20 Best Hiking Sneakers For Women (2023 Updated)

LOVE these shoes. I purchased both waterproof and regular Bravadas for mountain trail training and marathon. Can get incredibly wet and dirty and has not seen damage or wear down yet. I will say for the extra waterproofing there is not much difference other than the shoe keeps my feet a little warmer in cold months.

That’s not to say it isn’t waterproof, just that the standard shoe which I also own is adequate for muddy and wet trails. Only “complaint” of note is the heel piece comes up rather high which is not a problem, but I am conscious about wearing ankle high socks when training long runs.

Trained and ran my first marathon in these shoes. LOVE THEM. Bought a second pair. Very supportive on rock, tree roots, mud, creeks, etc.

I didn’t know how I’d feel about this shoe as I have not had any Merrell brand sneaker-type before. But these are AMAZING! They ride on my feet so well. The day I took them out of the box, I decided to wear them all day.

I was wonderfully surprised. No break-in time needed, and I wore them for 3 consecutive days before giving them a break. The only disappointing factor is the color. I bought what looked like white shoes, but they are actually more gray.

However, they will be my “go to” for a hiking vacation in a few months. And I’m seriously thinking about buying another color as well to take! Also, I bought my actual size instead of going up 1/2 size, and they are almost too big.

I might buy a 1/2 size smaller. Overall, Highly recommend!.

Love the look of these shoes and so far they’ve been excellent in terms of waterproofing (though haven’t tested them in lengthy downpour – only in gentle rain and puddles in the city). Great traction on wet grass/mud.

I wear them for work also, the traction is good on the various floors at my job and they’re comfortable enough to wear all day (albeit a little loud on indoors floors). Sometimes they can feel a bit tight or stiff – not sure if I am still breaking them in or if perhaps I need a wide shoe, or if that’s just how the shoe is.

This leads to a bit of discomfort on some days, but on other days I don’t notice it at all. Overall love them and looking forward to trying out more shoes from Merrell.

This purchase makes pair number 4 and 5 of this exact shoe. Absolutely love them. These are comfortable and sturdy as well as ventilated. I am very active at work, we have concrete floors that we spend lots of time on but also make it outside to our retail facilities every day.

It’s usually hot there and lots of opportunity to get wet feet. Shoes dry out quickly if I accidently water my shoes instead of the flowers. They wear out exactly the same places every time in the flex point above my toes but only after I’ve gotten my money’s worth out of them! Will buy again and again as long as the style stays available.

This is my second pair of the exact Salomon Pathfinder hiking shoes. The first pair is almost 10 years old and the tread was worn out so I got a new pair last year. I loved my second pair and used to wear them everywhere.

hiking, walking, biking, anytime. However, less than 9 months of wearing them, the webbing on top part of the shoe started to tear on both shoes. It has torn so much now that I can see my feet inside of the shoes from the outside.

I’m hesitant to get another pair so I might look at other brands.

I have prearthritis in my toes so comfort, especially for sports/activities, is very important for me. I purchased these in a size 8 and they are a bit big. I put my Ortho inserts in these and they weren’t quite long enough to fill the shoes.

Nevertheless, they are very comfy in the footbed. On my right foot, the shoe rubs near the base of my big toe which concerned me. I was concerned it was going to bother me and I’d have to wear them a bunch before they were broken in.

I took a chance and wore them to hike about 6 miles through some very rough and rocky terrain and I was pleasantly surprised. No blisters, no bruising and the traction is fantastic. I didn’t slip once and felt very stable hiking in these shoes.

I’m very pleased with the shoes, just wish the top of the right shoe didn’t rub my foot but maybe it’ll stretch out over time.

I love the way Merrells fit my feet and the quality that goes into them. These are the most comfortable Merrells I have owned. I particularly like the soles. I purchased these more for around town and they certainly work well for that.

I think they would make an excelent light, hiking shoe as well but I think they are too good looking for that. I’m not completely satisfied with the material that covers most of the shoe. It seems tough enough but I’d prefer something a little more rugged looking.

