Salomon Ellipse GTX

A very comfortable shoe for on the trail and off. I have the GTX W model which is waterproof.

I have been wearing these for a couple of months now. They are comfortable right out of the box and did not require any breaking in period. I have wide feet and need a large toe area and these give me plenty of breathing room without causing slop.

Unlike other Salomon shoes that have a quick lace system, these have regular tie up laces. I was a bit relieved that they did not have the quick lace system since, since if it breaks it's difficult to find a replacement in the middle of the woods while regular laces are easy to fix or replace. The laces are long, even when double knotted.

My version has a W after it (Ellipse GTX W). These are supposed to be waterproof with a Goretex bootie.  I haven't saturated them in a stream, but have worn them in rain and through puddles and my socks stayed dry. Sometimes my feet get hot in waterproof shoes, but I found these to be nice and breathable, great for summer hikes.

As someone who has always worn mid-height boots on the trail, I wasn't sure how these would perform. I am a bit of a klutz and tend to roll my ankle or trip over roots and such. I wore these on several hikes in Yosemite and felt they had decent traction and support. To be fair though, those trails were mostly class 1 walk up and not the kind of rugged, boulder-strewn trails I encounter in New England. Also the ground was dry when I was there, so I still have yet to see how they do in mud and on slab climbs.   

Overall, I find it to be a very comfortable shoe that is great on the trail and off.  

Right out of the box these went on feeling like my favorite go-to shoes for weeks. The toe box is roomy enough for a little wiggle in my toes but stable to keep me from sliding around going downhill. These are capable of gripping all sorts of terrain, dusty trails, granite slides and gravel.

Lightweight waterproof hiking shoe ideal for women who like to move quickly in the mountains. Made with Goretex, these have kept my feel dry when tramping through light water on the trail. The grip on several surfaces has me feeling confident in each step whether on sandy trail, granite rock, or graveled surfaces. 

Right out of the box they felt like my favorite shoe I have been wearing. No breaking in was needed for me. The tongue is connected to the shoe in a way that minimizes dirt and pebbles jumping into the shoe. I have bought three pairs of these so I know I'll have a pair as backup when the others are gone through.