Salomon XA Forces Jungle Boots: Ultimate Review

TacticalGear4Life is supported by its wonderful audience. When you make a purchase through our links below, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Jungle boots predate WW2, created for US soldiers operating in Panama. Since then, the market for lightweight, breathable, and tough-as-heck boots has grown exponentially. Legendary boot company Salomon answered this call when they came out with the Salomon XA Forces Jungle Tactical Boots. The XA Jungle boots are lightweight, extremely breathable, very fast drying, and amazingly durable. Impact-Site-Verification: 575490612

SPECS

Weight(Per Boot): 1.33lb / 607g / 21oz
Height: 8″
Colour: Coyote, Black, Brown
Upper: PU coated leather, Quick-drying textile, Single layer Anti-debris Mesh,  Non-reflective materials
Insole: OrthoLite
Midsole: Dual-density midsole, EnergyCell
Outsole: Rubber, All Terrain Contagrip
Lining: Moisture Wicking Textile
Toe Box: Plain
Branch Compliance: AR 670-1 / AFI 36-2903 / CANFORGEN 135/20
Fit: True to size
Warranty: 2 year limited warranty

PRICE

CHECK LATEST PRICE ON WEBSITE
CHECK LATEST PRICE ON LA POLICE GEAR

The Salomon XA Forces Jungle boots go for $199.95 American and $260.00 Canadian. They have an 8″ upper and come in dark brown, coyote, and black. I bought my boots directly from the Salomon website and man do they ship fast.

I have always been very happy with how fast their boots arrive. If you have no one near you that sells them, I highly advise just going to their website. Thanks to color, height, and design the Salomon XA Jungle boots are compliant with all branches of the military: AR 670-1 / AFI 36-2903 / CANFORGEN 135/20.

OVERALL

Overall, the Salomon XA Forces Jungle boot is great, but not the best boot. If I have to give it some kind of unofficial rating I would give it a 7/10.

The boot is extremely light, extremely breathable, extremely tough, drys extremely well when wet, and has a comfortable insole, and yet its overall comfort is not the best in the world.

On the top of the foot or the dorsal region of the foot, the laces can hurt. This uncomfortableness can lead to over-tightening, foot slippage, and hot spots.

If you get them tied just right though they are comfortable, light, breathable and absolutely fantastic in arid and tropical conditions.

Now, let’s break the Salomon XA Forces Jungle boot down, check out my impressions as I wore them, and what I thought of them in the end.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The Salomon XA Forces Jungle boots are my first ever set of jungle boots, so they were definitely different for me when I first opened them. The first thing I noticed about them was that the bottom of the boots, the area below your ankle was solid, as all Salomon’s are, however above the ankle it was completely flimsy.

There was nothing for support above the ankle, it’s just a thin layer of nylon and a thin layer of textile fabric on the inside. As surprising as this was, mainly because again this is my first set of jungle boots, the boot overall feels very “Salomon”. By that, I mean very tough and rugged.

It really is just a hiking shoe with a tall protective layer above the ankle.

They don’t have the same lace lock system that the Salomon Quest 4D has which sucks, but everything about this boot is meant for speed and ease of use. It’s about as minimalist a boot as you can buy on the market today.

It does have a solid speed lace system from the ankle up allowing you to pull it tight in one pull.

FIELD FIRSTS

I have spent the last couple of weeks wearing my XA Forces Jungle boots around the garrison. Finally though, this past Friday I was able to get out into the field as we spent the day practicing our navigation skills.

Although I’d like some more time to possibly work out those first-time field bugs, I was able to give my new Salomon XA Forces Jungle boots a solid first-field trial.

So, overall, they did pretty well. They were quite comfortable throughout the morning, I had no issue comfort-wise at the start of the day. As we navigated to different points around the training area we hit a wide array of different terrain and as I said they felt comfortable the whole time.

My feet didn’t slip around in them at all, which had been an initial concern of mine, but that didn’t end up being a problem. This is very good as it meant I didn’t have to deal with hot spots or blisters at all.

The “Contagrip” outsoles performed fantastically, but I expected them too. Salomon’s grip pattern on their outsoles is a unique and awesome design. Throughout the nav, I never dealt with my feet slipping as I went up and down steep terrain.

I was also able to give the quick drying capability of these jungle boots a thorough test as we managed to find some unmarked swamps as we were navigating. My feet got quite wet on a couple of occasions which is pretty annoying as I use a double sock system, so once the water gets into my boots there’s more fabric to absorb the water.

I was very pleasantly surprised though as my boots and socks were completely dried off within a couple of hours.

Then the trouble started…

After we had sat down for lunch I had noticed what I thought was my left boot just starting to become a little bit loose. I decided to undo my boots and redo them both back up just to make sure they were tight and good to go before we took off again for the afternoon nav.

I must have snug my boots too tight because almost immediately the top bone of my left foot started to hurt a little, followed a short bit later by my right foot. As I pushed on over the next couple of hours I noticed I’d developed a hot spot on my right foot and my left foot had just become quite uncomfortable.

