Our verdict

Some days you just want to grab a light pack and run outdoors without overthinking it. For those occasions, we discovered that the Vans talla 16 is the ultimate companion. A shining example of lightness and agility, this mid-cut hiker from Salomon makes our full day of hiking feel effortless. We even felt our adventuring confidence boosted on cold and humid days with this pair!

salomon brown midsole sneaker Pros

  • Astonishingly light
  • SALOMON Scarpa bassa TRAILSTER 2 blu
  • Excellent waterproofing
  • Very durable build
  • Soft and springy cushioning
  • Low-to-the-ground platform
  • Salomon Leather & Tech Low Sneakers

salomon brown midsole sneaker Cons

  • Sapatos running Salomon
  • Not for technical terrain

Audience verdict

85
Great!

Who should buy

Bridging the gap between tough hikers and lightweight trail runners, the Vans talla 16 lets you be as nimble on the trail as you can be. Buy it if:

  • salomon brown midsole sneaker
  • you want a lightweight mid-cut boot for a day hike
  • Trekkingschuhe SALOMON X Reveal 410420 28 M0 Black Black Quiet Shade Gore-Tex membrane
  • sleek-looking hiking footwear is a must for you

Salomon Vans talla 16 review

Who should NOT buy

With its emphasis on lightness, the Vans talla 16 falls short of support and stability for multi-day adventures with a fully loaded pack. If that's what you plan to do, we highly recommend the Ténis Salomon Supercross 4 preto mulher or the Salomon Quest 4 GTX instead.

You might as well prefer the X Ultra and the Quest if you hike in soggy conditions and need the best possible grip.

Salomon Vans talla 16 lab test

salomon brown midsole sneaker | Cushioning

Heel stack

In the realm of hiking boots, the Salomon Vans talla 16 is a very low-to-the-ground option. Based on our calliper measurements, its heel stack comes in at 31.9 mm which is notably lower than the average.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Heel stack height

But having such a low platform makes the Outpulse what it is - an extremely light and nimble boot. It is most suitable for moderately challenging and fast-paced day hikes.

Test results
Vans talla 16 31.9 mm
Average 36.3 mm
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
26.2 mm
Heel stack
46.9 mm

Forefoot stack

Measuring the forefoot stack, we got 21.4 mm. This is only slightly lower than the average.

Having less cushioning under the toes allows you to feel the surface beneath a little better which helps to navigate tricky terrains.

Test results
Vans talla 16 21.4 mm
Average 22.9 mm
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
17.0 mm
Forefoot stack
31.0 mm

Drop

The height difference between the heel and forefoot stacks comes in at 10.5 mm in the Salomon Vans talla 16. Being lower than the average drop of hiking boots, it makes the Outpulse feel a lot like a trail running shoe.

A lower drop is ideal if you prefer a more natural underfoot experience and this Salomon boot offers just that!

Salomon Vans talla 16 Drop
Test results
Vans talla 16 10.5 mm
Average 13.4 mm
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
0.6 mm
Drop
21.0 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Hiking in the Salomon Outpulse was a great pleasure every time thanks to its amazingly soft cushioning! As far as hiking boots go, you don't often experience underfoot plushness.

What the brand calls their new Fuze Foam returned 18.8 HA on our durometer. It is 40% softer than other boots we've tested!

But in addition to softness, there is also a very tangible energy return in the Outpulse Mid. We think that it is granted by the boot's slightly curved shape and a stiff TPU Energy Blade running through the midsole.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Midsole softness
Test results
Vans talla 16 18.8 HA
Average 28.6 HA
The Salomon Sonic 3 is a solid choice if.
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
14.7 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
53.3 HA

Sean Wotherspoon in Salomon sneakers (%)

Because many people would probably wear the Salomon Vans talla 16 in colder weather, we had to check whether its cushioning is just as soft in low temperatures.

To mimic winter conditions, we kept the boot in the freezer for 20 minutes and then measured its foam once again. We found that it firmed up by 21.3% (which is average for hiking boots) but it was still on the soft side at 22.8 HA.

