Australian Hiker

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Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX Mens Shoe Review

My hiking shoes and boots are on the larger size (size 14 US) and that means there is a very limited range of hiking footwear from which I can choose to achieve not just that ‘perfect fit’ but also a level of comfort. Over the past few years I have been experimenting with various hiking shoes to determine my ideal shoe and for me it’s come down to the Salomon XA 3D Pro.  Over the past six months I have been playing with the Gore-Tex version of this shoe, the Salomon XA Pro 3D  GTX shoe to see what the difference was and why I would choose one version of this popular shoe over the other. The following write up of the GTX version will read very similarly to the standard version but I have added a section immediately below that identifies the differences between the two versions and why you would choose one over the other.

Salomon originally marketed these shoes as trail runners. As a beginner’s shoe for trail running they work well as they are bullet poof enough to protect the most inexperienced runner from themselves. In doing so they are heavy for a trail running shoe being approximately 25% heavier than the other well-known Salomon shoe, the Speedcross. However it’s this extra weight, due mainly to the built in protection, that make them ideal as a hiking shoe.

Shoe selection is a personal choice based on foot size and shape as well as arch height amongst other criteria. While I have large feet, my foot width is average and as such I find that this shoe supports my foot along the entire length. These shoes come with an above average insole which I quite like and would be happy to use as is. However, sourcing replacement insoles is not easy as they are not usually a product that stores keep in stock and usually require a special order. I replace the standard insole with Blue Superfeet premium insoles. And find that this combination provides me with an extremely comfortable shoe. I originally tried the Green Superfeet insoles and found that the already generous shoe support meant that the Green insoles didn’t work with this shoe.

The soles of the shoe are made up of two rubber compounds. The first one on the bottom of the shoe provides excellent grip during both dry and wet conditions and will comfortably last about 1200 km. The second compound directly blow the feet provides the cushioning. As a trail runner they need to provide this impact protection and this makes them very comfortable hiking shoe. Salomon advises that these shoes need to be ‘worn in’ to gain their maximum comfort but I haven’t found this to be an issue and will wear them straight out of the box on a long hike and have absolutely no issues at all which means that if a pair of shoes die mid trail, then I can replace them and keep on going which is one of my considerations when choosing footwear.

The XA Pro 3D (both versions) has unique lacing system that Salomon calls a ‘Quicklace’ that you either love or hate. Essentially it’s a thin nylon lace that cinches shut with the cinching clip tucking into its own built-in protective pocket on the top of the shoe tongue. I have owned a few pairs of these shoes and have never managed to break these laces before the shoes wear out. Should this ever occur the lacing system is replaceable and if worst comes to worst, you could always use a thin set of shoes laces as a stop gap.

The colour choice on these shoes can only be described as spectacular so long as you don’t have large feet. Once you pass the size 13 mark your choice is very much limited. These shoes are widely available both in-store and online so if you’re travelling they are easy to replace which is one of my criteria when selecting shoes. A word of warning here: they are available from overseas at a very cheap price but pay close attention to the freight cost otherwise you may end up paying more for them than you would in a store. Now I am a strong believer in buying from Australian stores or websites but at the time I purchased theses shoes, which was just after Christmas, I couldn’t locate a pair of UK 13.5 anywhere so had to order them from an overseas website.  I have worn the Salomon XA 3D Pro  for around five years now and know my sizing very well.

The GTX version of this shoe is not on special as often as the non Gore-Tex but when it is take the opportunity to get a good deal. If these shoes fit your foot type, you will very quickly fall in love with them, particularly for those of us with big feet.

Whats the difference between the GTX and the standard version of this shoe?

What’s the difference with the GTX version of this shoe as oppose to the stock standard  Salomon XA 3D Pro ?

• The obvious difference is price and at the time of writing this review the difference between the non Gore-Tex and Gore-Tex version of this shoe was $90 AUD
• The GTX on this shoe stands for Gore-Tex which means that the GTX’s are fairly waterproof. To give you an idea I walk to and from work each day for a combined distance of 7.5 km and in winter find that when walking through long grass the non Gore-Tex Salomon XA 3D Pro  will get wet from either the rain or frost when walking through long grass, and this moisture penetrates through to my feet. Not a good thing in -5° Celsius temperatures. The Gore-Tex version doesn’t have this problem and as such my feet stay dry
• In addition this waterproofing means that the GTX version doesn’t breathe as well so in winter my feet stay warmer; also a plus. The downside of this reduced breathability is my feet stay warmer in summertime to a point where I find that the GTX version is too hot and my feet sweat excessively. The reduced breathability also means that if you are walking through ankle deep, or deeper, streams that the Gore-Tex version will take longer to dry out

Now I own both types and will use the Gore-Tex version though the cold months and the non Gore-Tex version in the warmer months. If I could only buy one pair to do me year round, I would choose the cheaper Salomon XA 3D Pro 

We Like

• Excellent range of sizes as well as availability meaning that they will fit just about anyone and can be easily replaced world wide
• Non breathable mesh upper that retains heat and limits water entry into the shoes on wet trails that keep you warmer and more comfortable in the colder months
• Quicklace system that is easy to do up and easy to adjust providing you with optimum comfort
• A two compound sole that provided excellent protection on the bottom with good cushioning underneath your feet making hiking more enjoyable, particularly on the long hikes
• Good heal and toe protection to protect you from rocks. This will minimise chance of injury and also increase you enjoyment

We Don't Like

• The Gore-tex construction provides a good degree of waterproofing however along with this breathability is lost. I find these shoes are too hot for summer so will only use them during the cooler months
• The Price. The Gore-Tex version is much more expensive than the non Gore-Tex version at a premium of approximately $90 AUD at the time of this review. The Gore-Tex version is not on sale as often and when it is the price reduction is not as sharp
• Getting size 13.5 UK (size 14 US) can be difficult in Australia
• Poor grip on steep granite. These shoes are not a rock scrambling shoe

Best Uses

• All types of hiking so long as you are not carrying exceptionally heavy loads that require boots
• Particularly good for long distance thru hiking
• Ideal for people with narrow to medium width feet
• One of the only heavy duty trail runners on the market for those go us with big feet
• Best used in colour climates or during the colder months of the year

Buy One

You can purchase Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX online from Amazon Australia or Amazon USA

Disclosure: We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

If you have used the Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX or if you have questions, we’d like to hear from you. Post your comment or question below

Other Versions

• Women’s and GTX (Gore-Tex version) as well as a mid height version with additional ankles support (not at size 14 US)
• Salomon XA 3D Pro Shoe Mens (non Gore-Tex version)

Disclaimer

This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by Australian Hiker

Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX

View of the sole

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