A shoe that feels suited to hillwalking, Peter Macfarlane rates the Salomon X Ultra 360.

The Salomon X Ultra 360 leather Gore-Tex shoe is a slightly chunkier offering from Salomon, but one which feels nicely hill-walking specific to me.

Peter Macfarlane’s verdict

The suede outer may give these an approach, or casual outdoor shoe look, but in use the Ultras feel like a tough running shoe.
Pros
  • nimble
  • grippy in most conditions
Cons
  • fit feels a little different to other Salomons
Quick specs
Price: $145 / £140 (available from Salomon)
Weight: 804g pair, UK9
Materials: Nubuck leather and synthetic upper, EVA Midsole, GORE-TEX waterproof liner
Features: Contagrip outsole with Advanced Chassis insert, Quicklace lacing, toe bumper, recycled material content
Waterproof? Gore-Tex liner
Sizes: UK 6.5 to 13.5 inc half sizes
Women’s version? Yes
salomon.com

The uppers are mostly synthetic with large suede overlays and a synthetic rand, and the toe has a large, stiff synthetic bumper. The outsole is aggressive with deep cut lugs, although the heel tapers off with tightly spaced lugs which means that while in most conditions grip is excellent, on steep or wet descents, the heels can slip away (meaning I opt for more sideways foot placements when descending).

Conversely, this heel shaping does make walking easier on flatter trails – a squarer heel bites better on descent but it can feel more jarring and wear down faster on trails and tracks.

The fit in general feels slightly different to other Salomon shoes I own, with a slightly narrower front and slightly looser heel. This has not been a problem and I adjusted the fit with sock choice. However, it is worth trying on in a shop rather than relying on the more regular brand fit.

The Ultras are Gore-Tex lined and a reasonably high ankle cuff helps keep water ingress to a minimum until you are bog hopping. The flex is very good at the toe for easy walking, and firm at the heel area.

The draw cord lacing is excellent with good padding in the tongue underneath, and I’ve had no issues with lace pressure. Once tightened, the laces tuck into a little pocket in the tongue to keep them clean and stop any snagging.

The suede outer may give these an approach, or casual outdoor shoe look, but in use the Ultras feel like a tough running shoe.

Testing conditions

Peter walked Munros and ran his local trails in the Kilpatrick Hills for this test and is a long term fan of trail shoes for general outdoor use. He is a UK9, has a narrow heel and wide forefoot, and the weights are taken from his own digital scales.

This review was first published in the June 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors magazine.