Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX Review: Excellent Hiking Boots—Until Water Gets Inside

Watch My Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX Field Test

Watch the three-mile Sarasota trail test, including muddy terrain, shallow water, and the creek crossing that exposed the boots' slow-drying limitation.

Prefer to watch directly on YouTube? Watch the field-test video.

Why I Purchased the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX

I enjoy hiking, but I'm not someone who regularly heads out on 15- or 20-mile mountain trails.

Most of my hikes are shorter adventures, generally between three and seven miles.

Around Sarasota and Florida's Gulf Coast, that typically means dirt trails, grass, wooded areas, mud, and occasionally wet or flooded ground.

Until recently, I had never owned a dedicated pair of hiking boots.

I wanted something lightweight, comfortable, supportive, and capable of handling wet trail conditions.

More specifically, I was looking for footwear that offered waterproof protection while still being breathable and reasonably fast drying if water got inside.

The first time I became familiar with the Salomon name was through Luke Nichols of the Outdoor Boys YouTube channel.

I remembered hearing positive comments about Salomon footwear, which led me to investigate the brand further.

I eventually selected the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX because it appeared to provide the combination of weather protection, comfort, traction, and support I wanted.

What I didn't fully appreciate at the time was that waterproofing, breathability, and drying performance are three different characteristics.

My Three-Mile Florida Field Test

I took the Salomons on a three-mile hike along a relatively flat Florida trail.

The conditions included dirt, grass, muddy sections, shallow standing water, and a creek crossing.

This was not a difficult mountain hike. There were no significant elevation changes, steep descents, or technical rock sections.

But the terrain represented the conditions I actually encounter during my outdoor adventures.

I wanted to evaluate comfort over distance, foot support, flexibility, traction, waterproofing, breathability, and drying performance.

My initial impressions were extremely positive.

The boots were comfortable from the beginning, provided excellent support, and felt surprisingly light.

The aggressive tread provided excellent traction on the dirt, grass, and muddy sections of trail.

When I walked through standing water below ankle depth, the waterproof membrane worked perfectly.

The only significant problem appeared after water entered over the boot collars during the deeper creek crossing.

Comfort and Support: 10/10

Comfort was one of the most impressive aspects of these boots.

Since I had never owned dedicated hiking boots before, I expected them to feel heavier and stiffer than ordinary athletic shoes.

That wasn't the case.

The Salomons were comfortable almost immediately.

The mid-height construction provided a secure fit around my feet and ankles without excessively restricting movement.

What I liked most was the combination of support and flexibility.

The boots felt stable when walking across uneven ground, but they didn't feel rigid. My feet could flex naturally through each step.

Salomon uses an Advanced Chassis support structure intended to provide lateral stability while allowing the forefoot to flex.

The SensiFit system helps hold the foot securely, while the EnergyCell EVA midsole provides cushioning.

In practical terms, those features work together to provide a stable, supportive walking platform without making the boots unnecessarily stiff.

That is exactly what I experienced.

Even after water entered the boots during the creek crossing, they remained comfortable.

Wet footwear can become uncomfortable quickly, particularly when socks and insoles become saturated.

However, the Salomons continued to feel good on my feet.

Flexibility: 10/10

For a hiking boot with a supportive structure, the X Ultra 5 Mid GTX has excellent flexibility.

The forefoot bends naturally while the midfoot and heel remain supportive.

That combination matters on relatively flat Florida trails.

I don't want to feel as though I'm fighting a stiff pair of boots every time I take a step.

The Salomons allowed a comfortable walking motion without sacrificing stability.

The mid-height collar also provided additional coverage without making my ankles feel immobilized.

Flexibility: 10/10

Weight and Balance: 10/10

Another feature that impressed me was how lightweight the boots felt.

Salomon lists the weight at approximately 16 ounces per boot, depending on size.

However, published weight is only part of the story.

What matters is how footwear feels after several miles of use.

Throughout the hike, the boots felt light and comfortable.

I never had the sensation that I was dragging around a heavy pair of hiking boots.

Even after water entered over the collars, they didn't suddenly feel excessively heavy or cumbersome.

I didn't weigh them before and after the crossing, so I can't quantify exactly how much water they retained.

But from a practical standpoint, they remained surprisingly lightweight while wet.

