Anybody hike wearing Salomon S-Lab XA Pro 3 ?

Hey Roleigh,

If you search the forums you will see a complete review with pictures of this shoe by the current record speed holder for the JMT.

Best,

Jhaura

Here ya go.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/8943/index.html?skip_to_post=64522#64522

Ah Roliegh! I just made a reply to your post over at the SEKI/Kings Canyon hiker's Yahoo group and came here looking for that same link Aarom posted. Check over there to see my eval of the Salomon Pro 3D's, which are the same thing but gaiter-less.

Russell, I read the other thread. I was surprised that (a) the boot is no longer made by Salomon and (b) that it weighs more than a pound apiece for a low-cut shoe. Last year I had the Keen Event mid-height boot which weighs less than a pound apiece. What I would like to get is a boot that is just as well hiking in the High Sierra as it is in going across streams where you sometimes get wet — in other words, a fast drying boot.

Thanks for letting me know about the Salomon Pro 3D's being the same boot just gaiter-less. REI sells them and the nice thing about REI is that they really stand behind their gear. My Keen Event boot came unsewn for about 1" on a 2 week hike and they just returned me my money.

Unless I'm mistaken the pro 3d's also have salomon's "advanced 3-d chassi" which the pro 3's don't appear to have. So theres a very different sole on the the 3d's with multi directional rubber treads which salomon claims gives them much better purchase and stability. They stress the advantages cornering trail running, which could translate into a big advantage on any kind of unstable terrain.

I haven't used either though, can anyone that's tried both comment on the differences in stability and tread performance?

Simon, the XA Pro 3D's do have the 'Advanced 3D Chassis' for what its worth. As far as I can tell, its just another catchy (or not so) tag with little practical effect. The treads grip fine, but not significantly better than other trail shoes I've owned and certainly not as good as stealth rubber. So, better than some, worse than others, slightly above average traction is my verdict. But, I didn't buy the shoes for the traction they promised to afford. I needed something 100% synthetic, with a wide toe box and the XA Pro's fit the bill. As I have said here and over at the SEKI Yahoo group, I've been very pleased with the shoes.

Now if only there were more choices in a 3/4 or full height, all-synthetic boot that would equal the drying performance of the XA Pros while providing ankle support. To my knowledge, the only pair out there are the Montrail Namche's . Am I missing any other options?