Review: Salomon X-Ultra Mid 2 GTX

- product provided for the purpose of review, with thanks to Salomon -

Manufacturer's Description: Updated with sleek, athletic design details, X-Ultra Mid 2 GTX® provides stability, mid height support and the year round climate comfort of GORE-TEX®

Features:

• Breathable and lightweight stretch fabric uppers
• Gore-Tex membrane
• Mid cut ankle for support
• Gusseted tongue
• Protective rubber toe cap
• Sensifit system works to cradle the foot providing a precise and secure fit.
• An abrasion resistant lining that allows for excellent breathability and quick drying
• Non marking Contagrip sole
• Advanced Chassis
• Molded EVA provides excellent next to foot cushioning and anatomical support
• EVA shaped footbed
• OrthoLite insole
• Heel foam for cushioning
• 565g (per boot, size 10.5)

Feature Breakdown:

A Gore-Tex lined, mid-height boot for those looking for something lighter and more sporty than a traditional leather boot. Stretch fabric uppers along with the EVA shaped footbed and OrthoLite insole all provide great comfort while the sole and advanced chassis give support and strength. Plenty of technology crammed into a boot that weighs 565g!

Field Testing:

We've had a fair bit of rain in the south west over the past few months so putting on a mid-cut fabric boot while leaving my trusty leather boots behind wasn't the easiest thing to do... Since getting in to walking I've always had leather boots, something instilled in me by the walkers in my family, for the past few months though I've been looking for something more from my walking footwear, wondering if lightweight and sporty is the way forward. 

My first impressions were positive, the boots are seriously light but still feel well made. Fit obviously varies from brand to brand so I made sure to try some on in a my local outdoor store, never buy boots online without trying them on! 

On doing them up I was a bit frustrated with the tongue, it doesn't seem to wrap the ankle nicely and I found my trousers kept catching it and riding up, not a massive issue but if lightweight and streamlined is what Salomon is going for then it's not in keeping with the rest of the boot.

The Contagrip sole is up there with Vibram in my eyes, it provided good grip on a mix of terrain including loose mud and wet rock, I didn't notice any clumping of mud or dirt in the sole either.  

Out on the moor with bogs, wet grass and rain I found the boot kept water out nicely, there's no insulation so while my foot occasionally felt cold my sock was never damp when taking the boots off. This is also a sign of the boot breathing well, GoreTex can easily cause moisture build up as dirt clogs the membrane but I didn't have this issue, the outer fabric and lower cut help keep the foot cool and mean less sweat. 



Long-term use:

Over the past few months I've kept coming back to these boots, they're comfortable and light, perfect when the weather's improving and less layers means you can move a bit faster.

The build quality is great, as with most Salomon product, the boots are still going well and seem to be in top condition even after use on Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor through winter and spring. 

If you're looking for a lightweight option for big days out then this is a great choice, I'm very nearly a full convert to the mid, fabric boot! Never thought I'd say it.

Thanks again to Salomon for providing the boots to test. Thanks for reading! Paul.