Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX Review | WORTH It In 2025?

In this article, I'm going to share my HONEST Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX Review for those who are wondering whether they are still WORTH IT in 2025. Salomon, known for their excellent hiking shoes and boots have come out with one of the lightest hiking shoes on the market.

For this review, I have put in over 80 miles into testing my own personal pair of Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX throughout the summer and fall months. I'm very familiar with how they feel and perform on the trails. I'll go over comfort, traction, overall protection, water resistance, fit, stability & support, and durability.

I'll be sharing my critical opinion with 10 years of experience as a trail guide and experienced hiker.

See Our Hand Tested  Salomon X Ultra 4 YouTube Review

Should you buy the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX?

Buy if 

• You want one of the best overall values for lightweight hiking shoes under $170 today.

• You prioritize the lightweight “feel” and performance of a hiking shoe

• You love the performance of the Salomon line of hiking boots and shoes

• You want a versatile hiking shoe with great on trail performance

DON'T Buy if 

• You are hiking in extreme technical terrain 

• You prefer the most plush hiking shoes on the market

Salomon X 4 Pros and Cons 

 Pros

• One of the best lightweight hiking shoes on the market

• Excellent Build Quality

• Excellent water resistance

• Secure fit with advanced chassis

• Great support given its lightweight profile

Cons 

• Welded synthetic material not as durable

• Lack of ankle support

• Issues with quicklace system

• Concerns with soft spots regarding overall protection

Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX Price 

At the time of this writing, the X Ultra 4 are priced at $180 retail, but available on Amazon below for as low as $155 brand new.

Order the Salomon X Ultra for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail): 

Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX (Amazon)

Disclosure: These links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to run the website 🙂

Salomon X Ultra 4 Comfort: 7.5/10 

As I said in my most recent Hoka Kaha 2 GTX review, the most important aspect of the hiking shoe is comfort, without proper comfort you can throw performance out of the window because you'll never wear them. While these hiking shoes aren’t winning an award for the most comfortable shoes, they definitely are comfortable. 

I was able to open up the tongue of the shoe easily and slip my foot in. The Ortholite sock liner was a pleasant surprise, it protects you well from the synthetic material of the upper rubbing against your foot. 

The X Ultra 4 shoes offer a robust nature of comfort that can last week long treks or a general hike in the forest. The first aspect I noted right out of the box was the cushioning of the heel. I was able to do box jumps without absorbing any shock into my heel(my personal test for comfort around the heel).

Next I turn my eyes to the reinforced nature of the toes, able to absorb shock easily while foot striking. I noticed slipping of my heel while hiking, which was hard to correct without traditional laces.

The width of the shoe allows easy slip-on but is also what causes the heel slipping because the tongue of the shoe is too loose.

The Quicklace  system is found on every X Ultra shoe of Salomon. I noticed the lightweight effect of the laces allows me to zip them on quickly and effectively. One issue I had with them is the fact that the quicklace system tends to lose it’s tension over time. You can also purchase a pair of these shoes with traditional laces, which would be my suggestion. 

I felt the toe box was one of the best features of this shoe. I had no issues with compression of my toes while testing these shoes. Since most of the material is synthetic there was no break in period with them!

Overall, the Salomon X Ultra 4 is a decently comfortable lightweight hiking shoe. I had issues with the quicklace system as well as the height of the ankle cuff. The ankle cuff is definitely higher than most low-cut hiking shoes and can cause some extra rubbing. 

Weighing just 14 oz on my scale, the Salomon X Ultra 4 is tied for the lightest hiking shoes I have tested to date. The Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR 2 weighed 14 oz as well. 

As a frame of reference, the Merrell Moab 3 (A comparable lightweight model) weighed in at 1.1 pds or 15% heavier than Salomon X 4 Ultra GTX!

Traction: 9.5/10

The traction of the Salomon X Ultra 4 is nothing but astonishing, being so lightweight and having elite traction is such a rare combination. A Salomon exclusive combination of rubber outsole called Contagrip MA gives the stamp of approval when it comes to traction.

The Contagrip outsole is a terrific option for this all-around hiking shoe that can handle a range of terrain types but also last for more than just a few hikes. 

