Mountain Leader Kirsty Pallas tested the Salewa Mountain Trainer Mid 2 GTX for The Great Outdoors’ September 2022 issue. Here’s her verdict.
The Salewa Mountain Trainer Mid 2 GTX – which appears in our guide to the best hiking boots – is a bit of a hybrid, designed not just for hillwalking but also for easy scrambling and mountaineering, demonstrated by the climbing zone on the sole as well as the climbing-focused lacing.
- Price: $290 / £220
- Weight: 2 lb. / 940g (pair, size 39)
- Pros: Climbing lacing, climbing zone on the sole
- Cons: Steel cable attachment issue on test sample
- Rating: 4/5
Materials: Suede | Features: Gore-Tex Performance Comfort lining, Vibram sole, multi fit footbed | Sizes: UK 3-9 | Men’s version: Yes
The sole is Vibram WTC 2, with deep lugs that finish before the toe, giving a smooth area for climbing and edging on rock. The upper is suede with a fabric tongue and a padded ankle collar, with a drop at the back to give some flexibility to ankle movement.
A multi-fit footbed comes with the boots, which allows you to add in different footbeds depending on your foot shape, and tailor the fit to you. There is a generous arch support built into the main footbed.
Climbing lacing, which starts right above the toes, also allows the boot to really be well fitted right up the foot to the two hooks at the ankle. The laces run through sleeves in the suede up to the base of the ankle where a steel cable holds eyelets. But this cable broke on my first test sample, which meant my heel was looser and had no way of being cinched back in.
The waterproofing is Gore-Tex Performance Comfort lining, which is nicely breathable. There is a rubber rand that runs right around the boot, giving full protection against rocks on the suede upper. This is a comfortable multi-use boot let down by the cable failure.
