By Jason Burke | SNKRBOX | Toronto, Canada
The New Balance 9060 won my summer. Now that November has arrived, it’s time to find out whether the Salomon XT-4 has what it takes to win my winter.
Earlier this year, I wrote about the New Balance 9060 and how it became my sneaker of choice during a summer adventure across Canada. Between the comfort, the silhouette, and the versatility, the 9060 earned its place in my rotation. But anyone who lives in Toronto knows that what works in July doesn’t necessarily work in November.
As the temperature drops, my attention shifts toward footwear that can handle the changing seasons without compromising my personal style.
Enter the Salomon XT-4.
After years of searching for the right pair, I finally purchased a few Salomon XT-4s this summer. And while the technical design initially caught my attention, there’s a larger story here about why Salomon has become so popular, what makes its footwear special, and why my first purchase at Kith Canada felt like something of a full-circle moment.
Why Is Everyone Wearing Salomon?
Somewhere along the way, Salomon went from being a brand associated primarily with outdoor enthusiasts to becoming one of the most recognizable names in contemporary sneaker culture.
The internet has plenty of theories about why.
There’s the rise of gorpcore, the fashion movement that brought outdoor performance clothing into everyday wardrobes. There’s the growing appetite for technical footwear, the influence of fashion collaborations, and the continuing shift away from traditional sneaker silhouettes toward something more functional.
And then there’s the simple fact that Salomon shoes look different.
Their aggressive outsoles, technical overlays, unconventional colour combinations, and distinctive lacing systems make them instantly recognizable.
For me, however, the appeal is less about following a trend and more about how the brand combines technical innovation with design.
I’ve always appreciated products that serve a purpose while making a visual statement. Salomon seems to understand that performance and aesthetics don’t have to exist independently.
That’s what makes the brand interesting to me.
While the internet may have helped turn Salomon into a fashion favourite, the technical identity of its footwear is what convinced me to finally buy a pair.
What Is So Special About Salomon Shoes?
The first thing that stands out about the Salomon XT-4 is its design.
It’s a technical-looking sneaker, and I mean that as a compliment.
Originally developed with demanding outdoor environments in mind, the XT-4 features a combination of performance-oriented elements, including Salomon’s Quicklace system, supportive construction, and Contagrip outsole.
But specifications alone don’t explain why I wanted one.
What makes Salomon special to me is the relationship between technical innovation, look, and feel.
I spend a considerable amount of time outdoors, and I appreciate footwear that feels appropriate for those activities. Whether I’m navigating trails, exploring the city, or simply spending a day outside, I want sneakers that complement how I move.
The XT-4 has an aesthetic that feels equally at home in an outdoor environment and an urban setting.
The pair photographed for this review is a perfect example. Its dark upper, contrasting gradient, and technical detailing create a silhouette that feels purposeful without being understated.
There’s something appealing about a sneaker that doesn’t need to disguise its performance origins to be fashionable.
The XT-4 looks like a trail shoe because that’s part of its identity.
And that’s precisely what I like about it.
Why Are Salomons So Expensive?
Let’s talk about the price.
I have to admit that I find Salomon shoes a little expensive for sneakers.
There’s certainly a premium attached to the brand, particularly when you start exploring some of its more desirable colourways and collaborations.
Part of that price can be understood through the technical construction, materials, and performance heritage associated with the footwear. But brand desirability and fashion relevance also influence what consumers are willing to pay.
The more important question for me is whether that premium translates into long-term value.
And I can’t answer that yet.
These are my first Salomons, and I haven’t owned them long enough to determine whether the investment was worthwhile.
I’ve purchased sneakers that looked fantastic on the shelf but struggled to justify their price after a season of wear. I’ve also owned pairs that became more valuable to me with every passing year because of how often I reached for them.
The XT-4 still has to prove which category it belongs in.
I’m particularly interested in how the shoes perform through the colder months, how comfortable they remain over time, and whether their construction holds up to regular use.
For now, I’m paying for the promise of performance, design, and versatility.
Whether that promise justifies the price remains an open question.
Are Salomons Better Than New Balance?
I don’t think this is the right comparison.
At least not for my rotation.
When I wrote about the New Balance 9060, I explained why it became such an important part of my summer. Its comfort, distinctive proportions, and everyday versatility made it an easy choice for travelling across Canada.
The Salomon XT-4 serves a different purpose.
Where the 9060 offers the kind of comfort and styling I associate with everyday lifestyle footwear, the XT-4 introduces a more technical approach to my rotation.
