Quick lace issues on my Salomon X Ultra Gore-Tex Trail shoes

[PeteT70]

Hi all
A few weeks ago I bought a pair of Salomon X Ultra Gore-Tex Trail shoes with a quick lace system.
However, after a short time of wearing them (15 minutes) of light walking the laces on both shoes tend to loosen.
I have checked each shoe thoroughly to see if there are any defects, or if the quick lace mechanism is visibly faulty, but I cannot see any issues.

Having searched for answers online and also You Tube to no avail, I emailed Salomon customer care who suggested that I go back to the retailer.

The retailer told me to pop in one evening with the shoes to see what the issue is. They even suggested that one of the reasons was the laces not being installed properly (no idea what they meant by that), or that im not tightening them properly (really?).

Question is; have any of you experienced this similar issue happening?
If so what was the issue/ fix?

Thank you

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I have these shoes, and yes, Inalso tend to find they losen. But it is so easy to just bemnd down and pull a bit that I don't mind at all. Imdidnbuy a sparempair of "laces" just in case. I have also learned to play with them to have the tip or top be tighter or loser than the rest. Ask the shop to teach you.

 

[peregrina2000]

I have the same shoes and am wearing them now on my way over to Spain. In the hour and a half since departure, I've had to tighten them twice. The problem is that the laces are the slippery round kind -- as they accumulate dirt and dust, they won't loosen as quickly. One option is to buy another pair of laces, the flat kind, and you won't have the problem.

 

[PeteT70]

I have the same shoes and am wearing them now on my way over to Spain. In the hour and a half since departure, I've had to tighten them twice. The problem is that the laces are the slippery round kind -- as they accumulate dirt and dust, they won't loosen as quickly. One option is to buy another pair of laces, the flat kind, and you won't have the problem.

But at almost £100 I shouldn't have to buy other laces.
They shouldn't loosen so easily, after all the big advice is to keep your shoes as tight as reasonably comfortable to avoid possible irritation and blistering.

 

[PeteT70]

I have these shoes, and yes, Inalso tend to find they losen. But it is so easy to just bemnd down and pull a bit that I don't mind at all. Imdidnbuy a sparempair of "laces" just in case. I have also learned to play with them to have the tip or top be tighter or loser than the rest. Ask the shop to teach you.

I don't think that we have the same type of shoe.
My shoes don't have a tip or top option to be tighter.

Look at the Go Outdoors website to see what I mean. They're the black with blue trim shoes.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

But at almost £100 I shouldn't have to buy other laces.
They shouldn't loosen so easily, after all the big advice is to keep your shoes as tight as reasonably comfortable to avoid possible irritation and blistering.

I certainly do not keep my shoes tight, far from it. My heels are constantly moving in my shoes. As for the extra pair of laces, I always carry a pair no matter what the brand but I can garantee you will not find this kind if and when they break on the Camino, somwhy risk it?

 

[nidarosa]

I had the same shoes and the right one always got a bit loose when it shouldn't, particularly on the downhill sections like Acebo to Molinaseca. When I told my retailer about it after I came home they gave me a replacement kit and I changed the lace system myself. Seemed to fix it but I agree it shouldn't be an issue. For me though I am planning on buying the X Ultra Prime version of the same shoe next time - they have 'proper' laces which can be double knotted and changed anywhere. You need them to stay put going downhill!

 

[Introibo]

Hi Hi Pete

I used a very similar pair of shoes, the Salomon Speedcross 3 and didn't have any problems
with the laces. They appear to be the same type. I didn't have them laced up particularly
tight most of the time unless I was going downhill. These were my 3rd pair of Speedcross's
and all the other were fine as well. I love the quicklace system and find I can always get a
comfortable fit. The Speedcross do wear out quickly on the Camino paths, but they are so
comfortable.

I'd pop back to the store and see what they can sort out for you.

 

[LesBrass]

Hi - I'm on my second pair and I love them and wore them on both camino's... luckily I never had this problem. I had a different model X ULTRA LTR GTX.

