Salomon Outline Mid Gore-Tex, Men's waterproof hiking shoe

Product Information

When I first got these Salomon hiking sneakers, I took them to Australia for a three-week trip full of hikes through the bush, in humid rainforest, and along beaches. They served me well and have remained comfortable on the walks I've done since then. With that in mind, I have to admit that I didn’t really experience any stability-related problems – such as turned ankles – while testing Salomon Outline GTX hiking shoes. On the outside, the upper is comprised of anti-debris mesh (keeps debris from sneaking inside), synthetic material (sustains durability and protection from outdoor activities), and the GORE-TEX membrane (found in the waterproof version). If you can see this amount of space then you are pretty much on the way to making sure that your boots are the correct size. This space between your toes and the end of the footbed ensures that you will not stub your toes on the inside of the boot when you descend. This can be excruciatingly painful. If you can’t see this amount of space then it’s a good bet that the boots will be too small.

I tested a pair of waterproof “Mid” shoes and a pair of waterproof “Low” shoes and both pairs performed very nicely when it comes to breathability and water resistance, which is precisely what one can expect from footwear using a Gore-Tex membrane. Last but not least, the lugs, which are 5 mm in depth, present 27 different geometries to finish off the surface-gripping formula. No mud can ever hinder your pace since the lugs are well-spaced enough to let the mud come off on its own. Salomon Outline GTX hiking shoes are available in two variants – the waterproof version and the non-waterproof (non-GTX) version.Stability-wise, several features accommodate tread and steadiness, namely, the outsole’s relatively wide base (wide in comparison to its fit). Combined with the 5 mm lugs, both elements guarantee smoothe hiking on whatever trail you choose. The OUTline Prism GTX is available in a Gore-Texand non Gore-Tex versions. Having it as a low-cut profile allows the shoe to be accessible as a running shoe and reduces weight and bulk. The Gore-Texmembrane kept my feet dry, even while running through saturated bogs and remote fells in the Peak District. It’s perhaps no surprise that the Pale Almond color was soon rendered more Bog Brown by the end of its first outing, but discoloration aside, they didn’t let any moisture in, which made them ideal for exploring in wet conditions. Fit Midsole:The midsole is an injected EVA that helps to protect your joints and muscles and adds to the overall all-day comfort of the shoe. the midsole flexeswith you whilst you're running whilst still giving you ample stability on technical terrain. These Salomon trek shoes come in full and half sizes for men and women. Anatomically, slim is the sneaker’s fit. It’s true to size. I have a European 38 and rather slim feet. The 38 fits me perfectly.

This test will tell you if the shape of the internal heel cup matches your heel to ensure it holds you securely, especially when ascending steep ground. We are trying to eliminate the dreaded heel blister. The fit of this men’s shoe is a bit narrow (more on that later), especially in the toe box area. However, this can also be seen as an advantage – if you have low-volume feet, i.e. if your feet are particularly narrow, the Salomon Outline Low GTX shoes are an ideal option for you. An important thing to mention here is that I took the shoes straight from the box to the trail. It’s quite obvious that Salomon Outline GTX requires a gentler break-in period. Now that your boots are done up properly stand up on your tiptoes and walk on the spot on the balls of your feet as if you are walking up a steep hill. If your heels lift more than approximately 5mm from the footbed you may need to pull the laces tighter, or the boots may just be the wrong shape for you. During my test hike, I noticed how the model’s toe cap – which is made out of rubber – starts to slowly peel away. On one of the shoes, this part was already sort of detached by the end of the hike. On the other, it looked like it was going to separate if I just push down on it hard enough.Salomon went classic with regular flat laces on the Outline GTX. This type of laces reduces discomfort for the instep, guaranteeing a comfortable fit. They're also durable and easy to tie.

Even the “Mid” GTX version has a lower-cut and significantly more flexible ankle than a lot of other “Mids” I tested in the last couple of years. Neither the Low nor the Mid variant of this popular shoe is designed for technical terrain or multi-day hiking. Unfortunately, however, Salomon Outline GTX is somewhat of a letdown in this department. As I already stated, the model combines a hiking boot and a trail runner in a single product, and the result of this mixture is an overall construction that is noticeably light.

What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?

However, even after the most rigorous assessment and testing, there is no better way to be absolutely sure than to have the boots on your feet for an extended period of time. We therefore offer our Home Trial Period which gives you the opportunity to wear the boots around your house to give you an indication of how they feel before you venture outside. We recommend that during the Home Trial Period that you wear the boots for as long as possible and at different times of the day, wear them up and down stairs, when moving around and when resting, you can even sleep in them if you want. In addition, the outsole of these Salomon trekking shoes is a mixture of multiple ingredients. The recipe provides the necessary compounds for diverse surfaces. Salomon shoes often run narrow, but the OUTward is a bit more generous and a great match for those with average feet. One thing worth mentioning here is that a lot of folks typically end up using Salomon Outline GTX only for day hiking in good weather. Given that, you may want to consider getting yourself the non-waterproof variant of this shoe, especially if you don’t appreciate hiking in wet conditions. You’ll be saving on both money and weight (the non-waterproof variant costs and weighs less).