Our verdict
- Our top pick in best hiking boots
- Our top pick in best backpacking boots
Pros
- Exceptional durability
- Top-notch waterproofing
- Excellent impact protection
- Highly secure ankle support
- Fantastic stability
- Comfortable in-boot feel
- Effective grip on various terrain
- salomon Men Minim 25L
Cons
- A bit heavy
- Gets very stiff in cold
Audience verdict
- Top 19% most popular hiking boots
Comparison
The most similar hiking boots compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience score | 85 Great! | 90 Great! | 81 Good! | 90 Great! | |
Price | $230 | $255 | $229 | $170 | |
Trail terrain | Technical | Technical | ModerateTechnical | Moderate | |
Weight lab Weight brand | 23.4 oz / 663g 23.1 oz / 655g | 21.1 oz / 597g 19.5 zapatilla salomon Men Sense Ride 4 | 20.6 oz / 583g 20.6 oz / 585g | 21.7 coleccion premium de running salomon Men s lab 20.9 oz / 592g | |
Breathability | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | |
Use | BackpackingDay HikingSnow | BackpackingDay HikingSnow | BackpackingDay HikingSnow | BackpackingDay HikingSnow | |
Foot condition | Flat feetPlantar fasciitisOverpronation | Flat feetPlantar fasciitis | Flat feetPlantar fasciitisOverpronation | Bunions | |
Orthotic friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Drop lab | 18.0 mm | 17.2 mm | 14.0 mm | 16.7 mm | |
Midsole softness | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Soft | |
Difference in midsole softness in cold | Normal | Small | Small | Normal | |
Кроссовки salomon Men x-tour 2 w оригинал р-38 | Stiff | Flexible | Moderate | Moderate | |
Stiffness | Stiff | Stiff | Moderate | Moderate | |
Difference in stiffness in cold | Big | Small | Normal | Normal | |
Outsole hardness | Average | Average | Hard | Very hard | |
Waterproofing | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | |
Material | Leather | Leather | Suede | Leather | |
Season | Winter | Winter | Winter | Winter | |
Toebox durability | Good | Good | Good | Good | |
Heel padding durability | Good | Decent | Decent | Decent | |
Outsole durability | Decent | Decent | Good | Bad | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Medium | Wide | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Wide | Narrow | Narrow | Wide | |
Lug depth | 4.7 mm | 5.1 mm | 4.0 mm | 3.6 mm | |
Heel stack lab | 38.0 mm | 37.8 mm | 34.2 mm | 41.0 mm | |
Forefoot | 20.0 mm | 20.6 mm | 20.2 mm | 24.3 mm | |
Widths available | Normal | NarrowNormalWide | Normal | NormalWide | |
Technology | Gore-TexOrtholite | Gore-TexVibram | Gore-TexVibram | - | |
Cut | High cut | Mid cut | Mid cut | Mid cut | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ranking | #15 Bottom 44% | #3 Top 12% | #21 Bottom 22% | #5 Top 19% | |
Popularity | #5 Top 19% | #14 Bottom 48% | #23 Bottom 14% | #21 Bottom 22% |
zapatilla salomon Men Sense Ride 4 | zapatillas de running salomon Men media maratón blancas
Having tried and tested numerous hiking boots, we still believe that the salomon Men Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento is the GOAT in its category. We highly recommend investing in this boot if:
- you need an exceptionally supportive backpacking footwear for multi-day trips
- a 100% waterproof boot with phenomenal grip on wet surfaces
- an extra hard-wearing boot for tough terrain
Who should NOT buy
Given how much technology is packed into the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento, it could be too much of a good thing if you need a boot for moderate hikes. For smoother trails and less demanding adventures, we find the salomon Men X Ultra 4 Mid GTX more suitable. It is lighter, more pliable, cheaper, and yet has all the essentials for an enjoyable day hike.
Jag är lojal mot salomon Men för mycket bekväma vandringsskor med bra utförande zapatillas de running salomon Men hombre constitución ligera minimalistas marrones. A whopping 5 oz lighter, it is also softer, cushier, and more comfortable around the foot than the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento.
Breathability
Forget about summer hikes if you intend to wear the salomon Men Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento. With its top-notch waterproofing, high cut, and generous padding, there is no room for being breezy.
In our breathability test below, we use a machine to pump smoke through the uppers of both boots to see how easily it escapes through the fabric. As you can see, there is not even a hint of vapor in the Quest. Thus, we gave it the lowest breathability score of 1 out of 5.
As our follow-up transparency test shows, the boot has zero perforations or potential ventilation areas.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 1 |
Average | 1.6 |
Durability
Toebox durability
The rugged design of this salomon Men boot kind of reminds us of a fortified castle with multiple layers of defense (and a moat with crocodiles).
In the upper, the Quest 4 uses a mix of Nubuck leather, sturdy Cordura-like textile, and additional rubberized overlays. As you can imagine, our attempt to put a dent in the boot's upper was unsuccessful, to say the least.
