the world's best hiking shoes and lightweight hiking boots for more than a decade. I should know—I've personally owned eight or nine pairs since 2012 and literally have hiked thousands of miles in them while living in the U.S. and Australia.
But Salomon made things confusing a couple of years back by releasing multiple versions of the X Ultra. At last count, there are roughly 20 different versions! The most important ones for most hikers to know are Salomon X Ultra 5, X Ultra 360, and X Ultra 360 Edge. All three are available as a low-cut shoe and mid-cut boot.
Over the past four months, I've personally tested and reviewed each of these variants in either the low-cut, mid-cut, or both. My Salomon X Ultra Guide will help men and women understand the subtle differences across the X Ultra series, so you can choose the best Salomons for you.
Testing the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge in Embudito Canyon
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Salomon X Ultra Series
I've personally tested and reviewed the Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX, Salomon X Ultra 360, and Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge. Every one of them is good for day hiking and balances stabilty and agility better than most hiking footwear. That's Salomon's DNA. Still, Salomon built each of the X Ultras for slightly different uses.
Here's a quick Salomon glossary to understand where each shoe fits in the line:
For example, the Salomon X Ultra 360 GTX is made for "all around" (360 degree) use and has GORE-TEX (GTX) waterproofing), which makes it more expensive than the X Ultra 360 (which is not waterproof). Likewise, the Salomon X Ultra 360 CSWP costs less than the X Ultra 360 GTX because it uses cheaper ClimaSalomon waterproofing (CSWP) instead of premium GORE-TEX (GTX).
Testing the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX on New Mexico's Mt. Taylor (11.300ft)
Which Salomon X Ultra should YOU buy?
There's is a hierarchy of sorts within the Salomon X Ultra line up: the X Ultra 5 is slightly more performance-oriented than the X Ultra 360, which is slightly more performance-oriented than the X Ultra 360 Edge, which is more fashion-forward than its Salomon siblings.
But that doesn't mean you should necessarily buy the X Ultra 5. You should choose the shoe that's most suited for your hiking style:
Salomon Hiking Shoe Recommendations
1st Rated
SALOMON X ULTRA 5 GTX LOW
Best for Avid Hikers
The Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX Low is the latest version of Salomon's signature hiking shoe—and one of the best hiking shoes overall. I've personally hiked 10 bazillion miles in the X Ultra 5, 4, 3, 2 . . . For me, it's nearly the perfect hiking shoe. Light yet sturdy with oodles of traction. If you hike regularly or mostly hike more serious trails, this is the best Salomon hiking shoe. It's also the only X Ultra available in wide, so choose the X Ultra 5 in wide if you have wider feet.
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Men's Salomon X Ultra 5 Low GTX
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Women's Salomon X Ultra 5 Low GTX
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2nd Rated
SALOMON X ULTRA 360
Best for Occasional Hikers & Best Value
If you're more of an occasional hiker or someone who wears hiking shoes from the summit to the sidewalk, choose the Salomon X Ultra 360. It's still a good hiking shoe, but it's also has some comfort tweaks that make it better for "all around" wear. In my opinion, this is the best hiking shoe on a budget in 2026. It costs $15 less than the X Ultra 5 and is similar to the old X Ultra 3—which was many Salomon fans' favorite version of the X Ultra.
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Men's Salomon X Ultra 360 Low
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Women's Salomon X Ultra 360 Low
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#3rd Rated
#3rd Rated
SALOMON X ULTRA 360 EDGE
Best X Ultra for the City
The X Ultra 360 Edge features fresher colorways and a more sportstyle vibe that's catching on in many cities around the world. It's the best X Ultra to buy if you want to blend athletic performance with some fashion for light hiking and everyday wear. This shoe's build is slightly lighter than the regular X Ultra 360, but it's still a capable hiking shoe. It often appeals to younger hikers.
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Men's Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge
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Women's Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge
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Testing the Salomon X Ultra 360 Leather in Fall, 2025
Guide to Salomon X Ultra Hiking Boots
#1st Rated
SALOMON X ULTRA 5 MID GTX
Best Lightweight Hiking Boot
The Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX is on the short list of the best lightweight hiking boots in the world. If you hike a lot, THIS is the original X Ultra that serious hikers have been buying for years. I sold more of these thany any other hiking boot when I managed footwear at Appalachian Outdoors. If you have wide feet, this is the one version of the X Ultra that's available in a wide size.
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Men's Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX
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Women's Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX
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#2nd Rated
SALOMON X ULTRA 360 MID GTX
Best Value, Best for Trail to Town
This is the "all around" version of Salomon's best lightweight hiking boot. What does that mean? It's a good hiking boot—mixing stability and agility—with better comfort for more all around use. Plus, it's less expensive than the flagship, X Ultra 5. If you're wondering if this is a good buy, yes, it is. It's not much different from the OG (in fact, I like its aggressive tread better than the X Ultra 5!) and costs $20 less.
Men's Salomon X Ultra 360 Mid
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Women's Salomon X Ultra 360 Mid
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#3rd Rated
SALOMON X ULTRA EDGE MID GTX
Fresher-Looking Hiking Boot
If Salomon's traditional colors look stale or dated for you, the X Ultra 360 Edge has a younger palette. Plus, it blends athletic performance with a more urban look. It's better for light hiking but still a capable hiking boot, in my book. I've recommended the Salomon X Ultra Edge to my friends looking for a good hiking boot for their high school or college age kids.
Men's Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mid
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Women's Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mid
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Testing the Salomon X Ultra 360 Mid GTX hiking boot in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe
Salomon X Ultra 5 vs X Ultra 360 vs X Ultra 360 Edge
ALL of the Salomon X Ultras strike a good balance between support and weight savings. But these tips will help you find the best X Ultra for YOU:
- If you hike regularly and tackle some moderate to difficult trails, start with the Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX.
- If you're an occassional hiker or someone who wears hiking footwear from the peak to the pub, start with the Salomon X Ultra 360 for more all-around use.
- For younger hikers or those who want a more fashion-forward vibe for the city, start with the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge. It's still a good hiking shoe but less technical and more stylish than the above.
- For hikers who are more concerned about price, feel confident pulling the trigger on the X Ultra 360 or X Ultra 360 Edge. You can save $20+ without a big drop in performance (compared to the X Ultra 5).
- If you have wide feet, the Salomon X Ultra 5 is the only one available in a wide size.
- Variants without a "GTX" in their name are NOT waterproof (which is why they're $20 cheaper). Choose a GTX model (or cheaper, less performance-oriented CSWP model) if you want a waterproof X Ultra.
Testing the old X Ultra 4 GTX hiking shoe in Pennsylvania
Thanks for Supporting Hiking Feet
I hope this guide to Salomon's X Ultra Series has helped you understand the similarities and differences between the X Ultra 5, X Ultra 360, and X Ultra 360 Edge. That way, you'll feel confident buying whichever model makes the most sense for your hiking style and personal preferences.
If this post helped you decide which variant to buy, I'd appreciate you using the links (buttons) in this post to purchase your pair. That doesn't cost you anything, but the vendor (REI, Backcountry, Salomon) may send a few dollars my way. Those small commissions are what keep this site alive.
Thanks for supporting Hiking Feet's free and independent content.
