The Saloman X Ultra 360 Mid is billed as a ‘hiking shoe with modern ambitions’. To us, that means mastering the blend of modern technologies with that classic hiking boot cut that makes a pair of shoes open to all kinds of adventures. 

But in practice, that can sometimes be difficult. It’s probably why Salomon has thrown a whole lot of know-how into these boots, with a lightweight design and a rather funky look combining with age-old features like Gore-Tex membranes and chunky outsoles in the quest to make them appeal to walkers of all types. 

So, whether you’re going stomping through the woods or need something a little more robust for your weekend adventures, could the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mid boots be the right choice for you? We’ve been testing them out to see just what they’ve got to offer. 

Sphere Score

For

• Very lightweight
• Excellent traction underfoot 
• Great range of colourways
• Gore-Tex adds an extra layer of versatility 

Against

• Collar doesn’t feel that sturdy
• Reasonably expensive 
• Walkers doing longer routes might want a more rigid design

Tech specs 

• £155 – though some discounts are available via online retailers
• 418g
• Gore-Tex lining for waterproofing 
• All Terrain Contagrip outsole
• EnergyCell midsole with EVA shock absorption 
• Textile lining with OrthoLite sockliner 
• PFC-free 

What do the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mid have to offer?

As we’ve touched on, there are a lot of features to dig into when looking at the Salomon X Ultra 360 Mid boots. For starters, this mid-cut boot comes in at a reasonable 418g, with this overall weight helped no end by the use of fatigue-fighting materials throughout. There’s a synthetic upper which should fend off the worst of what you’re walking through, while a Gore-Tex membrane should keep your feet dry no matter the conditions. 

Notice that bar on the outsole? It’s Salomon’s Advanced Chassis system, which uses a moulded insert placed directly onto the outsole to aid lateral support while giving the boot some added beef. Underneath, the contagrip soles have a chunky pattern which should help them to key into the ground more easily. 

Salomon has also kitted the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mid out with an OrtoLite die-cut sockliner which, in essence, is there to provide additional comfort and breathability without adding too much weight. The added breathability should help to keep your boots smelling fresher for longer, too. 

You’ve got a great range of colours to choose from, too, which is a welcome breath of fresh air compared to many rival boots which come in more drab shades. The contrasting brown sole adds a little bit of old-school feel, too. 

The welded upper has been designed to offer a smooth, edge-free feel, while the quicklace system ensures a tight fit without the need for re-tying of laces. That’s the theory, anyway. 

As you can see, there’s a whole lot of technology at play with the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mid. Prices start at £155, though these boots are currently discounted to £93 on the Salomon website.

Wearing – what are the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mid like?

Take the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mids out of the box and you’re struck by how little they weigh. They’ve got a futuristic look to them, too, and could tie in nicely with more urban explorations in terms of design. As we’ve mentioned, the contrast sole on our pair helps to give a little sense of tradition, too. 

But initial impressions also showcase an upper which is quite light and doesn’t have a heavy amount of reinforcement, but that does help to keep weight down. Press the upper materials and there’s a fair bit of give and the boots themselves offer up a little amount of flex when tested. On the plus side, this means better shock absorption and, hopefully, a decent level of flexibility when you’ve got them on. 

The good news is that it seems the case once you’ve got them laced up. There’s a reassuringly solid-feeling full at the heel and, once on, these boots provide a snug fit even before lacing. There’s plenty of cushioning both at the ankle and under the foot itself, leading to a reassuringly comfortable feeling from the off. The quick lace system helps to give a secure fit right away, though it might be nice to have a second set of hooks for an even more stable fit. 

Sometimes with new boots, there’s a sense – just as you put them on – that you’re in for a tough few miles to begin with. That simply isn’t the case with the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mids. We tackled a fair few miles of walking – both on road and off – with these box-fresh boots and not once was there the merest hint of discomfort.

Those chunky soles do a great job of keying into the surface, though the larger blocks mean that obstacles such as wet boulders can prove to be a challenge too far. On most surfaces you’ll encounter, however, they’ll be more than grippy enough.

While this boot might not feel quite as robust as more hardened models, the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mid has been designed for a variety of uses and scenarios, so it has to carve a line down the middle in order to achieve this. We’re big fans of the reinforced toebox area, however, which gives you some extra confidence when scrambling across more rugged terrain. 

To finish

If you’ll pardon the pun, the Salomon X Ultra 360 Edge Mids puts a toe into both fashion and mountainwear camps. On the one side, they’re more than capable enough for a day on the trails, and though more seasoned hikers might like a little more robustness for longer adventures, for the average walker, they’ll provide more than enough support and durability.

At the same time, a funky design and a range of colourways mean that they’ll also suit those who spend their time in more urban environments and want a shoe that’ll bring far more weather protection than your average shoe. At £155, they do sit on the more expensive side of things but if you take advantage of some of the sales currently running online, you’ll be able to snap up these boots at a fraction of the cost, at which point they become incredibly good value for money.