Salomon Outpulse Mid Gore-Tex - Women's Review

With a streamlined and lightweight construction, Gore-Tex membrane, water-repellant upper, and Contragrip rubber for ample traction, the Outpulse Mid offers performance that exceeds the affordable price tag. However, while this is a great option for moderate backpacking trails and day hikes on well-maintained trails, the rand and lacing system lack the durability required for technical trails.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Outpulse Mid rank highly in this metric as they provide great comfort directly out of the box. There is no need to anticipate a break-in period where your feet may suffer as they adjust to the boot's shape. The fit feels true to size, if a bit narrow in the toe-box, which could be an issue for those with a wider foot. Comprised of Fuze Surge foam, these boots offer ample cushion underfoot whether you're out for a short jaunt or a weekend trip.

Support

With features that include SensiFit technology and Energy Blade Outdoor, the Outpulse Mid offers the support you'd expect from an affordable hiking boot. Sensifit gives the boot a snug and secure fit, while the Energy Blade filters the impact from ground-striking, thanks to a soft and cushioned midsole. The Ortholite liner also assists in shock absorption. With an ankle shaft measuring 5 inches, the Outpulse allows you to be nimble on the trails, but they lack the support for technical terrain and trips requiring heavy loads.

Traction

The Outpulse features All-Terrain Contragrip Soles, which have been a favorite of our testers in previous Salomon boots. While they performed well when moving through loose gravel and scree, we found it difficult to trust our feet on certain climbing approaches when moving over slabby, slick, and polished boulders.

Water Resistance

The Outpulse features extra water-repellent protection, which coats the boot's synthetic exterior to increase protection and prevent the fabric from absorbing any water during that unexpected afternoon thunderstorm. In addition to that special treatment, this boot also has a Gore-Tex membrane to repel water from the inside out. This allows your feet to stay dry during stream crossings or while moving through lingering snowpack. Our testers were impressed by the lightweight waterproof technology that performed well during our testing period; however, we question how effective this technology will remain over the life of the boot.

Weight

The Outpulse scores well in this metric, weighing only 1.6 pounds for a pair of US women's size 8. This is highly competitive with the lightest hiking boots in our review. While we love the lightweight design, it does sacrifice sturdiness and durability, limiting the overall performance.

Durability

From long approaches in Zion National Park to the endless trails within the Eastern Sierra, the Outpulse Mid held up to every durability test we put it through. It's not as durable as, say, a full leather hiker, but the synthetic upper repels moisture and debris and can withstand the rocks and stumps encountered on the trail without showing excessive wear and tear.

That said, while we did not experience any durability issues with this shoe during our extensive testing period, we can imagine that the synthetic texture has the potential to snag when moving quickly through the mountains — especially when compared to some of the burlier boots that we tested. We will report back with any further findings as we continue to wear this boot.

Should You Buy the Salomon Outpulse Mid GTX?

The Outpulse is a great choice for those interested in a more affordable, modern hiking boot that performs well over non-technical terrain. It is lightweight and comfortable from day one. However, we believe this boot lacks the durability and support required for more committing backpacking adventures. While this may be great to have in your quiver, we don't think it will end up being your one-and-only.

What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?