All in all though I find them to be a very handsome, comvortable and well built shoe.

I’m, religiously, an 11 in every Merrell shoe/boot I’ve used, but the Altalight leaves an incredible amount of length beyond the 2nd and 3rd toes, and is far too wide and loose in the heel. I find myself wishing for the extra eyelet found in running shoes so that I could attempt to lock my heel in better.

I find myself having to wear thicker socks to avoid excessive foot slippage and blisters which goes against the point of buying lightweight low-tops for summer usage. The tread has held up well, and the overall comfort is decent.

The inner liner, however, limits breathability, and I find these aren’t the most airy shoes out there; perhaps the Altalight knit would be better there. But the poor sizing means I’ll never try these, again.

With that said, they’ve held up well in the rocky VIrginia National Forests and look new. Overall I guess it’s just a disappointment that Merrell (and they’re hardly alone here) doesn’t a) make the particular last used on each model known and b) use a universal sizing/fit model across its various footwear.

Guess I’m just sticking to the tried and true Moabs and Chameleons.

I went to my local DSW store and had my feet measured for accuracy whether I was ordering a men’s worry women’s shoe. I ordered these shoes in an 8 1/2 men’s according to foot measurements. The shoes were too long so I returned them and asked for a size 8.

The size 8 is way too big just like the size 8 1/2. I don’t think the sizing is accurate on the shoes, as I have never had this problem. Unfortunately I have to send both of them back.

Not #1 on my priorities but these were very nice looking. Look very good with jeans. The lighter color is also nice for Summer hiking. Also (and why I am writing this review) VERY supportive. I felt it from the time I put them on.

Roomy toe box but not snug. The structure of them is form fitting while being soft and comfortable. I wear an 8. 5 in work shoes but always size up for walking or hiking shoes. For these I ordered a 10 which was perfect.

Enough room for feet swelling. I will say I wish they came in a wide so I could wear them longer in the season. I would be afraid they would feel tight if I wore my wool hiking socks for 5-6 hour hike.

I am IN love with last years ‘model’ colour called Paloma (ocean colours-blues and greys) with a plain sole. Not a fan of this years harsh colour contrast with the large splatter paint look on the sole.

Returned in the hopes that next year they try a Paloma type of runner again. I do love that it has a wide sole at the heel. Im giving it a 5 star rating because I have this shoe from last year and it feels SO stable with my pronating ankle.

And SO comfortable.

The Bravada 2 is nothing like the original Bravada. So if you like the original, you probably won’t like these. They are very tight and can not be loosened up because there is no tounge. This also makes they difficult to put on.

The opening rolls under when you put your foot in. They fit like a super tight sock. The sole is uneven and does not give good support.

I bought the non-waterproof version for cooler summer wear. These shoes look great. I got multiple compliments on the orange ones the first day. I also bought the green ones. The only issue is that they run large.

I followed the sizing guide and initially bought a size 6. 5 which is my regular size. They were too large and my foot slid forward in the shoe when walking on an incline even when I added heavy socks and made multiple adjustments to the laces.

I ordered a half size smaller and they fit much better. Warning you might not realize that the fit is a problem until you have worn them outside and then Solomon won’t let your return them.

These are the best shoes!! Comfy right out of the box – on pavement or the trail. *make sure you check Solomon size guide* I am a 9. 5 – 10 (10 in most boots) and the 9. 5 fits perfectly with enough room for my hiking socks.

Great traction, lightweight, breathable, and absolutely waterproof while standing in a stream. And not only do these perform great, they look great too! I’m a sneaker head, and find most hiking shoes to be pretty ugly, but not these!! We can’t all leave our vanity at home while exploring outside, so it’s nice to be able to have a cute adventure sneaker!.

I have an arthritic big toe on my left foot, and my daily 60-90 minute walks had become very painful. After reading all the positive reviews for these Solomon Vayas, I decided to try them. WOW! They felt comfortable out of the box, but only a long walk would reveal whether they are comfortable.

