Hiking gear is a weirdly personal thing. You can read a hundred reviews, but until you’re six miles into a muddy descent with a 25-pound pack, you don't actually know if your boots are your best friends or your worst enemies. The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX is the poster child for this kind of trail-side drama.
Ask a group of hikers about them. Half will tell you they’re the nimblest, most reliable boots they’ve ever owned. The other half might complain about the "pop" in the toe box or the weirdly thin lacing. Honestly, both groups are probably right.
I’ve spent years watching the evolution of the X Ultra line, from the legendary (and arguably sturdier) version 3 to the current 2026 landscape where the newer X Ultra 5 is starting to take over. But here’s the thing: people are still buying the 4. They’re buying it because it sits in that "Goldilocks" zone—half trail runner, half boot—that few other brands have quite mastered.
The Identity Crisis That Actually Works
Most hiking boots are, well, boots. They’re heavy, stiff, and make you feel like you’re wearing bricks. The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX basically ignores that tradition. It’s built on the DNA of a trail runner, which explains why it only weighs about 15 ounces per boot. That’s absurdly light for something that covers your ankles.
When you put them on, you notice the "ActiveSupport" wings right away. These are the little mobile flaps on the side that connect to the laces. When you tighten the boot, these wings pull the chassis around your midfoot. It doesn’t just sit on your foot; it hugs it.
But don’t let the "Mid" height fool you into thinking you’re getting the support of a mountaineering boot. The ankle collar is soft. Kinda squishy, even. If you have weak ankles and you’re carrying a 50-pound expedition pack, these are not the boots for you. You’ll roll your ankle and blame the boot, but the truth is you just brought a knife to a gunfight. These are for fast-and-light missions.
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Breaking Down the Specs (The Real Stuff)
Let’s look at the numbers because they actually matter for your gait.
- Drop: 11mm. This is a pretty steep heel-to-toe drop. If you’re used to "zero-drop" shoes like Altras, your calves are going to feel this.
- Lugs: 4.5mm Chevron-style. These are aggressive. On loose dirt or wet grass, they bite.
- Membrane: GORE-TEX. It’s the industry standard for a reason. It keeps you dry in a stream crossing up to about 4 inches, but yeah, it gets hot in July.
One thing people get wrong is the "Mid" vs "Low" debate. The Mid version uses traditional laces, while the Low version usually sports Salomon’s "Quicklace" system. Personally? I prefer the traditional laces on the Mid. It lets you customize the tension—tight across the top of the foot but a bit looser at the ankle, or vice versa. You can’t really do that with a plastic slider.
The "Crease" Issue: What Nobody Tells You
Go read some long-term reviews and you’ll see people complaining about a "popping" sound or a pinch at the base of the toes. This is the infamous X Ultra 4 crease. Because the upper is a mix of PU-coated leather and synthetic textile, it can sometimes fold inward rather than outward as it breaks in.
Does it happen to everyone? No. It depends on your foot volume. If you have "low volume" (thin) feet, you’re more likely to experience the pinch because there’s more empty space for the material to collapse into. If you have meatier feet, the boot stays filled out and the crease usually behaves.
Why the Contagrip Sole is a Double-Edged Sword
Salomon uses their proprietary "All Terrain Contagrip" rubber. It is remarkably sticky. I’ve worn these on the granite slabs of the High Sierra and felt like Spiderman. On wet rock, it’s one of the few rubbers that doesn’t turn into a slip-and-slide.
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But there is a trade-off. Soft rubber provides grip, but soft rubber also wears out. If you do a lot of "road-to-trail" hiking—where you’re walking on pavement or gravel paths for miles before hitting the dirt—the lugs will disappear faster than you’d like. I’ve seen some users burn through the heel tread in under 250 miles. If you’re a heavy-footed hiker, keep an eye on those chevrons.
Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX vs. The Competition
You’re probably also looking at the Merrell Moab 3 or the Hoka Anacapa. Here’s how they actually stack up in the wild.
The Merrell Moab 3 is the "old reliable." It’s heavier, much wider, and feels more like a traditional shoe. It has way more cushion under the forefoot than the Salomon. If you want a "plush" ride, go Merrell. But if you want to feel the trail and move fast, the Moab feels like a boat compared to the X Ultra’s jet ski.
The Hoka Anacapa (or the Kaha) is all about that "maximalist" foam. It’s like walking on marshmallows. The X Ultra 4 is the opposite; it’s firm. Salomon’s "EnergyCell" midsole is designed for energy return, not pillows. After 10 miles, your feet might feel "tired" in the Salomons, but you won’t have that "wobbly" feeling that some people get with high-stack Hokas.
Sizing: The Great Debate
Whatever you do, don't just order your standard sneaker size and hope for the best. Salomon’s sizing has been a bit "creative" lately.
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Most experts and long-term testers suggest that the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX runs a bit long and narrow. However, a significant portion of the community (about 15-20% based on recent gear surveys) finds they actually need to size down a half step to get a "technical fit" where the foot doesn't slide forward on descents.
If you have wide feet, don’t even try the regular version. You’ll be miserable. Salomon makes a specific "Wide" version of the X Ultra 4, and it’s actually wide—not just a slightly bigger upper, but a wider base plate.
Is It Still Worth Buying in 2026?
With the X Ultra 5 now hitting the shelves, the X Ultra 4 is often found on the clearance rack. Honestly? That’s the best time to buy it.
The differences between the 4 and the 5 aren't revolutionary. The 5 has a slightly redesigned chassis and a different tongue gusset to address some of the debris-entry issues, but the core performance—the weight, the grip, and the GORE-TEX protection—is nearly identical.
Actionable Advice for Buyers:
- The "Flex Test": When you try them on, do a deep lunging stretch. If you feel the top of the boot pinching your toes painfully, return them immediately. That's the crease issue, and it rarely "breaks in" or goes away.
- Swap the Insoles: The included OrthoLite insoles are... fine. But they’re thin. If you find the forefoot too hard, swapping in a pair of Superfeet or even a generic gel insole can transform the boot.
- Lacing Hack: If your heel is slipping, use a "heel lock" lacing technique. Since the X Ultra 4 Mid has traditional eyelets at the top, you can easily loop the laces to pull your heel back into the pocket.
- Dry Them Right: Never put these next to a campfire or a heater. The PU-coated leather and the glues used in the welded seams can brittle and crack under high heat. Air dry only.
The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX isn't a perfect boot—no such thing exists. It’s a specialized tool for people who want to move fast, stay dry, and don’t mind a firmer ride. It’s for the hiker who treats the trail like a playground rather than a grind. If that sounds like you, then the quirks are a small price to pay for the agility you get in return.