If you have been searching for "Salomon" lately, you are not alone. The XT-6 has made its way from mountain races to city pavements, and the XT-4, the XT-Whisper and a few others have followed. Here is, without unnecessary jargon, how they differ and which one suits you.
What they have in common
Salomon was founded in 1947 in Annecy, in the French Alps, and the mountains are part of who it is. The sneakers in this guide come from the same family, the XT, short for "X-trail": fast crossings over technical terrain. First came the XT Wings, then the XT-4, the XT-5 and the XT-6. They are made for walking a lot, and your feet notice.
They share a way of doing things: quick laces that close in one pull, a lugged outsole with real grip and a chassis that keeps you stable underfoot. They hold the foot well and let you walk for hours without thinking about it. Comfortable, the kind you never want to take off.
XT-6: the icon
The XT-6 was introduced in 2013 as a technical running shoe by Salomon's S/LAB team, built with trail runners for 100-mile ultra races. In 2018 Salomon re-released it in its Sportstyle line, and new colours have kept coming ever since.
It has SensiFit, which cradles the foot from the midsole to the laces for a snug, secure fit; Quicklace, which tucks into a small pocket on the tongue; a moulded OrthoLite insole; EnergyCell cushioning with the agileCHASSIS; and a Mud Contagrip outsole with deep lugs. On the street, that means a sneaker that feels soft and solid at once, all day long.
- XT-6: the classic. The XT-6 Peat, a near-black olive green with a hint of lime, comes in both women's and men's sizes. And if you landed here looking for "salomon xt6 black coffee", here is the XT-6 Black Coffee, coffee brown with cream, very autumnal.
- XT-6 GTX: the same silhouette with a GORE-TEX membrane, waterproof and breathable, plus a closed mesh that keeps grit out. For women, the XT-6 GTX Gray Violet, pearl grey with soft lilac.
- XT-6 Expanse: Salomon adds texture, with stitched panels and a more retro feel. The XT-6 Expanse Earth Brown, earthy brown with light beige, is the one many of you search for as "salomon earth brown".
XT-4 OG: from the archive
The XT-4 is the XT-6's older sister. Salomon brought it back from its archive, true to the original design. A full-length Agile Chassis Skeleton and a dual-density EVA midsole make it stable and grounded, the kind of shoe that gives you confidence with every step. The GTX version adds a GORE-TEX membrane for whatever the weather does.
Right now we have it in men's sizes. The XT-4 OG GTX Coyote Brown, mustard ochre with brown and orange lugs, has a lovely autumn feel.
XT-Whisper: the light one
The XT-Whisper is the newest heir to the XT line. Rich textures and a wavy SensiFit around the vamp, with Quicklace, an OrthoLite insole, a chassis with EnergyCell and a Mud Contagrip outsole. According to Salomon's own figures it weighs less than the XT-6, which is why it suits anyone who walks the city without watching the clock.
The XT-Whisper GTX adds GORE-TEX, waterproof and breathable, without losing that light feel. For women, the XT-Whisper Vanilla Ice, bone cream with mauve grey, bright and easy. For men, the XT-Whisper GTX Delicioso, deep chocolate brown with asphalt black.
And also: Speedcross 3, XA Pro 3D and ACS
If you are after "salomon black coffee" in women's sizes, there is also the Speedcross 3 Black Coffee. The Speedcross is Salomon's most iconic trail shoe, with big motocross-inspired lugs that grip on wet ground. The XA Pro 3D is a tribute to one of its best-selling trail shoes, with a very stable chassis and a reinforced toe cap. And the trail-inspired ACS family completes the collection.
Quick comparison
| Model | Best for | How it feels | Waterproof? |
|---|---|---|---|
| XT-6 | City and long walks | Snug fit, soft yet solid | No (the XT-6 GTX is) |
| XT-6 Expanse | City, with a more retro feel | Like the XT-6, with more texture | No |
| XT-4 OG | City and weekends away | Stable and grounded | Yes, the XT-4 OG GTX |
| XT-Whisper | Walking the city all day | Light | No (the XT-Whisper GTX is) |
| Speedcross 3 | Countryside and muddy paths | Big lugs, lots of grip | No |
| XA Pro 3D | Trails and everyday | Very stable | No |
Which one for your day
- City, every day: XT-Whisper or XT-6. The Whisper if you want lightness; the XT-6 if you like your foot well held and cushioned.
- Rain and proper autumn: anything with GTX in its name. The GORE-TEX membrane keeps feet dry and lets them breathe.
- A weekend in the mountains or the countryside: the XT-4 OG GTX for its stability, or the Speedcross 3 if the path comes with mud.
- If colour is what wins you over: the XT-6 Expanse, with its more retro texture, looks great with wide jeans.
How they fit
Salomon sizes come in thirds: 40, 40 2/3, 41 1/3, 42… According to its official chart, each step equals half a centimetre of foot length (a 42 is 26 cm; a 42 2/3 is 26.5 cm).
The best advice is Salomon's own: measure your foot. Place a sheet of paper on the floor against a wall, put your heel against the wall, mark where your longest toe ends, repeat with the other foot and keep the larger measurement. Bear in mind the XT-6 is designed to hug the foot with a snug fit. If you are between two sizes, write to us before ordering and we will help.
How to wear them
Women: with straight or wide jeans and an oversized jumper; with a knit midi skirt and socks on show; with a dress and a trench coat on an in-between day. Soft tones like Vanilla Ice or Gray Violet brighten the whole look.
Men: with cargo or wide chinos and a sweatshirt; with jeans and a field jacket for a Sunday walk. The browns, Black Coffee or Earth Brown, go with everything autumnal in your wardrobe.
Come and try them on
Find every model in the Salomon collection, or browse women's sneakers and men's sneakers. And if you would rather see them on your feet, we are waiting for you at our shops in Barcelona and Menorca. Be Sune, be happy.