REVIEW: Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX Forces

The weather is getting cooler again - and above all more humid. Therefore, shoes should be more watertight again. What comes to mind here is of course Gore-Tex! And what could be better than combining a good shoe from the tactical line of Salomon with the high-tech membrane. We took a closer look at the XA Pro 3D GTX Forces (such a complicated name) for you:

These shoes were originally designed for trail runners, which is evident in the design. A massive rubber cap protects the foot from stones and other painful encounters. Compared to the Speedcross, it is also much stiffer, but still quite light (about 450 g). The fit, like with almost all Salomon shoes, is to be described as narrow and tight, so buy the shoe one size larger. Our tester usually wears a size 42 (UK 8) but with Salomon he needs a size 43 1/3 (UK 9). The only downside is that the shoe is quite stiff in the instep area. However, you quickly get used to it.

The most important thing about a terrain shoe is the sole, and it is excellent here. We had very good grip on all common and uncommon surfaces, except for the steep, completely muddy slope. Even after several months of wear, there are hardly any signs of wear here.

From the side, the shoe looks a bit bulky, but it is actually very comfortable to wear. The high, stable rubber cap at the toe of the shoe is clearly visible.

The lacing is done - as with most Salomon running shoes - using the patented Quicklace system. There is a small compartment at the end of the tongue for the excess laces to be stored.

A look into the interior. The Gore-Tex lining is clearly visible. It behaves here like with almost all shoes with this wonder membrane: they feel hotter than shoes without Gore-Tex on summer days, but when it's wet, they are just right.

Another small disadvantage is not visible to the naked eye, but only through a night vision device. Here, the shoe appears mostly white under the IR emitter, which is unfortunate. So the nicest camouflage pattern doesn't help...

CONCLUSION: A stable trail running shoe, which now with Salomon's tactical Forces line also makes its way into the military sector. In the field, it offers very good grip and protection, and keeps the feet dry. The quality is typical Salomon, simply very good.

Available at HQG for 160€ excluding shipping in Black and Khaki. The model is also available without GoreTex in Black and Navajo (Beige) for 135,01€ excluding shipping