Now and then, I think about the original specs for the Salomon XT-4. Why? Well, the recent leaked Salomon x KITH XT-4K edition had me on a search, a search that led me to finding this cool website. Coming across Pascal Stryjak’s Design Portfolio, his time at Salomon included a great insight into what I’d been searching for this whole time.
Finally, the XT-4’s original 2012 build was brought to life. Today’s Sportstyle version is very close to the original, but Salomon’s offerings in trail running have since improved thanks to advancements in the S-LAB series; the XT-4 has been resigned to the streetwear category.
Many argue that this has removed the XT-4s soul and sports-built attributes, yet while I cannot say I’ve taken a run in my pair, I think they could be right. Whether or not details have actually changed since it first came out in 2012, or it is simply down to expectation versus reality, we ultimately do not know.
Here, Stryjak has provided photos of the original samples, 3D renderings, schematic drawings and CADs of the uppers. As well as this, you can find a behind-the-scenes making of the XT-4, providing a neat insight into athlete interactions.
Of course, just like all of your basketball professionals, Salomon’s trail athletes are provided with their own unique last. This ensures that each model has a tailored fit for all of the sponsored runners, which they need for maximum efficiency. In the BTS video, you can actually see Killian Jornet being introduced to his pair of then-called XT-Wings S-LAB (AKA the XT-4).
You can tell Jornet has accumulated some serious outdoor miles via the state of his blackened toes. During my brief spell of running my local trails in a pair of Speedcross 4 GORE-TEX, it didn’t take long before the downhill descents had all but stamped my toenails blue.
One could argue that a unique last makes a bigger difference to the trail runners than Nike’s NBA players. One slip across a rocky terrain could leave them stranded with a broken ankle during a practice run or competitive ultra, as opposed to sustaining an injury within the safety of a stadium. Would you rather break your foot in the middle of nowhere when people can’t see you fail or under the lights of Madison Square Garden?
Although the average trail athlete carries very little in relation to body fat, their physiques are fine-tuned for running Ultra-level distances events at a variety of altitudes. That said, the average basketball player exerts enormous force with each step, especially when descending from a vertical leap. Essentially, you could make a strong argument for either side.
I actually owned this colourway back in 2024 until I stupidly sold it for a couple of tuppence on Vinted. Knowing Salomon issues its first prototypes in a bright red, I wanted to feel like a sponsored athlete each time I tightened the Quicklacing system.
Here I am comparing the gradient hues of the Salomon XT-4 to the Size? Nike Omega Flame
Alas, I clearly fell out of love with the XT-4 thanks to the questionable fit. If only I’d actually been a sponsored trail runner, they’d have sure fit perfectly around my two feet in what would have effectively been my Cinderella moment. Albeit in a really manly and alpha way … hoorah?
Thankfully, my connection to the silhouette has been reinvigorated thanks to the Footpatrol x Salomon XT-4. A relationship you can delve into via the piece I wrote during my time in the Dominican Republic.
I found your photos on the floor, you clearly didn't want them anymore.
Family dinners, and lots smiles, newborn babies, heartfelt goodbyes.
I saw your Grandma grinning too, ones of you crying, there were quite a few.
Laid to rest on cold concrete, met by tne passing of stranger's feet.
Lines and wrinkles you once did know Acting on an urge to let go. I don't know why you'd throw them away, it must have been miserable that day,
I've picked them up, they're tucked away in a box, climbed the ladder up into the loft, there the photos will wait for you, but when you'll be ready I haven't a clue.
In truth I do not know your face, we've never crossed paths before, I've only really seen those eyes looking up from the concrete floor.
I recently headed back up to Manchester to document the Size? City Series adidas Manchester edition drop.
It was my first time trying to capture the event behind the camera, which was a fun change. I also captured via my old iPhone 4S, a phone that was hugely popular at the time of the 2011 Manchester release. You can expect a piece on that soon!
Here I put together a quick video of the abandoned shoes I saw on my trip to the Dominican Republic. Spliced in are a few cows, ducks and shots of the sky because it was truly amazing at times.
I might end up uploading this to YouTube later down the line but for now you can enjoy it on the wearshoeswritepoems domain!
Also shoutout the track Jumping Frogs by Spleen United, a track I discovered during my time out there by complete coincidence. It’s bouncey backing track summed up how I felt about the the other worldly beauty I often found myself in.
This year, I chose to write about shoes from the Dominican Republic. The Caribbean was not a part of the world I had been to before, typically flying over the tropics to reach Peru.