Weight and Balance: 10/10

Traction: 10/10

The X Ultra 5 Mid GTX uses Salomon's All-Terrain Contagrip rubber outsole.

The tread incorporates multidirectional lugs designed to provide traction across dirt, gravel, loose soil, and wet ground.

When I first examined the boots, I wondered whether the tread was more aggressive than necessary for the hiking I normally do.

After using them, I understand the advantage.

Traction on dirt, grass, and muddy sections was excellent.

I felt stable and confident walking through the conditions I encountered.

That aggressive tread is particularly useful when stepping off a maintained trail onto softer ground to avoid puddles or flooded sections.

In Florida, that can mean wet grass, mud, sandy soil, roots, and uneven ground.

I haven't tested the boots on steep, slippery rock faces or technical mountain trails.

My rating reflects the conditions I actually experienced.

Traction: 10/10

Waterproof Protection: 10/10

Waterproofing was one of my primary reasons for purchasing these boots.

The X Ultra 5 Mid GTX uses a GORE-TEX waterproof membrane designed to prevent liquid water from passing through the upper while allowing some moisture vapor to escape.

During my field test, the waterproof protection worked exactly as expected.

I walked through wet grass, muddy ground, and standing water below ankle depth without getting my feet wet.

There was no noticeable water penetration through the waterproof portions of the boots.

My feet remained completely dry.

That is an important result because it demonstrates that the membrane performed successfully under the shallow-water conditions I tested.

Water only entered later, during a separate creek crossing where the water rose above the boot collars.

Waterproof Protection: 10/10

What Happened During the Shin-Deep Creek Crossing

Later in the hike, I encountered a creek crossing where the water reached approximately shin depth.

This was a different situation from walking through shallow standing water.

The water rose over the boot collars and entered from above, saturating the interiors.

Again, this wasn't a failure of the waterproof membrane.

No conventional waterproof hiking boot can prevent water from entering through its top opening when that opening becomes submerged.

Surprisingly, the boots remained comfortable after becoming saturated.

I continued walking without noticing a significant increase in weight or a loss of support.

The fit remained secure, and the boots still felt stable.

But the real disadvantage became obvious when I returned home and attempted to dry them.

Breathability: 2/10

Breathability was another feature I specifically considered when purchasing these boots.

I wanted footwear that would keep outside water from entering while still allowing internal moisture to escape.

The GORE-TEX membrane allows some moisture vapor transmission, but this is not the same as unrestricted airflow through a ventilated shoe.

During my three-mile hike, I was satisfied with the boots' comfort.

However, the moisture-management limitations became apparent after water entered over the collars.

It is worth noting that breathability during normal dry use and drying after complete saturation are different performance characteristics.

I have not conducted a separate controlled test measuring ventilation or perspiration under dry conditions.

My low score reflects how the boots' overall moisture management compares with the breathable, fast-drying footwear I originally wanted for Florida hiking.

Breathability: 2/10

Drying Performance: 2/10

This is the most significant negative finding from my field test.

After the hike, I placed the boots outside in the sun to dry.

Since the boots felt lightweight and were described as breathable, I expected the interior moisture to evaporate reasonably quickly.

That didn't happen.

That's a considerable amount of time for hiking footwear.

GORE-TEX does a very good job of limiting liquid water entry through the upper.

However, once water enters over the collar, the boots do not offer the rapid drainage of footwear designed specifically for water use.

Moisture absorbed by the lining and footbed must evaporate, and drying depends on temperature, airflow, humidity, and how much water remains trapped inside.

In Florida, high humidity can make this process even slower.

My observation specifically concerns the insoles. I did not separately measure the drying time of every component of the boots.

Nevertheless, taking more than 48 hours to dry the insoles is a significant disadvantage for an application involving repeated deep-water crossings.

Drying Performance: 2/10

What This Means for a Multi-Day Hike

For a three-mile day hike, slow drying is inconvenient.

On a multi-day hiking or backpacking trip, it could become a serious practical problem.

Consider crossing a creek on the first day of a three-day hike.

Water enters over the boot collars, soaking the socks, insoles, and interior materials.

That evening, you reach camp and attempt to dry your footwear.

Unless you have favorable drying conditions or some reliable means of drying the boots, you could easily be putting wet footwear back on the following morning.

