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Buyer's Guide

Salomon X Ultra 4 Review & Sizing Guide

Published Updated

Buy X Ultra 4 only at deep clearance — newer X Ultra 5 and X Ultra 360 fix many of the quality complaints; skip at full retail given the documented outsole wear and quality-dip threads. Choose the Mid Wide if you have a wider-than-Salomon foot and the standard width crushes your forefoot 2018 X Ultra 3 wide... my recent Salomon experience is leaving me with no confidence to spend money on the brand again.

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Key facts

Category
Lightweight day hiker; low or mid-cut with Contagrip MA outsole and Advanced Chassis stability frame.
Fit
Athletic narrow last; runs roughly true to size in length but narrow across the forefoot for wider feet.
Variants
Low, Mid GTX, Mid Wide, Mid Wide GTX — Wide variants exist but only in the Mid cut.
Quality concerns
Outsole wear and forefoot rubber splitting documented widely under 200 miles in the 4 generation.
Vs Moab 3
Lighter, lower-volume, and grippier on wet rock than Moab 3; Moab is roomier and longer-lasting per dollar.
Watch-out
X Ultra 5 (2025) addresses some quality complaints — buy 5 at retail, 4 only on clearance.

Full breakdown

Salomon X Ultra 4 is the previous generation of Salomon's flagship day-hike shoe — Contagrip MA outsole, Advanced Chassis stability frame, PU/EVA midsole, and an athletic last that runs narrow vs Merrell Moab 3. The X Ultra 4 generation became the most-litigated quality dip in Salomon hiking footwear on r/hiking, with a 177-upvote thread documenting outer-sole splitting at the toe and forefoot wear inside 200 miles I am very surprised, the sole has worn down to the foam very fast... Hiking these for less than 200 miles, I'd estimate. Buy them only at deep clearance over the newer X Ultra 5/360, and only if your foot fits Salomon's narrow last better than the wider Moab.

FAQ

Is the X Ultra 4 quality dip real, and what specifically fails?

Yes — the most-upvoted hiking thread on the X Ultra 4 documents outsole rubber wearing down to the EVA at the forefoot under 200 miles, plus rubber splitting at the toe cap. The OP wrote I am very surprised, the sole has worn down to the foam very fast and estimated hiking these for less than 200 miles, while a separate r/hiking comment from a 2018 X Ultra 3 wide owner said their recent Salomon experience left them with no confidence to spend money on the brand again my recent Salomon experience is leaving me with no confidence to spend money on the brand again. Buy only at clearance and inspect for sole-edge separation on used pairs; consider the X Ultra 5 or 360 generation for new purchases.

X Ultra 4 vs Merrell Moab 3 Mid GTX — which day hiker is the safer pick?

Moab 3 is the safer all-around pick — wider toebox, better waterproof seal longevity, and a longer outsole life per dollar; X Ultra 4 wins on grip and weight if you have a narrower foot and prioritize traction on wet rock. A 174-upvote r/hiking comparison thread asked exactly this question and the consensus picked Moab 3 on durability and comfort for wide feet, X Ultra 4 only when fit and weight mattered more than longevity Merrell Moab 3 Mid GTX vs Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX. If you have wide feet, choose Moab 3; if you have narrow feet and hike on wet rock or fast terrain, choose X Ultra 4 on sale, or step up to the X Ultra 5.

Will the X Ultra 4 hold up for a multi-day thru-hike like Madeira or the Pyrenees?

Conditionally yes — buy them for multi-day trips only if your pack is light and the terrain is standard hiking trail. r/hiking discussion threads asking exactly this question surface mixed answers depending on terrain and pack weight. The Madeira thru-hike question thread has 34 comments and the consensus tilts toward yes for low pack weight on standard hiking trails, no for sustained scrambling or sharp-rock terrain considering Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX for Madeira thru-hike – thoughts?. Skip them for sharp-rock or scrambling trips; pack a spare insole, treat them with seam sealer before the trip, and inspect the toe-cap rubber for early splitting after each full day.

Should I size up or get the Wide version of the X Ultra 4 Mid?

Get the Wide version if your foot is wider than D — Salomon's standard last runs narrow and the half-size-up trick does not solve a width problem. The dedicated r/hiking thread about the X Ultra 4 Mid Wide is from a wide-foot buyer testing whether the Wide variant actually works for them, and the comments tilt toward yes for length but flag that the Wide is still narrower than a Moab Wide Has your 'Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid Wide' held up with its promises?. If you have very wide feet (4E+), the Salomon Wide may still not be enough — try Moab 3 Wide or Keen Targhee 4 instead.

How fast does the X Ultra 4 outsole actually wear?

Fast for a flagship hiker — the documented baseline is forefoot rubber wearing through to the EVA under 200 miles, and side-rubber splitting at the toe cap is a recurring complaint. The dedicated r/hiking outsole-wear thread shows ridge-pattern Contagrip nubs flattened on the forefoot after a single-summer use cycle Salomon X Ultra 4 outer sole wear. For comparison, Moab 3 owners typically report 500-700 miles on the outsole. Buy X Ultra 4 only if you accept replacing them annually; for higher-mileage hikers, choose Moab 3 or the newer X Ultra 5.