How I imagined myself a few days into Dominican Republic life
After planning to spend my work month in Japan, the busy streets of Tokyo and language barrier soon became less appealing. Instead, I imagined myself taking island life, eating hearty food, swimming in the sea and enjoying the slower pace.
Considering I had come home after my trip to Italy feeling more fatigued than rested, I didn’t want to repeat that feeling. Although I think the fountains of espresso and cornetos I consumed were more to blame than anything else.
Mind you, I did come away acknowledging my great choice in footwear, the New Balance 475s. So this time, I was eager to ensure my decision was just as spot on.
Having enjoyed my time at Dominican eateries in both Camberwell Green, Brixton and Stockwell, the food and friendly restaurant owners assured me that I was making the right decision.
It also helped that the national language was Spanish, so getting into a series of gesticulations with confused locals was less likely than in Japan.
Me in Japan trying to be hip via the medium of sign languge
With it being my first time in the Caribbean, I needed my footwear to keep up with the changing climate. The blazing sun and heavy spells of rain meant a large part of my collection would not pass muster.
The XT-4 with the Dominican sky as the backdrop
Whittling down my shoes to several off-road and GORE-TEX-laden uppers did make things easier, but it did render my stack of soft suede New Balances out for the count.
Luckily, I was recently sent the Footpatrol x Salomon XT-4s from a good friend (also known as ‘The Captain’), a pair that instantly floated to the top of the decision pile. Not only could the Footpatrol XT-4 keep up with the changing terrain, they also looked the part.
a movie scene my friend often refers to given his self-proclaimed title
I did have two minor gripes with these Salomon XT-4s, the first being that they were half a size small.
I always go up by half a size with Salomons, a choice I recommend for anyone considering of picking up a pair, whether it be the XT-4, XT-6 or even XT-Quests (all with the exception of the XT-ALP).
using my new Footpatrol x Salomon XT-4s at the airport, nothing screams independent like a Nalgene water bottle
While there was enough room in the toe box, which allowed for my toes to splay (“no splay, no lay” – custom T-shirts in bound btw), my big toe was a little constrained (for the foot-fetish-inclined, this is about as spicy as the article will get, so you can leave now).
The second gripe was that it was an obvious choice. As the Salomon XT-6 is usually a go-to for those UK and EU residents who venture to other parts of the world, they skirted the ‘played-out’ vendiagram (likely rendering them ‘uncool’ circa 2027, see below).
Average Salomon XT-6 wearer in 2027?
On the other hand, the XT-4 was the less handsome brother of the XT series, often skipped due to its bulky nature. The XT-4 is the slightly overweight brother at the dinner table who makes everyone laugh with his infrequent quips. For example, “expect nothing more, expect nothing less!”, in response to his mother bringing up how her work colleague who soiled herself (also not appropriate for the dinner table mum, do better).
If I’m being totally honest, I would be the youngest sibling archetype, a character who hasn’t even made it to the table yet, as he finds himself scaling the ceilings of the next-door bathroom.
I fear I may have strayed off into the demonic there, but you get the gist. And while we’re here, the slightly demonic younger sibling in this case would be akin to the Salomon Alpinway Advanced. Please do not ask me how or why.
Anyhow, walking down to the station with both Osprey bags on (roughly 20KG), I stood on the platform with my feet really feeling the squeeze. Regret over my decision started to sweep in as I considered heading back home and reaching instead for my Meindls. While the Caracas GTX allowed for more splay, it would have been harder to convince passersby that I wasn’t a geriatric German who had just aged well. A look I am not scared to adopt in the slightest but one that I will try to keep at bay for the next twenty years.
Opting for swag over the safety of technical German footwear, I loosened the Quicklacing system which fixed the issue at hand. No longer did I feel my feet swell, so from that point on, the Kevlar lacing system remained loose, which also allowed for great slip-on/slip-off access (a detail all the coolest of cats appreciate).
FP XT-4s against a beautifully ageing stone floor and wonderfully hip plaid shorts
Landing in Punta Cana, it wasn’t long before my Brazil-edition Haiviannas were out and touching Dominican soil. From that point forward, the Salomon’s were allocated to evening dinners.
My R10 Havianas posted up on Punta Poppy in Las Terrenas
In truth, I’d have spent more hours in flip-flops had it not been for the cultural stigma of eating food with your toes out. Consequently, my dream of having a #ToesOutAutumn took a real blow. Not to mention the link between tourists and their short-wearing tendencies.
