SALOMON CROSS HIKE MID GTX Review: I've been waiting for this! One of the best ways to get to fast packing shoes

From day trips to staying in a tent with light luggage, hiking styles known as fast packing (and other fast hiking) have become more visible in recent years.

To put this style simply, imagine hiking and climbing where you carry the burden of camping, but with a light and minimal burden, while actively running where you can run, acting faster than normal course times, meaning you repeatedly "hike up and run down."

This new style of mountain climbing shoes tend to be a bit stubborn when you run down with traditional light climbing boots or hiking boots. However, speed-oriented training shoes are burdensome and leave you worried about ankle support, protection, and durability (of course, you can get through it with your physical strength and skill).

It has the stability and durability necessary for mountain climbing, and also has the mobility and rebound power that allow you to proceed lightly like a trail run. In order to meet the greedy needs of the rapidly increasing number of fast and light hikers, in recent years, various manufacturers have been competing with each other and have been appearing one after another. The SALOMON CROSS HIKE MID GTX , a waterproof mid-cut boot based on trail running shoes that was released by SALOMON this fall, has been experimenting with dozens of pairs of lightweight hiking boots that are highly competitive, and has achieved an outstanding level of perfection, which could be considered one of the light hiking boots for fast packing.

So, I would like to immediately review an extremely well-balanced pair of shoes that are OK to walk or run.

Main features of the SALOMON CROSS HIKE MID GTX

The SALOMON CROSS HIKE MID GTX SPEEDCROSS familiar to Salomon fans , with mid-cut ankles and even finer details optimized for active hiking such as speed hiking and fast packing.

The crimp design has minimal seams, and although it is waterproof with GORE-TEX, it is lighter than 400g per foot (MEN'S 27cm). The synthetic material that combines flexibility and durability, and stretch material is placed on the Achilles tendon, allowing for a lighter movement that is hard to resist natural movement, while maintaining sufficient protection, making it possible to operate your feet comfortably, which is hard to believe is a mid-cut boot. The shoelaces made of Quicklace® do not loosen up and greatly reduce the stress of putting on and taking off. The midsole uses EnergyCell™+, which combines the light rebound power derived from trail running shoes with excellent shock absorption. The outsole has been optimized for hiking with Contagrip®TA, which provides outstanding grip even on tough terrain, and has been redesigned to provide grip in all directions and patterns to improve durability. The CROSS HIKE MID GTX is a versatile pair that can be used not only for fast hiking and active trekking, but also for all outdoor activities such as camping and festivals.

Recommended points

• Lightweight and flexible upper that combines ease of movement and ankle protection
• Quick set-up quick race
• High rebound and cushioning properties of EnergyCell™+, which has excellent shock absorption and stability
• Non-slip and easy to step on

Points that interest me

• Breathable
• I want another eyelet near the base of my ankle

Main Specifications and ratings

Detailed review

In early September, when the heat of the season was long and lingering, I managed to get through the heat and the guerilla thunderstorms, walking (running) tens of kilometers of Tanzawa's main trail.

A good impression with clean appearance

The clean look with little bumps, the rugged shape and texture of a mobile suit (particularly the black and red model, not the trial model this time), is a first impression that it's not bad for a Gundam generation like me.

It's so light that you can't imagine from the look you'll find intuitive

When I pick it up, I am amazed at how light it is, even though I know it. When I compared lightweight hiking boots on this site two years ago, if I had a mid-cut under 400g, it would have been a bit of a problem, so even if it's not the lightest, it's just a really good thing to do with this lightness.

A supple, durable upper material that is firm yet flexible

The synthetic material used on the upper surface is a densely woven ripstop fabric. It is firm yet flexible and has excellent wear resistance and durability. However, there is little mesh feel, so you won't be able to expect much ventilation.

The basic base the SPEED CROSS 5 , but when tuning for hiking, the last is approximately 6mm wider than running shoes to improve comfort when walking for long periods of time. When you put your feet in, you can see that the area around the toes is spacious enough to not feel cramped at all, and I'm sure that even people who tend to avoid running shoes will be able to experience a relaxed feel when they hear of the base. The instep and ankles are covered with moderate pads, giving you a soft, thin feel.

Not only does it ensure durability, but it also improves comfort. Calculated crimping protection

Protection material is attached to the outer periphery of the upper by heat compression rather than sewn. It is not uncommon with Salomon products these days, but the feature here is that protection material is used from the part that comes into contact with the ground, so that the boundary between the midsole and upper is not visible.

Of course, simply crimping can lead to weight reductions due to the lack of thread, but the structure that uses this upper material over the midsole further improves the sense of unity between the feet and the shoes, and further reinforcement of areas that are prone to damage from rocks and trees to improve protection, leading to small details to improve comfort.

Quick lace that can be quickly set even in mid-cut

The good news is that it uses the Quicklace® system, which is rare for mid-cuts, which is installed in many SALOMON trail running shoes. It can be turned on and off with one action. The plastic parts and excess lace can be stored in the shoelaces garage in the tongue, so there's no need to worry about them getting caught. Also, although durable, thin shoelaces are likely to bite if they are under heavy load, but for now, I personally don't have any problems.