As others have suggested, perhaps take them back and see if they can resolve this for you. I'm a convert to the quick lace system now so perhaps there is a fault?

good luck!

 

[newfydog]

If they are anything like the fancy quick pull kevlar laces Salomon puts in the $350 cross country ski boots there is a quick cure. Throw them out and put in real shoe laces. Tie them with a bow.

 

[MTtoCamino]

I say take them back anyway you won't need gortex that time of year they will just hold the heat. Find something that breaths. You can get a pair of keens for way less & replace the insoles with good ones like Sole brand just heat them per instructions & you have a custome foot bed that will last 3 Camino's the boots won't they will die just prior to arriving in Santiago. That's why the good lord makes superglue

 

[JohnCP43]

A while ago I remember a similar concern was expressed on the Merrell site. The company recommended washing the laces (round) . I tried this and it seems to have resolved the issue.
Good luck and buen camino.

 

[OTH86]

I wore the women's Salomon Gortex XA 3D Ultra 2 boots on both of my Caminos, same laces, never had a problem. I didn't tighten them overly much - I have arthritis in my feet and too tight hurts. Also have arthritis in my hands, so was delighted with these laces - ties are a problem!! I also took an extra pair of laces - never needed them.

As mentioned, don't bother with Gortex (imho), just wear good quality wool sox (thin liner and thicker outer) to keep your feet warm when they get wet - the sox dry quickly, Gortex boots don't! -- believe me! Walked most of one day with water-filled boots - feet warm enough, washed the sox, and wore them dry in the morning -- but even filling the boots twice with wadded newspaper didn't help dry them for the next day.
Good luck!
Buen Camino! Terry

 

[cher99840]

A while ago I remember a similar concern was expressed on the Merrell site. The company recommended washing the laces (round) . I tried this and it seems to have resolved the issue.
Good luck and buen camino.

I'm wondering if there is a plus side to round shoelaces. I too have the loosening effect on my Merrells and am thinking about replacing them with flat laces. Would I be giving up an advantage that I am unaware of?

 

[Vagabondman]

I had the same shoes and the right one always got a bit loose when it shouldn't, particularly on the downhill sections like Acebo to Molinaseca. When I told my retailer about it after I came home they gave me a replacement kit and I changed the lace system myself. Seemed to fix it but I agree it shouldn't be an issue. For me though I am planning on buying the X Ultra Prime version of the same shoe next time - they have 'proper' laces which can be double knotted and changed anywhere. You need them to stay put going downhill!

Totally agree. I hate that lace system. I really don't know why so many companies are making shoes with it now. Salomons use them a lot. Luckily the X Ultra Primes you mentioned use old fashioned laces. I got me a pair, and they are super comfortable.

 

[Vagabondman]

I wore the women's Salomon Gortex XA 3D Ultra 2 boots on both of my Caminos, same laces, never had a problem. I didn't tighten them overly much - I have arthritis in my feet and too tight hurts. Also have arthritis in my hands, so was delighted with these laces - ties are a problem!! I also took an extra pair of laces - never needed them.

As mentioned, don't bother with Gortex (imho), just wear good quality wool sox (thin liner and thicker outer) to keep your feet warm when they get wet - the sox dry quickly, Gortex boots don't! -- believe me! Walked most of one day with water-filled boots - feet warm enough, washed the sox, and wore them dry in the morning -- but even filling the boots twice with wadded newspaper didn't help dry them for the next day.
Good luck!
Buen Camino! Terry

Agree. Don't bother with Goretex shoes. Water will get into any shoe in a heavy downpour and muddy conditions. Unlike a regular shoe made from a porous material however, once water gets into a GTX shoe, it will take FOREVER to dry out, And you'll be squishing around for a couple days in wet uncomfortable shoes. Trust me, stick with non GTX shoes. They will dry out over night and you'll be good to go for the next days hike.