Salewa Raven 3 GTX £270

This is Salewa’s midweight B2-rated boot, which sits just below the brand’s fully rigid alpine boots (the Vultur and the older Condor). As such, it has a stiff three-quarter shank and a small heel welt to accommodate a semiautomatic C2 crampon, yet ‘walks’ a little more easily thanks to a slight rocker from heel to toe. Still, the emphasis is on stability and support, though there is a little flex around the well-padded ankle.

We liked the neoprene collar at the top of the ankle cuff, which helps to prevent debris and snow slush from entering the boot. Similarly, we were impressed with the precise fit, which we attributed to Salewa’s 3D and 3F systems. The 3D lacing consists of a ratchet at the second set of eyelets, so you can pull the boot in tight across the top of the foot. Locking lace hooks at the ankle joint mean you can adjust tension in the lower and upper sections separately. This is linked to the 3F system of cables that connect the instep with the sole and heel, pulling everything in nice and tight. As such, even though the heel cup isn’t the narrowest, we didn’t get any heel slip. Elsewhere they are fairly broad in the forefoot, with a very asymmetric toe box. This gives you more precision and power at the big toe, which is great for scrambling.

IF WE’RE BEING FUSSY

The thin sole unit means they feel quite firm underfoot and lack arch support, though this could be solved with an aftermarket insole. The fabric uppers look very stylish and keep the weight down, but we wonder about their long-term durability.

■ UPPER Fabric with rubber wraparound rand and PU toe cap

■ MEMBRANE Gore-Tex Performance Comfort

■ SOLE Vibram WrapThread Combi

■ WOMEN’S SIZES 3-9 (pictured) ■ MEN’S SIZES 6-13

■ WEIGHT PER BOOT 728g (women’s size 6)

“Supportive boot with impressively precise fit”

For a full-on B2 boot, these are impressively light. Yet they have all the features that we look for in a 4-season boot, including a high ankle cuff, tough uppers, a Gore-Tex lining and a full wraparound rand. The padded tongue has a handy top tab to make the boots easy to pull on. But most of the really clever stuff is hidden from view.

Structurally, the boot is made up of a dual-density PU midsole with a carbon fibre shank. This consists of a durable ‘Exoskeleton’, along with a lightweight inner section for better cushioning. On top of this is a nylon insole board with a layer of microporous material that moulds to your foot, preventing your foot from slipping around inside the boot. As a result, they feel supportive yet comfortable, being stiff enough to take a C2 crampon and climb competently, yet with enough cushioning for easy walking. The burly toe box is equally good for scrambling or kicking steps in snow, yet a slight rocker from heel to toe enables a more natural gait.

Underfoot, the Vibram outsole supplies plenty of traction and has a front climbing zone for improved grip on rock. In terms of fit, they have a slim heel and a broader forefoot with a narrow toe. The extra width gives more room for thick socks, ensuring better warmth and circulation in frozen conditions.

IF WE’RE BEING FUSSY Although B2 rated for winter use, these boots are not insulated. We also found the lace loops made it tricky to really pull the heel in tight. And though these boots are described as a unisex fit and come in smaller sizes, there isn’t a women’s-specific model.

■ UPPER Suede and nylon with wraparound PU rand

■ MEMBRANE Gore-Tex

Performance Comfort

■ SOLE Vibram Curcuma ■ SIZES 4.5-12 (unisex)

■ WEIGHT PER BOOT 953g (size 12)

“Neat and precise, with plenty of clever tech”