Comments on: Gear review: Salomon X Ultra 4 Low Hiking Shoes

By: C Brown

C Brown — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 13:59:04 +0000

Excellent review. Identical to my experience especially about wear in the to toe box flex and I actually had to protect my heel from the shoes breakdown. I had back to back pairs, generally like them but they did not hold up. Went back to ankle high x ultra pioneers for a wonderful fit.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Wed, 31 May 2023 13:39:38 +0000

In reply to George F. I suspect some marketing person convinced Salomon there should be a bigger difference between their running and hiking shoes. Whatever the reason, highly annoying indeed!

By: George F

George F — Wed, 31 May 2023 09:44:25 +0000

Interested to see if you find a replacement. I’ve also been an Ultra wearer and recently reluctantly picked up the 4’s despite the less than stellar reviews. Your review gives me hope that they won’t be complete rubbish, but I really don’t understand why companies completely revamp a popular and successful product to the point that the faithful buyers of that product go looking for replacements. But shoe companies can’t seem to help themselves.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Tue, 30 May 2023 16:33:16 +0000

In reply to J C. Oddly enough, I have a pair of Innov8 ready to try out in my shoe q. Bought some Trailfly 270s on clearence earlier this year. If they work, I'll need to check out the specific suggstions you gave. Thanks! Currently testing a pair of Topos.

By: J C

J C — Tue, 30 May 2023 16:28:36 +0000

I loved the Montrail Hardrock and Mountain Masochist before the buyout. Now I mostly use inov-8 shoes, the non waterproof versions of the roclite 275 & 300. Maybe give them a try?

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Mon, 29 May 2023 23:12:42 +0000

In reply to Nancy. Alas, I bought four pairs as well once I heard my favorites got discontinued. All I could find in my size.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Mon, 29 May 2023 21:36:46 +0000

In reply to PStu.

Some sand got into the mesh for sure. But, don’t forget, it’s beeen a VERY wet year here in Utah and I took them for ~70 miles of packrafting. I suspect the water had more to do with the wear and tear than even the sand. A lot of my route did not neccessarily go through the High Desert either.

FWIW, when I hiked the Great Divide Trail (Canada), I had similar mileage results (er, kilometers!) Ditto for my New Mexico trip that saw little desert overall versus more mountainous terrain or loweer lying wooded areas. I think it’s more about lesser maintained trails/no trail at all TBH. My shoes would last longer, I suspect, if we stuck to maintained trails. YMMV…literally!

By: PStu

PStu — Mon, 29 May 2023 17:17:49 +0000

Is sand getting into the mesh and wearing through? I’ve put many more miles on my non-GTX Ultra 2 and 3 with relatively minor wear there, but out east they don’t see much sand.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 28 May 2023 12:56:13 +0000

Neal has 4 identical new pairs in boxes of his favorite Merrill shoes. Always good to stock up. With age comes wisdom.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Fri, 26 May 2023 14:57:43 +0000

In reply to Bob Palin. I know! I loved the Hardrocks..gone. I loved the Ultra X 2/3s...gone! Sigh. The hunt continues. The 4s end up as acceptable, but not great.