I have a personal case study of the highest performing outsoles, the Contagrip beats out the Vibram outsole(which makes up a large amount of hiking shoes in the industry) in most categories. See Contagrip vs Vibram which one is better?

I felt the Contagrip held up well against tough rocky terrain, it is also strong enough to allow us to trek through the mud without trouble. While hiking in mud, the lugs are spaced out enough to allow great traction, and the deep lugs do not carry the mud with you. Climbing uphill is where the traction of this shoe shines, the lugs dig deep like the terrain is no match. 

The chevron lugs are very well placed. I would say the X Ultra 4 has one of the most unique traction lug patterns which gives you that extra edge on the trail.

With that being said, the Contagrip sole tends to run soft and can wear easier over time. I have taken my Salomon X Ultra over 100 miles now and the outsole is beginning to wear, it does not have the amazing traction it once possessed but is still usable. 

Overall Protection 3.5/5 

The Salomon X Ultra 4 uses a variety of textiles and synthetic materials to make up a majority of the shoe. The material carries traditional stitching as well as some areas of welded materials. The welded material tends to carry less weight however is less durable. 

The front of the toe box has a nice rubber toe cap which protects you from any sharp objects. One area of concern I had was the sides of the shoe. The stitched synthetic material is decent, but does put you at risk for piercing sharp objects. 

The heel has a strong rubber protective mechanism that I had zero issues with, this is what makes this shoe unique many lightweight hiking shoes lack heel protection. 

The ankle cuff is slightly higher than most low cut hiking shoes as we mentioned before, which helps with overall protection. I felt my ankle had less free range of motion medially and laterally which prevented any ankle sprains. The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid is also an option if you want a “mid” version for extra ankle protection. 

When it comes to overall protection, the Salomon X Ultra has great features for a lightweight hiking shoe. It is expected that lightweight hiking shoes will have less overall protection to make up for weight, however Salomon did not skip out on making sure you have good overall protection. 

Water Resistance 5/5 

The Salomon X Ultra 4 is equipped with a Gore-tex liner for water resistance. A credit to their superior materials and design, the shoes have reliably kept water out throughout all my hikes keeping my feet dry.

I find the waterproofing to be really dependable throughout the long run, not simply the instant dryness. For every serious hiker, this feature alone justifies the shoes' purchase. An added bonus, is the fact that Salomon made the tongue waterproof as well which increases height water I can submerge in. 

The lightweight technology of these shoes allow excellent breathability As the weather is getting hotter at the beginning of summer here, I was able to complete a 5 mile-hike without any issues of sweaty feet while on the trail. I did not feel any heat getting trapped inside the boot, as Gore-Tex liners are known to do. I would say the X Ultra 4 is an excellent choice for summer hiking. 

Does The Salomon X Ultra 4 Fit Well?

As I said before, it was very easy to slip on these hiking shoes. For me, I felt there was more than adequate room around the heel and toe box. The tongue is soft and compressible allowing for a contoured fit over the top of your foot. 

These shoes are more on the narrow side, however do have more room to expand given the synthetic material. I am a wider sized fit but did not have to expand to purchasing the wide size, which is available. 

Overall, I am a size men's 10.5 and did not have to size up or down with this model. 

Salomon Ultra 4 Fit  4.5/5 

X Ultra 4 GTX Stability & Support 4/5

Salomon has been able to maintain top-notch support while reducing weight by introducing some new and cutting-edge technology. This shoe is constructed on the Advanced chassis, or ADV-C which is clearly more supportive and structured than the typical hiking shoe from the moment you put it on. 

Usually there is a trade-off between support and weight however, not with the X Ultra 4’s. The quality of the support of the EVA midsole is one of the best sellers for this shoe. I was able to complete long-treks on rugged terrain without having to worry about the constant pain I usually get in my mid foot, I was surprised by this because this shoe is less flexible than your average.

In general, I do not like low-cut hiking shoes because they keep your ankles open leading to increased risk of injury and sprains etc. However, I noticed with the robust lacing system, my ankle felt stable while hiking. One of the best tell-tale signs of stability- Are you able to dorsi/plantar flex without trouble? And Are you able to feel that your ankle is supported through that whole range of motion? For me, the X Ultra 4's passed the test.

