The Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX is a great option for trail runners and day hikers. I’ve had the pleasure of testing these shoes out over the past few weeks during my day hikes around Ho Chi Minh and the Dinh Mountain hiking trail.
Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX
The Salomon’s Contagrip outsoles make this hiking shoe adaptable for hiking trails of all types, regardless of the terrain.
The standout features for me were the padding, outsole selection, waterproofing, and general performance. As low-top, lightweight hiking shoes, they don’t provide enough support for longer backpacking trips or trails where your ankles need more support.
However, this footwear manages to be incredibly versatile without sacrificing any major features that the average hiker could use on a trail.
So, let’s talk a little more about the testing period for these shoes and what makes them stand out so much more from other products we’ve tried.
Specs
- Weight: 1 lb. 10 oz. (men’s size 9)
- Waterproof
- Advanced Chassis
- Ortholite Insole
- Contagrip Sole
PROS
CONS
Things We Tested When Reviewing Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX
1. Durability
The synthetic leather that these shoes are made from holds up extremely well in harsh environments.
Usually, the mesh is something that you have to worry about being torn easily, but the leather was strong enough to both guard the mesh and prevent it from getting snagged on any stray objects or tearing.
During my hike, the Dinh Mountain trail could get steep and wet in some areas, so often times my shoes were grating against solid rock. Surprisingly, there was hardly any evidence of this, even on the shoes’ protective toe box and outsoles.
2. Comfort
The Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX is designed with injected-molded EVA midsoles, an advanced chassis, and foam cushioning. I was pleased with how supportive the shoes were to my heels and underfoot regions.
For a lightweight running shoe, the Ultra 3 GTX has a great amount of soft padding. Even stepping over jagged areas, where some rocks may have tried to poke into the underside of the shoe, the isolation between my feet and the outside elements was perfect.
3. Traction
The Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX is designed with the brand’s unique Contagrip soles, which on this particular product, makes the shoe suited for conditions like snow, mud, wet rock, or even plain concrete [1].
The aggressive lug pattern and deep depth gave me a solid grip, even on rough terrain and rocky trails, which isn’t something a hiking shoe can typically do unless it’s designed specifically for those environments.
4. Breathability
The Gore-Tex membrane that these shoes are designed with is also meant to be breathable, to prevent your feet from getting hot or sweaty.
While I didn’t have any significant problems with ventilation during my hike, these shoes do trade some of their breathability to increase their water resistance.
I could see this being a potential downside for some hikers, but then again, this is a lightweight shoe. The decreased ventilation would only be a problem for longer trails or thru-hikes, which these aren’t designed for anyway.
5. Weight
The Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX hiking shoes weigh in at 1 lb., or 10.8 oz., making them one of the lightest pairs of trail shoes I’ve ever worn.
While heavier shoes or hiking boots tend to provide more stability by locking in around your ankles, these manage to perform aggressively well without feeling like they’re dragging around your feet.
Since they also work for all-purpose trail runs, it’s very easy to take them off and put them on at a moment’s notice, especially if you’re looking to get out on the trail immediately.
6. Waterproofing
Gore-Tex waterproof liners are perhaps one of the best water-resistant materials in the hiking shoe market.
The synthetic leather that the X Ultra 3 GTX is designed from absorbs very little moisture and the small amount that might make it inside is immediately repelled.
However, do keep in mind that this is a low-top trail shoe, meaning that this isn’t something you want to submerge in water. If water seeps over the sides of the shoes, your feet will get wet.
Other than that, the Gore-Tex waterproofing against outside elements is unparalleled.
7. Support
As mentioned previously, the Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX hiking shoes have a lot of padding.
The Ortholite insoles and contoured EVA heel cups create cushions that support your feet where pressure and tension would usually build.
This forms the Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX’s chassis system, which is what makes the shoe so reliable, even on rocky terrain and uneven surfaces.
Outside of hiking trips and trail runs that would require more than ultralight pack gear, this hiking shoe has been one of the best products I’ve worn for moderate all-terrain traveling.
8. Fit & Sizing
Even though the Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX is a low-top shoe, it still fits very well around the ankle. The heel is anatomically sculpted to hold your foot in place, so even when you’re traveling up and down an incline, the shoe is never moving too freely.
