Salomon Genesis 2 GTX Review: The Do-Everything Trail Shoe

The Salomon Genesis 2 GTX is the shoe I reach for when I do not know exactly what a day is going to throw at me. It sits in that useful middle ground between a trail runner and a low hiking shoe: waterproof enough for a wet Purbeck morning, grippy enough for greasy chalk on the South Downs, and stable enough that I am not fighting the ground on rocky sections. Salomon built the Genesis line as a rugged, do-everything trail shoe, and the GORE-TEX version takes that brief into the wet British half of the year.

The core case is simple. You get a GORE-TEX membrane, a 4mm-lug Contagrip outsole, a stable 8mm-drop platform and a tough Matryx upper, all for £160. That is a lot of shoe for a lot of conditions, and it is why the Genesis 2 GTX earns a place in our best waterproof trainers roundup.

Who the Genesis 2 GTX is for

This is a shoe for hikers who cover mixed ground and want one pair that copes with most of it. If your typical day is 12 to 20km of downland, coast path, forest track and the odd rocky scramble, the Genesis 2 GTX handles the lot without feeling like a compromise. The neutral, balanced ride suits people who do not need motion control and who want a shoe that stays out of the way.

It is also a strong pick if you like the feel of a trail runner but want more structure underfoot. The activeCHASSIS gives it a settled, planted feel that a lot of softer, bouncier shoes lack, which matters when you are carrying a day pack and the ground is uneven.

It is less ideal if you want deep, plush cushioning for very long days on hard-packed trail. The Genesis 2 GTX is firm and stable rather than soft, and on 30km-plus days the forefoot can start to feel a little thin. For that use, a more heavily cushioned shoe or a proper low hiking shoe suits better. For day walks and fast, mixed terrain, it is close to ideal.

Waterproofing: the GORE-TEX membrane

The GTX in the name is a full GORE-TEX membrane bonded into the upper. In practice that means the shoe keeps out rain, wet grass, splash from puddles and the general slop of a British trail in the shoulder seasons. On chalk downland after overnight rain, or through the boggier stretches of the New Forest, my feet stayed dry where a mesh shoe would have soaked through in minutes.

GORE-TEX is also breathable, so this is not a boil-in-the-bag shoe. On cool, wet days it manages moisture well and dries reasonably fast if the outer does get saturated.

The honest limit is the cut. This is a low shoe, so the waterproofing stops at the ankle collar. Step into a bog or a stream deeper than the collar and water comes straight in over the top, membrane or not. That is true of every waterproof trainer, and it is worth knowing before you commit to one for genuinely wet, deep ground. For everything short of that, the GORE-TEX does its job. If you regularly hit deep water or standing bog, a mid-cut boot is the better tool, and our waterproof trainers hub explains where the line sits.

Grip and outsole

The outsole is where the Genesis 2 GTX makes its case for British hiking. It uses a Contagrip compound with 4mm lugs, which is aggressive enough to bite into mud and wet grass but not so deep that it feels clumsy on hardpack or rock. That balance is the whole point of an all-rounder, and Salomon has got it right here.

On wet chalk, which is one of the more treacherous surfaces you will meet on the South Downs or the Jurassic Coast, the outsole holds better than most. Wet chalk defeats plenty of shoes, and while nothing is bombproof on it, the Genesis 2 GTX gives you a fighting chance on the climbs and, more importantly, the descents. On loose forest track and rooty ground the lug pattern clears mud well and keeps hooking up.

The toe bumper is substantial, which matters when you are kicking rock and root all day. It is a shoe that feels built for the ground rather than the pavement.

Cushioning and fit

Underfoot you get an EnergyFoam midsole on an 8mm drop, with a 34mm heel and 26mm forefoot stack. That is a moderate, sensible amount of cushioning: enough to take the edge off long days without the vague, disconnected feel of a maximalist shoe. The activeCHASSIS running through the midsole is what gives it that stable, planted ride, and it is the feature I notice most on uneven ground.

Fit is classic Salomon, which is to say fairly snug through the midfoot and a touch narrow. The Quicklace system pulls the upper in for a secure, precise hold that does not loosen off over a long day, and the internal EndoFit sleeve wraps the foot cleanly. If you have wide feet, this is the thing to be aware of: try before you buy, or size with care. Most people will find true to size works, but wide-footers may want to size up half a size for room.

The Matryx upper is worth calling out. It is a woven, abrasion-resistant material that holds up to rock, scree and general trail abuse far better than a soft mesh, and it adds to the shoe's structure without much weight. At around 270g per shoe it stays light for how tough it is.

Colours

Two colourways are available. The Black is the understated all-rounder that hides trail dirt and passes for a town shoe, while the Gibraltar Sea adds a bit of colour if you want it.

Black

Buy the Salomon Genesis 2 GTX (Black) at Salomon

Gibraltar Sea

Buy the Salomon Genesis 2 GTX (Gibraltar Sea) at Salomon

Specs at a glance

Pros and cons

• GORE-TEX keeps feet dry through wet grass, puddles and shoulder-season slop
• 4mm Contagrip lugs grip wet chalk, mud and rock convincingly
• Stable, planted ride from the activeCHASSIS, good with a day pack
• Tough Matryx upper resists abrasion far better than soft mesh
• Light for how rugged it is, at around 270g per shoe

• Firm rather than plush; forefoot feels thin on 30km-plus days
• Snug, slightly narrow Salomon fit will not suit wide feet
• Low cut floods over the collar in deep bog or streams

Verdict

The Salomon Genesis 2 GTX earns 4.7/5 as one of the most versatile waterproof trail shoes you can buy for British conditions. It grips wet chalk and mud, keeps rain and slop out with its GORE-TEX membrane, and rides on a stable, sensible platform that copes with day packs and rough ground. The firm cushioning and snug fit are the two things to weigh: if you want plush comfort for very long days or you have wide feet, look elsewhere. For day walks and fast mixed terrain on downland, coast path and low fell, it is close to the ideal single shoe.

If that is your kind of walking, buy it with confidence.

FAQ

Prefer to weigh it against the field first? Compare it in our best waterproof trainers roundup, or read the closest rivals: the Meindl Respond GORE-TEX, the adidas Terrex Skychaser AX5 GORE-TEX and the more travel-friendly Salomon XT-Pathway GORE-TEX.