I was amazed that my toe doesn’t hurt at all with these VAYA shoes on! The toe box is nice and roomy with my big, thick hiking socks on, and that is important to me. These shoes are 5+++ stars. Get them; you won’t be disappointed.

I’m tempted to get a second pair just because shoe styles and designs sometimes disappear.

Fits perfectly, i have enough room to wiggle my toes! Definitely waterproof 🙂

The best shoes I’ve ever had. Very light, comfortable and with a good grip.

My favorite set of hiking shoes and actually fits.

I have/have had several different styles of Salomon hiking/trail shoes and these are the tightest. I wear a 10. 5 in most brands but with Salomon, I get a size bigger at 11. 5. The rubber on these is a lot more durable and stiffer than that on the Speedcross 4 for instance, which wont last more than a summer if pounding pavement.

I previously bought the X Crest (not GTX) and they are very comfortable with the loose tongue, and are the reason I bought these. but the Goretex makes these tight to the point where the only taut part of my laces is where they’re tied.

Comfortable soles, but strangling around the bridge of my feet just behind the toes. Update: They’re getting better. Put on some thick socks or a couple pair, completely loosen the laces then force them on and wear them for awhile to stretch them out.

seems to help. Not returning them just yet.

Ive been wearing Salomon hiking shoes for 10 years, 2 pairs a year. Im not sure what happened but this pair of X Crest GTX just arent the same. They make a noise as i walk, make my feet feel like im pigeon toed and are uncomfortable.

Ive been a sales person for everything salomon makes for years. I will be hesitant now after the reviews ive been reading and now my own experience proved some of those reviews accurate. Very disappointed, wish i would have purchased 6 pairs before they did something to change the feel of the shoe.

I needed a light trail shoe to replace my trail running shoes. I wanted a dark gray or black shoe with shocking/hot pink accents (all of my running clothes are in this color scheme). I found these, and a pair of Keen.

The Keen were very wide. I had to size up a half size for Salomon, but my feet are sort of thin and bony and odd so sizing is always weird with me. These hug my foot nicely and add support and bounce.

I also appreciated that the decorative stripes were sewn on the sides, not just printed. Everything looks so cheap these days, but these looked nice. Finally, I have large feet, 39. 5, and they did not look like giant boats on my feet! Two thumbs up! I am now stockpiling these because I want extras in my color.

Well, I hate leaving less than stellar reviews, but I’ll try to be fair and honest, in hopes it’s reviews like this that make a product better in the future. I originally got these shoes for backpacking.

After wearing them for one backpacking trip, and then for maybe 6 months of daily use, I noticed the shoe coming apart around the bottom of the shoe, mostly in the front. I definitely hadn’t walked for 5000 miles, which is what the warrantee covers.

I contacted customer support and they were fantastic. They had me take pictures of the defects, and after confirming my date of purchase etc, I was able to send them back and get another pair. The customer service representative told me by the looks of things, the first pair of shoes had a defect and the glue didn’t hold the shoe together, but defects were rare.

Anyway, I got the second pair of shoes and again, wore them on a backpacking trip (16 total miles), and noticed upon my return, the shoe was already starting to come apart at the toe box area. At this point, I don’t want to continue to hassle customer service and it’s really inconvenient to continue to return the shoes every time there’s a problem, and at this point, I’m assuming it’s not a defect, but instead just a flaw in the product itself, whether that’s materials, or just how the shoe is put together.

I really wish these shoes lasted a lot longer, like maybe the soles went out before the actual shoe, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. While I wore the shoes they were impressive. During my backpacking trip, my feet didn’t hurt, I was able to hop across rocks in rivers to cross them without slipping at all, and they’re light shoes which is what I also liked about them.

Beyond them seeming to fall apart way to easily, I liked the shoes and was impressed with the customer service. I gave the shoes 3* because I thought they were comfortable, they had great traction, and customer service would probably replace them again if I had the fortitude to make another request.

I’d just rather buy a different brand of shoe at this point.

A word of caution: I developed a severe case of plantar fasciitis — a condition I had never had before — as a result of hiking in these shoes. I have used zero drop shoes for years, and attempted to transition to these slowly and carefully.

