Approach shoes - Salomon X Ultra altenative?

I've learnt to avoid goretex liners after years of wearing out expensive walking trainers within a year and getting wet feet every time you walk onto grass.

I looked around and found casual looking leather walking boots and shoes, the leather being the waterproofing. They just need treating with some wax a couple of times a year and I'm yet to see the sole start coming away from the toe.

If you like a narrow fit, Adidas Terrex.

That's annoying. They were my go-tos also. The new ones do indeed look shit.

I quite like the look of the addidas terrex stuff, but never tried.

Hoka got anything tat suit?

A few people I know who do ultramarathon off road rate them.

Also been in this situation. Sent Salomon x something back as started to de-laminate. On second pair of Meidle as first sprung a leak on holiday.
Had several pairs of Salomon over the years indestructible, relegated to decorating and garden in the end as were looking scruffy but still felt like slippers.
Designs became too intricate and methods not robust enough.

Do have a pair of Scarpa Highball proper approach shoes, not water proof very light.

I have 2 pairs of Salomon Alp X. Perfect fit for me and incredibly comfy. But both have split at the toe rand / side of shoe black something material. Probably only 18months in each so won't buy again.
In the meantime I have glued some old tyre sidewall on. Fixed but scruffy.

So Adidas stuff then next time?

Another Salomon fan. I discovered them after years of ill-fitting boots and shoes. I use the XA 3Ds as my daily footwear and have done for over a decade. They last well, are comfy, light enough and the GTX membrane lasts for years. I tend to buy ahead, whenever I see them at a good price. The last two pairs have been all black so suitable for most occasions.

Another x ultra fan here, and also wear Salewa approach shoes which have been good fit and lasting ok. Expensive though, see what’s available on sport shoes.com or sport pursuit?

X-Ultras are ace, closer to running shoes than most walking shoes. I'm not sure there's much out there on the same lines tbh. The original North Face Hedgehogs were pretty good, even if people here are snotty about the brand, but no idea what the current version is like. Adidas knows about making shoes, but the last tend to be a bit narrow compared to Salomon.

The Salomon X-Raise looks interesting, but I've never used them, might be worth a look.

Wore down some scarpa highballs that I really liked. Not waterproof in long grass but not too bad for wet feet. Soles were not replaceable and they were getting dangerous on damp tarmac. Switched to scarpa mescalitos which have more waterproof surrounding and replaceable souls. Again not gore tex (which sold out). I have very narrow feet and they lace down to the toes for a decent fit. Pleased so far. Walked 10k today on forest trails and very comfortable and dry feet. Will add some water repellent presently.

Had some ultra 3 that I wore until they became sandals.
Took the chance to try a load of other stuff, but couldn't get a good fit and ended up back at ultra 4 when I couldn't find ultra 3 in my size.
Had to go up a half size but they are comfy and you can't see the ugly bits once wearing them.
I have a wide foot and a narrow heel and other brands all seemed to compromise one of those for me.

I've got narrow feet and never really found good shoes till I tried a pair of La Sportiva TX4s. Shelled out what seemed like an astronomical £94 or so on them then did the Cuillin Ridge with them brand new 3 days later (</HB>)

They were utterly brilliant. Lovely them.

Currently saving up to buy a new pair (they're well over a hundred now !🤑)

They also do stuffer TX5s and less stiff TXsometjings.

Also high tops and goretex. ( after my recent experience with those shit Adidas Goretex mtb shoes I wouldn't bother with the greatest though, or is that just 5.10 that's shit rather than the fabric...)

Edited to wonder why this piece of shit Samsung has never heard of goretex.

Am doing ~8-10mile a day with dog, had some Adidas Terrex 330's. Absolutely crap yes they were lightweight but rubbish quality and fell apart quickly, Goodyear (IIRC) sole wasn't that grippy and wore quick, laces either couldn't be undone or undid themselves.
Only shoes I've binned before they were fully hanging off my feet as I hated them that much.

On my 2nd pair of Haix approach shoes which are great.

Similar been on x-ultra 3 for years also, got a pair of 4’s a couple of months ago and they were fine till they suddenly started honking of cat’s piss, and we don’t have a cat! Had trainers years ago do the same but I’ve never had it in years of wearing salomons, I avoid wearing them now because of the stench!

