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Salomon OUTpath GTX Review

This lightweight hiking shoe from Salomon is a great shoe for trail hiking where good traction and support is necessary
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Salomon OUTpath GTX Review
Credit: Salomon
Price:  $160 List
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Manufacturer:   Salomon
By Ryan Huetter ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 3, 2018
77
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort - 25% 6.0
  • Weight - 25% 10.0
  • Support - 15% 7.0
  • Traction - 15% 8.0
  • Versatility - 10% 8.0
  • Water Resistance - 5% 8.0
  • Durability - 5% 5.0

Our Verdict

The Salomon OUTpath GTX is an incredibly lightweight hiking shoe that is specifically designed for lightweight endeavors where durability and water protection are also important. It can be hard to have it all, and lightweight materials are often at odds with longevity, but Salomon seemed to have found the right blend in developing the Sensifit upper material. For its low weight, this shoe has a rugged outsole and feels stiff and stable, though some of our reviewers found the material to be too stiff, to the point of being uncomfortable.
REASONS TO BUY
Extremely lightweight
Good water resistance
REASONS TO AVOID
Uncomfortable for some
Low flood height

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


salomon outpath gtx - if lightweight hiking is your game, these shoes should be on your...
If lightweight hiking is your game, these shoes should be on your short list.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Comfort


The Salomon OUTpath GTX is a high tech model that utilizes a lot of advanced features to achieve its low weight. Built on top of a Premium Wet Traction outsole, which is stiff and absorbs the impact of sharp rocks well, the rest of the shoe is made of synthetic materials that are designed to provide a high level of protection from the elements. This Sensifit material is hardy and durable, and in conjunction with a Gore-Tex lining allows the foot to breathe quite well, but we felt that the material's stiffness detracted from the overall comfort of the shoe. Some reviewers found that when the shoe bent is pushed this stiff upper material into their feet creating hot spots. Others did not find this to be the case, so we recommend trying these on in person before heading out onto a long hike.

salomon outpath gtx - protective from the elements and comfortable for a winter beach...
Protective from the elements and comfortable for a winter beach walk, the OUTpath is a lightweight model that is certainly unique.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

The speed lacing system that we have come to expect from Salomon shoes is quick and easy, though does not allow for a customizable fit, especially in the toe box. Overall this could be a comfortable shoe for some, but it is rather stiff and clunky feeling, and we often chose a softer feeling shoe for long walks.

Weight


Without a doubt, Salomon has achieved something remarkable in creating this shoe, as it features a stiff, supportive sole, has a top-notch waterproof lining, and still weighs in at only 1.7 pounds per pair in the US size 11 that we tested. Such lightweight hiking shoes are a benefit to those who are spending long days out on the trail.

Support


These hikers are indeed supportive and easily cover ground on rough and uneven terrain. The stiff Contagrip outsole effectively protects the foot from sharp rocks, and with a good deal of torsional stability, they hold an edge well without rolling. They are rather a low cut, however, and leave the ankle fully exposed to being hit by rocks.

salomon outpath gtx - the rigid sole provides great support on uneven ground.
The rigid sole provides great support on uneven ground.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Traction


The Wet Traction Contagrip outsole that is used is a solid performer in all conditions. On our wet and dry trail tests, the Contagrip rubber compound only faltered in the most slippery of conditions, and in the high angle tests performed above average. The sole has a high degree of torsional strength, and so can edge well when traveling over rocky and uneven ground, something that the models more akin to running shoes had a harder time with. This would be a good shoe to consider when the trails are more rock than dirt, and you want to be surefooted.

salomon outpath gtx - the contagrip sole scrambles around on rock with ease, finding good...
The Contagrip sole scrambles around on rock with ease, finding good footing thanks to its high traction rubber.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Versatility


This is a shoe meant for hiking in. It does well at its intended task and is equally useful on day hikes around the local park as well as on long-distance backpacking trips with light loads, but it is not a great choice for around the town or for use as a trail running shoe in a pinch. It is pretty flashy, with a teal color that stands out (we like the color, but it is bright), and as we have made mention of, it is quite stiff which does not lend itself to casual comfort while walking around doing errands.

salomon outpath gtx - day hikes such as this one call for water protection and a good...
Day hikes such as this one call for water protection and a good support, a great opportunity for the OUTpath GTX.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Water Resistance


By using a Gore-Tex Performance Comfort waterproof membrane, this model does a remarkable job of keeping water out as well as allowing the foot to breathe adequately. We stood around in a stream of icy cold spring runoff for 5 minutes, and the lining did not allow any moisture to enter, though the flood height of these shoes is a relatively low 3.25 inches, one of the lowest in the review, so waterproofness will be limited to walking through shallow puddles.

salomon outpath gtx - our feet stayed dry well past the 5-minute mark while conducting our...
Our feet stayed dry well past the 5-minute mark while conducting our submersion test.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Durability


During our two month test period that we wore the Salomon OUTpath GTX hiking shoes, we experienced no durability issues. The Sensifit synthetic upper material is quite abrasion resistant and stood up to rough, dry washes, off-trail travel and scrambling without looking like it was any worse for wear. While synthetic materials, and especially lightweight ones, tend not to have the most longevity, we feel that Salomon has developed a good blend of weight and durability in the OUTpath.

salomon outpath gtx - despite getting a bit discolored, we found the outpath to be quite...
Despite getting a bit discolored, we found the OUTpath to be quite durable.
Credit: Ryan Huetter

Value


This shoe is fairly expensive when compared to other shoes in our review, though with such a low weight and good performance, we feel that if it fits your foot, it's worth the price tag.

Conclusion


The Salomon OUTpath GTX is a low cut, lightweight hiking shoe that uses durable, synthetic materials to provide you with a stable shoe that will take you as far as you care to go. We did have some comfort issues that were related to the fit of the shoe, so take the time to test drive these before you attempt to break the John Muir Trail speed record. If these do fit your foot well you may find yourself dispatching the 211-mile hike thanks to the featherweight of these shoes.

Ryan Huetter