I’ve seen a lot of gear come and go. Honestly, most "revolutionary" hiking shoes are just last year’s model with a flashier coat of paint and a $10 price hike. But the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX is different. It’s a polarizing piece of equipment. People either swear by it for its trail-runner-on-steroids feel, or they complain that the redesigned chassis isn't as comfortable as the legendary X Ultra 3.
It’s a fast shoe. Fast and aggressive.
If you’re looking for a traditional, clunky leather boot that feels like a tank on your feet, stop reading. You’ll hate these. But if you’re trying to move quickly over technical terrain without rolling an ankle, this is usually the first shoe people recommend. Salomon basically took their knowledge from elite trail running and crammed it into a hiking silhouette. The result is a shoe that feels incredibly nimble but has a weirdly specific fit that catches some hikers off guard.
The Active Support Wing: Genius or Gimmick?
The most striking thing about the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX when you first pull it out of the box is the "Active Support" wing on the side. It’s this mobile strap that connects the laces to the sole. When you tighten your laces, it literally pulls the upper around your foot.
Does it work? Mostly.
On off-camber trails—those annoying sideways slopes where your foot wants to slide inside your shoe—it’s brilliant. It anchors you. However, I’ve talked to several hikers with high arches who find that this specific mechanism creates a pressure point right on the top of the navicular bone. It’s a trade-off. You get world-class lateral stability, but you might have to spend some time fiddling with the Quicklace tension to get it right.
Salomon opted for a lower-profile chassis this time around. They call it the Advanced Chassis. It’s designed to protect the sensitive joints on the outer foot while keeping the forefoot flexible. It’s a delicate balance. You want to feel the trail, but you don't want to feel every single pebble stabbing your soul after ten miles.
Real Talk on the Contagrip Outsole
Let's talk about the rubber. Salomon uses their proprietary Contagrip MA. Unlike Vibram, which is the industry standard you’ll find on everything from Merrell to Scarpa, Contagrip is an in-house blend.
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The lugs on the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX are deep. They’re chevron-shaped and spaced out specifically to shed mud. If you’ve ever hiked in the Pacific Northwest or the UK in November, you know the struggle of your shoes turning into heavy "mud bricks." These shed debris better than almost any hiker in their weight class.
- The lugs are "sharp" and bite into soft dirt.
- On wet, polished granite? They’re okay. Not amazing, but okay.
- Durability is the question mark. Contagrip is a softer compound than some of the harder Vibram Megagrip variants, so if you use these as everyday walkers on hot pavement, you’re going to melt the tread off in six months. Keep them on the dirt.
Is the Gore-Tex Version Worth the Sweat?
The "GTX" in the name stands for Gore-Tex. Obviously.
Here is the truth: Gore-Tex is a miracle until it isn't. In a low-top hiking shoe like the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX, the waterproof membrane is great for morning dew, shallow puddles, and light rain. But if you step in a hole deeper than three inches, water goes over the collar. Once water gets inside a Gore-Tex shoe, it stays there. It becomes a portable foot bath.
Because this shoe is built for speed, it runs warm. The Gore-Tex membrane, while breathable for a waterproof layer, still acts as a heat trap. If you’re hiking in the desert or during a mid-August heatwave, your feet will sweat. Period. If you live in a dry climate, look for the non-GTX version. Your toes will thank you.
Fit and Sizing Quirks
Salomon has a reputation for being narrow. Traditionally, they were the go-to for people with "ski feet"—long and thin.
With the X Ultra 4, they widened the toe box slightly compared to the version 3. It’s still not an Altra or a Topo Athletic with a massive "foot-shaped" toe box, but it’s more accommodating than it used to be. The heel cup is remarkably deep. It locks you in. If you suffer from heel slip and the resulting blisters, this shoe might be your holy grail.
I’ve noticed a trend in user feedback over the last year: the collar height. It sits a bit higher than a standard sneaker. For some, this causes rubbing on the malleolus (that bony lump on the side of your ankle). If you have low-set ankles, try these on with the socks you actually plan to wear before you commit to a long trek.
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The Quicklace Struggle
Love it or hate it, the Quicklace system isn't going anywhere. It’s a Kevlar string with a plastic slider.
The pros? It never comes untied. You don't have to worry about a loop catching on a root and sending you face-first into the dirt.
The cons? If it breaks in the backcountry, you are in trouble. You can’t just tie it back together easily. While it’s rare for them to snap, carrying a spare kit is a smart move for long-distance through-hikers. Also, there’s a little "garage" or pocket on the tongue to tuck the excess lace into. Use it. If you leave the lace dangling, it’s a tripping hazard.
Weight vs. Protection
At roughly 360 grams for a men’s size 9, these are light.
But light usually means flimsy. Somehow, Salomon kept a beefy rubber toe cap on these. I’ve personally kicked enough rocks to know that a thin mesh upper is a recipe for a broken toenail. The Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX protects the front of the foot like a much heavier boot.
The midsole is EVA foam. It’s snappy. It doesn’t feel "mushy" like a Hoka. It’s designed for ground feel and energy return. If you’re carrying a 40-pound pack, you might find the cushioning a bit thin by the end of the day. But for a day pack or a light overnight load? It’s the sweet spot.
What Most Reviews Get Wrong
Most people compare this to the X Ultra 3 and say it’s "worse." That’s a bit of a simplification. It’s just more specialized.
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The X Ultra 3 was a generalist. The X Ultra 4 is a technical tool. It’s more stable, but that stability comes from a stiffer construction that requires a genuine break-in period. Don't take these out of the box and head straight for a 15-mile summit. You need at least 20 miles of "neighborhood walking" to let that Active Support wing settle and the upper to lose its stiffness.
Maintenance for Longevity
If you want these to last, you have to clean them. Salt from your sweat and fine silt from the trail act like sandpaper on the Gore-Tex membrane.
- Rinse off the mud with lukewarm water after every messy hike.
- Never put them in the dryer. Ever. It ruins the adhesives and the membrane.
- Remove the OrthoLite insoles to let them air dry.
- If the water stops beading on the surface, use a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) spray like Nikwax. The Gore-Tex is on the inside, but if the outer fabric gets "wetted out," the shoe loses its breathability.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Purchase
If you're eyeing the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX, do not just buy your sneaker size and hope for the best.
First, measure your foot in centimeters. Salomon's CM sizing is way more accurate than their US/UK numbering. Second, consider the "Wide" version if you have even a slightly broad forefoot; the standard version is still quite sleek.
Third, check your socks. Because this shoe has a precise, technical fit, a sock that is too thick will make the shoe feel suffocating, while a sock that is too thin might let your foot slide into the toe box on descents. A medium-weight merino wool sock is usually the perfect match for the internal volume of this shoe.
Finally, decide if you actually need the GTX. If you hike in the desert, save the money and the sweat—go with the Aero version. If you're a mountain hiker dealing with unpredictable weather, the GTX is a solid investment in comfort.
This shoe isn't a "one size fits all" solution for every hiker. It’s a specific tool for people who want to move fast, stay stable, and don't mind a slightly more rigid feel underfoot. It’s the evolution of the modern hiking shoe—leaner, meaner, and built for the climb.