Salomon XT-4 OG GORE-TEX Review: A Seriously Capable All-Round Waterproof Shoe

The Salomon XT-4 OG GORE-TEX is a technical trail shoe wearing a familiar silhouette. Strip back the heritage story and what you have is a seam-sealed GORE-TEX membrane wrapped around a stable Agile Chassis platform, sitting on one of the most aggressive outsoles Salomon fits to a low shoe. That combination is built to do the job most UK walkers actually need doing: keep feet dry and gripped across coast path, downland and forest track through the wet half of the year.

I rate it 4.9 out of 5, and it earns that on capability, not looks. It seals out British weather, bites into wet chalk and mud, and rides on a cushioned, protective platform that stays planted when the ground tips and twists underfoot. It is not the lightest option and £195 is a premium price, but as one do-everything waterproof shoe it is hard to fault.

Who the XT-4 OG is for

This is an all-round waterproof shoe for walkers who want one pair that copes with everything the British calendar throws at it. A 12km coast path loop, an afternoon on the chalk downs, a wet forest track, a claggy winter bridleway: it takes all of that in its stride and asks no questions.

Pick it if you value a stable, protective, planted ride over minimum weight. The XT-4 OG is deliberately substantial, and that heft translates into confidence underfoot on rough, off-camber ground. If your priority is the lightest possible shoe for fast miles, the leaner Salomon Genesis 2 GTX is the more natural fit. But for all-round hiking where grip, waterproofing and stability matter more than grams, this is the stronger tool.

For the full range and how this sits against the rest, see my best waterproof trainers roundup, or browse the wider waterproof trainers category.

Waterproofing: the GORE-TEX membrane

The core of this version is a fully seam-sealed GORE-TEX membrane built into the upper. That gives you the classic GORE-TEX bargain: rain, puddles, wet grass and bog seep stay out, while sweat vapour still escapes so your foot does not overheat and clam up. On British ground that matters more than people admit. Our problem is rarely one downpour, it is six hours of wet grass, chalk slurry and standing water that soaks a mesh shoe from the outside in. The membrane here shrugs all of that off.

I want to be straight about the limit, because every low-cut shoe shares it. Waterproofing stops at the collar. The XT-4 OG is a low shoe, so if you plough through water deeper than the ankle, or spend a full day in shin-high bog, water comes in over the top and the membrane then holds it against your foot. That is physics, not a fault. For coast path, downland, forest track and general wet-weather walking it keeps your feet dry all day. For committed peat bog or river crossings you want a mid boot instead. Match the shoe to the ground.

Grip and outsole

Underneath is a Mud Contagrip outsole, the aggressive end of Salomon's rubber range. The lugs are deep, sharp and multi-directional, built for loose, soft, rugged and uneven surfaces. This is the spec that separates the XT-4 OG from most waterproof shoes at this price: the sole is engineered to bite, not just to look the part.

On wet chalk, the banana skin of the South Downs and the Purbeck ridgeline, it holds far better than a shallow-lugged sole. In claggy winter mud the deep lugs dig in and shed most of the pack-on when you scuff off on grass. On wet rock and slick boardwalk it behaves like most soft trail compounds, meaning good but not miraculous, so ease off on greasy timber steps. Across the surfaces most UK walkers actually meet, wet grass, mud, gravel, chalk and forest floor, the grip is confident and secure. This is the reason I trust these on a proper walk rather than just a stroll.

Stability, cushioning and fit

The chassis is where this shoe earns its all-round billing. Salomon builds an Agile Chassis skeleton into the midsole, a stability and dampening platform that sits in concert with the EnergyCell EVA foam. The effect is a ride that stays planted and controlled when the ground twists under you, which is exactly what you want on a rough coast path descent or a rutted downland track. It is protective without feeling dead.

The drop is 10mm with a moulded OrthoLite sockliner, a fairly traditional, cushioned setup rather than a low, minimal one. The 10mm drop nudges you onto the shoe rather than loading the calves, and the OrthoLite adds breathable, durable cushioning underfoot. Over a long day this is a comfortable, supportive platform.

Lacing is Salomon's Quicklace, the one-pull cord-and-toggle system. One tug locks the foot in with an even, secure hold, and the excess tucks into the tongue pocket. If you prefer to fine-tune tension zone by zone, traditional laces do that better, but for speed and a consistent lock the Quicklace does the job well.

On sizing, the XT-4 OG runs true to Salomon's usual performance last, which is slightly snug and shaped for a secure hold. If you are between sizes or have a wider foot, size up half. It shares its DNA with the rest of the family, so if you have tried the more everyday Salomon XT-Pathway GORE-TEX, you already know the shape.

Build and protection

The upper is where the technical roots show. A SensiFit construction cradles the foot from midsole to lacing, wrapping it for a secure, connected hold that stops the foot sliding on side-slopes. Around the toe and the high-wear zones the shoe is reinforced to take the knocks of rocky, rooty ground, and the mudguard and overlays give it the sort of abrasion resistance a low shoe needs if it is going to survive real trail use rather than pavement. It is a properly built shoe, and after the miles it holds its shape and structure rather than packing out. That heritage silhouette is, at heart, just a well-protected trail chassis.

Colours

Three colourways, all sharing the exact same membrane, outsole and chassis, so this is purely a preference decision. Every option performs identically on the hill.

Pearl Blue is the lead colour and my favourite of the three, a soft, cool blue that still hides a surprising amount of trail dirt.

Black / Black is the do-everything option, a plain, hard-wearing black that never looks out of place.

Black / Lunar Rock is a black base with a lighter grey overlay. Sizes in this one are limited at the moment, so if it is your pick, do not sit on it.

Specs at a glance

Pros and cons

• Fully seam-sealed GORE-TEX keeps feet dry through wet grass, mud and puddles
• Aggressive Mud Contagrip outsole that bites on wet chalk and claggy winter mud
• Agile Chassis platform gives a stable, planted ride on rough, off-camber ground
• Cushioned, protective 10mm EnergyCell midsole with a moulded OrthoLite sockliner
• SensiFit wrap and reinforced upper make it a properly built, hard-wearing trail shoe

• Substantial rather than light, so not for fast, minimal-weight miles
• Low cut means water comes in over the collar in deep bog
• £195 is a premium price
• Quicklace is divisive if you like fine-tuning tension

Verdict

The Salomon XT-4 OG GORE-TEX earns its 4.9 out of 5 as an all-round waterproof shoe that gets the fundamentals right. It seals out British weather with a proper seam-sealed GORE-TEX membrane, grips wet chalk and mud on an aggressive Mud Contagrip outsole, rides on a stable, cushioned Agile Chassis platform, and holds up to real trail abuse thanks to a well-reinforced, SensiFit upper. Across coast path, downland, forest and winter mud it does everything you ask of it.

Buy it if you want one capable, grippy, waterproof shoe for the full range of UK walking and you are happy to trade a little weight for stability and protection. If you need bog-proof coverage look to a mid boot, and if you want the lightest possible shoe the Salomon Genesis 2 GTX or leather-built Meindl Respond GORE-TEX are worth a look in the roundup. For all-round hiking, this is my pick of the pack.

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