I have now been unable to hike for several weeks, and have moderate pain while walking and standing. Initially, I did like the ground feel while wearing these shoes. The traction in mud and soft ground is outstanding.

The grip on wet wood and rock is poor/ non-existent; the worst I have experienced with any trail shoe. The durability of the upper and outsole seem excellent, but the thin ribbon eyelets do not seem durable at all.

The thin ribbons do tend to snag often on all kinds of debris on-trail, and have worn out disproportionately fast. In terms of value, I think these shoes are extremely overpriced relative to the design and performance (my personal injuries aside), and should be closer to competitors in the $40-60 range.

The only use case I could see is for very short, casual hikes. Even so, I think there are far more substantial choices, especially at this price point and with these features.

Excellent shoe. (Replaced by the Terraflex II which I have no doubt would also hit the mark). Quality is great, fit is accurate, style is appealing, simple to wear. Tread pattern is effective and very suitable to off-road & off-trail running, hiking, playing.

Appreciate the product for added protection under foot. As a long-term barefoot/minimal preferred person I am aging beyond the body enjoying the big bounds, high jumps and the same level of intensity as the earlier days.

These shoes provide great protection and a satisfactory experience for myself transitioning from fast-flying to hikes/runs supporting a slower style for longevity. Can’t feel everything anymore but confident after 10 hours running/hiking mixed trails that impact injuries won’t find it’s way through the souls.

Very excited to put these on for all my backcountry adventures, would not recommend for around-town shoes. My fourth pair of Xero Shoes: from early days of DIY Sandal & first run Prios. Lucky enough to find a clearance pair in my size.

Would always pay full price for Xeros. Recommended! Check out the Terraflex II.

I have had several pairs of Moab waterproof shoes over the years and have always gone back because of great fit and comfort out of the box and excellence on the trail, The Moab2 has been disappointing in terms of fit.

On the good side, they are waterproof. In the past, I have had to return Moab Waterproof shoes because one of them (left) had a gap in the waterproofing. This was the case 2 or 3 times, but always the next pair was fine.

With the M2 wo, both are waterproof as judged by walks in the rain and small puddles. However, the fit is uncomfortable. The tongue is very uncomfortable across the top of the foot. Also where the web attaches the tongue to the shoe.

, it is difficult to push it into a position that is at all close to comfort. Additionally, at least so far, it has been impossible to tighten the laces enough at the toe, causing foot aches after walking due to insufficient support in that area.

Perhaps they will soften over time and be able to be tightened better, but after 3 weeks of walking for an hour or two daily, they have not yet improved. Finally, where the laces tie together, at the top, if they are tied at all tightly, it is uncomfortable.

As far as traction on wet rocky trails, I don’t know yet as I have only worn them so far on sidewalks and beach. The old Moabs had excellent traction, so perhaps these do too. However, so far they are uncomfortable.

I bought these specifically for a trip to Ireland in 2018 (4 years ago now) where I knew I’d be walking everywhere and occasionally get the delight of walking along rocky beaches. These shoes have turned out to be my best purchase in years.

They were great for Ireland- they ended up being the shoes I wore most often, even when I’m sure I looked like a ridiculous American in the cities, because they were the most comfortable. And since I got home, they’ve been my go-to hiking shoes for every season other than winter when snow finally gets deep.

I’ve used them at least every weekend since, and occasionally during the week as well, for hiking. They’re holding up great! Still far away from having to replace them. My feet have never gotten wet in them, even when out on soggy trails.

They fit well for my high-arched feet so my feet never get sore or tired. The tread is great for hiking or just walking. Add some yak tracks in early or late winter and they’re just fine outside as well, until it gets really deeply freezing.

These shoes definitely converted me to being a Merrell gal.

I am so pleased with this shoe. Merrell makes a shoe that lasts. I still have my Merrell shoes from 20 years ago. I wear them almost daily. I decided it was time to retire them and use them when gardening.

