I try not to have a shoe obsession, but I guess I do when it comes to hiking shoes. My feet have taken a beating on the trail, and I have dealt with blister covered and swollen feet days after a hike. Needless to say, I was excited to be able to review a pair of SALEWA Mountain Trainer hiking boots. SALEWA did provide me with a sample at no charge, however the thoughts and opinions are my own.

These boots are built for some serious mountain climbing. SALEWA says they are recommended to be used on mixed mountain terrain. I found them to perform great over every type of terrain that I tested them on. Even when I wore them around town and to work.

Ankle support and fit

The first thing I noticed – and really like about them –  they have amazing ankle support. This is important to me, because I am always turning my ankle. The Mountain Trainer has SALEWA’s Flex Collar which aids the ankles natural range of motion but keeps my ankle also feels super secure in the boots.

The top of the boot has a stretchy feel to it, which really cradles your ankle.

In fact the whole boot really cradles my foot. The fit is very snug but not tight. It feels like it molds to my foot but doesn’t squeeze it. The only hot spot I got while testing the SALEWA Mountain Trainer was on the ball of my foot. But I’m sure that will go away once they are are broken in completely.

Customizable with insoles

Another aspect of the SALEWA Mountain Trainer that I absolutely love is that it comes with insoles to fit each foot type. I have a wide foot, so I simply left the insoles out and found the boots to fit perfectly. However if you have a narrow or medium foot, there are insoles that adjust the fit.

And the insoles are sent with the boots. That way if you are not sure of your foot type, you can try them out and see which one fits the best.

Waterproof

Any good hiking boot needs to be waterproof. As hikers we often find ourselves crossing creeks or sloshing through mud or snow, and wet feet can make you miserable.

The SALEWA Mountain Trainer has GORE-TEX extended comfort as well as highly water resistant fabric.

Stiffness

The boot fits my foot really well, but is a little stiff. However, I found this to be a comfort not a negative. When I first put them on it felt a little bit like I was wearing skates. But like I said, I found this stiff fit to be a plus.

And of course once broken in, they will be loosen up a bit.

However were a little uncomfortable on the bottoms of my feet while I was breaking them in.

Lacing

SALEWA uses climbing lacing which allows adjustments to be made the toe area. I found the laces to adjust perfectly over my whole foot. Also the entire time I tested the SALEWA Mountain Trainer boots, they never once came untied.

Overall thoughts

I would totally recommend these boots to my friends.

They are priced above the $200 mark, which is on the high end of the price range for hiking boots. However, I do believe you get what you pay for. These boots are made to tackle some rugged and hard terrain. They also are built very well and I believe will last a while.

Looking for more SALEWA products, check out my review on the SALEWA Ortles Hybrid Jacket.