Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots For Women are waterproof and lightweight, and above all they look great. They provide an excellent support for such a mid-cut design.
Key features & benefits
- Great design.
- Durable.
- Reliable GORE-TEX membrane.
- Lightweight.
- Great protection & stability.
- Versatile boots.
What is in the name
Boots or shoes: I have seen some using the word shoe for this item. In fact, these are boots, you see this from their ankle support. Although they are not so deep and the number of eyelets is only 5 (some shoes have the same number), these are indeed mid-cut boots.
The version 3: The number 3 in the name indicates that this is the latest 2018 version which is lighter and more modern than the previous version with the number 2 in the name. They have improved the stability while keeping the chassis lighter. The upper area is also improved and reinforced and here you have what they describe as the Sensifit design.
This is a model for women as the name suggests and this implies the sole profile to fit women’s anatomy. For example, there is more internal arch support, and the Sensifit design is asymmetric, the same asymmetry is also in the chassis where you have more support, you have the appropriate colors (they have them 6 for these boots), and the appropriate size range.
Who is it for – best use & users
This is a lightweight construction for women, half-way between heavy and bulky hiking boots and hiking shoes. You have enough ankle support for carrying a relatively heavy backpack while still being flexible and soft for an out of the box comfort. These are boots for hikers, mountaineers, and backpackers.
Please see a bit more in this short video by Salomon:
Overview of features
The boots are with the GORE-TEX booty inside. It is sandwiched between the outer layer and the inner padding. This external layer is particularly important to have breathable boots, so they have made it very breathable to help the membrane working properly. This is a combination of a water-resistant synthetic and PU-coated leather and rubber at exposed places.
The design is such that they provide plenty of space on the front yet they are snug enough on the back where this is necessary.
Excellent grip
Here you have a non-marking High Traction Contagrip outsole design which includes deep and aggressive lugs for an optimal traction regardless of the terrain. Note that the design includes two different rubber densities.
Advanced chassis – what is this
Salomon uses this term for the structure placed between the outsole and midsole, it is there to maximize motion control and energy management, and to enhance protection. This includes an EVA foam layer and a molded shank between the inner layer and the outer sole, it is visible in the picture below.
Inside you have an anatomic OrthoLite sock liner, but you can also remove it if you want to use your own.
Support & stability
There are several elements to consider when you inspect the support and stability. The most important are i) the collar height and cushioning, ii) the sole quality and design, iii) overall fit. More about this is available in my separate text.
These are mid-cut boots so the support is what you might expect from such a design, in general it is good enough here. As for the sole design, this is one of the best features of these boots.
Regarding the overall fit, it is important that your foot is fixed and without movement front and back or to the sides, otherwise you can be sure you will suffer from blisters. This is where laces play a role as well as those overlays which you see in the pictures. I have noticed that 72% of Amazon customers were happy with the fit. So to be in the same group of satisfied users, note that they run a bit wide in the front area.
Specifications
- Type: mid-high boot.
- Best use: hiking, mountaineering, backpacking.
- Weight (pair): 1.84 lb (835 g).
- Number of eyelets: 5.
- Membrane: GORE-TEX.
- Midsole height: 8 – 19 mm.
- Upper: water-resistant textile and PU-coated leather.
- Outsole: high traction Contagrip rubber.
- Midsole: EVA foam.
- Toe protection: rubber cap.
- Gusseted tongue.
Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots vs Competitors
Here I give these Salomon’s boots side by side with two top-notch models that have been on the market for many years already. Only a few basic features are given so please follow the links to see more. As you realize, these boots are close to the other two regarding the weight. The prices are dependent on the size, so check the links for updates.
Weight pair, lb (g)
Membrane
Height
Upper
Eyelets
Salomon X Ultra
3 Mid Boots
1.84 (835)
GORE-TEX
mid-cut
synthetic & leather
5
Lowa
Renegade GTX
1.72 (780)
GORE-TEX
mid-cut
leather
7
Keen
Targhee II
1.78 (805)
Keen-Dry
mid-cut
leather
5
Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons
In the summary of this Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots For Women review, I would stress that these are very reliable boots for general outdoor use, regardless if this is about extended or day tours. They look really good, the quality is unquestionable, the price is a bit steep but the boots are worth the money. These boots are very easy to break-in, and they provide a great traction on any terrain.
Perhaps you did not know, Solomon is a world-renown brand that has started building outdoor equipment in 1947 in the Alps, more precisely in Annecy in France. This was mainly related to the ski binding and ski in general. Later they started making boots for skiers and for outdoor use.
Please see how I rate these great boots:
Salomon Women's X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots
Pros
- Great design.
- GORE-TEX product.
- Comfortable.
- Good support.
Cons
- Expensive.
If you need something different, please visit my page with boots and shoes, many of them are presented in detail. Check these all-leather Oboz Sapphire Mid B-Dry Hiking Boots For Women that are in the same price range. Thank you for reading, please use the comment box below in the case of questions and comments. Have a nice day.
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