I bought the Merrell Moab 2 Waterproof since I camp, fish, and hike. I went with the wide shoe this time because I suffer from extreme osteoarthritis in my toes and recently had joint replacement in them.

Wanted to have a little more room in the toe box area. These have not disappointed me. Being 70 years old, your feet do widen a bit as you get older from the constant walking; not to mention gravity pulling down.

I hope these last as long. My first pair were actual leather so although they weren’t waterproof I was able to put waterproofing on them. I am pleased with the style, look, and fit. They fit to my true size of 8.

5. I am confident I can wear them with thin or thicker socks and not compromise their comfort. Hope this review helps others make an informed decision.

I usually wear a size 5, but do have wide feet. I had trade the size 5 Merrell for size 5. 5 and it fit perfectly. No break in period. I have hiked over 20 miles in both muddy conditions, snowy conditions, and gravel.

The shoe has great grip! As well my feet stayed dry even when walking in packed snow and muddy conditions. I did walk in very shallow streams and my feet were still dry – I have not tried putting my whole foot in water.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for comfortable low profile hiking shoe that isn’t too heavy.

Although I have a wide foot I can fit into most shoes. However the shoes are tight around the largest part of a foot. They are tight because there’s this band that prevents the shoe from actually like coming open, as opposed to a tennis shoe where the tongue could come all the way out if you loosen them all the way.

So I do not recommend these if you have a wide foot. I do not wear them for hiking I bought them for every day walking and running errands, I’ve had them for about three weeks or a month and I do like them.

I wish they were more comfortable for my Wide foot though.

Bought these for a hiking trip to the National Parks. I did not break them in and per other reviewers, they were comfortable and I had no issues. I did wear them around the house a few times to try out socks/fit.

I would recommend wearing socks that come past the top of the shoe. The first socks were slightly under and where the tongue of the shoe met the ankle there was painful pressure/rubbing. With the higher socks, no problems at all.

It did rain all week and while I did not step in anything that covered the shoe, my feet were dry in rainy conditions. Dried mud brushed right off, bottom had enough grip. Bought my normal size and there was room in the toe area for thicker socks without being snug.

Would highly recommend.

I’ve been wanting a new pair of hiking boots, but many of them feel too heavy on my feet. These are so lightweight and comfortable right out of the box! The ankle is high enough to provide support but not feel restricting.

I love the colors and more of a tennis shoe style. I haven’t truly tested out how waterproof the are, but I don’t tend to hike in wet conditions anyway. I got my usual size 8 and there was plenty of room to wear thicker socks without being too tight.

There was a little extra room in the toe box that I appreciate when I hike. If you like a more snug shorter fit, you could size down a half size and be ok.

I bought these Columbia Women’s Facet 30 OutDry shoes last summer to replace an older pair of Columbia waterproof shoes that I’ve had for several years. After putting these shoes to the test in some pretty intense Oregon rain storms, I’m happy to report that the Facet 30’s held up to my high expectations for Columbia products.

The shoes are completely waterproof, very comfortable, well made, true to size, nice looking, and reasonably priced. They propel your foot along while exercise walking, and have great heel support too.

I would highly recommend these wonderful shoes! As a long-time Columbia Sportswear fan, I am very impressed with all of the Columbia products that I have, and will continue to support this great company in the future!.

I’m not one to usually review products but I felt like I should on this one. I bought these shoes in anticipation of a backpacking trip in the Smokie Mountains. I know these aren’t explicitly advertised as backpacking footwear but I wanted something a bit more comfortable than the boots I’ve used in the past.

I’ve had decent luck with other boots from both Columbia and other vendors, but when backpacking, I’ve always had heel issues. I was excited to try out the heel stabilizing system. I’m 6’2″ and just over 200 lbs.

so with a 35 lb backpack, I’m putting a bit of weight through the legs and into my feet. I did change the insoles out with some that had a bit more cushion. With all that being said, I took these out for four days into the Smokies.

putting on about 10 miles per day with some substantial elevation gains and losses. We had changing weather from sunny and clear to cool, windy, and rainy. These shoes held up through them all. The waterproofing performed fantastically and my feet stayed dry while hiking though puddles and pouring rain.

