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Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mid Gore-Tex Boots: first impressions
The Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mids are packed full of features, including a combination of an Ortholite footbed, stiff insole and reinforced rand to give support on long, steep descents. The climbing lacing helps to minimize the formation of blisters by allowing you to fine-tune the fit, and the suede and Gore-Tex should protect my feet from getting completely saturated in classic Scottish summer conditions!
What’s brilliant about boots from the Salewa Alpine trekking range is that they combine the durability you’d expect from a hiking shoe with thoughtful features for navigating rough mountain terrain, plus comfort for long-distance use and a 100% blister-free fit. Salewa claims this means that they can be worn virtually straight out of the box with minimal time required to break them in, which I found to be true to an extent – it is still worth wearing them in a bit like all new shoes, so they don't cause unnecessary rubbing.
Strong, quality materials such as the suede leather that covers the top of the foot and sides are durable and highly wear-resistant. A rubber rand, wrapped around the entirety of the shoe, is a useful strip of material which connects the upper to the rest of the shoe, helping protect the boot against damage from rocks and scree.
When looking into a boot’s ‘DNA’ it’s important to check the midsole as this can determine whether there’s sufficient cushioning vs stiffness, which can determine how comfortable the boots feel after a day of wear. The stiffer the midsole, the greater the comfort and stability during long routes in rocky, uneven terrain, as well as better precision in trusting the feet when climbing. The Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mids use a Bilight dual density TPU-based midsole, which is generally firmer and more durable than lighter materials such as EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate). A dual density TPU has been designed to be more ergonomic, to ‘cradle’ the foot and provide all-day comfort on longer hikes, helping benefit walkers with a moderate amount of cushioning and shock absorption on steeper terrain. A midsole made of TPU combines flexibility and durability in the material, offering excellent tensile strength to support the foot throughout the day.
• List price: $289.95 (US) / £245 (UK) / €250 (EU)
• Drop: 12mm
• Weight: 16.5oz/470g per shoe
• Colors: Blue Dark Denim & Black / Brown Bungee Cord & Black / Red Red Dahlia & Black (US); Black Magnet & Viridian Green / Blue Atlantic & Ombre Blue/ Grey Asphalt & Sangria (UK and EU)
• Compatibility: Climbing, trekking, hiking
On the Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mids, the outsole of the boots includes Vibram WTC, which offers an aggressive tread and a minimalistic profile to provide a natural feel and optimal traction, lightness and walkability. For Scottish rock, it’s a perfect combination – enough grip on loose gravel routes, and not so smooth that you’ll slip over. The aggressive tread features six boomerang-like lugs on the front and two on the back, helping the boots bite more and give better traction in loose conditions, such as scree and softer terrain – or even snow. An arch-shaped toe box at the front, mirrors the shape of the back curve to help with accurate foot placements, while the boomerang-shaped lugs at the rear help with braking on steeper descents.
Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mid Gore-Tex Boots: on the trails
Testing the shoes on a technical hiking trip to the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, the Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mids were everything I’d expect from a mid hiking boot for rough, mountainous terrain. A high ankle support helped with my pronating ankles, much to my relief when navigating deep heathery terrain and hidden potholes among the bracken and grassy reeds.
Structurally, I found the Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mid Gore-Tex Boots to be robust and supportive, using the Salewa 3F system which connects the instep area with the sole and heel for better flexibility and support. An ‘EXA Shell grid’ also wraps around the upper foot and protects against abrasion caused by the foot moving around. The use of reinforced materials helps provide protection to the shoe’s upper so it can withstand the additional movement and helps prolong overall comfort when wearing the boots all day, without adding too much extra weight.
Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mid Gore-Tex Boots: tread
I was impressed with the boots’ overall tread as this feature often dictates how confident I feel, particularly on wet or slippery rocky terrain. The Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mids performed well on sticky Skye gabbro and smoother basalt rock, meaning I wasn’t stressed about losing my balance or any unexpected scree. The tread pattern is designed specifically for mountain terrain, with a less aggressive mid-section (sometimes known as a ‘via ferrata zone’ to help with climbing on the rungs of a via ferrata so they don't get stuck). Use of the high-quality rubber is noticeable as this provides a high level of trust in foot placement on more uncertain ground, where the boots have sufficient grip to claw into softer terrain and prevent slipping or sliding around.
Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mid Gore-Tex Boots: lacing
One of my main bugbears with alpine boots is ‘weak’ laces that undo, but fortunately the Mountain Trainer 2 Mids use Salewa’s climbers’ fit lacing system, which has two eyelets at the front followed by leather sections and webbing loops to really hold the foot in place. A bit like a climbing shoe, it can be fiddly the first time you put a pair of stiff shoes on, but once I’d adjusted the lacing to my specific fit I was surprised at how good it was at staying tied for the remainder of the day. A flex collar at the top of the shoe hugs the front of the ankle to give support and is comfortable enough to not rub, especially when combined with the tight lacing.
Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mid Gore-Tex Boots: waterproofing
Over the course of a nine-day hiking trip in the Outer Hebrides, the Salewa Mountain Trainer 2s were tested in the boggiest conditions – all thanks to the delightful combination of heavy rain for most part of the year and Scotland’s acidic soil, with the Isle of Lewis’ base of solid rocky ground that has little to no drainage. It was going to be a rather interesting experience to test the waterproofing of the boots.
Walking along the coast of Lewis, I was pleased to find that the Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mids kept my feet dry, even on terrain which involved a full boot submersion (gulp) when combined with the use of a gaiter to keep the worst of the moisture out. The suede was also surprisingly easy to keep clean by brushing off most of the dirt at the end of each day. I had a pair of the darker color boots though, and wouldn’t bet that the brighter boots in the range would remain the color they started after a few days in typical Scottish conditions.
Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mid Gore-Tex Boots: breathability
Thanks to a decent construction that combines a Gore-Tex membrane along with the use of naturally weather resistant suede, my feet didn’t get too hot in the Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mids. The Gore-Tex extended comfort lining allows moisture to pass out while still offering decent weather protection, which isn’t necessary if you plan on wearing them on warm, dry alpine vacations, but is a must-have if you’re a UK hiker getting mountain mileage in damp conditions. In addition to the Gore-Tex membrane, the OrthoLite footbed wicks away moisture, helping to keep your feet cool while preventing the boots from getting too smelly.
