Salomon Men's Authentic Leather & GORE-TEX Backpacking Boots

Have had this now almost a week and have walked/hiked 15 miles or so.Sizing: I have been recently measured and continue to wear a size 10 in almost every boot and shoe. This one is no different. It *may* be 1/4 of a size smaller than some other size 10 boots, but not enough to justify going with the next largest size, I'm still able to wear a very thick wool sock and/or a liner and sock combo yet remain comfortable. However the width of these is definitely slightly narrower than many other "D" widths, mostly through the middle of the foot back to the heel.. The toe box seems to be adequately wide. I tried a 1/2 size larger (size 10.5) and a "E" width (size 10) in the store and found both of those to be too large.Performance: After a brief break-in period, comfort and support is very, very good. Traction with the Contagrip sole so far seems to be far better than with comparable Vibram soles. Ankle support is also very good. Columbia's so-called "heal-strap" helps keep footing solid on uneven surfaces.. With the traction and ankle support uneven terrain or loose rocks etc. I expect the narrow width and rigidness are contributing to high amount of stability I've noticed. The GoreTex on these keeps water out - up to a point. When submerging the boot in water deep enough to come up over the edge of the outsole it might seep a very small amount of water if I don't remove my foot from the water right away - either through the GoreTex becoming super saturated, or perhaps through on the many seams. But when walking through puddles, hiking in heavy rain, and very brief steps in a small stream or creek - more regular, everyday stuff - feet remain warm and dry. Salomon's Ortholite insoles are the only thing I'm not overly impressed by. I've already replaced them with a pair of Superfeet insoles. These boot have become my favorite go-to for almost any wilderness adventures.

Ok, I just got these today but compelled to review them immediately. Having ordered $120 Adidas hikers recently my expectations were high. The Adidas shoe seemed well made and looked great but were too small in the toe box area. I do not have wide feet, so that was odd and disappointing. They also didn't feel real comfortable. They may have broken in over time but I didn't wait to see. Just didn't like them. Forward to today. The Salomon shoe is very well made as well. It doesn't look massively wide, but the toe box is excellent. Not sloppy big, but not cramped either. It cradles the foot without cramping it. The footed just holds onto your foot, kind of locking it in place without crushing anything. They are just as light as the Adidas, maybe more so. The green color and black color is awesome. Some said they run small, but I didn't see that. I tried to slam my toes into the end of the shoe but stomping my foot in a forward motion. I did this with the Adidas and ouch... Did this with the Salomons and my toes wouldn't contact the from of the shoe. They were locked in on my feet and I had only walked around the living room a few times. If something changes when I hit the moderate to rough trails I frequent, I'll let folks know. But for initial quality and comfort out of the box these are great.

This is a great boot for the money. They're not overly heavy, although heavier than my Under Armor Speed Freak boots. They feel very sturdy and seem like they will hold up well to what I will put them through. They are comfortable, but not as comfortable as my Speed Freaks. However, I like the design much better as it is easier to match with any kind of clothes. Still a really nice boot overall.

Impressively comfortable, with enough toe room but still fitting snugly around heel and ankle. I like the green and black design, matches my green and black gregory pack. Seems to have excellent grip on the soles. Provides stability for my arches unlike other hiking shoes. I will return to finish review after our backpack trip in Canyonlands in a couple months!Update:Backpacked 30 miles in backcountry Canyonlands for a week. Amazing boots. AMAZING GRIP. I was on wet slickrock in a blizzard on the ridge with running water, with an 85 pound pack on, and I had complete control of my grip on the wet slickrock. This was crucial to not falling and getting injured or dying. Feet and knees did not hurt from backpacking in these, were very comfortable and waterproof. Love these boots!

I used the amazon wardrobe offer to buy a bunch of hiking boots so I could find the best fitting, with emphasis also on build quality, material, comfort and keep that pair. I tried Banner, Bates, Keen, Merrel and I think Rocky. These Salomon are the real deal! I was looking for a comfortable pair of hiking boots for use during turkey season where I generally put in several miles each day up and down the steep hills of the Homochitto. Most of the boots didn't fit right for the size, and I was worried that these were going to be too narrow since I wear wide shoes and there are reviews of these being narrow. They do seem a little narrow when looking at them, but they are comfortable on my wide feet. They didn't need break in time, but I have roughly 65 miles on them and they just got better and better. They have held up perfectly and I was rough on them. I would definitely buy them again!

I was a North Face enthusiast for decades but I don't like their available color selection for the last few years, so when I could not wear my trustworthy North Face boots anymore, I took a chance and bought these boots. So far I'm very happy with them. They are very light weight and sturdy. I have not walked in puddles so I don't know their water resistance yet, but I have been through a few inches of snow and heavy rains and didn't have any water leakage. The only improvement I can think of is the bottom width. I feel it is narrower than necessary, and a little width would have give it better traction. It is not discomforting or slippery, just feels little strange until you get used to it.