Salomon XA PRO 3D Gore‑Tex Review: tough trail shoes with great grip but soft soles

I’ve been using the Salomon XA PRO 3D Gore‑Tex as my main walking and light hiking shoes in UK-style weather: mud, wet grass, gravel paths, a bit of rocky stuff, and the usual dog walks where you don’t pick the conditions. I’m not a mountain guide, just someone who walks a lot and hates having wet socks. I’ve also used Salomon X Ultra models before, so I had a decent benchmark in mind when I bought these in size 10 UK.

The short version: these feel like a solid, protective shoe built for people who are actually outside most days, not just once a month. They’re not light like running trainers, and they don’t feel like slippers out of the box. They’re more on the “workhorse” side: a bit stiff at first, good grip, good protection, and you can tell they’re made to be abused. If you want something soft and bouncy for city pavements only, these are probably not the right pick.

What pushed me to try them was the Gore‑Tex and the reputation for grip on wet ground. Where I live, paths are often soaked or muddy, and cheap walking shoes usually start leaking after a few months. With these, I was mainly looking for dry feet, decent comfort on long walks, and enough stability so my ankles don’t complain on rocky trails or tree roots.

They’re not perfect, and there are a couple of things that annoy me, especially the sole durability and the break‑in period. But overall, after proper use, I’d say they’re pretty solid trail shoes if you know what you’re buying: protection and grip first, lightness and long‑lasting soles second. If you can get them at a discount, they make a lot more sense.

Price-wise, the XA PRO 3D Gore‑Tex sits in that mid-to-high range for trail / hiking shoes. At full retail, I find them a bit on the expensive side considering the outsole doesn’t last forever. When you look at what you’re paying for, you’re mostly buying grip, protection, and the Salomon build quality on the upper, plus the convenience of the quick‑lace system and the Gore‑Tex waterproofing. If you’re someone who really uses those features – you walk in the rain a lot, you’re on rough ground, you value stability – then the price starts to make sense.

Compared to cheaper walking shoes, you clearly feel the difference in grip and support. The downside is you might burn through the sole quicker than you’d hope, especially if you’re doing a lot of mixed road/trail walking. That’s where the value question comes in: is it worth paying more for great grip now, knowing you might need a new pair in a year if you’re a heavy user? For me, if I can find them with a decent discount, yes. At full RRP, I hesitate a bit more and might consider other models like the X Ultra series, which some people feel have slightly better sole life.

If you’re more of a casual walker who goes out a couple of times a week, the value is better. The shoes will last longer, the Gore‑Tex will stay effective for more seasons, and you’ll actually benefit from the build quality. If you’re out every single day in harsh conditions, you’ll get your money’s worth in terms of performance and comfort, but you need to accept that they are more of a consumable than a long-term investment.

Overall, I’d rate the value as good, but very dependent on your use and the price you pay. Pick them up on sale and you’ve got a solid, reliable all-weather shoe that justifies the cost. Pay full price and walk mainly on tarmac, and you might feel slightly short-changed when the lugs start to flatten earlier than you’d like.

Design-wise, the XA PRO 3D in Black / Black / Magnet is still obviously a Salomon trail shoe. Even in the black colourway, it doesn’t look like a simple trainer – the overlays, the angular lines, and the chunky sole scream “outdoor gear”. Personally, I don’t mind that; I bought them for mud, not for the office. But if you want something that passes as a normal sneaker with jeans, this model is borderline. It’s not ugly, just clearly technical.

The most noticeable design feature is the quick‑lace system. Instead of classic laces, you’ve got a thin cord and a plastic slider you pull to tighten. The excess cord tucks into a little pocket at the top of the tongue. In practice, it’s fast and convenient. I can put them on and tighten them in a few seconds, which is handy when you’re trying to get out the door with a dog going nuts. The flip side is you don’t get the same micro‑adjustment you have with normal laces across different parts of the foot. It’s one tension for the whole shoe. For my foot shape, it’s fine, but if you have weirdly wide or narrow areas, it might annoy you.

The toe protection is solid. There’s a reinforced toe cap that actually does its job. I’ve kicked a few rocks and roots by accident, and my toes survived without drama. The heel counter is also firm, which adds to the overall stable feel. The shoe is not floppy at all; when you twist it in your hands, there’s clear resistance from the midfoot area, thanks to that plastic arch plate. That’s good for support but also part of why they don’t feel super soft right away.

