The Suzuki Jimny of the shoe world, the Salomon XT-6 sneakers are the shoes that excel in the city but come into their own when you hit uneven terrain. They provide unbeatable comfort and stability for taking on any challenge the ground throws at you, and the cushioning in the soles makes even the most uneven terrain comfortable to walk for miles on.
There’s no need for a break-in period with these shoes; the comfortable textile is soft while remaining supportive, and the quickLACE system is fast and simple to master. Not to mention, these are the trendiest shoes at the time of writing, with the most stylish celebrities sporting them in their everyday street wear looks.
Salomon XT-6 review: Specs
Salomon XT-6 review: Price & availability
The Salomon XT-6 sneakers are available to purchase in the U.S. from Nordstrom for $185 and in the U.K. directly from Salomon for £165. The shoes take their style very seriously and are available in a whopping 23 different colors.
Despite their famed status in the world of fashion and outdoor gear alike, the XT-6s are very reasonably priced. And considering they’re an ideal all-rounder shoe, you’re getting your money’s worth here.
Other sneaker-style shoes from outdoor-focused brands include the Keen Leiki sneakers, which cost $160. They also provide breathability and are even waterproof, but the comfort levels don’t even begin to compete with the XT-6s.
The Icebug Rover RB9X GTX shoes would set you back $199, and while they offer Gore-Tex waterproofing, I’d still sway toward the Salomons for their rubber sole stability, depending on the weather conditions you plan on using the shoes in.
Salomon XT-6 review: Design
The Salomon XT-6 sneakers are known for their looks in the world of street style, and it’s not difficult to understand why. They are, in my humble opinion, the best-looking shoes you can get that will stand up well to any urban challenge you throw at them.
They feel very lightweight even though they are slightly heavier than other walking shoes I’ve tried. The Icebug Rover RB9X GTXs weigh 11.8 ounces, and the Keen Leikis weigh 11.6 ounces. Both of these shoes are great options, but the XT-6s are far more comfortable and far more stylish, and I felt the weight of the shoe was less noticeable with the Salomons because the fit was perfect.
The shoes have a drop value of 0.39 inches (10mm), and this gives them a great amount of lift to keep your body leaning forward very slightly, so that when I was moving on uneven ground, I felt extra stable.
Upper
The Salmon XT-6s’ upper is made of a synthetic and textile lining. This fabric is incredibly breathable, and my feet never felt sweaty or uncomfortably hot while wearing the shoes. Since they are fabric, they’re not waterproof, but these shoes aren’t made for off-roading situations — they’re more for uneven city walking and dry terrain. If you want something that can cope with wet weather, you should try the Icebug Rover RB9X GTX shoes, which have a Gore-Tex lining.
The toe cap of the shoe is reinforced, and after bumping a few times, it scuffs slightly, but it’s nothing major, and the level of the scuff depends on the color you have. I tested the Vanilla Ice color, which did scuff easily, but I imagine darker colorways would hide marks easier.
One of the best things about this shoe is the quickLACE system. There’s a toggle that slides up and does the laces to tighten them. I rolled the excess lace around the aglet at the top, which fixed both ends of the lace together, and tucked it discreetly into the tongue of the shoe. It’s super easy to tighten and loosen the shoe, and with practice, I could do this very quickly.
Insole
The insoles of the Salomon XT-6s make them incredibly comfortable for walking all day long. They have a molded Ortholite sockline that matched the contours of my foot and ensured everything felt snug. This also gave me some of the best arch support I’d ever experienced, similar to what I would expect from my most reliable pair of hiking boots, the Keen Targhee IV ($169).
This level of support is usually hard to come by for me because I have narrow feet, so I was impressed that the shoes managed to hug the sides of my feet and the arches all at once.
