I am sure Salomon is a familiar brand to many, and for those who may be new to the outdoor industry, Salomon is a reputable brand with decades of experience in footwear manufacturing and design. Building on their fantastic collection of trail runners and hiking boots, they have developed a light-weight, versatile hiking shoe: the OUTline GORE-TEX. Even though I have only owned them for six months, they are my most worn pair of shoes during that time.
Price and Build
The price is very fair considering all the big-name, gold-standard, third-party materials that Salomon used to produce this shoe. There is an Ortholite insole, GORE-TEX to keep you dry, and ContraGrip as a durable rubber outsole. When this shoe goes on sale during the holidays, it is a steal!
Ortholite insoles ensure that your feet are comfortably cusioned along the whole shoe. Although the insole is not shaped like Oboz's O-Fit insoles, the shoe itself provides very good arch support that allows me to stand for an entire workday without soreness. These Ortholite insoles can compress over time, but they are relatively inexpensive to replace.
I have full trust in the GORE-TEX construction of this shoe. First, the shoe's outer nylon construction is very durable with an effective DWR (durable water-repellent) finish. This protects the GORE-TEX membrane underneath, allowing the shoe to be breathable. I have no problems with damp socks when stepping in puddles or engaging in heavy exercise in these shoes. I have even stepped into a swimming pool for 5 minutes just to test the effectiveness of the GORE-TEX, which held up perfectly.
Lastly, I want to review the ContraGrip soles. The rubber used is relatively stiff, meaning it is durable but not as "sticky" as climbing-approach shoes would be. I had a small incident where my shoe slipped on a smooth granite surface at about a 40 degree incline and I landed squarely on my bottom. This could have been attributed to my carelessness as well, since I was going at a fast pace. 5mm lugs provide a lot of traction on dirty treks, and each lug is spaced out wide enough so gravel does not get stuck. Overall, I do trust this sole to grip and hold onto most surfaces (except mossy rock or ice, basically).
Use and Performance
Appropriately labelled as a light trail hiking shoe, the Salomon OUTline should be used on light trips with non-technical terrain. The stiff EVA injected sole of the shoe provides good stability, but lack of a rubber heel cup means there is little ankle support. This lack of support may present a problem if you are carrying heavy packs (30+% of your body-weight), or if you are trekking a very technical, steep trail.
Therefore, this shoe is perfect for trails that are not-so steep. If you are looking for a light shoe to go fast, this is also a great choice. It is my first recommendation if someone is looking for a Grouse Grind-specific shoe. Although that climb is steep, it is mostly flat steps which calls for a light shoe with good traction and lugs.
It is possible to lightly jog on trails with these shoes, but proper trail running shoes are highly recommended. The difference between these shoes and a trail runner is the support around the mid-foot and drop. Trail runners tend to be much stiffer around the mid-foot to keep your foot held in place. Drop refers to the heel-to-toe cushion difference; a trail runner may have a drop of up to 10mm, whereas the Salomon OUTline has a small drop.
Size and Fit
I found these shoes to be a very standard fit. I did not need to size up or size down. I also have slightly wide feet; however, the shoes don't feel narrow, nor do I feel any pinching or excessive pressure. They are a flexible shoe, with a lengthy lace-up that almost reaches the toe-box so you can adjust the width of the shoe along a wide range.
Conclusion
These are currently my favourite shoes to wear around everywhere. They are light, waterproof, and have great overall traction that I can trust. Although I appreciate the quality, I would still be switching to my Zamberlain Vioz boots for backpacking trips or any trail that requires scrambling up a mountainside. For those looking to purchase a light shoe they can bring on any dayhike, this would be my top recommendation.
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