Salomon Toundra WP Winter Hiking Boot Review
The Salomon Toundra WP winter hiking boot is a lightweight boot that is perfect for hiking and snowshoeing in winter weather. Rated for -40 F, the Toundra is insulated with Aerogel, an ultralight foam insulation that NASA developed to protect the Mars probes from extreme cold. Considered the most efficient insulation available today (3 inches has an R-value of 30), Aerogel insulation is far less bulky than Thinsulate (widely used in winter boots) and doesn’t rely on thickness or loft, making it ideal for cold weather footwear and apparel applications.
The Aerogel insulation used in the Toundra boots has the added benefit of being very lightweight, which is important when winter hiking with heavy crampons or snowshoes. Weighing just 1 pound 7 ounces (per boot), the Toundra boots are so light that they feel like you’re wearing trail runners instead of a much winter boot, providing a noticeable reduction in the amount of fatigue experienced when hiking steeply uphill or breaking trail in snowshoes.
Salomon Toundra Mid WP Winter Hiking Boot
Foot Protecton
Traction
Sensitivity
Warmth
Water Resistence
Sizing
Weight
Durability
The Toundra boots are indeed quite warm when worn for cold weather hiking and snowshoeing, with a faux fur lining around the top of the boot for increased comfort. They fit slightly wide and about 1/2 size small, so size up and wear a slightly heavier sock to get a good fit. Your feet will also stay warmer and be more comfortable if you leave a little wiggle room for your toes, but that is true with any winter boot.
The waterproofing on the boots is very good and I have not experienced any leakage when snowshoeing or stomping through winter streams. A gusseted tongue also provides extra protection against water ingress, providing 5 inches of clearance in standing water.
Additional features include a thick toe cap for additional toe protection and a heel notch on the back of the boot to hold your rear snowshoe strap, a great add-on to ensure a secure boot-to-snowshoe connection.
Sole traction is good even though the lugs of the boot aren’t exceptionally deep. The soles are not stiff, so you’ll definitely want to use a crampon with a flexible leaf-spring like the CAMP Stalker Universal Crampon, which fits these boots very well.
Comparable Winter Hiking Boots
Recommendation
I bought these winter boots on the recommendation of a peakbagging friend, who crowed about their waterproofness and lightweight. He was spot on with that advice and these Salomon Toundra WP boots have become my winter hiking footwear of choice.
Double 1++ recommended!
Disclosure: The author bought these boots with his own funds and loves them!
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Hi there! Read all your articles regarding traction. Just picked up the toundras and excited to use them. Among CAMP universal crampons (as mentioned above), hillsound pros, and the KTS which of them is the the best in your experience?
I’ve been considering following you in getting a micro spikes in addition to one of the above.
Thanks for your time!
For those boots, you’re probably best off with the Hillsound Pros, but you’ll probably wear the microspikes much more.
I bought a New pair in 2023 and I read they are not as rugged as before but my first pair I bought in 2010 and they lasted to 2022. That was up to then the best winter boot I have ever own.
I’ve been considering these boots (48 4k) and have noticed a fair amount of negative reviews about their durability, how did they hold up for you?
I’ve owned two pairs. They were great. As of last year, I have a few close associates who had good experieces with these boots. They did have a spell of about two years ago where they were substandard. It changes every year. Buy them at REI so if they do shit the bed you can use return them for up to a year if you’re a member. If you want a sure thing, get the oboz bridger. I get 3-4 years out of a pair.
Yeah I was considering those, as well. Great info, awesome, thank you!
Hi Ryan, I finished the Winter48 in March of 2025 and climbed every single one of them in the Toundra Pros; they still have years left on them. They are fantastic, and all the years-old articles you read talking about the seam crease issue do a disservice to the current design. Buy with confidence, and enjoy toasty warm feet.
awesome, thank you!