I finished the day off as it never got so bad to the point where I had to stop, but I imagine if I was going to end up staying out all night I would have had to re-adjust my boots again.

After this initial field trial, the one problem I have noticed with the XA Forces Jungle boots is that it seems hard to get them tight enough to hold firm to your foot, but don’t hurt the top of your foot. Without any padding on the tongue, or above the ankle, you need to snug the boots right up to give you that tight firm hold feeling on your foot.

When you do that though you run the risk of tightening it too much and again without any padding in the tongue or above the ankle it can cause pain and discomfort.

QUALITY & DESIGN

UPPER

MATERIAL

The upper of the Salomon XA Forces Jungle boots is made from some of the toughest fabrics and materials in the tactical community, Nubuck leather and a quick-drying textile fabric. I can’t confirm the fabric, but I believe it to 1000D nylon.

Both these fabrics are extremely tough and allow the XA Forces Jungle boots to take a heck of a beating, something I’ve been putting to the test now for some time. They are holding up very well.

Nubuck leather is a full grain leather, meaning that it uses the full thickness of the hide, this makes the leather thick, tough, and extremely durable. However, nubuck leather takes a bit more time to break in than split grain leather, so you just have to give it a bit more time potentially before you do your first big hike or march.

From the ankle up, the upper is just a layer of nylon providing a strong abrasive resistant cover for your legs. It’s awesome because although it’s strong it’s still very light and breathable.

LACE SYSTEM

Right off the bat, I was disappointed that the XA Forces Jungle boots didn’t have Salomon’s patented lace locker on them like the Forces Quest 4D.

That being said though I have found that the laces do hold nice and tight as you tie them. The bottom lace loops are all fabric and I haven’t found that the laces slide out from them at all, so that’s awesome. I always find it annoying when the lace loops on boots don’t hold the laces tight after you’ve tightened them and unless you keep constant tension on the laces they undue slightly each time you let go.

Anyways, the bottom fabric loops hold the laces quite well and above the ankle is a fantastic speed lace system.

LACE POCKET

So, I have to admit, I have worn my Salomon Forces Quest 4D boots now for over a year. They are hands down one of my favourite pairs of boots I have ever owned. That being said, I NEVER knew about this lace pocket in the tongue of the boot. A guy at work showed it to me…my mind was blown!

Anyways, this is an ingenious little invention Salomon puts into all their Forces’ line of boots. It’s just big enough to hold all the extra lace after you have tied your boots.

The aspect I enjoy the most about this little pocket is that it takes away any possible uncomfortableness from shoving the laces down into the sides of your boots, which is something we have to do in the military. I just think dangling laces look bad, but from a tactical perspective, it also keeps your laces from getting caught on foliage as you work your way through dense forest.

WEBBING

The Salomon XA Forces Jungle boots come with a combination of nylon and leather webbing. The whole base layer of the upper is Cordura nylon with a detailed webbing of nubuck leather over top.

The Nubuck leather is specifically placed all along the sides, around the heels, and right where all the lace brass eyelets are. This was to provide extra strength, durability, and abrasion resistance where the boots will get beat up the most.

The leather reinforcing the lace eyelets allows you to do the boots up as tight as you want without fear of tearing the nylon, as hard as that may be. The double layer of leather ensures it won’t tear.

The back has an extra layer of nylon that ends in a loop to help boot your boots on. This is very beneficial as the top of the upper is so flimsy. It also gives that little bit of extra toughness on the back as well.

TONGUE

The average high-end tactical boot has a gusseted tongue and the Salomon XA Forces Jungle boots are no different. A gusset is a piece of fabric between the tongue of the boot and the sides of the boot that hold them together.

The purpose of a gusseted tongue is to prevent any debris from getting into your boots. It is an awesome feature of high-end boots and very helpful when in thick brush such as a forest or jungle. It is also very beneficial in preventing sand and dirt from getting in your boots.

The biggest difference between the gusset on my Salomon Forces Quest 4D, my Lowa R-8S, or any of my other high-end boots is as you can see from the photo, that this gusset is an extremely thin see-through elastic material.

This is ingenious as it allows the tongue to still be held in place, it prevents debris from getting in your boot, and most importantly it allows the XA Jungle boots to still have great airflow, aiding in the quick drying ability that jungle boots are known for.

INSTEP

This Medial protective pad along with Salomon’s iconic toe guard add to the extreme toughness and durability that all Salomon Forces boots have.

Whether you’re fast roping or rucking through the mountains this thick layer of cushioned rubber offers fantastic protection on the instep of your feet.

I have found it to be a great help in the field and I love that little bit of added foot protection.

SOLE

OUTSOLE

Salomon’s unique All Terrain Contagrip soles are one of a kind. These uniquely designed rubber soles are fantastic on whatever terrain you find yourselves.

