Comments on: Gear review: Salomon X Ultra 3 Hiking Shoes

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 16:09:37 +0000

In reply to PaulW. They fit very well. Going into the Canadian outfitters, my concerns were for a narrow fit. The Salomon *running* shoes felt too tight. The shoes aimed at hiking felt great. Makes me wonder if shoes marketed for running have more narrow toe boxes overall.

By: PaulW

PaulW — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 16:06:41 +0000

You mentioned awhile back that your feet had widened so the new Cascadias were too tight on you. How’s the toe box width on these Salomons? Did you have to size up to get a good fit?

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 22:34:54 +0000

In reply to grannyhiker. Yep. Manufacturers have a way of changing the shoes. Arrrgggh! I tend to buy two or even three pairs of a shoe if I find a good deal on a shoe I like!

By: grannyhiker

grannyhiker — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 21:17:17 +0000

I found the Montrail Hardrocks (women’s version) when I finally decided to change from boots to trail runners. This was also, unfortunately, the same time that Columbia Sportswear bought out Montrail. I need a wide and high toe box (have hammer toes and bunions to deal with) and extra narrow heels–I have AAAAA width heels and B to C width forefoot. After the first year (when Columbia must have been using the old last), the Hardrocks quickly changed to wider heels and less support even while they were still calling them Hardrocks.

I ended up switching to New Balance running shoes with their SL-2 last and anti-pronation support. My main problem with those is that they are road running shoes so don’t have as rugged a sole. (NB doesn’t make trail runners with the SL-2 last.) But at least they fit and support my feet and ankles well! I just have to be more careful with my footing.

If they make a women’s version, without goretex, I’ll take a look at these Salomons. All men’s shoes are too wide in the heel for me. My heel is 5A width while my forefoot is between a B and C width, so you can see what I’m up against.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 17:48:22 +0000

In reply to Garret.

Ha! Too funny. I tend to like my laces tight and in place, so it oddly works for me.

I always replace the factory insoles on standard shoes. Be it ski boots, trail shoes, or sneakers, I find factory insoles to never work for me. YMMV.

By: Garret

Garret — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 17:27:30 +0000

I used these on the GDT too, by chance. They were the best thing for sale at the gear shop in Waterton. They lasted a long time for me, too, and I was overall really pleased for off-trail use.

I don’t love the speed lacing system (great when you need to lace up with cold gloved fingers, bad when you want to loosen or tighten any specific part of the foot). My biggest beef was actually the insoles, however. As soon as they got wet, they started to bunch up at the front of the shoe. They were total garbage and I had to replace them with some Dr. Scholls. Same thing happened with my next pair, a slightly different model of Solomon with the same insoles.