Ah the difficulty of purchasing shoes online –plus Im done with GTX and will never look back

By joe stans Ranked #852 - Men's Trail Run Shoes May 6, 2009

I was looking for a new hiking shoe this season. I felt that the Merrel Chameleons I have been wearing for the past year were a miserable disappointment. It seemed like it took eight months to break them in, plus I'm done with Gortex as a 3 season hiker. So I did what I always do when its time for new gear - I read and read and read some more. It quickly became evident to me that everyone loves these shoes. Theyre popularity is no secret and the average of the aprox. 50 reviews I have read was roughly 4.5 stars - not bad for shoes not bad at all. Well I got these in my normal size 10.5 and they fit perfectly. The shoes are light for the amount of support they deliver. Compared to my GTX chameleons they seem practically weightless. there are two things disticnt about these shoes you should be aware of. They provide pronounced arch support (I have low arches) and some with low arches find the sensation odd - I find it lends me more foot articulation. Also these shoes may not be built for the wide foot (my foot is neither wide or narrow). The lace system is efficient, the sole provides excellent traction, and Salomon in my opinion found the perfect balance in the stiffness of the sole. Not to hard or to soft. So far just a great shoe - they are more comfortable out of the box than the Merrels Ive been wearing for a year

View Details: Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra M+ Trail Running Shoe - Men's

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes