Salomon X Ultra 3 Men's Hiking Shoes

I'm writing this review after 1 month of constant use. I have been hiking in these puppies every other day for the last 4 weeks.I'm a returning Salomon customer, but up until now, I have been purchasing their trail running shoes. These are the first pair of Hiking shoes I get from Salomon. I have found there have many things in common.Pros:- FIT : They are true to size, just like any other Salomon shoe. The inner sleeve gives you a snug fit without feeling tight. If you have high arches it might be a problem but its only an assumption, it might not be a problem at all. Mine are not the wide model, but they provide ample room for your toes without giving you the feeling that they are floating in there.-WEAR: the terrain in west Texas can be brutal to sole compounds. the rocks are mostly jagged with sharp edges. After one month of hiking I have not seen any tears in the sole thread. the sole compound is harder yet very grippy.-TRACTION : Compared to my last Columbia shoes, the traction is far better in the Salomon. I have not yet used them in muddy conditions, but I expect them to shed mud well since the thread pattern is very similar to my other Salomon trail runners, and those shed mud like crazy.-COMFORT: no hot spots or blisters at all. Make sure you get the right size for you. the snug fit makes them awesome hiking shoes, the quick lace system and the inner sleeve ensure that your feet feel secure without the need to over-tighten your laces. The quick lace system its extremely dependable, it has never come undone in all my years using Salomon shoes and this time around its not the exception. These shoes do not have a rock plate nor they seem to need one, I can steel feel the terrain without getting hurt. In my opinion, the balance between protection/"feel the terrain" is just right. The protective toe cap its great, its even aesthetically pleasing. it gives great protection without feeling bulky or "in the way". I hike in the desert so there is no need for me to get the gore-tex version. I got the black ones and my feet do not overheat in them, ventilation is good. One other thing... these are NOT heavy shoes. For the amount of protection they provide you would think they must be heavy... they are not.Cons:-PRICE : Salomon shoes have never been cheap, but in my personal experience they are well worth the money you pay for them. So far I have never received a defective pair of shoes, but I'm aware that is a possibility by looking at other reviewers. At this point, I have not received a pair of shoes from Salomon with defects on them, so I associate Salomon with quality. If you are on a budget, the price might scare you away, but in my personal opinion, the Cost/Benefit ratio totally justifies the price. These are a great pair of shoes.Happy Trails!!!

I ordered this brand a half size smaller than my hiking boots I use for backpacking since I planned on wearing these with regular socks only rather than the sock liners with wool or smart wool socks I use when I do more intense hiking. The shoes still fit, although a little more snug than I expected. I probably could have gone with the same size as my hiking boots, but the snugness is not what I would call too tight, it is actually about as tight as I would probably want them to be if I were actually hiking, which would prevent friction blisters. Since these are hiking shoes, I am 100% okay with this. Something else of note is that they are snug enough I do not need to tighten the quick lace for everyday wear. If I were needing to run or going on an actual hike or through very rough terrain I would pull the quick lace tight for what I would call "sport mode" to prevent my feet from slipping out. Even though they are quite snug, they do not hurt my feet and without tightening the quick lace they hold my feet well enough I am not concerned about them flying off, while still allowing me to put my feet in and take them out of the shoes with ease. They will probably become my go-to day hiking shoes rather than putting on my much larger and robust Salomon boots that require a good deal of effort lacing and tying. The convenience of these shoes is just so convenient when paired with their durability, waterproofness, and excellent traction. One downside to their traction is that they were designed for more natural surfaces, so when I walk on my newly sealed driveway with wet soles or while the driveway is wet, the shoes do feel like they have much less traction and could cause me to slip if I am being too reckless.

Purchased these shoes 3-1/2 years ago and they have served well. I was looking for a shoe that was great all around and this is it. Ive been using these shoes for hiking, camping, working, and everyday wear. After 3 years of use it is now time to start looking at another pair. In the toe of the shoe the material is starting to split and while still wearable with winter coming it is time to retire them. Do not hesitate and get them, well worth the money spent.