Drilling the toebox for a good 12 seconds with a Dremel, all we got was a minor scratch that didn't affect the boot's integrity at all.
Черные оранжевые кроссовки salomon Men XA pro 3D ADV!
For reference, here is what the same durability test did to a regular day hiking boot from Hoka.
The Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX only got 1 out of 5 for toebox durability
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 5 |
Average | 4.4 |
Heel padding durability
We subjected another potentially frail part of the boot to our Dremel test - the heel padding.
Applying the tool for 4 seconds straight with a consistent speed (5K RPM) and force (3.2N), the result was just as stunning as in the toebox. The lining was nearly unscathed!
Based on how small the damage was, we rated the durability of the boot's heel padding with the highest rating of 5. No need to worry about chafing your tall socks against the boot.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 5 |
Average | 4 |
Outsole hardness
Given how much is expected of a hiking boot of this caliber, salomon Men did its best with the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento.
First of all, the brand used a nice and hard rubber compound to make up the outsole. Measuring it with our durometer, we got a reading of 88.3 HC. This puts the boot on the harder side of the spectrum which also means that it is harder to wear out.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 88.3 HC |
Average | 87.6 HC |
Outsole durability
We couldn't help but drill the outsole with our trusty Dremel too. After 22 seconds of torture at the highest speed of 10K RPM, we didn't even get through 1/3 of the lug!
Camisola salomon Men Allroad Seamless manga comprida cinzento.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 0.7 mm |
Average | 0.8 mm |
Outsole thickness
Considering that the boot's outsole layer is 2.4 mm thick and the entire outsole (lugs included) is 7 mm thick, there is A LOT of rubber to go through before you can claim the pair to be worn out.
Thus, we expect a long and happy life from the salomon Men Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 2.4 mm |
Average | 3.1 mm |
Extra protection
The Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento is covered with multiple protective overlays to enhance durability and protect the foot from various outdoor hazards.
Most notably, the boot has a beefy toe bumper. Putting it through its paces on rocky terrain and light scrambling, we were amazed at its ability to keep the toes safe and sound.
Weight
The salomon Men Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento is built like a tank for the trails and it screams heavy straight from the photo.
Thus, it was not surprising to see 23.4 oz (663g) on the scale when weighing the boot in a men's US size 9. While this is significantly heavier than hiking boots on average, it is an expected weight for a backpacking boot of this kind.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 23.39 oz (663g) |
Average | 18.45 oz (523g) |
Cushioning
Heel stack
To help you cover long miles with a heavy pack on your back, the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento is equipped with plenty of underfoot cushioning.
In the heel, we found that the stack height comes in at 38 mm which is slightly above the average of day hiking boots.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 38.0 mm |
Average | 36.3 mm |
Forefoot stack
In the forefoot, the boot's stack height lowers down to 20 mm. This, on the contrary, is a few millimeters thinner than the average.
We assume that it was made lower on purpose, to help the boot bend more easily in this area.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 20.0 mm |
Average | 22.5 mm |
Drop
Based on our stack height measurements, we see a huge 18-mm difference in height between the heel and the toes. That's about 5 mm higher than the average and may feel too much for some hikers.
Personally, we never found the boot's drop to be troublesome as it gave our heels plenty of impact protection upon landings. And even though it mutes out the ground feel big time, it also minimizes foot fatigue at the end of the long day.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 18.0 mm |
Average | 13.8 mm |
Midsole softness
salomon Men was never famous for soft cushioning and the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento is no exception. Pressing a durometer against the boot's primary foam, the tool showed 27 HA.
That's exactly the same as the average - neither too firm nor soft. Moderately firm is the best way to describe it.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 27.0 HA |
Average | 27.3 HA |
Difference in midsole softness in cold
Most likely you will be wearing this salomon Men boot in lower temperatures and harsher climates. For that reason, we had to mimic cold weather conditions by placing the boot into the freezer for 20 minutes.
After that, we repeated the durometer measurement and found that the boot's midsole only firmed up to 32.9 HA, similar to the other hiking boots we tested.
Do expect the boot to feel a bit firmer compared to what it felt like at room temperature.
Measuring the difference in softness, we found that the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento firmed up by 21.7%. That is an average difference compared to the rest of our hiking boots.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 21.7% |
Average | 19.1% |
zapatilla salomon Men Sense Ride 4 | Insole thickness
salomon Men went for a slightly thinner than average insole in the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento. Measuring its thickness in the heel, we got 5.3 mm.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 5.3 mm |
Average | 6.1 mm |
Stability
Lateral stability test
Stability is the Quest's second name. There aren't that many backpacking boots that could provide the same level of steadiness as this salomon Men offering.
There are so many stabilizing components embedded into the boot but the absolute leader is the brand's proprietary ADV-C 4D Chassis. Wrapping around the heel and sides of the boot, this uber-stiff component clutches the heel and ankle very firmly in place.
As a result, this whole structure prevented our ankles from rolling or wobbling every time we took a step. Having so much stability not only made us feel more surefooted but also decreased foot fatigue significantly over the course of the long hike. That's because none of our energy was wasted trying to stabilize the foot on uneven terrain.
