Everytime I get a new pair of walking shoes or boots to review, Luke rolls his eyes, or he’ll moan about the amount of packages that arrive at the house. Funnily enough, he didn’t complain when a lovely pair of Salomon walking shoes turned up from Millets Sports (now called Activinstinct) for him to try out.
He’s spent the last couple of weeks diligently putting them to the test, so here are his thoughts on the Salomon X Ultra GTX 2 walking shoes.
“My first impression was that they looked really smart and good quality. I was a bit unsure about the ‘Quicklace’ system as I’ve never worn shoes with that feature before, however it makes it really easy to take the shoes on and off. It’s also means that you can tighten the laces and they won’t come loose, even after wearing them all day.
The top of the shoes, showing the Quicklace fastening, which uses a toggle rather than conventional laces.
I’ve always preferred shoes over boots for walking, as I find that they’re lighter and more comfortable. This was certainly true of the X Ultra 2 shoes. Salomon have used technology from their range of running shoes, such as ‘Sensifit’, which ensures that the foot is well supported and stable, to produce a really lightweight, yet sturdy walking shoe. They are also breathable, so even in the hot weather we’ve had recently, my feet have stayed cool and dry.
The X Ultra’s got a good workout when we visited our local Go Ape recently
I really liked how cushioned and supported my feet felt, it also had lots of grip-perfect for any terrain. The best thing about these shoes, and the reason that they have become my go-to shoes, is their versatility. I wore them when we tackled Go Ape recently, I’ve also worn them on family walks and outings. They’re even smart enough to wear at the pub (although that probably says more about the type of pub I like than the shoes!)
They have become my first choice walking shoes, as seen here on a recent family hike
Although they are perfect for spring and summer, they do have a Gore-Tex outer, so I have no qualms about wearing them in the winter as well.
Overall I am really happy with the comfort and performance of these shoes, and very much recommend them to anyone looking for an all round walking shoe.”
So Luke was impressed, but what do you think of them?
I was given these shoes free of charge in exchange for this review, all opinions are Luke’s.
Looking for more walking boot reviews?
Merrell MOAB FST GoreTex Mid Boots
