Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX

Jake Reyes spent six weeks in the X Ultra 4 GTX around Bishop and the eastern Sierra this spring — day hikes in Buttermilk Country, a wet shoulder-season approach to Little Lakes Valley with lingering snow patches, and a handful of guiding days on granite slabs in the Owens River Gorge. Total mileage on the test pair landed around 140 miles before this writeup.

Who this boot is for

The X Ultra 4 GTX sits in the increasingly crowded "low-cut waterproof hiker" bracket — closer to a beefed-up trail runner than a traditional boot. If you're carrying 20 pounds or less on maintained trail and want something that feels broken in straight out of the box, this is the slot it fills. Hikers who load up to 35+ pounds, or anyone routinely on talus and loose scree, should look at the mid-cut version or step up to a stiffer boot entirely.

Fit and break-in

Out of the box the X Ultra 4 fits true to Salomon's typical last: medium-volume midfoot, moderately snug heel pocket, and a toe box that's narrower than something like an Altra Lone Peak but wider than a Salomon Speedcross. Jake wears an 11 in most trail runners and the 11 fit cleanly with a midweight Darn Tough.

Break-in is genuinely short. The synthetic-and-leather upper has minimal stiff overlays, and the SensiFit cradle conforms quickly. By the end of a 9-mile shakedown there were no hot spots, no heel rub, and no complaints from a tester who has been pickier about footwear after a calcaneus issue last year. People with high-volume feet or wider forefoot may want the "Wide" SKU — the standard width is on the trim side of average.

Lacing

The Quicklace system is divisive. Jake is largely a fan: pull, cinch, tuck the toggle into the tongue pocket, done. It locks in evenly across the foot and doesn't loosen mid-day. The downside is granularity — you can't really run a heel-lock or independently snug the forefoot vs. the upper cuff. On steep descents that cost a little toe-bang real estate.

On trail

The defining quality here is liveliness. At 780 grams for the pair, the X Ultra 4 moves more like a trail runner than a boot, and the EnergyCell midsole has enough rebound that pace feels easy on rolling terrain. The Contagrip MA outsole hooked up well on dry granite slab, dusty decomposed-granite singletrack, and damp pine duff. Wet, mossy log crossings and slick wet rock were predictably less confident — that's a rubber-compound limitation, not specific to this model.

Lateral stability is where the low-cut design shows its hand. The Advanced Chassis under the midfoot does noticeable work keeping the foot tracking on uneven ground, and on most trail surfaces it's plenty. Push it onto loose scree with weight on your back and you'll feel the ankle wanting more support than the cuff offers. That's a fair tradeoff for the weight, but worth being honest about.

Waterproofing and breathability

The Gore-Tex membrane held up through repeated stream crossings ankle-deep and one accidental boot-top dunk in a snowmelt creek (water came in over the cuff, not through the membrane — that's on the geometry, not the boot). Two days of wet meadow walking left socks dry inside.

The flip side: in 80°F-plus afternoons in the Owens Valley, these get warm. Like every GTX low hiker, breathability is a compromise. If your local hiking is consistently hot and dry, the non-GTX version is the smarter buy.

Durability check

At 140 miles the outsole lugs are showing modest rounding at the heel strike zone but plenty of tread remains. The toe rand is intact. One mesh panel near the medial flex point has a small abrasion mark from talus contact but no fraying. Salomon's reputation on the X Ultra line has historically been mixed on long-term durability — earlier generations were known for delamination at the midsole-upper junction. We'll update this review at 300 and 500 miles.

Compared to

• Hoka Anacapa Low GTX ($185): Plusher, more cushioned, slightly less precise on technical ground. Better for long road-to-trail miles.
• La Sportiva Spire GTX ($229): More supportive and more durable, but $50 pricier and with a longer break-in.
• Merrell Moab 3 WP ($150): Cheaper and roomier, but heavier, less responsive, and noticeably less precise on uneven terrain.

Bottom line

The X Ultra 4 GTX is a competent, comfortable low-cut hiker that earns its spot for day hikes, lighter overnights, and approach duties on moderate terrain. It won't replace a real backpacking boot if you're carrying weight or routinely traveling off-trail, and the GTX membrane is a liability in genuinely hot country. Within those limits, it's an easy boot to recommend — fast to break in, predictable underfoot, and reasonably priced for what's in the build.