The grip held up fine in the mud, muck, and slippery rocks. Best of all, the heel stabilization system was as advertized. no blisters or scuffs at all. About the only issue I had was on the decline. my toes took a bit of a beating.

The shoes felt a bit better after I cinched the laces very tight though. After four days, there were a few scuff marks on the shoes but nothing out of the ordinary. I was pleasantly surprised and gratefully pleased with how these performed and how my feet felt by the end.

Columbia put out a great product with this one!.

I bought this shoe based on some very positive reviews. I have been trying to find a shoe with a wide toe box to accommodate some feet problems. So far I have been unsuccessful in finding a shoe that works.

The shoe is comfortable to stand in but does not work for me when active. Had I not tried to walk in them outside I would have returned them for another style. The tread on these shoes is great and I appreciate the extra padding in the heel despite needing a wide toe box.

I didn’t like the way the shoe laced up. As I tied it tight the tongue tended to bunch and pinch under the lacing creating a pinch point as I walked. May be a great shoe for some, but simply did not work for me.

These have to be my favorite active sneakers. I bought them for a 2-month trip to Rwanda and wore them almost every single day in total comfort. I wore them for very long walks through desert climate as well as hikes in the hills.

Often times they’d get COVERED in red dirt and dust, but it came out entirely washing by hand! If I were to have any complaint it would be that sometimes the fabric just above the heel cushions sometimes curls a bit and digs into my ankles but nothing so horrible.

I later brought these sneakers for a 3-month trip to Europe and they were great for hiking in the alps and for walking through hilly cities. I highly recommend!.

Adidas’s Terrex Free Hiker C. RDY excel for hiking in damp and cold climates, however for more normal hiking I would recommend another pair of hiking shoes. The strong points that this shoe offers when hiking in rain or snow can become pain points when hiking in hot summer days.

Small disclaimer though, this is my first pair of cold weather hiking shoes, so features that might be standard among cold weather hiking shoes will be novel to me. The most novel aspect of this shoe is its internal sock and shoelace-less zip closure system.

After hiking for 30 minutes, I realized that I didn’t need to break these shoes in as I would normal hiking shoes. The combination of the soft insole, lack of hot spots caused by traditional lace closure system, as well as its internal sock let me put it on and immediately start hiking.

A novel problem caused by the zip closure system also introduced itself to me 30 minutes into my hike. Normal hiking shoes offer a degree of protection for the ankle by securing it against side-to-side movement, while allowing front-and-back freedom.

The zip closure system on this shoe provides a great seal against the elements, however it also restricts your ankle’s mobility. On level ground this isn’t an issue, but when going up or downhill this becomes a noticeable pain point.

Bending my ankle forward or backward is met with a slight resistance from the shoe itself. Imperceptible at first, it gradually became an annoyance a few miles in. This trade-off is why I mentioned that these shoes are very niche, yes they keep your socks dry and feet warm, but the mechanism that does so also slightly restricts ankle movement.

In terms of weight and grip they are excellent, my friends also commented on these shoes for its style as well. All in all, a very solid pair of winter hiking shoes, especially in the PNW. Great for walking around town or hiking in the wet cold.

Initially set out for a GTX boot for hiking thinking I needed support. Ankle issues. Tried all different things. No success. Almost bought hiking shoes but I didn’t want something snow and debris could hinder my hikes.

Didn’t want gaiters either. These boots feel similar to a gym shoe. A little different to put on but easy after slipping your foot in just enough then grabbing w one hand the forward sock like material and the other grabbing the rear sock material.

No big deal. Lace free. even better. I was skeptical at first so 2 miles on the treadmill different speeds and incline. No issues at all. Extremely comfortable. 12 miles hiking now. I love them. Not much insulation but perfect with a merino wool sock.

The inserts were nothing special I did upgrade. I live in northern Indiana. We’ve been hiking in 20° and 5° weather my feet were fine. Standing around will be an issue w warmth. There is no such thing as one boot does everything.

