Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX vs Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX

Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX wins — Hoka Anacapa 2 wins for day hikers on well-maintained trails who want maximum cushioning on long descents

Scores: Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX 9/10 · Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX 8/10

Hoka Anacapa 2 wins for day hikers on well-maintained trails who want maximum cushioning on long descents. Salomon X Ultra 4 wins for technical terrain and backpacking where lighter weight and ground feel are more valuable than cushion stack height.

Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX lists at $180 while Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX lists at $160 — Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX undercuts Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX by $20 (13%).

Spec-by-spec comparison

	Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX	Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX
midsole	CMEVA midsole, 28mm heel stack height	EnergyCell+ midsole, 18mm heel stack height
outsole	Vibram Megagrip, 4mm lug depth	Contagrip MA, 4mm lug depth
waterproof	Gore-Tex Extended Comfort membrane	Gore-Tex waterproof membrane
weight	384g per shoe (men's 9.5)	346g per shoe (men's 9.5)
drop	5mm heel-to-toe drop	11mm heel-to-toe drop
terrain	Packed trails, moderate technical terrain	Technical terrain, mixed surfaces, scrambling

Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX

What works

28mm CMEVA stack height provides exceptional cushioning on descents — knee fatigue on long day hikes is measurably reduced
Vibram Megagrip outsole outperforms most brand-specific rubber compounds on wet roots and rock
Rocker geometry reduces forefoot fatigue on flat pack-out sections

What doesn't

High stack height reduces ankle proprioception — less feel for loose technical terrain
Wide platform is slower to drain standing water than low-profile competitors
Not ideal for scrambling or very technical rocky terrain where a lower profile excels

Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX

What works

Low 18mm stack gives superior ground feel — better for technical scrambling where foot placement precision matters
346g is 38g lighter per shoe than Anacapa — noticeable on 20+ mile backpacking trips
11mm drop works better with traditional hiking posture and pack weight on descents

What doesn't

Less cushioning on long sustained flat sections compared to Hoka's thicker midsole
Contagrip MA is good but trails slightly behind Vibram Megagrip on wet polished rock
$20 more than entry-level Salomon models for the same technical capability

Bottom line

Our pick: Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX. It edges out the alternative on 28mm cmeva stack height provides exceptional cushioning on descents — knee fatigue on long day hikes is measurably reduced. That said, Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX still wins on low 18mm stack gives superior ground feel — better for technical scrambling where foot placement precision matters — consider it if that single trade matters most for your use.

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