Me out in Punta Cana enjoying an evening meal in my aforementioned camo shorts
While the quasi-Tn fade of the XT-4’s upper is wonderful to look at, a trait which also separates this Footpatrol version from your standard XT-4, I think it may have been too strong when paired with my array of patterned clothing.
The Footpatrol XT-4s and I taking in the Dominican lightning and thunder storm happening offshore in Las Terrenas
Evening attire would consist of my Airwalk camouflage shorts that I picked up at Aldgate market and a bright graphic T-shirt. This made me stand out in a way that I hoped to have avoided, while also reinforcing my connection to autism.
Clutching my plastic bag from the local supermarket, a tactic I often employ when trying to dodge the ‘tourist’ label, that was about as effective as an elephant wearing one of those classic glasses and moustache disguises.
Unlike previous trips, I didn’t get a chance to test out the XT-4s on sandy terrain, opting for my Inov-8 Terra Ultra G 270 as my running shoes. A poor choice in hindsight as these were another obnoxiously loud shoe that I couldn’t rely on for fading into the crowd.
Not bringing a hybrid shoe that would suit my running and everyday needs was a silly mistake. While the XT-4 was a trail running shoe back in its heyday, the chemical compound used in the midsole had likely been altered since it shifted into Salomon’s Sportstyle category (like the dual-density foam 35 Shore A and a 25 Shore A mix on the XT-6).
getting a much-needed haircut in the Footpatrol Salomon XT-4s in Santo Domingo, peep the marble floor, wowee!
You even hear some people complaining about the XT-6 and XT-4’s terrible traction, which is crazy considering the shoe used to be a trail running shoe for competitive athletes. Not to mention its use of Contragrip Mud outsole which seems a little overkill for city-based commutes.
The Footpatrol XT-4s were reliable, giving me nothing to complain about throughout the many inter-city coach journeys. From Punta Cana to Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas to Santiago de los Caballeros to Puerto Plata and then back, the Salomons kept up.
The Salomon XT-4 taking in a Dominican sunrise from the top deck of a bus headed to Santo Domingo
Although, I didn’t go on any hikes or scale up any hugely challenging terrain, its limits were rarely tested. There was one instance where clearing out the caked mud within the webbing channels proved inconvenient, but it was worth it for the small portion of Santo Domingo’s Botanical Gardens that I saw.
Enjoying Santo Domingo’s Botanical Gardens in the XT-4s
The Footpatrol XT-4s enjoying a well-deserved ride on Santiago de los Caballeros Teleferico
Sat poolside in the Bali-style Boutique hotel in Las Terrenas
I would recommend the Salomon XT-4 for anyone considering it as a travel shoe. My only recommendation is to go up half a size and to pick a colourway that would suit your wardrobe. If you’re inclined to wear a lot of stripes then perhaps go for a more subdued colourway with browns and blacks. If you’re trying to turn up like Adam Sandler, then pick something wild and hit the yolo button everytime you step out the door.
From public libraries, beachside restaurants and exploring cities, it was all within the XT-4 stride. I was never turned away for looking too informal, yet I can imagine the shoes being a slight issue were I one for the finer things in life. They canny turn you away from a beachside BBQ spot for wearing a pair of wicked Footpatrol shoes.
Strict dress codes at the club or exclusive restaurants would have proved difficult, so if you do like to dip in and out of fancy spots, consider this when copping a loud colourway of the XT-4s. If it’s super fancy, then chances are they work on a ‘got lugs, no spuds’ policy. And you know how lugged-up the XT series are.
Someone give me a job at a footwear-inspired t -shirt making company already!
The Footpatrol XT-4 is still my favourite colourway and collaboration within the silhouette’s library, but if you fancy something low-key then the Salomon website has many muted options.
Headed home, the pigeons at Clapham Junction station were less excited about the Pigeon-esque hues of my XT-4s
How many pairs do you own? If I tell you, will you leave me alone? Depends how many? Is it a lot? I don’t know the number, must have forgot. Surely someone like you should know? Alright, I’ve got about 10 on the go. I use to have an excel sheet, But tracking my consumption made me weap. Still not heard a number, just words and cries, If I gave you a number I would despise, myself for owning so many shoes, my fragile ego it would bruise, so please, don’t ask me any more. Goodness gracious what a bore. Then a bore I’ll be, I’ve only got one pair can’t you see, they’re currently tied up on my feet.
wear shoes, write poems 