Salomon Vans talla 16 SALOMON ODYSSEY FOR AND WANDER
Test results
Vans talla 16 21%
Average 20%
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
4%
Sean Wotherspoon in Salomon sneakers
50%

Insole thickness

The Outpulse features the crowd-favourite Ortholite insole. Even though it is only 3.7 mm thick (less than the average), it kept our feet cosy and pampered.

Tecnologias Salomon socks 365 Knee 2 Pack.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Insole thickness
Test results
Vans talla 16 3.7 mm
Average 5.9 mm
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
3.7 mm
Insole thickness
8.0 mm

Size and fit

Size

Salomon Vans talla 16 is true to size (26 votes).

Кроссовки salomon speedcross 6 gtx nautical blue black white?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 39 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

Salomon offers a very comfortable and consistent medium-width fit in the Outpuse Mid GTX. We experienced it ourselves and our lab measurements confirmed it.

Having created a 1:1 replica of the boot's interiors using gel, we measured its toebox dimensions precisely with a calliper. In the widest part of the mould, the tool returned a standard reading of 93.9 mm. Just as wide as the average hiking boot in a D medium width!

Salomon Vans talla 16 Toebox width - widest part
Test results
Vans talla 16 93.9 mm
Average 93.9 mm
Compared to 22 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
89.7 mm
Toebox width - widest part
98.8 mm

Toebox width - big toe

Checking the boot's toebox width near the big toe returned another standard reading of 72.3 mm.

This means that the Outpulse has a moderately rounded toebox shape which accommodates all five toes pretty comfortably and doesn't get too pointy towards the front.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Toebox width - big toe
Test results
Vans talla 16 72.3 mm
Average 71.2 mm
Compared to 22 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
64.5 mm
Toebox width - big toe
80.9 mm

Toebox height

The vertical space of this Salomon boot turned out to be on par with the average too. With a calliper reading of 27.0 mm, its toebox is tall enough to minimise the risk of blisters, hot spots, black toenails, and other unpleasant toe conditions.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Toebox height
Test results
Vans talla 16 27.0 mm
Average 27.4 mm
Compared to 22 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
22.7 mm
Toebox height
33.5 mm

salomon brown midsole sneaker | Stability

Lateral stability test

It would be a lie to say that this Salomon boot is very stable but we cannot call it wobbly either. The definite answer depends on the kind of hike you need it for.

Backpacking? Absolutely not. A single-day route on non-technical terrain with a light pack? Absolutely yes!

Thanks to its grounded platform and stiff shank, the Vans talla 16 made us feel planted enough on a moderate hike.

Torsional rigidity

As we mentioned above, there is a stiff TPU shank called Energy Blade embedded into the boot's midsole. It gives the Outpulse enough rigidity to prevent ankle rolls and wobbliness.

In a manual test, we could barely twist the boot with our hands. This convinced us to rate the torsional rigidity of the Outpulse with a high score - 4 out of 5!

Test results
Vans talla 16 4
Average 4.4
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Salomon Zapatillas Trail Running Pulsar Trail Gore-Tex Hombre Hombre 46 2 3

We also felt a sufficient amount of rigidity in the boot's heel counter. It is an important characteristic of a hiking boot as it helps to create a very secure heel and ankle hold.

On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the stiffest, we rated the Outpulse's heel counter as 3. It is slightly more pliable than average.

Test results
Vans talla 16 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
1
Salomon Zapatillas Trail Running Pulsar Trail Gore-Tex Hombre Hombre 46 2 3
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Intended as a more nimble hiking footwear option, this Salomon boot comes with a narrower-than-average platform.

We measured the widest part of its forefoot at only 109.7 mm which is on the slimmer side of the spectrum. But on foot, it felt steady enough on hard-packed trails with some rocks and roots.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Vans talla 16 109.7 mm
Average 111.5 mm
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
96.3 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
124.6 mm

zapatillas de running Salomon mixta neutro apoyo talón talla 46.5

Putting our calliper against the widest part of the heel, we found it to be just average at 88.4 mm. No wonky business here!