Ventilation-wise, you can tell they are Gore‑Tex shoes: not the most breathable. The design is clearly aimed at keeping water out more than venting heat. I’ve worn them on warmer days; my feet got warm but not unbearable. Still, if you mainly walk in hot, dry climates, the design choice here might not be ideal. Overall, the design is practical, protective, and obviously outdoor-focused, with convenience from the quick laces and a look that says “trail” more than “street”.

Comfort is where expectations matter. If you’re coming from soft running shoes, your first reaction might be, “These are a bit stiff.” When I first put them on, the heel and midfoot felt quite locked in and structured, and the sole felt firm under the arch. Not painful, just clearly more supportive than cushy. After a few walks (I’d say around 20–30 km total), the foam and upper started to soften a bit, and they became much more comfortable for longer outings.

The fit in size 10 UK felt true to size for me. There’s enough room in the toe box so your toes aren’t crushed on descents, but the midfoot and heel are snug. That works well for stability. I never felt like my foot was sliding around inside the shoe, even on steep, muddy paths. The quick‑lace system helps keep tension even over the whole foot, but you do need to occasionally re‑tighten after a couple of hours, just like normal laces. That matches what one Amazon reviewer said: you have to cinch them again now and then, but it’s quick to do.

Underfoot, cushioning is firm but protective. On rocky ground or rough forest trails, I appreciated that I didn’t feel every stone poking through. The deep stack and the rigid plate do their job: no sharp shocks, no weird twisting of the midfoot. On the other hand, on long flat tarmac walks, you notice they’re not as soft as a running shoe. They’re fine, but if your main use is pavement, you might prefer something more cushioned.

In terms of overall comfort over time, I’ve done daily dog walks and a few longer hikes in them without hot spots or blisters, once they were broken in. The inside lining is smooth, and the heel doesn’t chew up your socks. For my feet, they’ve become a reliable, all-day walking shoe, but with that clear caveat: don’t judge them just by the first couple of outings. Give them some time to shape to your foot, and they become much more pleasant. If you want instant plush comfort out of the box, there are better options.

The upper is almost fully synthetic with a Gore‑Tex membrane underneath. It feels robust to the touch – not thin or flimsy. After repeated use in mud, wet grass, and a lot of flexing, I’ve had no tearing, no stitching issues, and no peeling overlays. That matches what a lot of Amazon users say: the uppers outlast the soles. So from a materials standpoint on the top part, Salomon did a pretty solid job. You can wipe them down easily, and they don’t soak up water like fabric trainers do.

The midsole and support system use Salomon’s 3D chassis / arch plate and cushioning foam. The foam itself isn’t super soft like a running shoe. It’s denser, which helps for stability and long-term shape retention. Over time, it compresses a bit and gets more comfortable, but don’t expect a bouncy feel. The trade‑off is you get better protection from sharp rocks and uneven ground. Under the arch, you can feel that rigid plate if you bend the shoe – it keeps the midfoot from twisting too much.

The outsole is where the compromise shows. The rubber compound has very good grip, especially on wet surfaces, but it’s on the softer side. That means the lugs bite well into mud and wet rock, but they also wear faster, especially if you walk a lot on tarmac or hard-packed tracks. One reviewer mentioned 250–300 km before the lugs were pretty worn; my experience is in the same ballpark. For serious daily use, that’s not huge. So materials are great for traction, less great for longevity.

Overall, the materials feel like they were chosen with grip and protection in mind, not maximum durability of the sole. If you mostly walk off-road, the wear will be more reasonable. If you do a lot of road sections, you’ll grind down the lugs faster. For the price, I would have liked a slightly harder rubber option, even if that meant a tiny bit less grip. But in terms of build quality and robustness of the upper, I have no complaints.

On durability, it’s a mixed bag. The upper is very durable. After months of use, including mud, wet grass, puddles, and general abuse, the synthetic material and overlays still look solid. No peeling, no open seams, nothing coming apart. That matches several Amazon reviews where people say the uppers are still going strong even when the sole is on its way out. So from the ankle up, you’re covered.

The outsole durability is where the shoe loses points. The rubber is soft enough to give good grip, but that means the lugs wear down faster, especially if you walk on tarmac or hard-packed paths regularly. In my case, I started to notice flattening of the lugs under the forefoot after a few months of regular use. Grip is still decent, but clearly not as sharp as when new. I’d estimate similar to one reviewer: around 250–300 km before the tread is visibly worn. If you only use them occasionally, that’s fine; if you’re out every day, you’ll get through them quicker than you might like for the price.

