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Salomon Ellipse 3 CS WP - Women's Review

Great shoe for people who like to move fast in the mountains without a heavy pack
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Salomon Ellipse 3 CS WP - Women's Review (The Ellipse GTX - Women's)
The Ellipse GTX - Women's
Credit: Salomon
Price:  $120 List
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Manufacturer:   Salomon
By Cam McKenzie Ring ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 30, 2018
75
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort - 25% 6.0
  • Support - 20% 7.0
  • Traction - 15% 8.0
  • Weight - 15% 9.0
  • Water Resistance - 15% 8.0
  • Durability - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

Moving fast and light through the backcountry is what the Ellipse 3 CS WP is designed to do, come rain or shine. It's an ideal peak bagging model but lacks the comfort and support desired by most when backpacking with a heavier pack. They are waterproof though, and the synthetic upper is slow to take on water. While we like these shoes for some applications, we prefer the Oboz Sawtooth II Low BDry - Women's for an all-around hiking shoe, and if you are looking for a lot of cushion underfoot, check out our Top Pick for Comfort, the Hoka Tor Summit WP - Women's.
REASONS TO BUY
Trail running design
Waterproof
REASONS TO AVOID
Not very comfortable
No heel pull strap (for pulling shoes on)
2018 Product Update
The Ellipse GTX is now the Ellipse 3 CS WP. Read on for details about the change!

Our Analysis and Test Results

The New Salomon Ellipse 3 CS WP vs. the Ellipse GTX


Salomon has phased out the Ellipse GTX in favor of the new Ellipse 3 CS WP. Salomon tells us that this is virtually the same shoe, the only difference being that the new version uses Salomon's proprietary waterproof membrane instead of Gore-Tex. Compare the two versions below, with the Ellipse 3 featured on the left and the old Ellipse GTX on the right.

The Ellipse GTX - Women's
The Ellipse GTX - Women's

Since we haven't reviewed this new version, the following review refers to the older Gore-Tex version, though we do expect this new version to perform similarly to its predecessor.

Hands-on Review of the Salomon Ellipse GTX


The Salomon Ellipse GTX is made with a PU-coated leather and mesh upper, and a Gore-Tex waterproof liner. The sole is Salomon's non-marking Contagrip rubber.

salomon ellipse 3 cs wp for women - heading into the canyons for the day in the ellipses. these...
Heading into the canyons for the day in the Ellipses. These lightweight shoes are a great day hiker on moderate terrain.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

Comfort


We had a hard time getting a good fit in this shoe, which ultimately affected its comfort for us. We originally ordered it in a women's size 10, which ended up being too long. We sized down to a 9.5, which fit us better lengthwise but found the shoe really confining width wise with zero room for toe splay. Considering that we have narrow feet and usually have the opposite problem, we were surprised at how confining the interior of the shoe was. And as much as it was tight in the toe, we had some heel lift issues in the rear. This shoe was just not meant for our particular foot. But even putting all that aside and going purely on the comfort of the sole, we still found the Ellipse wanting. There is nowhere near the same amount of cushion in this shoe as the Hoka Tor Summit, and after trying and loving such a comfortable pair it left us wanting more out of the other models in this review.

Support


These shoes offered adequate support, though the arch was slightly flat. As we mentioned above, we did have a bit of heel slipping as well. We did like the adjustability of the lacing system, however, you might have a hard time keeping the toe box loose while still tightening up the top. If so you can always pull the laces out and retie them skipping the first eyelets.

salomon ellipse 3 cs wp for women - coming down a steep and loose trail in the ellipses. this shoe gave...
Coming down a steep and loose trail in the Ellipses. This shoe gave us adequate support for a variety of terrain.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

Traction


salomon ellipse 3 cs wp for women - the rubber on this shoe is soft and sticky, and the lugs did a good...
The rubber on this shoe is soft and sticky, and the lugs did a good job gripping bare rock, but they are not as aggressive as some other models.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

These shoes use Salomon'sContagrip” rubber soles. The multi-directional lugs have some spacing for shedding mud and rocks, but the tread is not as thick or aggressive as some other models, like the Oboz Sawtooth Low BDry or the Vasque Vasque Talus Trek Low UltraDry - Women's. The rubber is fairly sticky though, and the flexible toe allowed us to scramble around on steep slabs without fear of slipping.

salomon ellipse 3 cs wp for women - we liked the traction on bare rock. the sticky rubber and flexible...
We liked the traction on bare rock. The sticky rubber and flexible toe let us scramble up and down slabs with ease.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

Weight


At 1 pound 10 ounces, the Salomon Ellipse GTX was only an ounce heavier than the lightest shoe in this review, the Ahnu Sugarpine WP - Women's. If you're looking for a pair that won't weigh you down, these are a great choice.

Water Resistance


Water beads off of the nylon mesh uppers that are overlaid with thermoplastic urethane (fancy plastic for added protection and durability). The textiles are water resistant and the waterproof Gore-Tex lining is like a waterproof bootie. While the upper resists saturation, the ankle is lower cut than some other models, like the Hoka and Oboz shoes that we tested. While it's not much (half an inch or so), sometimes that's all it takes for an errant splash to enter your shoe.

salomon ellipse 3 cs wp for women - you can hang out in a pool of water and not get wet feet in these...
You can hang out in a pool of water and not get wet feet in these shoes.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

Durability


Lightweight construction often compromises the sturdiness of materials that make a hiking shoe durable, but that wasn't the case with this model. We bushwacked in these shoes through low, prickly bushes, and not a single mark was left on them. We wore them through streams and mud and dusty trails, and they continued to look practically new. The nylon mesh upper and abrasion resistant lining protects the shoes so that no matter how many times you take your shoes off, they lining doesn't pill or tear. A synthetic toe cap protects the toes but also protects the front of the shoe from wearing out, and after months of hiking, the soles look hardly worn.

salomon ellipse 3 cs wp for women - this pair of shoes has been worn regularly for almost a year and...
This pair of shoes has been worn regularly for almost a year and they still look brand new!
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

Best Applications


These shoes are best for day hiking with a light pack or for those who like to move fast on the trail. While we don't feel like there was enough support and comfort to use the shoes for overnight trips with a heavy pack, they are still a great option for long day hikes.

salomon ellipse 3 cs wp for women - heading out for a day hike in the "backyard." if you love to get out...
Heading out for a day hike in the “backyard.” If you love to get out for regular walks in nature, these shoes are a great choice.
Credit: Cam McKenzie Ring

Value


Just a few years ago, this $120 shoe was one of the most expensive shoes that we tested. It's still $120, but a lot of other models have gotten more expensive, including our Best Buy winner, the Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator - Women's. We even tested a $210 pair this year, the Lowa Renegade GTX Lo Women's. Considering that you are getting a Gore-Tex-lined waterproof shoe for this price, we think it's a pretty good value overall.

Conclusion


While the Salomon Ellipse GTX has won our Editors' Choice award in past reviews, some of the newer options on the market have overshadowed it. We loved the comfort of the Hoka Tor Summit WP and preferred the support and traction of the Oboz Sawtooth Low BDry, our new Editors' Choice award winner. The Ellipse is still a great option though, particularly for those that prefer a running shoe feel on the trail. They are also reasonably priced at only $120 for a Gore-Tex shoe.

Cam McKenzie Ring