Salomon Vans talla 16 Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Vans talla 16 88.4 mm
Average 87.5 mm
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
71.7 mm
zapatillas de running Salomon mixta neutro apoyo talón talla 46.5
106.1 mm

Lockdown

Where we missed support the most was the collar. The boot's lacing system just didn't seem to allow a more secure lockdown in this area.

There is only one pair of lace hooks at the top which resulted in too much extra space around the ankle. Being so used to a solid lockdown, we felt sloppy in this setup.

Salomon Vans talla 16 collar

To make things worse, we also had small debris getting inside the boot through its loose-fitting collar.

Luckily, it doesn't feel so bad on light and moderate types of trails.

Flexibility / Stiffness

This Salomon boot has a highly flexible nature. Rolling from heels to toes, our feet bent effortlessly, almost like in a running shoe.

To put a number on it, we used a shoe flexing tester to check how much force is needed to bend the Outpulse Mid to a 30-degree angle. The machine measurement showed 15.6N which is about 50% less than it takes an average boot!

Salomon Vans talla 16 Flexibility / Stiffness
Test results
Vans talla 16 15.6N
Average 31.8N
Compared to 26 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
12.0N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
65.7N

Stiffness in cold (%)

We were impressed to find that the shoe doesn't lose its flexibility even in low temperatures.

After spending 20 minutes in the freezer, this Salomon boot only stiffened up by 12.7%! Whereas most boots got at least 40% stiffer.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Difference in stiffness in cold
Test results
Vans talla 16 13%
Average 24%
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
3%
Stiffness in cold
71%

Weight

With its shoe-like weight of 13.6 oz (386g), the Vans talla 16 is ridiculously light for a hiking boot! It is as much as 5 ounces lighter than the average!

Salomon Vans talla 16 Weight

That's what makes the Salomon Vans talla 16 feel SO agile! Hiking in it felt as though we had a pair of trainers on. The boot is barely there at all.

Salomon S Lab Techsonic Leather Advanced low-top sneakers Nero Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 (15.0 oz) speed hiker.

Test results
Vans talla 16 13.62 oz (386g)
Average 18.77 oz (532g)
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
11.71 oz (332g)
Weight
28.29 oz (802g)

Breathability

When a boot's name contains "GTX", it is a surefire sign that breathability is non-existent here. This premium waterproofing membrane doesn't let any air pass through.

This is clearly seen in our breathability lab test where we pump smoke through the boot's upper. But what helps to make the Salomon Vans talla 16 more airy is the fact that it has a lower cut and a slightly loose-fitting collar. These factors help to invite more airflow inside the boot.

For that reason, we rated this Salomon boot's breathability as 2 out of 5 instead of the minimum 1.

Do not let that textile upper mislead you.

Salomon Vans talla 16 microscope

zapatillas de running Salomon pronador talla 46.5 baratas menos de 60.

Salomon Vans talla 16 microscope fabric

But if you do need a summer-ready version of this boot, have a look at the low-cut and breathable Salomon Outpulse hiking shoe.

Test results
Vans talla 16 2
Average 1.3
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
1
Breathability
5

Waterproofing

On the other side of the coin is of course the boot's incredible waterproofing ability.

Crossing a creek or getting caught in a rainstorm is no biggie with the Vans talla 16. This pair really proved its effectiveness in our hike tests.

Salomon Vans talla 16 waterproof

Just be careful to not let the water pour over the boot's collar. Because once it's there, you're stuck with damp feet until the end of the hike.

Durability

Toebox durability

Seeing the Outpulse Mid's textile toebox, we had concerns about its ability to withstand the wear and tear of hiking. But the Dremel test made us feel much more reassured.

Pressing the tool against the upper at a 3.2N force, we held it for a steady 12 seconds at a 5K RPM speed.

And what we saw was quite surprising! The synthetic toe bumper played its part in protecting the fabric but the fabric itself proved to be quite sturdy!

Because the Dremel test didn't result in a see-through hole, we gladly rated the boot's toebox durability with a high 4 out of 5 score.

