FIRST LOOK Salewa all-rounder boot

Getting the perfect blend of comfort and technical performance in a boot isn’t easy, but has Salewa nailed it?

Making footwear that’s exceptionally comfortable really isn’t that difficult or expensive – you can buy a pair of slippers for less than a fiver. Constructing footwear that’s technically proficient on varied terrain is far more difficult, which is why walking boots tend to be more expensive than slippers. But creating a pair of walking boots that can perform brilliantly on a range of mountain routes and feel comfortable enough to walk in all day? That really is something special.

Salewa, though, has got previous. Here on Trail we’ve been fans of its lightweight boots for some time, with the Alp Flow GTX and Mountain Trainer Mid having been particular favourites over the years. With the new Alp Trainer 2 Mid GTX it looks like Salewa has done it again.

As the name suggests, the boot has been created for Alpine hiking, but this essentially means that it’s been designed to handle rough paths, grassy slopes and rocky scrambling, all of which makes the Alp Trainer 2 perfect for tackling the varied terrain of the UK mountains. So far we’ve tested them on long Lakeland walks, some ridge, rock and ghyll scrambling, a via ferrata outing, and a couple of biggish descents, all of which they’ve handled expertly. In truth, it seems there’s little they can’t do – let’s take a closer look…