Not for me

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

11

Height

5` 11"

Weight

175 lbs

These are good looking boots and they appear to be well made from quality materials but the fit was not good for me so I returned them. The problem area was the large knuckles where my big toes meet the foot. I had foot surgery about 6 years ago for bone spurs in that area so I need boots that have a tall toebox. I really wanted to like these boots but because of the fit issue I had to return them. Four stars because they are high quality and good looking.

Boomer

Runs large, but happy with them

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Fit:

Runs large

Size Bought

8.5

Height

5` 10"

Weight

155 lbs

This is my first pair of Salomon boots after having owning many pairs of their trail running shoes. I originally purchased my running shoes size, 9, but had to return them for an 8.5. These boots are roomy and long. I purchased these boots looking for a lightweight backpacking boot to replace my Danners, and they have lived up to all my expectations. I've hiked about 50 miles in them so far, and they have proven to be light, fairly agile, waterproof, supportive, and not too warm. I would recommend them to anyone looking for the same. I submerged them in a creek up to my ankle for 30 seconds to test the waterproofing and there were no leaks. I've tracked through mud, bare rock, snow, ice, and scree and have found the traction to be sufficient.

Dylan

Clean, Simple, Burly

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

8

Height

5` 7"

Weight

130 lbs

I purchased these to replace my 7 year old Salewa Alp trainers that eventually lost their waterproofing capabilities. I was looking for a simple looking boot primarily for backpacking & hiking but also boots I could wear day to day. These boots fit my aesthetic, I think Solomon made a great looking boot. Clean lines. Looks good with a pair of jeans. All the tech hidden underneath the upper and doesn’t scream “techy-hiking-boot”. INITIAL THOUGHTS - Wearing them indoors I immediately noticed they are VERY LIGHT on my feet, much lighter than any other hiking boot I’ve owned. Solomons Contagrip is nice, maybe too soft to wear daily around town/city but will grip well on wet rocks and trails. I have long, low volume feet with normal arches and I can feel a modest amount of arch support (I may have to invest in inserts). With the boots laced tightly, my heel also feels locked down. The toe box feels snug but not tight, comparable to other Solomon boots IMO. Again, putting the on the trail will be the ultimate test of fit and last but out of the box these Solomon Outbacks feel great. I've done only a couple short sub 5mi hikes inside three months of owning and they offer great trail support all while being super lightweight. The soles are grippy over wet rocks and logs and the the treads shed mud pretty well too. my only gripe so far is the gusseted tongue ends just above the locking heel eyelets, limiting how deep this boot can go into streams and puddles. other boots i've owned in the past featured gusseted tongues all the way up the length of the boot providing a much better seal against water.

Jinda

Disappointing

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Fit:

Runs large

Size Bought

11.5

Height

6` 0"

Weight

175 lbs

Interesting new boot from Salomon. Coming from using the X Ultra series hikers for years, the Outback immediately stands out with its incredibly light weight. The almost seamless uppers are also a positive divergence from other Salomon boots. The laces have a nifty little cam eye that keeps the laces from loosening. This may wear out the laces faster, but it definitely works. I like the ample rubber toecap. The padding around the ankle is a bit stiff and unnatural out of the box, hopefully it forms better with time. By biggest gripe with this boot is that it is noteably more roomy than most Salomon shoes, even the length seems a bit excessive. I usually do fine with the stock Salomon insoles, but I had to put some Superfeet in these to suck up some excess space. Higher volume feet will probably like them as is. Despite the feather weight, these definitely fall more toward the hiking boot end of the spectrum, whereas something like the X Ultra Mid is more trail shoe inspired. More to follow after I put them through some adventures.. EDIT- I have now worn these boots on several rough day missions, shed hunting in steep terrain with mud, deep snow, stream crossings, etc. Comfort is still inferior to the X Ultra even with the Super feet, but they have only given me one blister. They still seem rather stiff and bulky around the ankle. I think the ankle and sole are too stiff compared to the rest of the boot. Durability seems fine so far. Excellent traction on wet and uneven footing. So far water resistance seems better than any other Salomon I have owned. EDIT- I now have about 6 months of use on these boots, although I used my old X Ultra Mids most of that time. Unfortunately the uppers on these boots are just not durable. One has a visible cut or crack across the top of the toes, and the other is frayed in the same area. They have lost any initial water resistance and now soak through rapidly even walking in wet grass. Although I am a fan of Salomon footwear, I would have to recommend avoiding this particular boot.

Coldsmoke

Comfortable and Supportive!

if you're looking for a lightweight shoe, that still gives you the support, comfort, and stability in a traditional backpacking boot, the OUTback is for you! Check out the below video for more details! *Note: I'm a Salomon employee*

Hannah Fleming