I have worn them now while navigating and recce’s in the woods, hunting and moving over rough rocky terrain, and I have worn them trudging through marshes. Whether it was flat ground or a steep slope my feet slipping was never a concern for me.

MIDSOLE

The midsole here is made up of Salomon’s dual-density EVA energy cell foam. This midsole design was meant to provide superior cushioning, stability, and motion control, as well as providing shock attenuation.

What is also interesting is Salomon’s 3D chassis, which when you pick up a pair you can feel a hard layer in between the layers of foam. It’s a low-profile chassis designed to optimize motion control and energy management and provides protection for a precise, stable and responsive ride.

Of the few issues I have dealt with since wearing my XA Forces Jungle boots, comfort under my feet has not been one of them.

INSOLE

The Ortholite insole that comes in the Salomon XA Forces Jungle boot is I would say a typical, yet comfortable insole. It is fairly thin but provides decent comfort.

I wouldn’t say it’s thick enough to be anything really special. I mean you could probably go by Doctor Scholl’s insole and they would be just as comfy, although maybe not as breathable.

FUNCTIONALITY

FAST DRYING & BREATHABLE

Jungle boots being initially created pre-WW2 for the jungles of Panama were created very specifically to be breathable and to dry very quickly. Salomon’s XA Forces Jungle boots opitimize those features.

Salomon has put minimal padding in the boot, so it retains as little moisture as possible. They have also placed drainage holes as you can see from the photo on both the inside and outside of the foot as well on either side of the ankle. These two attributes make quick work of any water or moisture that gets into the boot.

I had a wonderful experience one day was I was out training, navigating with a map and compass. My guy leading our little recce det. took us right through a marsh. My feet got very wet, it sucked, but we got through it and kept going.

As we continued to walk, I completely forgot about my feet as I was focused on our task. It wasn’t until some time later that I remembered my feet were wet and I decided to check on them. Right away I noticed simply by feel, that my feet did not feel wet at all. I was very surprised.

Later on, after we sat down for some nice rations for lunch, I took my boots off to adjust them, and my feet were nearly if not completely dry.

I was highly impressed with the quick drying ability Salomon has build into these boots.

LIGHTWEIGHT

At 1.33 lbs per boot, the XA Jungle boots are extremely light. Salomon has specifically built them with minimal padding to aid in quick drying but to also take away from the overall weight.

After wearing them for some time now, I am still amazed each time I swap from my Lowa R-8S or my Lowa Z-8S to my XA Jungle boots how much lighter they are. I mean it makes sense, there’s a lot less padding and the XA Jungle boots are bare bones. But to me, they don’t inherently just look lighter.

However, they are. All though not as light as the Danner Tachyons, which are an extremely popular boot among the infantry, the XA Jungle boots dry much quicker when wet.

DARN TOUGH

The XA Forces Jungle Boots carry on Salomon’s legendary DARN TOUGH reputation. With the thick rubber medial pad, the rubber protective toe guard, the thick rubber soles, nubuck leather, and Cordura nylon the XA Jungle boots can take one heck of a beating.

Salomon does not skimp on the quality of material that they use on their boots and has developed a solid web pattern combining them all.

With solid rubber on the areas of the boot that take the most abuse, the XA Jungle boots are sure to take quite of time and punishment before they even start to show wear and tear.

The nubuck leather acts as another layer of armour for your feet, while not as tough as the rubber, the leather provides flexibility as well as protection.

The nylon base layer is extremely abrasion-resistant and will be able to take years of repeated abuse with out worry.

COMFORT

The Salomon XA Forces Jungle boots are not the most comfortable in the world. Straight up, if extreme comfort is your main goal in buying a boot I can recommend some other boots to you, but the XA Jungle boots are not them.

Now that’s not to say that they aren’t comfortable, just that Salomon did not build them with comfortability being their main focus. As I stated earlier the main design focus of jungle boots is their breathability, their ability to dry quickly, and being lightweight.

To succeed in these three areas you you must sacrifice internal padding. That’s all there is to it.

However…

All that focuses on the upper surrounding the foot. The soles (outsole, midsole, insole) are quite comfortable. The duel layer, duel density foam, ortholight insoles, and 3D chases still provide awesome underfoot comfort.

CONCLUSION

The Salomon XA Forces Jungle boots are a fantastic boot for the area of operation in which they were designed to operate. Arid climates, jungles, deserts, and tropical forests are perfect settings for this boot to shine in.

When wet the XA Jungle boots dry very quickly, this intern allows your feet to dry quickly. Preventing foot rot and helping to keep you comfortable is a very important aspect when you are on your feet for hours or days at a time.

The XA Jungle boots are also very lightweight, noticeably so compared to boots such as the Lowa R-8S. However, being quick drying and light weight make it not the most comfortable boot in the world.

These boots are SPEED OVER SECURITY.

Over all, great boots.

If you are interested in the military favorite the “Salomon Forces Quest 4D” boots check them out here.

TacticalGear4Life is reader-supported. Clicking on provided links and making a purchase may earn me a small commission at NO extra cost to you.