The Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite is an Italian hiking shoe crafted for Alpine adventures. This shoe looks badass, but it's a hard one to place. Is it a hiking shoe or an approach shoe? Is the Mountain Trainer Lite actually lightweight—or a heavy-duty hiking shoe? My Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite review has the scoop on this sturdy (not light) hiking shoe to help you figure out if it might fit your feet and match your hikes.
Meet the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite
testing the Salewa MTN Trainer Lite in Moshannon State Forest (PA)
Salewa specializes in mountaineering boots and apline trekking boots that are best suited for serious mountain hikes. Many of their styles—including the Mountain Trainer Lite—also incorporate some approach shoe elements, such as climbing laces and extra rubber in the toes, for better protection and climbing performance on technical trails.
The Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX is the brand's best hiking shoe for recreational hikers and backpackers. The "Lite" means it's lighter than the standard Mountain Trainer—which is a burly Alpine trekking boot. Still, the Mountain Trainer Lite is stiffer and sturdier than the average hiking shoe. It currently retails for $160:
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Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite Review
I purchased my first pair of Salewas in Spring 2022 for this in-depth and independent review. Over the past year, I've tested the low-cut, waterproof Mountain Trainer Lite GTX on some of Pennsylvania's best hiking trails, including the gnarly Mid-State Trail and Standing Stone Trail. I also tested mine at Acadia National Park and chose them to summit Carrauntoohil, Ireland's biggest mountain. My Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite review digs into this shoe's support, weight, fit, comfort, traction, weather protection, and value.
hiking Mt. Carrantuohill (Ireland) in Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX
Support
EXCELLENT
The Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX has more support than any other hiking shoe I've owned. It's stiff and supportive underfoot with a slight flex in the forefoot where my feet naturally flex. That's exactly the build you want if you prefer a supportive, protective hiking shoe.
This shoe is rugged all-around with protective uppers, sturdy mid-soles and outsoles, and a stability shank. That added stiffness helps prevent my feet from over-flexing on uneven terrain—which keeps them fresher on harder, longer hikes. That shank also adds torsional rigidity (resistance to side to side twisting), which can prevent your ankles from rolling over roots and rocks. The Mountain Trainer Lite may be a low-cut, but it may offer more foot and ankle protection than many mid-cut hiking boots. Consider support a definite plus.
Weight
AVERAGE
Don't be confused by the name. The Mountain Trainer Lite is NOT a lightweight hiking shoe.
My pair of men's size 13 (larger than most people) weighs two pounds, 4 ounces per pair. For comparison, that's the same weight as my Merrell Moabs, 4 ounces heavier than my Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX hiking shoes, and 3.5 ounces lighter than my Oboz Sawtooth X hiking shoes. The weight: support ratio is solid, but it's not the best choice for hikers who value weight savings over support.
Fit
STANDARD (SIZE UP)
Italian brands run small and narrow (by U.S. standards), especially in the toes. However, the Mountain Trainer Lite is wide by Italian standards. That shakes out to a shoe that runs a little small with fairly standard width. Plan on sizing up (unless you're wearing it as an approach shoe). Hikers with wide feet may or may not be able to fit in the Mountain Trainer by sizing up more than normal. My hiking size is usually a 12 wide, and I got a good enough fit by sizing up to US size 13 in the Mountain Trainer Lite.
testing support, comfort, and traction on Pennsylvania's Mid-State Trail
Comfort
DEPENDS ON PERSONAL PREFERENCES
Comfort is subjective and has a lot to do with fit and the length and difficulty of your hikes.
The MTN Trainer Lite has moderate cushion. Overall, though, it has a firmer feel than most hiking shoes.
My feet especially appreciate the MTN Trainer Lite on tough, all-day hikes. Seasoned hikers know that firmer, more supportive shoes can pay off on hard, rocky trails and steep terrain. That's been my experience so far in the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite. If you're into tougher trails—and if Salewas fit you—the MTN Trainer Lite will probably score points for comfort. If you're looking for a soft and flexible shoe that wears like a running shoe or casual sneaker, you probably won't find it comfortable. Its comfort stems from all the support and protection it provides on strenuous hikes.
Traction
GREAT ON ROCKS & STEEP TRAILS
Overall, I'm a big fan of the Mountain Trainer Lite's traction. In particular, its grip on wet rock stood out on a steep and soggy slope on Cadilac Mountain in Acadia National Park and a slick scramble up wet boulders and waterfall-like conditions on the dangerous Devil's Ladder section of Ireland's Mt. Carrantuohill. The soft Pamoca rubber outsoles provide plenty of friction to grip slickrock slabs and Talus slopes. At the same time, there's also some depth between the shoe's lugs, which helps it dig into dirt, mud, and loose gravel. The sole also features a pronounced heel brake for added traction on steep downhills (where most serious falls occur). In short, this is good, versatile tread that's up to the challenge of harder hikes and hikes with rock scrambling.
Weather Protection
ABOVE AVERAGE
The "GTX" in the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX stands for GORE-TEX. GORE-TEX won't work miracles if it's subjected to sustained hiking in wet conditions. However, it's more reliable and breathable than the average waterproof membrane.
That being said, a low-cut hiking shoe only provides about three inches of water protection. My MTN Trainers kept the water out in a wet scramble up a trail that resembled a mile-long waterfall. However, I swamped the shoes by stepping in too deep of water in a poorly-chosen stream crossing.
Consider the GORE-TEX waterproofing another plus. Or, you can save $20 by buying the non-waterproof Salewa Mountain Trainer (no "GTX" in name).
Value
GOOD VALUE
In today's market, the best hiking shoes now start around $160 and extend above $200. The Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX retails for $159.95—the low end of that price range. That seems like a good value for sturdy, GORE-TEX hiking shoes made for serious hiking and scrambling.
Here are current prices from leading retailers:
Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX: Pros vs. Cons
In my Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite review, the pros clearly outweigh the cons:
Overall Recommendation: Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX
My first experience with Salewa was a good one. I've added the Mountain Trainer Lite GTX to my list of the best hiking shoes for men and women. It's not the best hiking shoe for casual hikers or fast-and-light hikers. However, the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX is a clutch hiking shoe for serious day hikers, and it slays tough trails with plenty of rock scrambling. If I want to wear a protective hiking shoe on a steep and scrambly hike, I choose the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX.
best fit
standard-sized feet
(size up)
best match
difficult day hikes, rock scrambling, serious hikers
I hope that my Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite review has helped you decide if this hiking shoe may be a good fit for your feet and a good match for your hikes. If this isn't a good match for you, feel free to browse my hiking shoe reviews or my picks for the best hiking shoes for men and women.
If you're feeling the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX, please consider purchasing them through the affilate links above. That doesn't cost you anything, but it sends a few dollars my way to (1) pay for the footwear I review and (2) give me a little back for the hundreds of unpaid hours I've spent creating free content to help others choose the best hiking boots, hiking shoes, or trail running shoes for their hikes.
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