Sep 14, 2026 7 min read

Reviews Hiking Salomon

Salomon Genesis Mid GTX review: the waterproof mid hiker that still feels like a shoe

Light, athletic, and super comfortable from the first mile; here's my take after hiking in Salomon's trail-runner-inspired waterproof mid.

The Salomon Genesis Mid GTX takes the platform from one of Salomon's best all-round trail running shoes and builds it up into a lightweight, waterproof hiking mid boot.

That origin story tells you exactly what this boot is; a fast, athletic hiker that feels like a trail shoe with a weatherproof collar, not a traditional boot that's been put on a diet.

It's also brand new, so most of what you'll read about it elsewhere is still launch copy. My pair has been out on the trails, and the short version is that it's super comfortable, the ride is instantly familiar, and nothing negative about it has jumped out to me.

One thing to be clear on before we get into it is this is the fast-and-light end of Salomon's hiking range. If you want a boot that locks a loaded hiker's ankle in place, that's the X Ultra 5 Mid's job (it's in my testing queue right now), not this one.

Me and my best buddy Seb *(the future of Trail & Kale kids content)*

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Key specifications

Price: $210 at salomon.com
Weight: 14.4oz / 408g (Men's US 9, my pair)
Drop: 8mm (39mm heel / 31mm forefoot stack height)
Upper: Synthetic textile with a GORE-TEX waterproof membrane, gusseted tongue, and protective toe cap
Midsole: optiFOAM EVA with activeCHASSIS technology for stability and guidance
Outsole: All-Terrain Contagrip rubber
Extra attributes: Quicklace single-pull lacing, molded OrthoLite sockliner, breathable textile lining, regular width only

Sizing and fit

The Genesis Mid GTX fits true to size for me in US sizing, with that athletic Salomon hold through the midfoot and enough room up front for natural toe splay.

The Quicklace system is quick on, and quick off: one pull and the whole upper snugs down evenly, with the lace end tucked away out of harm's reach.

There is a lot of lace and the upper has good volume, so these should fit high volume feet well too; there's also plenty of padding in the collars and tongue to give a comforting sensation when laced up tight.

**Left to right:** plenty of excess lace, handy lace stow garage , padded collars

Worth knowing before you buy: it comes in a regular width only, so there's no wide option if you usually need one.

Performance review

The reason to buy this boot is the ride and performance, so that's where I'll spend most of this review.

Comfort that shows up on the first mile

Some boots make you earn their comfort, this one hands it over immediately without any boot break in period required.

My pair felt super comfortable from the first hike with no hot spots, no pressure points, nothing that needed managing or a "give it a few more miles" excuse.

If most boots you've owned (likely tradition leather boots) demanded a break-in ritual (my guide on how to break in hiking boots covers exactly that), the Genesis Mid GTX will feel refreshingly low-maintenance by comparison.

It feels like the Genesis 2 underfoot, and that's the headline for me

Here's the thing almost nobody else will tell you about this boot. Underfoot, it feels like the Salomon Genesis 2, the grounded, stable trail running shoe I rate as one of the best all-mountain options out there.

That's a big deal, because it means the ride is consistent and not a gamble. It's a platform I already trust on unpredictable terrain, now wearing a waterproof mid-cut upper.

Salomon calls the cushioning "ultra plush" on paper, but that's not quite how I'd describe it, and a bit of an exaggeration when you look at the competition.

This is light and comfortable rather than maximal, with the composed, connected feel the Genesis platform is known for, complete with 'Active Chassis' for built in stability.

Salomon does list the stack taller than the trail shoe (39mm heel, 31mm forefoot), but on foot it never reads as a wobbly max-cushion hiker; it reads as a Genesis with more trail and weather protection.

Light enough to hike fast

My US men's 9 pair weighs 14.4oz / 408g, which makes this a genuinely lightweight waterproof mid hiking boot, and that's the whole pitch from Salomon.

The boot disappears underfoot in a way mids rarely do, which makes it easy to keep a quick hiking pace going all day.

The activeCHASSIS guidance system mentioned earlier that keeps the Genesis 2 composed on unpredictable ground is built in here as well, and it works in the same quiet way; you don't feel a stiff device in the midsole, you just feel steady when the footing gets loose or uneven.

Grip from the All-Terrain Contagrip outsole has been dependable for me in mixed conditions, which is exactly what I've come to expect from this rubber on the Genesis line.

Waterproof for the days that actually need it

The GORE-TEX membrane does what it's there to do, and it's the reason this boot makes sense as a wet-weather day hiker rather than just a mid-height trail shoe.

The usual trade off applies though: a GORE-TEX bootie will always run warmer than an open mesh hiker, so if your hiking is mostly hot and dry, be honest about whether you need the membrane at all.

For rainy-season trails, dewy starts, stream splashes, and sloppy shoulder-season conditions, it's the right tool; so yes, heading into Fall/Winter, this one should be on your shortlist.

Know what the mid collar is for

This is the honest limitation of the Genesis Mid GTX, and it's about category rather than quality.

The collar is there to keep weather and debris out and add a little coverage; it's not there to brace your ankle under a loaded backpacking setup, and the overall protection level is deliberately light.

So think of this as a fast hiker with full weather protection, making it brilliant for full-day hikes and fast hiking, wrong for hauling a heavy multi-day pack over rough alpine terrain.

If you're still weighing up how much boot you actually need, my hiking boots vs trail runners breakdown will help you decide; this boot basically lives in the middle of that argument.

My verdict

The Salomon Genesis Mid GTX is an easy boot for me to recommend, as long as you buy it for what it is.

For fast day hikes, wet-weather miles, and anyone who wants a waterproof mid that still feels like an athletic shoe, it nails the brief because it's super comfortable, light, and built on a ride I already trust from the Genesis 2 trail running shoe.

What it isn't is a supportive load-hauler. If that's what you're shopping for, wait for my Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid review, or go straight to the soft underfoot, supportive Hoka Kaha 3 GTX, my current best overall hiking boot.

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Cross-shopping lightweight waterproof mids? The KEEN Zionic NXT is the other fast-and-light pair I'd read up on before deciding, and you can see where the best boots I've tested land in my best hiking boots roundup.