Why we chose them: waterproof upper, springy midsoles, lightweight design.

There has been a proliferation of lighter hiking boots coming onto the market in recent years. As far as we’re concerned it marks a welcome change, as more brands begin to embrace the comfort provided by much lighter footwear. With the Outpulse Mid GTX, Salomon have designed a boot that offers the speed and responsiveness of a trail shoe, without sacrificing on ankle support or toe protection.

Who Are The Outpost Mid GTX For?

The Outpulse Mid GTX will suit anyone needing a pair of walking boots that won’t feel like overkill on warm summer hikes. They will keep your feet dry and protected in a wide range of conditions outside of full on winter.

The springy midsoles and synthetic uppers favour fast and precise movement, which lends them well to scrambling and hiking over rocky terrain. If you’re racking up big daily mileages on a backpacking trip, you will also definitely appreciate the breathability and low weight, which will save you a lot of energy expenditure and blisters in the long run.

Materials and Construction

The lightweight, synthetic uppers on the Outpulse boots are infused with a Gore-tex membrane. This makes them totally waterproof without the need for heavier materials like thick leather. Although a membrane like Gore-tex does still sacrifice on some breathability, it can be of huge benefit when faced with rainy weather and mud.

The mid soles of the boots are constructed with ‘Fuze Surge’ foam. This is basically the type of super soft foam compound that you’d normally only expect to find in running shoes. The result is that the Outpulse should give a much springier and more comfortable ride than traditional style boots.

Features

The soles of the Outpulse boots feature Salomon’s ‘Energy Blade TPU’ plate technology. This is basically a springy plate that sits within the forefoot area of each boot. As you take a stride, you compress the plate, which then acts like a springboard as it flexes back out again.

The benefits are that you are both protected from sharp bumps on the ground by the plate, and also very slightly propelled with each step. The front of the boots are also protected by full rubber toe caps, which are a welcome feature on rocky ground, and will help to prolong the life of the uppers in rough terrain.

The outsole, which features Salomon’s proprietary Contragrip rubber compound and 4mm lugs, provides good grip on muddy trails and rocks. It can hold its own on some wet rock but, as is nearly always the case, there are limitations there.