Replacement for Salomon Synapse shoes

[Mark F]

Over the last few years I have been using Salomon Synapse shoes, low cut and no wpb liner. For me these have been the most comfortable shoes/boots I have ever walked in and I am wanting to get as close a replacement as possible to these. Like all good things Salomon have moved the Synapse model name to snow boarding boots and I cannot see a direct replacement in their current lineup. I walk and don't run, non-snow usage in SE Austrsalia, Tassie and Europe.
My current pair still have a summer left in them but due to the closing down of a retailer in Canberra I can get either the X Ultra 2 or the XA Pro 3D at a 40% discount. I know the XA Pro 3D are popular and have been in the range for a long time but am favouring the X Ultras due to their more aggressive sole pattern. Does anybody have experience with the X Ultras? My requirements are low cut shoes without a wpb liner. I would prefer to restrict comments to potential Salomon brand replacements for these shoes because of their fit to my feet.

[photohiker]

Hi Mark,

I've been a Salomon fan for quite a while, and have had about 4 pairs or so of Synapse, mid and low. When they seemed to vanish from the market, I managed to grab a pair of low cut on ebay in my size, but not many out there any more sadly. These have been an excellent bushwalking shoe for me.

This year, I did the Larapinta and my Synapses were not new enough for that. The X-Ultras are my go to wet weather hiking boot but I think they would be too warm for desert walking so I scoured the internet looking for options. Surprisingly, I found that Salomon has a hot weather 'aero' version of the X-Ultra, but it strangely wasn't available in Australia. ??? It has a wide weave mesh fabric upper with the usual external strengthening supports.

http://www.salomon.com/us/product/x-ultra-mid-aero.html

Knowing my X-Ultra sizing, I ordered a pair via ebay and they have been excellent. I've walked the Larapinta in them and basically haven't used anything else since. They are holding up really well. Walking through wet grass, my feet get wet in them but they dry out pretty fast though. Walking through sandy creek beds I do get some fine sand coming through the open weave fabric but not enough to stop to empty the boots so far.

Sorry about the dirty boots! You can see they are being used, lol.



Check the lack of major wear on the soles. The heels on my boots are where the wear shows the most. I was expecting they would be pretty much knocked up after the Larapinta, but they could easily do it again.

[photohiker]

Also, this looks like the low cut version of the Aero, haven't tried them though:

http://www.salomon.com/us/product/x-ultra-prime.html

[Mark F]

ph - Many thanks for your comments. The main thing I notice about the Prime version is that it has regular laces rather than the thin quick lace system and there may be a single compound in the sole rather than two. I think the Ultra will be the choice.

[slparker]

I still have a pair of synapse mids, which i highly rate. That the sole is chunky and doesn't fit a gaiter well are my only complaints.

My suggestion to replace the synapse shoe is contingent on the shape of your foot. The x-ultra shoe has a wider heelcup and stiffer sole than the synapse and it doesn't work for me with the quicklaces - can't get a good heel-lock: the x-ultra mid would be a better option with laces rather than quicklaces, in my opinion. I have a low volume, medium wide foot with a narrow heel. the x-ultra suits a higher volume foot IMHO. It is borderline width.

The XA pro trail runner has a deeper heelcup and lower volume and has a much more precise fit - also has a built in arch support. the sole is not as deep as the x-ultra or synapse and won't be as good for mud. Unless you get the wide version (on amazon) they tend to fit a bit narrow. The older version had terrible grip, I mean really bad - treacherous on wet dolerite. the newer model seems better but wouldn't be my first choice for rock-hopping the scree on ben lomond on a wet day.

I use the 'wings pro' trailrunners for running and have also used them for bushwalking with a heavy pack - they might be an option - wide, stable and grippy sole, wider fit like the synapse and a very precisely fitting shoe. To me this fits similarly to the old synapse but it is a trail runner and the sole lugs are not as deep. My 11.5 foot fits the synapse and wings pro perfectly.

If you have a narrow foot you could try the 'speedcross' trail runners with very deep sticky lugs - they are popular with the trail running crowd but way to narrow for me though.

[Mark F]

It's all those options - XA Pro, X ultra, wings, speedcross etc that were making my decision so hard. I felt that the speedcross with quite small lugs on the sole would wear quickly and the wings, while better, also seem to be a bit short of "rubber on the ground".

While I have been really happy with Salomon footwear my main complaint has always been lack of tread depth in the heel area. The synapse with the rocker heel means that on my old pair I have worn out the sole in the centre under my heel but the rocker section still has tread and overall I feel the soles have worn quite evenly which contributes to their lifespan. The x-ultra has greater tread depth across the whole sole but lacks the rocker heel with only the speedcross now with this design. I suspect I will wear the heel out on the x-ultras first even with the extra tread depth.

I have gone with the X-Ultras. Walking around in these and the synapse I don't detect a great deal of difference and I only wear a single pair of very thin socks. If I find they have a bit of extra volume a slightly thicker sock should take care of this.