Salomon Daintree Mid GTX Nik/Black/Antique

Product Information

A new heel chassis finishes off the sole reinforcements and provides a stable shoe throughout. Salomon added on stability and somehow managed to still shave a few grams off the old model to bring their boots into the future. But, that freedom of choice isn’t without consequence. The online market is so big and vast and confusing; where should you even start?

We’ll start with the good news. There are more great hiking shoes now than ever before. Everyone from flat-footed, bow-legged hobblers to arched amblers can find a shoe that perfectly fits their feet and pushes them to get outside more. Salomon hiking boots and walking shoes are the ultimate companions for hikers seeking unbeatable performance and comfort. Engineered with advanced features such as Gore-Tex technology, these boots offer waterproof protection while allowing your feet to breathe, ensuring you stay dry and comfortable throughout your outdoor adventures.

It’s the midsole of the Elixir’s that will raise the most eyebrows, though, because they are massive – a lot like hiking and running hoofs from Hoka– those pioneers of the maxi sole. Absolutely loaded with ‘Energy Foam’, the Elixir’s midsoles are designed to supply super amounts of cushioning and rebound momentum. A Gore-Tex membrane acts as a weatherproof layer across the chassis of the Elixirs, and the top of the boot features mesh panels to assist with levels of breathability. The rubber Contragrip outsole boasts 5mm lugs arranged in a way that provides grip during ascents and braking control during the downhills. These studs aren’t particularly aggressive, and they’re widely spaced to avoid mud becoming accumulated in between them. The Salomon Elixir boots are instantly comfortable, straight out of the box, and I found that the excellent-quality partially leather upper required no breaking in at all. What does require some getting used to, however, is the additional height these boots bestow upon the wearer. When you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go. And just because it’s drizzling a bit, or your dog’s favourite routes are full of mud and puddles, that won’t stop her from wanting a walk and a wee. So as well as your hiking-style boots for long comfortable walks, you’ll also want a pair of pull-on wellies that are constructed well enough to be comfy. And these great-value PVC wellies are so comfortable that you may decide to wear them even when the sun’s out. Key features – Material: Leather upper, polyurethane sole, Vibram vulcanised rubber outer sole; Waterproofing: eVent; Sizes available: UK 4-12

Salomon’s boots are so light and flexible you’ll want to break into a run, which may please your dog no end. They’re made for walking, of course, but their lightness makes them best suited to firm ground. They do repel the water better than you may expect from the mesh fabric uppers, thanks to a Gore-Tex lining that makes the boot both waterproof and breathable, so they’re fine for drizzle and shallow puddles.Fitting out your trip with a fully waterproof, grippy, and comfortable pair of hiking boots will guarantee this weekend isn’t the last time you get out there, and Salomon Boots are some of the best pairs for the job. With the incredibly chunky midsole, I found myself several centimeters taller than usual, which literally affected my spatial awareness, so that I would brush my head against trees branches I usually walk under. I also unintentionally scuffed my feet occasionally while walking in the Elixirs, due to the extra height of the midsole.

Hiking boots are made for uneven terrain. They make excellent dog walking boots for long walks through the woods and countryside. But serious hiking boots can take some getting used to. And the stiffer and heavier a boot, the more uncomfortable it is for walking on pavements and other hard, flat terrain.

Our Verdict

Dog walking boots” is a pretty subjective phrase. Stores don’t tend to have special sections for them, unlike, say, horse-riding boots or golf shoes. The perfect boots for your dog walks depends on three main factors: the type of terrain you walk on, the amount of walking you do (a husky wants and needs to walk far more each day than a pug), and the type of footwear you’re used to. Shaving weight often comes at the sacrifice of on-trail comfort, but that’s not the case with the Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX. The Grand Canyon’s Escalante Route was an ideal testing ground, starting with an unrelenting descent of over 4,500 feet. By the end of our first 9-mile day, I had only experienced light soreness, and I wasn’t immediately wanting to remove the boots when we finally got to camp, which is very high praise for a new pair of hiking footwear. In addition, there was very little break-in required. The X Ultra 3 felt far less stiff than Salomon’s own Quest 4 out of the box, although I did wear it on a few day hikes before heading into the Canyon. And the rest of the boot’s testing has gone just as smoothly: I haven’t dealt with any hotspots or notable discomfort throughout a year of use.

In many ways, the Elixir are a bit of enigma, and they’re certainly a departure from what we would usually expect from Salomon, who seem to have been influenced by the success of some Hoka footwear that has long featured the kind of maxi midsoles seen on these boots. Those with wider feet might find the toe box restrictive (although Salomon sells the X Ultra 3 Mid in wide sizes). In the name of science, we gave them a good dunking, submerging them in water for over a minute. Not a drop of water made it through the faultless Gore-Tex membrane. The fully gusseted tongue and mid-height collar are a bonus in deeper puddles.Both in our lab tests and on hikes, the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX came out on top as the best overall hiking boot from Salomon. It’s impeccably waterproof, supportive, and insanely lightweight, making it the perfect companion for our long-distance hikes. So if you’re not expecting to venture far from pavements and you’re not used to wearing walking boots, opt instead for a pair of light walking boots that offer good grip, weatherproofing and ankle support, but don’t make your feet feel weighed down. They won’t last as long as hiking boots, but they’ll be more comfortable and flexible. We can’t help but draw comparisons with the Salomon Outpulse Mid GTX to sneakers because of its super light build. At 13.6 oz (380g), it can easily be mistaken for a sneaker, especially since it is 20.6% lighter than the usual weight of hiking boots. Moreover, the in-shoe feeling it provides in our treks is somewhat similar to the feeling when we are just cruising the streets. Using our durometer, we found out that its midsole is 18.8 HA soft, which is softer than the average by 27.1%. Durability: A pair of trainers or cheap wellies will barely get you through a few long walks, even on the least punishing surfaces. Good dog walking boots are made of tougher stuff. They’re arguably the most important part of your dog walking kit, and therefore an important part of your daily life for years to come. So invest in a really well-made pair of rubber or full-grain leather walking boots.