Torsional rigidity
The salomon Men Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento is the quintessence of stiffness. Attempting to twist the boot in our hands was to no avail because of the boot's chassis, supportive overlays, and sturdy materials.
For that reason, we rated its torsional rigidity with a maximum of 5 out of 5. This hiking boot simply doesn't have ankle rolls in its vocabulary.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 5 |
Average | 4.3 |
Кроссовки salomon Men x-tour 2 w оригинал р-38
In addition to the stiff base, the Quest also comes with a super rigid and secure heel counter.
Assessing its stiffness in our manual test, we gave it a solid 5 out of 5. We never experienced heel slippage or anything even close to that while testing this salomon Men boot.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 5 |
Average | 3.5 |
Midsole width in the forefoot
The boot comes with a fairly wide base that doesn't go over the board.
Measuring the widest part of the sole in the forefoot, we got 116.5 mm. That's a few millimeters wider than average, making our steps more confident on mixed terrain.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 116.5 mm |
Average | 111.6 mm |
Midsole width in the heel
Surprisingly, the widest part of the heel wasn't as wide as we expected. With a caliper measurement of 85.7 mm, it is half a centimeter narrower than average.
If you are someone who relies on a really wide landing area to feel confident, have a look at the Kaha 2 GTX from Hoka (106.1 mm).
Actually, we didn't mind the narrower heel of the salomon Men Quest because it proved to be much more maneuverable when navigating small rocks.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 85.7 mm |
Average | 87.9 mm |
Flexibility
Stiffness
According to the product description, the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento "respects the natural flexion of your foot." We found that to be partially true because the boot indeed felt flexible enough for a rugged backpacking boot.
However, we don't want you to be misled by that statement as this salomon Men boot is still very much on the stiff side. Because of its burly construction, it required as much as 62.3N of force to bend the boot to a 90-degree angle. That's about 40% stiffer than our lab-tested hiking boots on average.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 62.3N |
Average | 44.3N |
Difference in stiffness in cold
You must also be prepared for that stiffness to skyrocket in low temperatures. After exposure the boot in the freezer for 20 minutes, our force gauge returned a whopping 85.3N!
Having a pretty stiff setup to begin with, the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento gets a whole 37% stiffer in cold conditions!
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 37% |
Average | 25.4% |
zapatillas de running salomon Men hombre pista 10k
Lug depth
Based on our caliper measurement, the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento has a lug depth of 4.7 mm.
Трекінгові штани salomon Men розмір 52 xl:
- wet roots
- mossy logs
- loose rocks
- deep mud
- creek crossings
salomon Men uses its proprietary Contagrip rubber which is not very soft and tacky (as we saw in our hardness test earlier) but we found it to be quite capable on challenging terrain.
In muddy areas, the boot's widely spaced lugs were really effective in shedding the dirt and preventing its build-up underfoot.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 4.7 mm |
Average | 4.2 mm |
Size and fit
Toebox width at the widest part
To our medium-wdth feet, the salomon Men Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento fits exactly as expected in our regular US boot size 9. It holds the foot very firmly in the heel and midfoot but leaves a little breathing room around the toes.
In the widest part of the forefoot, we measured the boot's width at 105.2 mm. This is a few millimeters wider than hiking boots on average.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 105.2 mm |
Average | 101.8 mm |
Toebox width at the big toe
Measuring the toebox width around the big toe, we got 81.2 mm. That is also notably wider than average. Having some wiggle room is essential to accommodate swollen feet and thicker socks.
The only downside is that this salomon Men boot doesn't come in multiple widths.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 81.2 mm |
Average | 78.4 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
As expected from a waterproof hiking boot, the tongue is fully gusseted in the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento. The attachments extend pretty high up the shin, allowing you to step into deeper puddles trouble-free.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | Both sides (full) |
Lacing
The lacing system is very well integrated into the boot's supportive features. Once we have it all cinched up, the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento braces the foot very firmly.
One of the locking eyelets is placed near the ankle bone. It helps to create a stronger lockdown around the ankle which helps with stability on steep slopes.
Comfort
In-boot comfort
In spite of all its ruggedness, the salomon Men Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento felt pretty comfortable from the inside. The padding, the Ortholite insole, the lining - these all work together perfectly to create a pleasant in-shoe experience. They help to make the break-in period in this boot feel less of a chore.
Tongue padding
The tongue is very adequately padded in the Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento. Measuring it with our caliper returned 10.7 mm, nearly the same as the average.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | 10.7 mm |
Average | 11.2 mm |
Heel tab
The salomon Men Cross Pro is a.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | Finger loop |
Removable insole
If you prefer to swap insoles or need a custom orthotic, the boot's removable Ortholite insole allows for that.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | Yes |
Misc
Reflective elements
Кросівки salomon Men xa pro 3d ultra 2 gtx 41розмір.
Ténis salomon Men Sense Ride 4 azul cinzento | No |