Depending on the weather and available drying time, you might still be walking in damp or wet boots on the third day.

My experience was that the insoles alone took more than 48 hours to become completely dry.

Extended use of wet footwear also increases the risk of blisters, skin irritation, and moisture-related foot problems.

A campfire or other heat source might seem like a convenient way to dry wet boots.

However, direct heat can damage synthetic materials, adhesives, and waterproof membranes.

The better approach is to remove the insoles, loosen the laces, open the boots, and dry the components separately with moving air and gentle indirect warmth.

Even then, drying could take considerable time in humid conditions.

Ease of Cleaning: 10/10

Cleaning the boots was one of the pleasant surprises following the hike.

The exterior was covered with mud and muck.

I simply sprayed the boots with a garden hose, and the dirt washed away with very little effort.

The tread also cleaned up easily.

For Florida hiking, that is a useful characteristic.

Mud, sandy soil, and organic debris can make footwear difficult to maintain.

The Salomons were remarkably easy to rinse clean after my field test.

Of course, washing the exterior and drying the interior are entirely different things.

Exterior cleaning was excellent. Interior drying was disappointing.

Ease of Cleaning: 10/10

Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX Technical Specifications

The following specifications describe the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GORE-TEX hiking boot.

Dimensions and weight may vary depending on shoe size and specific product configuration.

GORE-TEX Waterproof Membrane

The membrane is designed to prevent liquid water from penetrating the upper while permitting some moisture vapor transmission.

Its main advantage is keeping feet dry in shallow water and wet trail conditions.

It does not turn the boots into fast-draining water shoes.

Matryx Upper Construction

Matryx uses technical yarns and protective reinforcements designed to provide abrasion resistance without excessive weight.

This contributes to the lightweight construction, although the waterproof membrane still restricts direct airflow.

Advanced Chassis Support

The Advanced Chassis is designed to improve lateral stability while maintaining natural forefoot movement.

My field test confirmed that the boot felt both supportive and flexible.

EnergyCell EVA Midsole

The EVA midsole provides cushioning and helps absorb impact during walking.

Together with the support system, it helps provide a comfortable walking platform for mixed terrain.

11 mm Heel-to-Toe Drop

The heel sits approximately 11 millimeters higher than the forefoot.

This is a conventional heel-elevated configuration, unlike zero-drop footwear where the heel and forefoot are approximately level.

The Salomons felt natural during my hike, and I noticed no awkwardness associated with the heel-to-toe geometry.

Value: 9/10

I rate the value of the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX at 9/10.

This is not an inexpensive basic hiking shoe.

However, it provides a useful combination of comfort, support, traction, flexibility, low weight, and waterproof protection.

For dry, damp, or muddy trails, those features justify much of the cost.

The limitation is versatility.

If you're purchasing these boots expecting rapid drying after complete saturation, I believe you may be disappointed.

But if you're purchasing them for the conditions they are designed to handle, they are an excellent hiking boot.

Value: 9/10

Check Price and Availability

If you're considering the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX, confirm that you're selecting the mid-height GORE-TEX version.

Salomon offers different footwear configurations, and waterproof and non-waterproof versions should not be confused.

What I Like and What I Would Change

My Field Ratings

These ratings reflect my actual experience during the three-mile Florida field test.

They are subjective field ratings, not controlled laboratory measurements.

Who These Boots Are For

Based on my field test, I recommend the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX for recreational hikers who want comfort, support, traction, and waterproof protection on ordinary mixed-terrain trails.

They are particularly well suited for three- to seven-mile hikes on dirt, grass, mud, and damp ground.

They also make sense for hikers who expect puddles or standing water that remains below the effective waterproof height of the boot.

For those conditions, I found the Salomons excellent.

Who Should Choose Different Footwear

I would not choose these boots if I knew I would be crossing shin-deep creeks, walking through extended flooded sections, or repeatedly wading above the boot collars.

Once water enters from above, drying becomes difficult.

For those conditions, I would favor footwear designed to allow water to drain away.

I would also think twice before taking these boots on a multi-day hiking trip involving unavoidable deep-water crossings.

The possibility of spending two or three days in wet boots is a serious practical limitation.

That doesn't make these bad boots. It means they're designed for a different application.