Men's XA PRO 3D Trail Running Shoes for Men

I had my first run in with Salomon products in Europe when I decided to try skiing out. Everything was a rental from the boots (Salomon SX91, the bindings were Marker and the skis were K2) The boots fit like a glove and there were no pressure points at all on my feet. Forward to 2024, I ordered these XA PRO 3D Gore-Tex Trail Running Shoes to try on because the brand I was going with for my duty footwear kept changing their design and they finally ran out of the model that I liked so I figured I'd try these out. Amazon has this "try before you buy" program so I decided to go that route. These shoes are designed for on-road and off-road as they have an aggressive lug sole that is comfortable and a reassuring grip. The shoe is built well and has a comfortable sole. The lacing system is different and it didn't take long for me to like the speed lacing system that Salomon uses for their shoes. These shoes do need a bit of a break-in, about three days. I was impressed with this pair that I bought another pair to switch up for my uniform. Mar 31,2024 (update) I've had these (I bought 2 pairs) shoes now just short of 2 months and daily wear and I have to admit, other than the fact that it's a little on the small side (it broke in really well) I am still happy with my purchase and they're holding up well.

Fantastic shoe. Works with my plantar fascia as it has a solid, unflexing sole. I'm getting an insert specifically designed for plantar fascia, which, in combination with this shoe, really does wonders for me. Size fits like Nike.

Great shoe!!! Comfortable and durable.

I’ve had the same model about 10 years ago, wore it everywhere almost everyday, just bought this to replace it. This one fits a little narrow and you have to get a half size up from your normal shoe size. If this is built like my previous version, it should last another 10 years. Great shoes.

These are the best shoes of this type I’ve ever worn. They are not cheap but in my opinion worth every cent. They were sized right, they look and feel great. I like everything about them. Five stars is not enough.

History: I'm a pretty avid hiker and outdoorsperson. Everything from car camping, backpacking 2-3wks, canoeing/kayaking and rock climbing. When I first started at age 12 or so, I wore boots. They never quite worked for me and I tried every pair I could get my hands on. Walmart $30 pair to $300 Italian made Scarpas. The last time I ever wore boots was at Philmont scout ranch when I was 16. Hiked 2miles in my Scarpas and had terrible blisters. I broke them in for months prior and thought it would be fine. Not so. I had no choice but to pull out my pair of well-worn Montrail runners I brought as camp shoes and toss the boots in my pack. What a difference!! My feet felt great and I could go for hours and hours without even thinking about them. Needless to say, it was a momentous turning point in my young outdoor life. Review: After I destroyed the Montrails, I took a leap and bought a pair of early Saloman XA Pro GTX in 2002. I went everywhere with them: all up and down the East Coast, Uintas in Utah, Inca trail in Peru, trekking in Tibet and through the French and Swiss alps. All in varying weather conditions from the deep cold of winter to scorching heat of summer. They had never failed me. I wore those same shoes up until they literally split in half a few months ago. I still wear them to do yard work, patched with some vinyl/rubber glue. I love these shoes. I don't think I'll ever get rid of them, too many memories. I finally brought myself to buy a new pair and decided to go non-GTX as my feet get hot and prefer the fast drying qualities of non-GTX shoes. I normally wear 10 1/2 to 11 and these are 11 which fit great. I wear Smartwool trail running socks w/out a liner and they are a perfect fit. Great support, roomy toe box, confident traction and surprising support and stability from a trail runner. I have strong ankles so I don't need the support of a mid-cut shoe or higher. I have never had a lace break or any other failure from the shoe. I really tried to think of something I didn't like about them, but can't. Considering how long I wore the first pair and how much abuse I put them through (I'm not a terribly small guy either), I can't even argue with the price as they lasted me 11yrs. Only my Doc Martins have lasted that long. And I wear them way less and am much nicer to them. I realize the flaw in this review in that it is primarily focused on the older version of the shoe. The style, fit and feel of the shoe is remarkably similar, so I don't feel that Salomon has made very significant changes in their last or design. The only question I have is about materials and quality of construction. If they have the same standards as their previous model, then I have no worries. Unfortunately, I feel that is rare when companies expand and grow, so my rating is tentative. I will update as I continue to use them if they do not match my previous experience. I really love these shoes.

great fit, very durable and comfortable

I have 2 other pair of these shoes (one gore-tex and another without) and they are my favorite shoes of all time. I got these as a replacement for my non gore-tex pair as they were getting fairly worn out after years of daily wear. When I got them they seemed a bit tight so figured the just needed a bit of break-in time. I don't know if they were mis marked as to size or what but the fit only got worse with time and they make my right hip hurt so bad I cannot wear them. Of course by the time I figured this out the return window was closed so now I'm stuck with $140 pair of shoes I can't wear and still using my 5 year old worn out pair as they are still the best shoes I have.