Last year I ditched traditional walking boots and went over to the other side - lightweight running shoes in the shape of Inov-8 Roclite 318's. They have done well walking locally in the Chiltern but recently, in very bad weather in Wales, they let me down. After an hour walking in heavy rain across mountainous terrain my feet were soaked. I am now looking again at lightweight mountain boots - there are so many. My question is this: Has anyone out there got a pair of Solomon Cosmic 4D GTX Hiking Boots and are they any good? Would it seem like going back to clumpy boots if I bought some? And any other lightweight boot suggestion would be really appreciated. David
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check out the gadget show web site for a review of this boot,they give it a 5 out of 5 light weight/ water proof etc
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will they fit you? Impossible to say. They could be the best boots in the world and be totally useless if they don't fit your feet. On lightweight boots in general, I have Asolo Matrix Flames, which are gorgeous, but useless if you can't handle that medium-to-narrow last. Find something that fits.
On the Inov8, by the way, I wouldn't call that a failure, not unless water was actually going straight through the upper, in which case it really is a failure, in which case you should go through their returns process. On any "waterproof" shoe, since water can just go straight over the top if the weather is bad (if you step in a bog, water running down off your trousers), wearing a quick-drying sock (typically a proper merino sock with a high wool-to-nylon ratio) is vital, I can tell you that from experience. Although I am rather curious to see how these x-bionic socks perform...
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 A great boot overall, but a bad decision on Salomon's behalf to use EVA for the midsoles instead of PU - the PU would filter out stones etc a bit better. Lightweight, need very little breaking in. Also, leather thin and easily nicked/scratched - good thing these boots have a good toe rand. The outsole offers good grip and long wear. Definitely waterproof, and overall breathe pretty well - I wore mid-weight socks in them all summer and did not find my feet overheating. I usually get very hot and sweaty feet. Stock insoles comfy but have no arch support (basically flat), so use aftermarket insoles for support if you need arch support. I bought a US 10.5 but should have bought the 11, as I realised later they are a bit tight in the in-step and fore-foot for me with the heavier sock and a superfeet orange insole. Lace locks at the instep are fantastic. Good ankle support. Overall i'd give them a 4 out of 5. Being a bit expensive, if they cost 20% less, I'd give them a 4.5 or 5.
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i have them and find them to be great books very comfy i bought 11.5 but wish i had got 12 as them seem a bit tight but would recogmend them
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Salomon's usually come up a bit smaller than average (I'm a size 41 (7.5) and take the size 8's), so be prepared to go up half a size. They're also quite narrow, which suits me but obviously not everyone. They're available on OutdoorKit but most sizes have to be ordered in, so it's useful to get your Salomon size right.
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.JPG) I have the Salomon Quest which is very similar and they are very comfy but I do find the stones poking through the sole occasionally. I The toe-box on the Quest is tighter than that of the Cosmic, so even more reason to take extra care on sizing. Perhaps the cosmic with a slightly harder insole (supafeet for example) would be fine.
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I should add my post was about the qeust, not the cosmic. The construction of the quest appears to be a bit burlier than the cosmic, though the midsoles look the same. The cosmics are lighter too.
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I have just returned from a weeks walking and climbing in the cairngorms where the conditions were less than favourable for my Salomon cosmics. Although a very comfortable and lightweight boot they struggled with trekking across the snow on the higher terrain. In less than two hours my socks and feet were completely soaked. I guess that as great as these Goretex boots are, they cannot cope with being constantly subjected to being used in the snow.
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I have just returned from a weeks walking and climbing in the cairngorms where the conditions were less than favourable for my Salomon cosmics. Although a very comfortable and lightweight boot they struggled with trekking across the snow on the higher terrain. In less than two hours my socks and feet were completely soaked. I guess that as great as these Goretex boots are, they cannot cope with being constantly subjected to being used in the snow. Did you use them with gaiters?
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 could it have been sweat or like Count zero says did you wear gaiters?
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Yes i was wearing a good set of gaiters and paramo waterproof trousers. It definitely wasn't sweat, my socks we're completely drenched and the boots had to be dried out overnight. Thanks for the comments though.
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 never had any luck with gore tex lined footwear, don't understand why the bother doing it to be honest, marketing bolx i s'pose  Rocky gore tex socks, however, are a revelation 
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intresting stuff tony, ill give mine a go in the snow soon and see what happens! ive been out in my xda pro and havent experienced wet feet as of yet!
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I've put my salomon quests through the worst wet conditions for extended periods and never once had them leak through. Aside from my rubber boots, they are the msot waterproof boots i've ever experienced. However they can definitely get pretty damp from sweat due to goretex. But not soaking.
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took mine out in the snow and snow melt today no problems with wet feet, they didnt even get that sweaty!
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I have a pair of these and they fitted straight out of the box and were really comfortable. Only worn them in anger once so far - 2 days in the Carneddau including snowy conditions and they didn't leak or get sweaty... in fact the only problem I had was when my foot disappeaed into a bog at low level and the boot filled with water from the top because I had no gaiter on... any suggestions on a really decent gaiter for this boot?
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