For my use these have been impressive. They run a little big. REI didn’t have mens so I rolled the dice and won.

Finding a good hiking boot is so hard but this one is definitely a top contender for me. They are SO light (I kind of can’t get over how light they are)! The boots don’t have laces but I didn’t mind because the upper fits snuggly, especially with a tall/thick sock (which I did find necessary because the zipper chafed against my leg).

The high rise upper also keeps my ankles feeling supported. The other feature I’m loving is the waterproofing. I haven’t had a chance to try in snow yet, but they have replaced traditional rainboots for me for sure and have kept my feet dry in downpours and flash floods.

The tight ankle keeps the rain out of the top and the lower just stays dry in inches of water. An incredible shoe. The sleek design also works great for daily city wear so it’s getting worn regularly and not just on the occasional hike or trip.

And overall great addition to my closet, highly pleased. (SO LIGHTWEIGHT).

I am a regular user of the X Ultra mid boots, having worn out two pairs each of the X Ultra 2 and X Ultra 3. Note that this review applies to the biggest available size (UK 13. 5, EUR 49 1/3, USA 14), so it may not be fully applicable to smaller sizes.

I have also worn these boots for several months, and they are probably approaching the mid point of their useful life by looking at their soles, so I believe I can provide a good assessment. In my opinion the 4th iteration of the X Ultra is a major step backwards from the excellent previous versions.

The changes seem to be related to the significant weight reduction (488 gr per boot versus 590 for the X Ultra 3), which is noticeable. However, the cost of this weight reduction is huge: 1. There is significantly less cushioning around the ankle, and the boot is also approximately one finger lower.

I continue to notice a slight friction around the ankles on every hike, although less as time goes on. In the first few hikes I stopped several times because of this, and once I even had to put some tissue to increase the cushioning.

To me this makes no sense, as it a significant inconvenience just to lose a few grams. 2. I have to stop and tighten my laces at least twice in every hike, as otherwise the fitting becomes loose. This is new to me and had never happened before.

I ignore the reason but maybe the material has some elasticity in it. Huge inconvenience. 3. The boot seems to have much less torsion resistance than previous versions. I hike in a very stony area, and at least once every day this causes slight ankle twists when placing the boot heel on a stone.

Avoiding this is the reason why I wear mid boots instead of regular shoes, and again seems to be the result of saving a few grams. Overall very disappointed with these boots to the point where I have looked and successfully acquired two more pairs of version 3.

I can not recommend version 4 to any one and I will certainly be very cautious when a (hopefully improved) version 5 comes out. Version 3 was an excellent product, this one is not.

Please keep in mind that I have never used the X Ultra 3’s, so my review is not biased. I am an avid backpacker and have worn many boots in my life. Also keep in mind that I had two REI employees ensure that I was purchasing the right size.

These, by far, are not only the most expensive but also the worst pair of boots that I have ever dawned upon my feet. My Adidas Terrex Swift R2’s that I loved finally died out on me and I decided to splurge on a new set of boots from a “quality” brand.

Salomon’s Ultra 3’s have great reviews, so I figured the new 4’s would be even better. This was not the case. It seems Salomon missed the mark on the skew between trail runner and hiking boot with these, making them not only useless, but actively harmful to users.

I took these on a 30 mile backpacking trip on Isle Royal and now have medical bills to pay directly because of these boots because they caused intense blistering, bruising of my feet, my toe nails are turning purple and will likely fall off, and of course I slipped multiple times on easy terrain due to lack of grip.

Here is a quick summary: Comfort: This is subjective to my feet, but these were a terrible fit. I do not have wide feet, but these run so narrow that they crushed my feet and damaged my nail beds on my long hike.

Also manufacturing quality is low as the right show had a completely different shape, ridges, and size than the left shoe causing uneven wear. The bottoms are paper thin, expect to feel every pebble under your foot.

Support: There is none. The point of a mid cut is to offer stability. These boots have a convenient cutout specifically around where your ankles end up when you are hiking downhill and need stability the most.

