Mountain Leader Lucy Wallace recommends the Salewa Women’s Mountain Trainer 2 Mid GTX for rocky, technical hikes.
The Salewa Women’s Mountain Trainer 2 GTX is a supremely comfortable boot that excels in a variety of terrains, with a particular strength in the mountains on rocky, technical hikes.
Lucy Wallace recommends
These are a solid choice for all round mountain use, on scrambly terrain and more technical hikes in the UK and the middle mountains of Europe.- customisable fit
- handles rough terrain well
- a little hot and heavy
| Quick specs |
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| Price: no US shipping | £245 (available from Salewa) Weight: 1346g/ Pair (size 8.5) Materials: fabric and suede upper, 3F steel cables, Vibram outsole Features: customisable footbed, full foot lacing with 3F system Waterproof: Gore-Tex membrane Sizes: UK 3-9 (Eu 35-43) Men’s version: yes www.salewa.com |
Constructed from a mix of suede and fabric, the uppers are well-padded and comfortable straight out of the box. The Multi Fit Footbed allows for a customized fit by adding or removing layers to adjust volume, while extended toebox lacing and Salewa’s 3F system – a steel cable integrated into the lacing – help lock the heel securely in place.
The boots feel rugged and well built. The high, supportive foam ankle cuff is slightly softer at the back for comfort. A rubber rand extends around two thirds of the boot for extra protection. The chunky suede uppers feel durable, although there is a lot of stitching here which may be a weakness for water ingress later in the life of the boots.
There’s a quality Gore-Tex lining, and so far, the water repellent treatment on the surface of the boot is shedding water admirably. They feel a little on the warm side, and I did find my feet are noticeably sweatier in these than the other two models that I tested in this review. Underfoot, the stout outsole grips rock and loose gravel well, and there is a good climbing zone area at the front of the boot for scrambling on small edges. There’s enough protection and grip for dealing with unpleasant scree if necessary. The self-cleaning lugs handle mud well too.
These are a solid choice for all round mountain use, on scrambly terrain and more technical hikes in the UK and the middle mountains of Europe.
Testing conditions
Lucy did the bulk of her testing on the hills of Arran, as well as at work on Mountain Training courses in the Lake District. A lot of bog may have featured in these tests! This review was first published in the May 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors.
