The Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX is a lightweight sporty hiking shoe that is made of synthetic materials. It has a breathable and waterproof Gore-Tex membrane. Read the review!
- Weight: L 374.1 g R 364.3 g (size 7.5)
- Sizes: men UK 6.5-13.5, women UK 3.5-10.5
- Price: € 144.95
Fit
The fit of the Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX is suitable for normal feet where a higher instep does not cause any problems. The ladies version is a few millimeter narrower in the forefoot and heel.
Construction
For the upper of the X Ultra 3 GTX, Salomon uses only synthetic materials. The vast majority is an open textile to enhance breathability while using a sturdy synthetic material that connects the eyelets to the sole like a spider web. The sole runs fairly high and protects the shoe all around. The nose is extra reinforced with synthetic rubber. This is also on the heel. The shoe has a good pull loop at the heel. Six out of 10 eyelets are made of nylon, the other four are made of metal.
The Contagrip sole is fairly stiff but resembles a running shoe in terms of suppleness under the forefoot. The flex point is neatly under the forefoot. The shoes cannot be resoled. The lining in the shoe is a Gore-Tex membrane which makes the shoes breathable and waterproof.
Quicklace system
Salomon does something special with the lacing of their shoes in a big part of the Salomon shoe collection: the Quicklace system. This system consists of a thin endless lace that runs through all eyes. By pulling on the laces and sliding a ‘buckle’ you tighten the laces. A quick and simple method. You can store the loose part of the lace and the ‘buckle’ in a ‘garage’ on the tongue. Before putting the shoes on it is necessary to release this ‘buckle’. Then you open the tongue and the entry is fairly easy. The pull loop on the back of the heel is pleasant.
Practice
The above-mentioned lace construction proves to be extremely easy in practice, because it is also easy to do with cold and wet hands. Even quick adjustments on the go are a pleasure. The low weight makes the shoes feel more like lightweight running shoes than low mountain hiking shoes.
The comfort of the Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX is also of a high level: the padding of the tongue and around the ankles is wonderfully soft. Due to the construction, the upper fits snugly around the foot, which provides a lot of support. The sole is sturdy enough to continue walking comfortably during longer trips with a not too heavy hut-to-hut backpack.
Ortholite insole
The cushioning of the shoe is excellent. The removable Ortholite certainly contributes here. The insole is made up of different densities of foam and has a nice tub shape. The forefoot has perforation holes to wick sweat down. A moisture absorbing layer below would make it even better because here it sometimes gets damp.
Due to the strong banana shape of the sole and the rounded heel, the X Ultra walks (and runs) very easily. The outsole offers super grip in wet and dry conditions. The coarse profile with Chevrons is very effective when ascending and descending. The outsole brakes well and therefore it gives a lot of confidence.
The shoe has proven to be waterproof in practice and the combination of synthetic materials and a Gore-Tex membrane ensures a reasonably breathable shoe. The wading height is 80 mm, which is high for a low hiking shoe.
Verdict
With the X Ultra 3 GTX, Salomon puts down a shoe that is somewhere between a low mountain hiking shoe and a trail run / running shoe. It is light in weight and comfort is at a high level. Putting on and taking off is easy thanks to the Quicklace lacing system. It is also nice that it is easy to use with cold hands. The Contagrip sole has a profile that offers a lot of grip when climbing and descending. The Chevrons profile give a lot of confidence, especially downhill.
The Gore-Tex is waterproof and reasonably breathable. By using only synthetic material, the shoe absorbs little moisture, which saves weight and drying time. The all-round protection is excellent. The shoe is very versatile: from quick walks to more challenging trips with a medium backpack. The Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX costs € 144.95 and that is a great price. The fact that it cannot be resoled does not alter this and therefor I rate the Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX at 9.2 points out of 10 total.
Information: www.salomon.com
Full technical details
- Price: € 144.95
- Weight: L 374.1 g R 364.3 g (size 7.5)
- Specified: 380 g (1 shoe size 8)
- Category: A
- Upper: Synthetic / Mesh / Textile
- Membrane: Gore-Tex
- Sole: Salomon Contagrip TD
- Resoleable: No
- Fit: Normal feet
- Sizes: men UK 6.5-13.5, women UK 3.5-10.5
- Ladies model: Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX Women