The toes have an adequate amount of space and protection, and the shoe is even offered in a wider sizing option for people who have larger feet. Also, the Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX has a mid-top variant, if you appreciate a more traditional boot style.
Additionally, they can be purchased as wide-feet hiking shoes if you need a larger toe box.
How Has It Changed Over the Years?
When compared to the Salomon X Ultra 2 GTX, the Salomon X Ultra 3 doesn’t make too many improvements, which is a good thing.
The X Ultra 2 was a very successful hiking shoe, and the X Ultra 3 replicated that success by only taking consumer feedback into account with this updated version.
The biggest issues people had with the X Ultra 2 were that its fit was a bit too narrow and that its weight didn’t allow for a lot of protection as a trail runner [2].
The Salomon X Ultra 3 improves on this by adding a wide toe box near the end of the foot.
Additionally, its weight was increased from 5 oz. to 10.8 oz., keeping its utility as a trail shoe, while also providing enough padding to be classified as a hiking shoe.
Where Does It Stand Compared to Other Products?
1. Salomon XA PRO 3D Gore-Tex
The Salomon XA PRO 3D Gore-Tex is marketed specifically as a trail running shoe, while the Salomon X Ultra is marketed as both a trail and hiking shoe [3].
Due to that difference, the X Ultra 3 has superior cushioning and traction for various terrain.
The XA Pro 3D only performs well on simple surfaces like concrete and flatlands, but trying to do anything more with it could cause discomfort to your feet.
In terms of utility, the Ultra 3 GTX is the clear winner, since it does everything that the XA Pro 3D is meant to do and more.
2. Merrell Moab 2 Waterproof
The Merrell Moab 2 is designed to tackle moderate backpacking trips for the average hiker.
The biggest difference between these and the Salomon X Ultra is that the Merrell Moab 2 is designed with better ventilation.
The suede and mesh layers make it easier for air to flow into the boot, which isn’t something the Ultra 3 GTX is as good with. However, decreased breathability is only a problem on advanced hiking trips.
For trail runs and day hiking, when you wouldn’t have these shoes on long enough to overheat, it’s not an issue.
3. Salomon Speedcross 5 Gore-Tex
The Salomon Speedcross 5 Gore-Tex Trail Running Shoes are amazing products. However, they are specifically designed with an outsole made to manage muddy and soft terrain.
So, unlike the Ultra 3 GTX, which has a grip and lug design meant to provide solid traction on all five major terrain types, the Speedcross 5 doesn’t have the same level of versatility.
Additionally, the Speedcross 5 is a bit pricier, making the Salomon X Ultra the better product at a cheaper price.
Where Does the Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX Perform Better?
The Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX performs better on surfaces where the lugs on the outsoles have something to dig into.
Remember, they’re waterproof shoes, not waterproof boots, so while they can handle running trails and maybe some less intensive hikes, they’re not made to provide the same support as a traditional boot.
That said, the X Ultra 3 is one of the best running shoes on the market. There really is no one terrain it performs well in because it’s meant to perform well in all of them.
As far as distance goes, the X Ultra 3 provides support and comfort for the average hike or run up to 15-20+ miles and beyond.
Custom Reviews
Even though we rely on customer reviews and our testing procedures, we nonetheless want to provide some web reviews of Salomon X Ultra 3 Waterproof.
Do We Recommend the Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX For Hiking?
Overall, yes! We highly recommend the Salomon X Ultra for hiking, but even more so for trail runs.
While these hiking shoes won’t serve as a replacement for traditional boots, for ultralight tasks, they’re top-notch. This is especially true when looking at the design quality.
They’re incredibly durable and comfortable to wear, and while we wouldn’t recommend stepping into deep waters with these shoes, they’re more than capable of fending off harsh elements otherwise.
These hiking shoes performed very well during my travels, and I’d feel extremely confident taking them with me anywhere I might have to run on a moment’s notice.
FAQs
GTX stands for Gore-Tex. If a footwear product has GTX in its name, this simply means that a water-resistant membrane has been sewn into the shoe to provide more protection to your feet.
The Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX is waterproof. The Gore-Tex waterproof membrane seals out and repels moisture, preventing the inside of the shoe from getting wet, while also wicking any sweat away from the feet.
