Water flowed over the sand and splashed across the toes of the Salmon X Ultra 5 Mid hiking boots. My legs pumped over the soft, wet sand in the morning light.

Thousand-foot-high dunes shimmered below the vastly higher mountains of the Sangre de Cristo range. Snowmelt ran across the sand, a short-lived river that behaves much like a landlocked beach. It’s a wild, unforgiving place for footwear, with steep, sandy slopes, frigid snowmelt, cactus, and rocky trails.

Those elements were a perfect match for the Salmon X Ultra Mid 5, a recently refined edition of a wildly popular hiking boot. So for 4 days, I walked, ran, hiked, and splashed through the park to see how these boots would hold up. Spoiler: they’re excellent.

In short: The Salomon X Ultra Mid 5 ($185) is a lightweight hiking boot aimed squarely at day hikers and backpackers who will largely use the boots on established trail systems. It has grippy traction and water resistance for shallow streams or muddy trails. It offers slightly more support than a trail running shoe but is still much more pliable than heavier hiking or hunting boots. It’s among the very best lightweight hiking boots on the market.

Compare the Salomon X Ultra Mid 5 with the best hiking boots and the best hiking boots for women.

Salomon X Ultra Mid 5 Review

The Salomon X Ultra Mid 5 is one of the best lightweight hiking boots on the market. It offers shoe-like comfort, tractor-like traction, and a little more support than a trail running shoe.

That’s the secret sauce that has kept the Salomon X Ultra high on the hiking boot heap for years. Now, the fifth edition, which dropped last month, brings a little more toughness to the lightweight hiker game.

The fifth edition of this boot weighs about 1 ounce per pair more than the fourth. But it’s a little tougher in the upper, and appears to be a tad wider in the forefoot. Beyond that, it’s a very similar boot.

For those familiar with the X Ultra line, the Mid 5 will feel very familiar. They start at the ground with a moderately luggy, pliable Contragrip sole. Building upward, you encounter the “EnergyCell” high-performance EVA foam midsole, which I found responsive and sensitive.

Next, a molded chassis insert embedded in the outsole provides lateral support and protection. To be clear, this isn’t nearly the support you will find in heavier hiking boots. But it goes well beyond the nonsupportive upper of trail running shoes. So, it’s a nice compromise for those who want a bit of a Goldilocks hiker.

The upper is made of tough, abrasion-resistant “Matryx” textile with individually coated high-tenacity Kevlar and technical yarn. It’s both light and breathable, yet it feels extremely durable. It wraps that with a soft interior and mesh that feels good against the ankle. So, while the boot can bash rocks and cactus spines without any damage, the inside feels nice against your body.

The X Ultra line offers both low and mid-cut boots. I tested the mid version, which was just a bit higher than my ankle bones.

Hiking Impressions

I wore the boots over several days this spring, including 4 days at Sand Dunes National Park. My test included hard, rocky trails, soft sand, water crossings, and walks on pavement and lawn.

The X Ultra Mid fit great right out of the box. I wear a size 9.5, and they ran true to size. On my first walks, I liked the fit and feel, but found one problem. The boots made a strange clicking sound from the upper as I rolled through my hiking gait.

That noise persisted on and off for the first few walks and even into my first day of hiking at the national park. It only affected the right boot and gradually disappeared after a few miles of hiking in the boots.

But it was an odd sensation and annoying sound that felt like it came from a rapid folding and unfolding of fabric material. It was by no means a deal breaker and seems to have resolved, but it was worth noting.

Beyond the odd clicking noise, these boots were excellent from day one. I started with a few short hikes around my neighborhood while dog walking, and the boots were extremely comfortable. Next, I took them on a few short hikes near my home in Denver, up and down short but steep slopes at parks just outside of town.

These short outings were plenty for me to recognize that the X Ultra Mid 5 really needs no break-in; they are comfortable right out of the box.

Next came adventures in Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Salomon X Ultra Mid 5: A Day-Hiker’s Dream

Hiking at the Great Sand Dunes National Park was the perfect use case for the Salomon X Ultra 5.

The trail from the Pinion Flats Campground climbs above the dunes through a mix of pinions and ponderosa pines. It winds over rocky soil and sand, and dry gulches wash over it. Some deadfalls, remaining from the winter past, require hikers to duck low as they pass.

The views that greet hikers are top tier, with snowcapped mountains towering above undulating dunes in the distance. I walked along the trail with happy, light footfalls. The X Ultra Mid 5 made easy work of this classic day hike, proof that they’re totally at home for the hikes many users will pursue.

Eventually, the trail breaks out of the forest and crosses into a rolling section of partially vegetated dunes. To hike there means slogging through soft sand. Then, a very shallow river crossing challenges any hiking boots before the trail disappears into the towering dunes.

I played in the shallow stream, water rushing up to my ankles, and reveled in the dryness inside the boots. These really were waterproof. After a few minutes in the water, I hiked across the stream and up the side of the first dune. I was blown away at how quickly the boots dried. Sand didn’t even stick to the boots as I left the stream and plodded up the dry sand.

Eventually, I headed back to the camp and arrived after about 3 hours of hiking. My feet were really happy, if a little warm.

Who Should Consider the X Ultra Mid 5

This is a light boot. It’s more supportive than a trail running shoe, and less supportive than a heavy-duty leather hiker or hunting boot. And it lands in a place that should be very popular.

It’s a perfect boot for people who want lightweight footwear — 15.5 ounces per boot is not much heavier than a trail running shoe — but want support and a luggy, protective outsole. Its waterproofness will keep morning dew and shallow stream crossings at bay. And the rubber front will protect from stubbed toes.

Day hikers and light/fast backpackers should consider the X Ultra Mid 5. The only weakness is in side-hilling or kicking steps on super-steep terrain, where the softer sole won’t perform as well as heavier hiking boots. They’re also not ideal for off-trail hiking and bushwhacking, where a great hunting boot will offer a tougher tool.

They will also be warm on very hot days. If the temperature is above about 80, a GORE-TEX boot is not a great choice.

But for those aiming mostly for trail use, the X Ultra Mid 5 is a wonderfully comfortable, lightweight boot. It offers good traction, protection, and fair support at a good price and, with rugged materials, should last for many enjoyable miles.