Salomon Outpulse GORE-TEX Shoes Review

For the last few years, running has been my stabilizer, and Salomon must have been thinking about me when they rolled out their Outpulse. GORE-TEX Shoes. Because I don’t necessarily love street running, or doing laps on the track. I like getting out in trails, especially going uphill, when it’s wet and muddy and dirty and the only way to get back to the car is to finish the trail. Because this running shoe – is a boot.

Salomon Outpulse GORE-TEX Mid Hiking Boots or Hiking Shoes?

So what makes the Outpulse the perfect backwoods running boot-shoe hybrid? Start with the energy return on the Fuze Foam, which cushions while kicking the energy of your footfalls back to you. There’s some reverse camber technology, made to help you keep a smooth sweet stride.

Of course like Salomon’s other great outdoors running shoes, the Outpulse boots have a GORE-TEX membrane to keep them dry and able to handle the mud. They have a Contagrip rubber sole made to dig into mud, grip rock, and grab hold of the dirt. The full rubber toe box turns it into, like, super-charged tires. And the mid-ankle cuff is perfect to get some extra ankle support, necessary for rock-hopping up the trail. So I took it out for a Spring unlike any other I’ve had.

Training in the Outpulse GTX

For the last few years I was running 20-30 miles a week most weeks a year, and all but lived in my Salomon XA GORE-TEX, though I’d usually tear through a pair in a year. Just as I was about to get my new pair, I broke my ankle and began a tough road back. Even more, I knew the emphasis would be on stability and protection, not necessarily running speed. Enter these gray tanks for my feet, the Salomon Outpulse.

I started wearing them shortly after getting out of my boot, coaching U10 lacrosse. They were the perfect transition shoe – stiff enough to support my ankle while still allowing for some more dynamic movements, as I was able to start doing so.

Eventually they became my training partners. I took them hiking, biking, fishing. I even did some short trail runs in the Outpulses. These shoes became my talisman, my magical vessel of all my dreams of restoring myself to former outdoors glory. In them I went from hardly able to walk to hiking over 10 miles with a heavy pack, throwing tough cuts for my lacrosse and soccer players, jumping rock to rock fishing, and even taking on some trail jogging. They’ve proven to be that perfect blend of support, protection, lightness, and versatility. In a word – the perfect hybrid.

Salomon Outpulse GORE-TEX Shoes Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Energy return with Fuze Foam cushioning
• GORE-TEX membrane for dryness and grip
• Mid-ankle cuff for extra ankle support

Cons:

• Not ideal for street running
• May feel heavy for some users
• Less breathable compared to street running shoes

Overall Impression

Salomon Outpulse ($165.00): The perfect hybrid for the outdoors distance crusher. I love to disappear into the woods, and ideally at a faster clip. Salomon has long been my podiatral companion for these adventures but with the Outpulse they’ve upped their performance foot gear game. Like, hybrid between running shoe and hiking boot; between outdoors gear and stylish tennie; between support and speed; between a tank and a Ferrari.

If you put some serious miles in the outdoors in a variety of surfaces and need one versatile shoe that hits all aspects, and especially if like me you’re needing some more support and can handle a little extra weight, the Salomon Outpulse was made for you.

Related Shoes We Tested in the Mountains

1. Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX
2. Scarpa Spin Planet Shoes
3. HOKA Speedgoat Mid Shoes