We've been wearing Salomon boots for years; abusing them on mountains, deserts, rocks and trails the world over. And two things have always impressed us about their hiking boots; the grip of the sole and comfort of the upper.

So we were happy to receive a new pair of their ExitMid boots recently, just minutes before we headed to the airport for Europe, to cover mountain bike races in the muddiest and most slippery conditions imaginable (Scotland). We had requested a Gore version of the boots, which are supposed to keep the rain, mud and water out - but are warmer due to their reduced breathability.

But as it turned out, we were more than happy with the regular version of the ExitMid, which trades off water protection for coolness; something we appreciated on the warm mountains of Spain and Canada.

Of all the medium-duty hiking boots we've tested, Salomon's are by far the most comfortable for this tester's feet. The combination of the upper's fit, lacing system and support would be enough to warrant our high rating - these boots simply feel great on your feet. Utilizing a mid cut, the uppers feature full grain nubuck leather and an efficient one pull lacing system that applies even tension to the laces from top to bottom - great for getting out the door quick.

But Salomon has a whole other arsenal of features in their boots, below your foot in the form of their Contagrip sole. The tread pattern and rubber compound does an awesome job of gripping on all sorts of trail conditions, from slickrock to roots, mud to pebbles. Nothing seems to break these soles from the trail. And to keep your feet moderately dry when crossing creeks, walking through wet grass or trudging through mud, a molded rubber toe and heel cap give you several inches of submersion protection.

And if you do get wet feet, the Clima-dry membrane materials and cushy tongue dry quickly - even when caked with muck. We definitely put this boot (and its older cousins) through their paces and have once again come away impressed with the quality, value and styling of the Salomon.

US$95
www.salomonsports.com // 877.2.SALOMON

— Reviewed & Written by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Gear & News Editor

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