Furthermore, the loops on the forefoot of the tongue provide care so that the quick lace and upper fabric will not be directly rubbed against, causing damage to the fabric.

However, personally, I was a little concerned about the number of eyelets (holes for passing shoelaces through them), which is a relatively small number, with four mid-cuts. I'm not particularly inconvenient at the moment, but I think that if I had another eyelet, especially near the base of the ankle, the overall fit and difficulty of toe thrusts on the downhill side would have been further improved.

The exquisite mobility and good balance of stability and cushioning, making it easy to walk or run

This time, I tried to carry out a "day trip, SLR, and tripod" weighing approximately one night in a lightweight tent, and was about 1/2-2/3 of course time (that is, fast hiking style), and was amazed at how well the shoe was compatible. It was a very stable place that doesn't get shaky even if it's a bit heavy, the smooth stepping comfort on the uphill, the boldest braking guarantee on the downhill, the off-roading mix of soil, wood roots and pebbles, stable landing on all terrains, rocks, mud, and waterside, and ankle support in any event of a twist, so it was just as fun and safe to do.

Of course, the flat ground is crispy.

The sudden climb on the rocks is no good.

It will eat it even on mad muddy tuna.

EnergyCell™+ achieves high rebound, high cushioning, and high durability.

The EnergyCell™+, a technology derived from tolerance built into the midsole, plays a central role in its stable mobility and comfort. This is a highly resilient midsole, which gives you excellent energy return when you step on it, while also providing ample cushioning and durability when you land. The thick midsole with an intimidating feel that peeks out into the heel shows its power.

By the way, the sole is 27.7mm heel, 17.7mm fore, and 10mm drop, and the cushion on the heel is firmly covered.

The rocker-shaped structure curves so that the heels and toes rise slightly, allowing you to experience the feeling of kicking off smoothly, as you receive the impact with the moderate cushion when you land.

Rear ankle stretch material that smoothes the ankle front and back flexion

Another secret that makes walking comfortable is the Achilles tendon area, which combines ankle mobility and support.

The back of the ankles is slightly depressed, with elastic material being placed there. This means that there is less resistance when moving your ankles back and forth, and is less likely to get in the way when you are running. This allows for quick footing with the same feeling as a trail run, while providing minimal ankle support.

With this accumulation of many high-technology and keen ideas, these shoes have achieved an exquisite balance of "comfortable walking" and "light running" even with a certain amount of burden. Especially on the descent, you can go there in such a fun and light atmosphere that you wouldn't expect from a mid-cut. As an aside, I've uploaded the video I took so much that I felt so good I'm going to upload it below for reference.

A deep, strong outsole that provides reliable grip in multiple directions

Looking at the construction of the outsole, which is the key to the grip, there are many ideas packed into this as well. The basic configuration is similar to the base SPEEDCROSS , but while using the "Chevron lug" from Contagrip® TA, which combines traction and slip resistance, it is optimized for hiking with a different lug pattern than SPEEDCROSS . Specifically, SPEEDCROSS , is scattered with a triangle shape like a "makibishi", and we are conscious of not only stepping forward and pulling force, but also effective grips in multiple directions (photo below). The rugs are also spacious enough to allow for mud to pass through, and you can expect stable grip even on unstable, soft, and slippery terrain.

If you look closer, you will see a larger lug near the middle vertical line and thumb, which is subjected to a larger load. This is said to be a way to improve stability and durability for longer and more loaded climbs (on the left side of the photo below).

GORE-TEX with excellent water repellency and excellent stability, waterproof and humidifier

The gusset tongue is integrated with the tongue and upper, and the high waterproof and breathable properties of GORE-TEX, and the excellent water-repellent surface on the fabric ensure high waterproofness. It's not a concern at all if it's just a light rain or a shower.

Summary: Mid-cut for everyone to enjoy hiking and running down with peace of mind

The CROSS HIKE MID GTX is a highly complete pair of shoes that combines the know-how cultivated through both trail running and trekking, allowing you to enjoy the stunning marriage to your heart's content. We hope you have realized that this high level of performance and functionality is not an exaggeration to say that it is a perfect place for fast packing shoes.

Thin, the cushioning works in the right place, giving it a soft yet strong hold. And there are many mechanisms that allow you to feel comfortable walking or running, mainly "EnergyCell™+" which has excellent shock absorption and rebound power. A recalculated for hiking, providing traction and slip-resistant outsole. Combined with these, the CROSS HIKE MID GTX can experience the comfort of a wide range of people, from hikers who want to walk easily with lightweight equipment to fast hikers who want to attack long distances while running hard.

These boots are perfect for ensuring that more people can enjoy mountain activities that are evolving by expanding their enjoyment from mountain climbing, which was once a hobby or travel, into the health and sports field. We hope that anyone looking for the best fast packing shoes, and those who are about to enter the world of mountain climbing will be able to pick up these shoes as soon as possible.

Details and purchase of SALOMON CROSS HIKE MID GTX

For product details, please also check the official online shopping site for each of the CROSS HIKE MID GTX (Men's) / CROSS HIKE MID GTX W (Women's)