Salomon Vans talla 16 toebox durability result

Test results
Vans talla 16 4
Average 4.3
Compared to 37 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

When it came to testing the boot's inner lining, we were pleasantly surprised once again.

After 4 seconds of drilling the fabric with a Dremel, we saw notably smaller damage compared to other hiking boots!

The difference between these two boots is bright as day, leading us to rate the Outpulse's heel padding durability with a high score - 4 out of 5!

Salomon Vans talla 16 Heel padding durability comparison
Test results
Vans talla 16 4
Average 3.6
Compared to 37 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Salomon boots have a stellar reputation for outsole durability. And the Vans talla 16 is no exception.

One of the telltale signs of a durable rubber is its hardness. So, we used a durometer to check the firmness of the Outpulse's outsole. It turned out to be 87.5 HC which is exactly the same as the average of hiking boots.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Outsole hardness
Test results
Vans talla 16 87.5 HC
Average 87.1 HC
The Salomon Sonic 3 is a solid choice if.
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
81.0 HC
Outsole hardness
92.1 HC

Outsole durability

To further test the boot's outsole durability, we turned to our Dremel. This time, we turned up the speed to 10K RPM and held the tool for 22 seconds against one of the lugs in the heel.

We were quite happy to find that the damage was pretty minor. According to our tread gauge, it is only 0.9 mm deep. This is a standard dent depth among hiking boots that have gone through this test.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Outsole durability test
Test results
Vans talla 16 0.9 mm
Average 0.8 mm
Compared to 34 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

The Outsole Mid GTX also comes with a sufficiently thick layer of rubber. Excluding the lugs, our calliper showed 3.0 mm of outsole thickness.

Putting all our findings together, we can assume that the Salomon Vans talla 16 can last beyond one hiking season.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Outsole thickness
Test results
Vans talla 16 3.0 mm
Average 3.0 mm
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
1.8 mm
Outsole thickness
5.6 mm

Misc

Lug depth

If you wake us up in the middle of the night asking what the grippiest hiking boot brand is, Salomon will be the answer.

Salomon Vans talla 16 contragrip

The Contragrip outsole of the Vans talla 16 showed excellent traction capacity on roots, rocks, slabs, and downhills. But it's just not meant for anything more technical or soft (mud, snow). Measuring the boot's lug depth with a calliper returned 3.5 mm which is actually shallower than average.

If you need a more aggressive bite, you will appreciate the 5-mm deep treads on the Ténis Salomon Supercross 4 preto mulher.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Lug depth
Test results
Vans talla 16 3.5 mm
Average 4.3 mm
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
3.0 mm
Lug depth
6.0 mm

Reflective elements

Unfortunately, this Salomon offering wouldn't shine in the dark... But the Hoka Salomon Women Reelax Moc 5 would!

Salomon Vans talla 16 Reflective elements
Test results
Vans talla 16 No

Tongue padding

The Outpulse boot has a reasonably padded tongue that is 7.7 mm thick. It is a little thinner than the average but still enough to keep us comfortable and protected from lace bites.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Tongue padding
Test results
Vans talla 16 7.7 mm
Average 11.2 mm
Compared to 41 hiking boots
Зимние штаны Salomon
5.9 mm
Tongue padding
15.1 mm

zapatillas de trekking con más estabilidad de Salomon

A fully gusseted neoprene-like tongue does an amazing job of keeping water and debris at bay. We found that it enhanced not only the boot's waterproofing capacity but also its midfoot hold.

Salomon Vans talla 16 zapatillas de trekking con más estabilidad de Salomon
Test results
Vans talla 16 Both sides (full)

Heel tab

The pull tab design on this Salomon boot is pretty funky! It not only adds a stylish touch but also proves to be quite functional.

It was quite easy to grip even with our gloves on. Given the boot's slim build, we found this add-on very handy for getting the Outpulse on.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Heel tab
Test results
Vans talla 16 Pull tab

Removable insole

For those who wear custom orthotics, this Salomon boot's insole is easily removable.

Salomon Vans talla 16 Removable insole
Test results
Vans talla 16 Yes