The bottom of the shoe is very flexible and unstable. Also the upper of the shoe is very flexible. This results in your foot warping the upper when planted on any incline, and sliding off the sole of the shoe regardless of how tight you tie them.

Grip: I have slipped total of four times in my hiking career. Three of those times were during the 30 miles I hiked with these boots on. The will slip on dry rock, wet rock, roots, dirt, and even mud.

The last eight miles of my hike I completed in my crocs because I could no longer handle the damage the boots were causing to my feet and the crocs had measurably better grip and stability. Durability: Waterproofing failed after about ten miles.

At the end of the 30 miles, noticeable snags int the stitching appeared. The lugs also seemed slightly worn which is surprising since they didn’t grip anything to begin with. Conclusion: I have no idea how it is possible to create a shoe that is tight enough in the forefoot to crush your toes but loose enough in the heel to shred your heels.

This shoe offers the lack of support and protection of a boot while also lacking the flexibility, comfort, and freedom of a trail runner. Truly the worst of both worlds. Again, I cannot imagine a foot type or activity scenario that these would be ideal for.

I’m deeply disappointed that Salomon has opted for perceived style rather than function and that their manufacturing quality has dropped so intensely. I use their products for my cross country skiing antics but will likely be swapping to a quality brand after this experience.

Overall, the shoes perform well for their intended use as light hiking boots. They’re well supported for their light weight, but not something I would use for extended backpacking. I end up doing some walking on concrete (in wet conditions) to get to many of the hikes I take these on, and they do not have sufficient padding to be comfortable on pavement.

Given that pavement is not what they’re built for, I’m not dinging them for that. Other shoes do offer better padding though. The tread on the bottom has fantastic grip, and has served me well in wet, dry, and dusty scrambling conditions.

That said, it does seem to be wearing through a bit more quickly than I’d like for a $150+ shoe. This may seem superficial, but I am really disappointed with the colors. I have wide feet. Not extremely wide, but wide enough that for Salomons, I usually need to pick up the wide-specific model.

I love the look of many Salomon shoe, but for some reason, these guys always pick the blandest ones for the wide fit! I feel like we’re being punished for having wide feet, and there ain’t a darn thing I can do about it! I think the Green Gables color on the X 4 Ultra Mid is one of the best looking hiking shoes in the game, and I actually purchased one originally.

Of course, it didn’t fit because it was far too narrow, so I was consigned to the boring black shoe bin. I’ve been wearing these shoes for three months and, overall, they perform well for light hikers.

They have fantastic grip and effective waterproofing, but durability remains an open question, and styles lost some major points (especially knowing how much Salomon is capable of). Would I buy again? Frankly, I hope not to.

I loved my X Ultra 3 Mid Wide GTX, and I’d like to see a version 5 or 4. 1 that brings better colors, more durability throughout, and specifically longer-lasting lugs/treads underfoot. The new lacing system is good, and I’d like to see it stick around.

If all that materialized (and I mean please, please bring us that Green Gables in wide!), then yes, count me in for another round after the next update. If you’re stuck with the version 4 as is, I’d skip it and come back next year.

These feel great right out of the box. Have been a big fan of Oboz for years but they are hard to find these days. These have more cushioning than Oboz and don’t need a break in period which I like. Just hiked a 14er in these.

Overall was impressed with the show but would like to see a few things better on them. Pros: Great cushioning, light weight, good tread Cons: Don’t like the lace system. Hard to get a tight fit on lower part of foot.

Also the first pair I purchased the top lace hook broke when I tried them on. Didn’t give me a ton of confidence for durability on the trail.

LOVE these hiking shoes! They’re really low hiking boots. Lots of support around the ankle as well as the foot, and very cushioned. The laces pull then lock tight. And they look great! They run on the small side, if you’re between or wear really heavy socks size up.

If you have the Cloud On, they run a bit bigger than the old fit, and smaller than the Cloud 5 fit.

I am 100% satisfied with my boots. Super comfortable. I got size 7.5 as I have before gotten for this same brand. Also, customer services was outstanding via email, mail and telephone with this store.