The original North Face Hedgehogs were pretty good, even if people here are snotty about the brand, but no idea what the current version is like.

Mrs_oab wears Hedgehog trainers and boots. Like me with Salomon's they just fitted really well and have lasted well too. She's on about 3rd pair of trainers and 2nd pair of boots, that have just started leaking after 3 years. They are good.

+1 on things being too light, too complex, too designed to look nice rather than function.

@yak they’ve got a 2 year warranty which I had to use on my X-Ultra 3s earlier this year. Fair play to them as I got a credit for £160 to use on their site even though I’d got them on sale for £70! Got a new pair of the 4s but they’re not as comfy, I’m always adjusting the retention system.
I wouldn’t buy them again.

I fell out with Salomon shoes. They’re comfortable but don’t last. Every pair of speed cross, albeit a running shoe, has worn out within a year.

I find Salomons very comfortable to wear however what made me actually fall out with them is when I tried a pair of La Sportiva shoes. They feel just like Salomon shoes yet are grippier, lighter and longer lasting.

So based on my experience I’d I was in your shoes (pun intended) I’d maybe look at approach shoes from La Sportiva.

On a side note I also have a pair of Hoka goretex walking shoes, which are like wearing outdoor slippers.

So I ended up getting some X Ultra 4's, Trekinn had a good deal.

There isnt as much room across the top of the toe box, and I can see it will potentially rub on a long walk.

IMO its still roughly the same fit so I dont need to tighten them at all for normal day to day use. I do think if I need to tighten them up though ie scrambling etc, then the thick wedge of plastic on the side may dig in and rub. Also strangely the back of the heal appears to have been extended upwards for no apparent reason other than for the sake of change.

So far not too bad compared to some of the really bad reviews I had read. Will have to see if they stink after 2 months use!

Fingers crossed!

My main 3 season boots are asolo and they have lasted well so far. Maybe it's also worth the £££s for asolo approach shoes if they outlast salomons.

Wash them if they do...I'd have also looked at various offerings from Scarpa and Sportiva. I might comment that in my experience stuff like Mescalito's last a LOT longer than the light shoes like highballs, are a lot more comfortable to walk in, esp in the cold and wet.

I think a year of use is really good, but I use stuff a lot and hard, and if you want a shoe to grip, that means it's losing rubber.

Romantics - read this and weep. The worst approach shoes I have ever owned were a pair of 5.10 guides about 20 years ago. Uncomfortable, deformed when they got wet thanks to the crap materials used but luckily fell to pieces around the heel, helped along by the inner last being made of cardboard.

I recently got a pair of X-Ultra 4 too. They were a bit tight across the toe box but they did loosen up a bit.

One improvement though is some extra cushioning around the heel / ankle I actually find them even more comfortable than the X-Ultra 3s they replaced

I'm wearing Scarpa Crux at the moment. I've had a couple of pairs of Haglofs Vertigo which are sturdier. Both are resoleable.

Years ago I had North Face Buildering shoes. They were superb but like all the best things they were discontinued.

Another year gone and I did buy X Ultras as I found some where doing them cheap.

They have lasted just under a year, but the sole as warn very quickly, and was never that grippy. Thankfully I didnt get the dreaded smell that some mention.

A few months back I bought some Inov8 walking boots that just blow the Salomon's out of the water in terms of feel, quality and grip. If they did a trainer version of that it would be brilliant.

So for now I am looking at Salomon X Wards any views on them?

The original North Face Hedgehogs were pretty good, even if people here are snotty about the brand, but no idea what the current version is like.

To answer that question, since I bought a pair last July/August the upper on the toe box has started coming apart where they crease. Really disappointed as they had a good rep, I should really see what the warranty says. In fairness though the sole has held out through probably a year of near constant use which is more important than cosmetics.

I've been using Scarpa Ribelle Runs the last year, and they've been very good. The uppers and mid have held up really well, the effectively grippy sole has failed first, but they're still usable. They are however very wide in the forefoot so may not suit.

I have some La Sportiva TX2, Scarpa Mojito's and also a pair of Salomon something or other goretex approach shoes. I've had Haix approach shoes previously.

