Salewa is one of several Italian brands that makes premium hiking boots and hiking shoes. However, Salewa boots and shoes aren't as popular in the United States as they probably should be. I've tested and reviewed several pairs of Salewas since 2022 and give them my stamp of approval. My Salewa brand review gives hikers a heads up on why Salewa is a solid brand for hiking footwear and recommends which Salewa boots and shoes most hikers should buy.
Climbing Ireland's tallest peak, Mt. Carrauntoohil, in Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite hiking shoes
This post includes affiliate links. Hiking Feet may receive a small commission from the retailer at no cost to you if you click a link and make a qualifying purchase. You can help me continue to provide free content by using these links.
Salewa Brand Review
Salewa has been around for nearly a century. Initially known for its leather goods, its name comes from an abbreviation of saddler (Sa) and leather (le) wares (wa). Since 1990, the brand has been based in the Italian Dolomites.
Like many Italian brands, Salewa makes climbing and mountaineering gear, helmets, shells, and other outdoor apparel. More importantly for hikers, Salewa has been slaying hiking footwear since 2005.
How good are Salewa boots and shoes?
Salewa boots and shoes stand out for their technical chops, sick aesthetics, and mountain-grade traction. If they fit your feet and match your hiking style, Salewas are good boots and shoes for serious hikers.
The Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite is a technical hiking shoe
Technical Footwear
Engineered in the Dolomites, Salewa boots and shoes feature high-end materials and techologies appropriate for alpine-grade hiking, backpacking, and trekking. This includes premium leather, rubber, edging plates, TPU rands and toe caps, and a 3F System for a lock-down fit. Many models stand out for their superior support and/or climbing capabilities.
Testing the Salewa Pedroc Air at Devil's Lake, Wisconsin
Aesthetics
From its logo to its designs to its colorways, Salewa looks pretty badass. I'm just saying...
The Salewa Puez 2 PTX showcases the brand's solid rock traction
Traction
Most Salewa hiking footwear combines premium rubber outsoles from Pomoca and Vibram with approach shoe features for great traction on rocky mountain terrain.
Salewa is a good brand for men and women who mostly do serious hikes in the mountains. The brand's fit favors hikers with narrow to standard-sized feet. Salewa's mountaineering boots slay, but they're made for alpline rocks and snow—not recreational hiking and backpacking. Hikers should focus on Salewa hiking shoes. Here are my recommendations.
Salewa Hiking Shoe Recommendations
SALEWA MOUNTAIN TRAINER LITE GTX LOW
Salewa's Best Hiking Shoe
Main Benefits:
One of the best hiking shoes I've tested, the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX is a technical, high-performance hiking shoe for men and women who get after it in the mountains. Almost a cross between a hiking shoe and approach shoe, the Mountain Trainer Lite has clutch traction for scrambly trails. The snug fit helps with precise foot placement on technical terrain, and I've found the Pomoca rubber outsoles to be grippy, especially on rock. In spite of its name, this isn't a lightweight hiking shoe—it's a serious hiking shoe (that's lighter than the original, burly Mountain Trainer). The Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX is my go-to hiking shoe for gnarly trails. See my full MTN Trainer Lite Review.
best fit
standard or narrow feet
(size up)
best match
hard hikes, technical terrain, rock scrambling
Men's Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite
Check current price, styles, and colors:
Women's Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite
Check current price, styles, and colors:
SALEWA PEDROC AIR
Light Hiking Shoe
Main Benefits:
Not as sturdy as most Salewa shoes, the Pedroc Air is a lightweight hiking shoe that's perfect for speed hikes, travel, and trail-to-town wear. This welterweight still has some performance features—such as a rubber rand and Pomoca rubber outsoles—that can handle harder trails. My favorite feature of this shoe is its air-y ventilation in the mesh and tongue, which keep my feet cooler—whether I'm typing at my computer, flying off to an adventure, or knocking out a mid-week fitness hike (which I just did an hour ago in my Pedroc Airs). Last month, I saw a strong hiker rocking Pedrocs at Colorado's Maroon Bells Pass. But it's better for fast-paced fitness hikes, after-work hikes, adventure travel, and mountain-town saloons.
For more, here's my full Pedroc Air review
best fit
standard to slightly narrow
best match
speed hikes, travel, trail-to-tavern wear
Men's Pedroc Air
Check current price, styles, and colors:
Women's Pedroc Air
Check current price, styles, and colors:
Salewa Hiking Boot Recommendations
SALEWA MOUNTAIN TRAINER 2 GTX
Best Salewa Backpacking Boot
Main Benefits:
The Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 GTX is made for three-season treks through serious mountain terrain. This burly boot is tricked out with all sorts of tech—Kevlar cables to lock in your fit, waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX, a protective rand running around the boot, and premium Vibram outsoles for alpine terrain. Those features add up to superior foot and ankle support and alpine-grade weather protection. If you're looking for a Salewa boot for backpacking and alpine trekking, the Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 GTX is a brute.
best fit
standard to narrow feet
best match
backpacking, off-trail hiking, hardcore day hiking
Men's Salewa MTN Trainer 2 GTX
Check current price, styles, and colors:
Women's Salewa MTN Trainer 2 GTX
Check current price, styles, and colors:
SALEWA PUEZ MID PTX
Approachable Salewa Hiking Boot
Main Benefits:
If you're not conquering trails in the Dolomites or Colorado Rockies, the Salewa Puez Mid PTX may be your hiking boot of choice. Lighter and more approachable than most Salewa hiking boots, the Puez is a good-looking hiking boot with city to mountain versatility. The soft ankle collars and plenty of flex in the forefoot up this boot's comfort while a thermoplastic frame, Pomoca outsoles, and climbing laces add technical performance for more difficult trails. I've personally tested and reviewed the leather Puez (see full review)—the original, knit version is a little bit lighter. The Puez provides limited ankle support, but its comfort and traction make it a solid option for the typical day hiker who wants to enjoy Salewa's tech and aesthetics.
best fit
narrow to standard feet
best match
day hiking
Men's Salewa Puez Mid
Check current price, styles, and colors:
Women's Salewa Puez Mid
Check current price, styles, and colors:
Pros and Cons of Salewa Hiking Boots & Hiking Shoes
No brand works for everybody. The key is to find a brand that fits your feet and matches your hiking style. Here's a quick overview of the pros and cons of Salewa's hiking line up:
Overall recommendation:
Salewas are mountain slayers. If you mostly hike mountainous terrain and Salewas fit you, it's a quality brand that makes high-tech, good-looking hiking footwear. Its Mountain Trainer and Mountain Trainer Lite lines, in particular, have a strong following among serious hikers who trek through the Alps or conquer Colorado's 14ers. If you're casual hiker or wide-footed hiker, you may want to browse my brand recommendations for a brand that better fits your feet and matches your hiking style. But Salewa certainly qualifies as one of the best brands for hiking footwear.
