Salomon Turns a Tried-and-True Trail Runner into a Fast, Fierce Hiking Boot

The fan-favorite Genesis lineup gets a new big brother that maintains its spirit of adventure, capability and speed.

Close-up of a beige and olive green Salomon hiking shoe with black laces and a black sole.

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Salomon’s Genesis trail running shoe has been hailed by fans as an ultralight tank of a sneaker since its inception. Yet, for all its spectacularity, it has its limitations, especially when the terrain gets a bit steeper and more uneven.

For fans who want a bit more stability and security, the brand has a new answer in the Salomon Genesis Mid Gore-Tex. And it could be poised to be one of the brand’s next fan-favorite smash hits.

Olive green Salomon hiking shoe with Gore-Tex fabric and beige sole on a plain background. — Many of the Genesis’s original styling cues remain, but have evolved in this bigger, beefier boot.

Mega Genesis

If its name didn’t give it away, the image above most definitely spilled the beans: this is a mid-cut version of the Genesis. That should tell you a couple of critical things right off the bat:

First and foremost, this boot isn’t as speedy as its trail-running counterpart. And it’s not supposed to be. Rather than focusing on speed, this footwear instead offers better support and stability, especially for your ankles, making it better than the Genesis for tougher, more varied terrain, especially regarding verticality.

Black and gray Salomon hiking shoes with blue accents and Gore-Tex fabric worn with dark socks. — Despite being full-on hiking boots (mids, admittedly), these are still remarkably lightweight, clocking in at just 14 ounces.

Second, it means the core premise of the Genesis remains intact. Like the trail-running sneaker, this boot is built around a balance of lightness and durability. For reference, the sneaker version of this Genesis clocks in at 11 ounces. While the boot is a bit heavier at 14 ounces, much of that can be credited to the necessary extra material, and it’s still incredibly low overall.

Lastly, the styling and materials are still right in line with the Genesis sneaker. It gets a thin synthetic and textile upper, a minimalist lacing system, reinforcements where you need them and a similar overall look.

Black and gray Salomon Genesis Mid hiking boots worn with black pants. — The lugged rocker outsole, cushy midsole and onboard chassis make easy work of any terrain.

The road less traveled

For as relatively minimalist and unboastful as the Genesis Mid Gore-Tex looks, it’s actually hiding some pretty spectacular features that can’t be gleaned at a glance. Perhaps the most obvious is due to the name: this boot has a waterproof Gore-Tex membrane, so it is essentially impervious to the risks posed by rain and mud.

It also gets Salomon’s All Terrain contaGRIP outsole, which “is built for the widest variety of surfaces.” And that’s paired with the brand’s activeCHASSIS and optiFOAM midsole, which promise “uncompromised agility,” energy-return, comfort and freedom of movement.

Close-up of a Salomon shoe sole with black and olive green aggressive tread lugs on a beige background. — The multi-directional lugs make for steady footing on any terrain.

Put in plain English, these boots aren’t just speedy and lightweight; they’re also incredibly capable and durable. Whether you’re hitting a casual trail on the weekend or you’re on a multi-day alpine hike, they’ll handle whatever you might throw at ’em.

As is so often the case, Salomon has delivered another rock-solid addition to its fan-favorite, time-tested lineup. You’ll just have to face the struggle of figuring out which of the three colors suits you best.

Pair of black and gray trail running shoes with textured mesh uppers and rugged soles on a beige background. — Yes, these boots are waterproof, so you can stop fretting about muddy trails and inclement weather.

Availability and pricing

Salomon’s Genesis Mid Gore-Tex comes in three colors for $210 apiece. All three are now available on the brand’s official site.

Olive green Salomon hiking shoe with Gore-Tex mesh upper and beige sole.

Salomon Genesis Mid Gore-Tex

$210 at Salomon

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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