The LaSportiva's are my favourite by far - they are like I imagine wearing ballet shoes or surgeons gloves. Super light with thin grippy flexible soles but somehow manage to not transmit point loads to my feet.
I almost float across terrain/rocks in them. Wearing super well - still look new despite being in their 2nd summer. Obviously not waterproof but I wear them sans socks.

The Scarpa Mojito's are a nice comfy shoe but gear towards pub rather than mountains.

The Salomon are okay, heavier than the Tx2 and feel a bit 'clompy' / dead. Showing signs of wear quickly. I bought them in a sale, I wouldn't buy at full price.

I have la sportiva tx4 and would echo comments of incredible comfort out of the box. Lasting really well, not cheap but I will buy again

I've found Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite to be exceptionally comfy even straight out the box.

I find Salewa fit my feet really well as I wear their B2 boots in winter too.

Nike Pegasus Trail 4.
Light weight, good grip, loads of colours, Gore-Tex available, look fine in pub.
Sorted.

Another Salewa fan here - miss-priced on Amazon last year to £50! . They're like slippers.

Salomon XApro 3d are my usual go-to approach shoes*, finding a size 11 in a colour that's not irresponsible can be tricky though.

*dog walking

So I have had in the last few years.

Hoka speedgoats

Hoka gavitors

Hoka anacapa

Hoka ten something.....huge long sole

Adidas sky trail

Inov roc walking boots

La sportiva mutant goretex

Salomon quest

Salomon XA

Salwea mountain something.

Walking northern fells, bog and moorland.firetrack and forest paths. Lake District.

Adidas destroyed in less than 200 miles, ripped no sole

La sportiva delamination in less than150 miles.

Inov8 meh in terms of fit and quality

Hoka...all going ok but the best and most stable fit is the anacapa but I have had to superglur parts of the sole back on. Decent grip. The speedgoats are a a tad too soft and lack support. The one tens look wild and are comfortable but the huge heel part of the sole makes for interest ing decents .

Salomon quest longest lasting 750 to 800 milrs but lethal on wet rock. XA completed mt Kinabalu  and died when friends puppy chewed them. New ones meh.

Salwea decent but the suede leather struggled with a winter on the fells.

So basically still looking for something the is light waterproof grippy sole and strong...

I'm too tight to buy another pair of X Ultras, but I've been wearing a pair of 'just lying around' Columbia Montrail Caldorado II trail running shoes for walking and they've actually been really good so far. Just the right amount of cushioning, decent grip, comfortable fit for me. They have an OutDry liner and I suspect will get a little too warm over summer, but so far I'm pleasantly and randomly surprised.

I have a standing eBay search for X Ultras in my size and they do come up in good condition sometimes. I'll probably hit 'Buy' in a nostalgic moment not too far in the future.

If anyone's interested, inov-8 is sell off the ROCLITE G 345 MEN'S at half price - ie: £75 - but based on my experience with the standard shoe version, I'd say they're unlikely to be very durable. The toe protection on mine had needed to be glued back un place repeatedly as it's delaminated.

So basically still looking for something the is light waterproof grippy sole and strong…

The Haix shoes I had beforehand were good, and I also have some Haix Tatical mid that are a lightweight full leather boot that are a little heavier than approach shoes but far lighter than full on hiking boots. They are similar to the original (non Berghaus) Brasher Supalite but a little lighter.

I've been wearing Merrell moab 3 day in day out for the last 4 years .  I like the wide toe box.Good for work, most walks, casual cycling . Not for steep and rocky hills or for long days on the trails. RRP is £135 I would say you can mostly get them for under £100 and sometimes for under £80 if you are willing to buy online. At lower price be careful to check you're getting goretex.

Switched from Scarpa Mojito to Salomon X Ward goretex in green. Been very pleased and am walking about 50km/week. The narrower X Ward suited my stick thin feet. I think a summer pair without GTX are needed for warmer weather. They look decent with multiple clothing types as the staid colours matches a lot. The drawstring non-boas takes a little getting used to. They are holding up well to wear. And I notice they don’t dry out as fast as the non gotetex Mojitos.

I walked a pair of Highballs completely smooth. They couldn’t be resoled. The Mojitos were the replacement and they are now on Son1’s wider feet. I liked the Highballs more as an approach show and I like the X Wards more as a light walking shoe.