Durability 8/10

You may wonder why I have such a low rating for durability yet I have not had this boot for more than a year. The synthetic material around the tongue of the shoe will fray with time. This is not a manufacturing error, but more related to what the shoe is meant for.

This shoe is meant to be lightweight, flexible, and comfortable. When you have those attributes built into a hiking shoe, you must trade off some durability; this is an inversely proportional relationship.

The biggest telltale signs of a hiking shoes durability is the tongue and the outsole wearing down. The outsole can wear down evenly or unevenly which also tells from which the quality of the shoe was built. No signs of premature wear around the toe box.

So far the Contrgrip sole is wearing down evenly, I noticed some fraying on the tongue of the shoe so far. These shoes are ultralight weight that usually means they do not have top-line durability. 

Is the Salomon X Ultra 4 worth it? 

Don't let the low scores in durability and comfort sway you away from this shoe. The X Ultra 4 is one of the best hiking shoes out on the market. 

So are they worth it? The short answer is yes, for anyone looking for a waterproof, robust, lightweight hiking shoe, I highly recommend the X Ultra 4's. This shoe has been revised multiple times by Salomon, consistently outperforming its predecessors.

The performance is unmatched when it comes to traction and long treks, all while combining ultra-lightweight design—a true anomaly in the hiking world. The Gore-Tex waterproof membrane adds an extra layer of waterproof protection, ensuring your feet stay dry in all conditions.

Not many other lightweight hiking shoes can match the trail performance of the X Ultra 4. Being able to get the best lightweight hiking shoes on the market under $160 is a steal in my opinion.

If you're somebody who is mainly hiking throughout the weekends, and want a high performing yet lightweight hiking shoe this is the pair for you. 

The strengths of this hiking shoe are the outstanding performance, lightweight ability,  and excellent water resistance. 

The drawbacks to consider would be there are more supportive and more durable models out there like the Keen Targhee IV  or Salomon Quest 4 for hikers in more rugged terrain.  

Overall, the X Ultra 4 scores well in our testing categories, and has a decent price given its performance. This showcases the value of the shoe, however they will not last forever which you should factor into your purchasing decision. 

Value: 4.5/5

Scoring Breakdown 

Comfort: 7.5 / 10 

Traction: 9.5 / 10

Overall Protection: 3.5 / 5

Waterproofness: 5 / 5

Stability & Support: 4 / 5

Fit: 4.5 / 5

Durability: 8 / 10

Value: 4.5 / 5

Total: 46.5 / 55

 Our Rating: 8.4 / 10 

At the time of this writing, the X Ultra 4 are priced at $180 retail, but available on Amazon below for as low as $155 brand new.

Order the Salomon X Ultra 4 for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail): 

Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX (Amazon)

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are the Salomon X Ultra 4 good for winter?

Yes, you may use the X Ultra 4's in the winter, however keep in mind if you are using the low-cut version, you may want to have extra warm socks with ankle protection. 

What is the difference between Salomon Ultra 3 and 4?

The Salomon Ultra 3 is the same version as the 4, however the 4 is known to be more lightweight. X Ultra 4: Upgrades to an improved Contagrip MA outsole, offering better grip and stability, particularly on loose or soft ground. This enhances performance on more challenging trails.

Are Salomon X Ultra 4 equipped with a waterproof membrane?

Yes, they use Gore-Tex technology, known for waterproofing and breathability. 

How We Tested and Our Methodology 

I personally tested the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX for a whole year now, with the sole intent of giving you the most unbiased review possible. Mountaineer Journey is a 100% independent publisher with years of testing and reviewing outdoor equipment.

Over the past decade, I have logged over 2,000 hiking miles across diverse terrains, from the rugged Appalachian Trail to the challenging Rocky Mountains. This extensive experience allows me to evaluate the Salomon X Ultra 4 performance accurately in real-world conditions. 

We currently pay for the products we test ourselves; no company or manufacturer pays us to sway our opinions or decisions.

Adventure Awaits,

Tyler