Salomon’s Already Impressive, Popular Hiking Boots Level Up

Your favorite hiker’s favorite hiker righted the few wrongs it possessed, resulting in a grail-worthy boot.

Close-up of a beige and black hiking shoe with textured sole and Contagrip branding on the side.

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Published January 1, 2026

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The successor to our pick for the best overall hiking boot, 2025’s X Ultra 5 improves on its predecessor in some key ways, while retaining its best qualities.

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Salomon’s X Ultra 4 already had excellent traction, waterproofing and agility — but the boot also had some blind spots, which have been rectified with Salomon’s update.

Salomon X Ultra 5 Hiking Boots on hiker with dog — A leading boot became more exceptional this year, thanks to meaningful updates.

That starts with its new Matryx woven upper, a Kevlar-like material that strengthens the boot where it’s most needed: the toecap and sidewalls, which in previous versions were prone to blowouts.

The X Ultra 5 also has deeper outsole lugs, resulting in even better grip on uneven terrain — and a longer-lasting outsole, which also needed some improvement. Sewing patterns and lace positioning were also improved.

Salomon X Ultra 5 Hiking Boots worn on feet — A Matryx woven upper. Gore-Tex waterproofing and a new stitched upper construction improve durability. Deeper lugs enhance traction.

Where an already outstanding hiking boot is concerned, small changes can be incredibly impactful— and with the X Ultra 5, it seems Salomon’s presence on the trail is even more powerful.