Salomon

Three things decide this: how much weight you're carrying, how rough the ground is, and whether you want a waterproof membrane. Salomon's hiking range is built around one shoe with a lot of variations, so most of the decision is picking the right version rather than the right model.

Day walks and travel: X Ultra 5

This is the one most people are after. It's a low-cut hiking shoe that's light enough to wear on a plane and stable enough for a full day on a track. The GTX version has a Gore-Tex membrane, which is the right call for Tasmania, the Victorian high country or anywhere you expect wet grass. If you mostly walk in dry heat, the non-membrane version breathes noticeably better and dries faster when it does get wet.

Ankle support with a pack: X Ultra 5 Mid GTX

Same shoe with a cuff. Worth it if you're carrying overnight weight or walking on loose rock where a rolled ankle is a real prospect. If you're doing day walks on formed tracks, the low-cut is lighter and you won't miss the ankle height.

Wider feet: X Ultra 5 Wide

Salomon fit narrow, and it's worth saying plainly rather than letting you find out at home. The Wide fitting is a genuinely different last, not just a half-size up, and if you've tried Salomon before and found them tight across the ball of the foot, this is the version to look at. Both the X Ultra 5 and the Mid are made in Wide.

Multi-day loads: Quest 5 GTX

A proper backpacking boot - taller, stiffer through the sole, and built to stay comfortable under a heavy pack over several days. It's more boot than most people need for weekend walking, and it's heavier on the foot than the X Ultra Mid. If you're carrying twenty kilos across scree, that stiffness is the point.

Rough and off-track ground: XA Pro 3D V9 GTX

The chunkier, more protective option - more rubber underfoot and a more aggressive tread than the X Ultra. It suits people who walk off-track or spend time in creek beds. The Gore-Tex keeps out splashes and wet grass, but water that comes in over the collar stays in, so it's not the shoe for wading deep crossings. It's a heavier shoe and it looks it.

In short: X Ultra 5 for day walks, the Mid for pack weight, Quest 5 for multi-day, XA Pro 3D for rough ground, and Wide if Salomon have pinched before.

Surface decides this one. Salomon's trail shoes are quite different from each other underfoot, and the wrong choice is uncomfortable rather than merely slower.

Soft ground and mud: Speedcross 6

Deep, widely spaced lugs that bite into mud and wet grass. This is the shoe most people picture when they think of Salomon. The honest caveat is that those same lugs feel awkward on hardpack and rock - you can feel each one through the sole, and they wear down fast on road sections. If your local trail is dry and stony, this isn't your shoe.

Long distances: Ultra Glide

More foam underfoot than anything else in the trail range, aimed at people running for several hours. Softer landings, less ground feel. Good for ultra distance, more shoe than you need for a 10km loop.

Racing: S/Lab Genesis

The race shoe, built with input from Salomon's sponsored runners. Light, precise and expensive, with a narrow fit even by Salomon standards. It's a specialist purchase, not a first trail shoe.

In short: Speedcross for mud, Ultra Glide for long days, S/Lab Genesis for race day.

The range is organised by how much you need to carry rather than by how fast you run. The number in the name is the capacity in litres.

Long days and mandatory kit: ADV Skin 12

Twelve litres, which is enough for a jacket, food, a first aid kit and two soft flasks. This is the one that gets bought for events with a mandatory gear list, and it's also popular well outside running - it carries a day's worth of gear without the sway of a pack. There's a women's version built on a different harness shape, with a shorter back panel and the front straps split so they don't compress the chest.

Half days: ADV Skin 5

Five litres. Enough for flasks, a phone, keys and a light shell. For most people running two hours or less, this is the right size and the 12 is more vest than the run requires.

Short and fast: Active Skin 4

A simpler, cheaper build for shorter runs. Fewer pockets and less adjustment, which is fine when you're only carrying water.

A note on sizing: vests are sized on chest measurement, not on your usual clothing size, and they should be snug enough that nothing moves when you run. A vest that feels slightly tight standing still is usually correct. Check the measurements on the Salomon size guides before ordering.

Two quite different things sit here, and they get confused often enough to be worth separating.

Sealed surfaces: Aero Glide

Salomon's cushioned road shoe. A smooth, soft ride aimed at everyday kilometres on footpaths and bike paths rather than at racing. If your running is mostly on pavement, a road shoe will last longer than running a trail shoe down on concrete.

Everyday wear: XT-6

Worth being clear about this one. The XT-6 began as a trail shoe and is now bought overwhelmingly as a street shoe, and that's a reasonable thing to buy it for - it's comfortable, it's hard-wearing and the fit is snug. It is not the shoe to take up a mountain in the wet. If you want the look and the trail performance, the Speedcross or the Sense Ride will do the job the XT-6 no longer really does.

Footwear: The wider range sits across hiking shoes, hiking boots, trail running shoes and road running shoes, with footwear care and footwear accessories for laces, insoles and waterproofing.

Packs and vests: Running vests and small packs sit under daypacks, with larger carrying options in hiking packs.

Clothing: Shells and insulation under jackets, plus socks and gaiters for walking in wet or scrubby country.

Sizing: Salomon run narrow and the conversions aren't obvious - the Salomon size guides have the measurements.

Free shipping Australia-wide with bulky items excluded, and 80 days to return anything, sale items included. Full detail is on our shipping and returns pages. If you'd rather try footwear on before committing, our store locations page has both shops and you can order online for click and collect.

What size Salomon should I buy?

Salomon are cut narrower than most brands, particularly across the ball of the foot, and they're sized in US sizing. Most people find their usual size is right for length but tight for width, which is why several models come in a Wide fitting. If you're between sizes or you know you have a broader foot, go for the Wide rather than sizing up - a longer shoe with the same width will slide at the heel. The Salomon size guides have the conversions, and with 80 days to return you can try a pair at home on carpet.

Do Salomon shoes come in a wide fit?

Several of the hiking models do, including the X Ultra 5 and the X Ultra 5 Mid. It's a genuinely different shape rather than a larger size. The trail running and road models are more limited - if width matters to you and you're looking at a trail shoe, get in touch and we'll tell you what's available in your size.

Are Salomon shoes waterproof?

Only the ones marked GTX, which have a Gore-Tex membrane. Everything else is a breathable mesh that will wet out and dry again. Waterproof is the right choice for cold and wet walking; it's the wrong choice for hot, dry conditions or for running, where the membrane traps heat and holds water once it gets in over the collar. Waterproof also isn't permanent - the outer fabric stops shedding water over time and needs reproofing, which is what the footwear care range is for.

What warranty do Salomon products have?

Salomon warrant their products against manufacturing faults, and the terms differ between footwear, packs and apparel, so it's worth reading the guarantee on the specific product. Separately, Australian Consumer Law guarantees apply to everything we sell regardless of what a manufacturer's warranty says. If something has gone wrong with a Salomon product bought from us, contact us and we'll handle it for you.

Is the XT-6 a trail running shoe?

It was, and it's now mostly bought as an everyday shoe. It'll handle a fire trail perfectly well, but if you're running technical ground or anything wet, the Speedcross or the Sense Ride are the shoes built for it.

Are Salomon shoes good for walking all day?

The hiking range is built for exactly that - full days on your feet on uneven ground. Whether a particular shoe suits your feet is a different question, and it comes down to width, arch shape and how much cushioning you like. If you're buying footwear to manage a specific foot problem, see a podiatrist first; they'll tell you what shape to look for and we can tell you which models are that shape.