That’s particularly relevant as we transition into winter.
Living in Toronto means thinking about more than how a sneaker looks with an outfit. There are colder temperatures, wet sidewalks, unpredictable weather, and eventually snow and ice.
I’m interested in seeing whether the XT-4 can become one of the pairs I rely on during this transition.
That doesn’t mean I’m assuming it’s a winter boot.
The XT-4’s trail-oriented construction doesn’t automatically make it waterproof, insulated, or suitable for icy conditions. Those are important distinctions, especially during a Canadian winter.
But I do think there’s room in my rotation for footwear that bridges the gap between a traditional lifestyle sneaker and something designed with outdoor performance in mind.
The New Balance 9060 won my summer.
The Salomon XT-4 has an opportunity to earn its place this winter.
And I’m perfectly comfortable having both.
Is Salomon a Luxury Brand?
This is where I think the conversation becomes interesting.
I don’t necessarily consider Salomon a traditional luxury brand.
Its identity is rooted in performance, technical innovation, and outdoor activities rather than the conventions typically associated with luxury fashion houses.
But that doesn’t mean it exists outside the luxury conversation.
I think of brands like Salomon as occupying a space I would describe as diffused luxury.
For me, diffused luxury represents products that offer a premium experience, distinctive design, and cultural relevance at a price that still allows me to incorporate several pieces into my wardrobe.
It’s not necessarily about exclusivity.
It’s about having access to thoughtful design and a level of quality that feels elevated without requiring every purchase to become a major financial commitment.
Of course, that’s relative. Salomon isn’t inexpensive, and affordability will mean different things to different people.
But I like the idea of owning a few pairs that serve different purposes rather than treating every sneaker purchase as a collectible that needs to remain in its box.
The value, at least for me, comes from wearing them.
Which brings me to Kith.
Why Is Kith So Popular? And Is Kith a Luxury Brand?
One of the things that made purchasing my Salomon XT-4s particularly satisfying was that it also marked my first purchase at Kith Canada.
I’ve been around sneaker culture long enough to remember when Ronnie Fieg was building his reputation through footwear and collaborations, well before Kith became the internationally recognized brand and retail destination it is today.
Watching that evolution has been interesting.
What I appreciate about Kith is that it represents more than a place to buy sneakers.
Ronnie Fieg helped establish a retail identity built around product curation, collaborations, storytelling, and an understanding of how footwear connects with fashion and culture.
That combination matters.
There are plenty of retailers that sell desirable sneakers. Far fewer have developed a recognizable cultural identity around the experience of discovering and purchasing them.
Kith has managed to make the retail environment part of the brand itself.
And I think that’s one of the reasons people continue to pay attention.
So, is Kith a luxury brand?
My answer is that Kith occupies an interesting position between premium streetwear, contemporary fashion, and luxury retail.
It’s not traditional luxury in the heritage fashion-house sense, but it understands many of the elements that make luxury desirable: presentation, scarcity, attention to detail, brand identity, and the emotional experience of purchasing something you genuinely want.
For me, visiting Kith Canada and finally buying the Salomon XT-4 was about more than acquiring another sneaker.
It connected my appreciation for footwear with years of observing how sneaker culture and the businesses surrounding it have evolved.
I had been looking for the right Salomon for years.
Finding it at Kith made the purchase that much more memorable.
The SNKRBOX Verdict: Can the Salomon XT-4 Win My Winter?
It’s too early for a definitive verdict.
What I can say is that the Salomon XT-4 delivers on the qualities that initially attracted me to the brand: technical design, a distinctive aesthetic, and the promise of footwear that complements an active lifestyle.
I also appreciate that the XT-4 brings something different to my sneaker rotation.
It doesn’t need to replace my New Balance 9060. It needs to establish its own purpose.
The real questions are still ahead.
Will the comfort hold up over longer periods? Will the materials and construction justify the premium price? And how useful will the XT-4 prove to be as Toronto moves deeper into winter?
Those answers will come with time.
For now, I’m enjoying the opportunity to wear a sneaker I’ve wanted for years, explore its capabilities, and discover whether its popularity is supported by the experience of actually owning it.
Because trends may influence what catches my attention, but experience ultimately determines what stays in my rotation.
And that’s what sneaker culture should be about.
Jason Burke is a data-driven MDes candidate and the creative voice behind SNKRBOX. Based in Toronto, Canada, where he explores sneakers, sports, style, and the culture that connects them.