Chassis and outsole
The chassis of the Salomon XT-6s has EVA cushioning, which Salomon says works with the EnergyCell midsole to improve stability and minimize impacts. This worked extremely well for me. I was walking on uneven terrain with complete ease and felt balanced the entire time. It protected my feet from the effects of uneven paving stones, which are normally a killer for me when rushing the cobbled streets of Bath in the U.K.
The rubber outsole also helps with walking through cities, as when it rains, cobbles can get slippery (which I can unfortunately attest to, leading to some ungraceful slips), and the deep lugs, which are part of the contraGRIP system, keep me upright. The lugs make the shoes feel very stable, even on the most uneven ground.
Salomon XT-6 review: Performance
The Salomon XT-6s are my dream shoes. It’s an incredibly bold claim to make, but they give me everything I need, and look good while doing it. They’re designed for walking all day long, and that’s exactly what I did.
Salomon is known for its outdoor gear that can keep your feet cushioned in even the most outlandish conditions. The XT-6s are designed to thrive in the city. But that doesn’t mean they’re not hiking shoes — they’re just for a different terrain.
I was able to tackle uneven ground with ease. This included uneven cobblestones on the streets, wonky steps, and steep city hills that would leave even the fittest gym-goer out of breath. The arches of my feet were supported, and my ankles felt stable thanks to the shock absorption in the shoe that helped me maintain my balance at all times.
The lugs of the shoe look pretty intense at a glance, but they really work their magic by helping with grip on all terrain. I wore the sneakers on a trail walk to see how they held up on softer ground, and they were incredibly reliable and kept me feeling stable the entire time.
During my wear of the shoes, there was absolutely no break-in period. On my first wear, I walked 20,000 steps and didn’t have a single sore spot. All of the materials used are soft enough to move with the contours of your foot while being strong enough to support you. No blisters, no problems.
Also, despite the shoes not being waterproof, I didn’t face any issues with damp socks even when I wore them out in the rain. I also like that the excess lace can be tucked away in the tongue of the shoe, adding to the convenience of the quickLACE system.
My only issue with these shoes is how narrow they are. Now, this is absolutely perfect for me since my feet are quite narrow. But anyone who usually prefers a wide fit option or finds regular sneakers to be on the snug side will probably want to opt for something more forgiving, like the Keen Leikis, which are wider but still offer sufficient support.
Salomon XT-6 review: Maintenance
Maintaining the Salomon XT-6s is surprisingly easy, but they’re not waterproof, so don’t expect this to be a one-wipe and you’re done situation.
After each wear, give them a quick check over for any mud. Salomon recommends taking it off with a soft brush and using some water for the more stubborn stains. Dry the shoes at room temperature without any external heat source. Although it seems like a tempting quick fix, Salomon says that shoes should never be cleaned in a washing machine.
Cleaning the textile material on a regular basis will extend the life of the fabric. The toes and heel of the XT-6s are reinforced with a rubber texture to protect against scuffs. Due to the light-colored Vanilla Ice design I wore, light scuffs immediately showed up. This was hard to wipe away, but I knew the textile fabric underneath was protected.
Like with any shoes, the laces could potentially wear down over time. The quickLACE Kit can be purchased for $10 from Salomon’s site.
Salomon XT-6 review: Verdict
The Salomon XT-6s are the ideal all-rounder shoes for any style-conscious city adventurers, and they’ve become a staple in my shoe rotation. They’re actually the shoes I reach for on most days, and it’s no surprise why.
They provide unbeatable comfort with perfect arch support, and the cushioning in the soles makes uneven terrain easy to walk on. There was no need for a break-in period while I was testing the shoes, as the materials are soft yet sturdy, and the quickLACE system stays secure all day long.
While I don’t actually think there’s anything wrong with these shoes, some people may be put off by the fact that they lack waterproofing where the textile is exposed, and may want to opt for a different shoe made from Gore-Tex. They also have a narrow fit, so those with wide feet may want to avoid them.
At the end of the day, though, you can’t beat the XT-6s, and they are proof that some trends really are worth the hype.