On waterproofing, Gore‑Tex does its job well at the beginning. For the first months, my feet stayed dry through wet grass, light rain, and shallow puddles. You still have to be careful with water going in from the ankle, obviously. Over time, like with most Gore‑Tex shoes, the membrane seems to lose some efficiency. One reviewer mentioned that after a year of daily dog walking, water started to seep in, even though the shoe still had plenty of life otherwise. That lines up with what I’ve seen on other Gore‑Tex shoes: they rarely stay fully waterproof for years if you abuse them daily.

So in terms of durability, I’d say: excellent upper, average outsole life, typical Gore‑Tex lifespan. If you’re a heavy user (daily walks in bad weather), expect to replace them roughly when the sole is worn and the waterproofing starts to fade. If you just use them for weekend hikes and the odd wet-day walk, they’ll last much longer and make more sense value-wise.

On the trail, the XA PRO 3D Gore‑Tex feels very secure. The grip on wet ground is genuinely good. I’ve used them on wet grass, muddy bridleways, slick park paths, and a bit of rocky terrain, and I rarely felt unsure about footing. The softer rubber and the lug pattern bite into the surface well, which is probably why so many people comment positively on traction. You can tell Salomon prioritised performance on wet and mixed terrain over saving the outsole.

Stability is another strong point. The combination of the firm heel, the rigid arch plate, and the relatively wide base means your foot doesn’t roll around much, even on uneven ground. If you’ve ever twisted your foot in softer, flimsier shoes, you’ll appreciate this. When carrying a light daypack, I felt confident on rocky steps and roots. For heavy backpacking with a big load, I’d personally move to a mid‑cut boot, but for normal day hikes and daily walks, these are more than enough.

They’re also usable for short runs on trails. I wouldn’t call them a dedicated trail-running shoe – they’re a bit heavy and stiff for that – but for the odd jog with the dog or running back down a path, they handle it fine. The lacing keeps the foot locked, and the cushioning is protective enough that you’re not getting hammered by stones. Just don’t buy them as your main running shoe; they’re more of a walking shoe that can run occasionally.

The biggest downside in performance is again tied to the outsole life. As the lugs wear down, especially under the forefoot, you lose some of that great bite in mud and on wet surfaces. One Amazon user mentioned around a year of daily dog walking before waterproofing started to fade, but still plenty of sole left; another mentioned the opposite: upper fine, sole dying fast. My experience leans more towards the sole wearing first. So performance is strong at the start and middle of the shoe’s life, but if you hammer them daily on mixed surfaces, don’t expect the same level of grip after a year.

On paper, the Salomon XA PRO 3D Gore‑Tex is sold as an all‑terrain, all‑weather shoe. In reality, that description isn’t far off, but you need to understand the trade‑offs. You get a synthetic upper with Gore‑Tex membrane, a fairly aggressive rubber outsole, Salomon’s quick‑lace system, and a rigid plastic support plate under the arch. This isn’t a casual sneaker with a Gore‑Tex sticker slapped on it; it feels more like a low‑cut hiking shoe with trail‑running DNA.

Right out of the box, the shoe feels structured and a bit stiff. The heel and midfoot are quite locked in, and the forefoot has enough room without feeling sloppy. If you’ve worn the Salomon X Ultra line, these feel a bit more technical and less relaxed. One Amazon reviewer summed it up well: the X Ultras feel good on day one; these need a bit of time to mold to your foot. I had the same impression – first few walks were fine but not super comfy, then they slowly settled in.

In terms of use, I’d place them in this bracket: daily dog walks on mixed terrain, weekend hikes on rocky or muddy paths, and the occasional short trail run if you’re not too picky. They’re overkill for pure city use and underkill for heavy backpacking in the mountains with a big load, but they cover the middle ground nicely. They also feel very secure on wet tarmac, wet grass, and forest tracks, which is where a lot of cheap shoes start to slip.

If you buy them expecting a light running shoe, you might be disappointed. If you approach them as a tough walking/hiking shoe that you can also jog in for short distances, they make more sense. They’re clearly designed more for function than style or everyday casual wear, and that’s how I’ve been using them.