Salewa  Alp Trainer 2 Hiking Shoes - Men's

Comfortable, waterproof, good traction, light

I have never owned Salewa boots. I Bought these before a trip to the Pacific Northwest and Canada. I was concerned about violating my cardinal principal of breaking-in boots for a few weeks before putting them to the trail for serious hiking. But because of a tight schedule, I received these on Sunday and began hiking on Tuesday. Trekking in old-growth forests under rainy and muddy conditions, I made sure to walk through any puddles on the trails and there were rivulets to ford. A steady rain accompanied me for 4 days. There were steep/rocky climbs. I had been made skeptical of "waterproof" claims, after previously finding my GoreTex OR shell, advertised as waterproof, was leaking water, but the Salewas were 100% waterproof. Dry, warm feet. And even more surprisingly, no blisters! The soles were grippy and did well on steep ascents and descents. So far, these are great boots.

Somewhat disappointing

I bought this model end of May and am walking about 10-12 km every day in them on hard underground. The vibram sole is already halfway gone, which I find is not a good result in such a short time. I had the previous model for 5 years and did not see this level of wear on the soles with the same use. Apart from that the shoe is great as other reviews and comments already praise.

Originally posted on Salewa

Boots are super comfortable and no issues there yet. I have about 50miles in them now. My main issues are with how thin the laces are which makes them annoying to tie and untie such a small knot and the eyelits kind of cut into Your ankle when making it real Tight. Also that when fully submerged I don’t quite trust the water proofing; as water rolls over the top of the boot you can feel the coolness of the water but somehow still is dry. I have not tested submerging my foot in it for more than a second at a time. Overall very good and comfortable for the value and they seem rugged so far.

Originally posted on ExpertVoice.com

A great nimble hiking boot

I have the Salewa MTN Trainer which are still excellent but I wanted something that offered similar performance in a lighter boot. The Alp Trainers are excellent. Lighter, cooler, slightly more flex and slightly thinner insole that gives good feedback as to what is going on under foot. If you have ever wanted a bit more support than that offered by lightweight trail runners but dont want to increase weight too much then consider these. Salewa sizing, fit, finish and comfort are the best I have come across. The GoreTex is well installed and feet remain dry. Very pleased.

Originally posted on Salewa

These boots are lightweight and have a firm and supportive footbed. You do not feel every single rock underfoot and it is firm enough to stand on a jagged rock without being uncomfortable. Have the option to use multiple inserts to find a more perfect fit is very nice. The tread compound works very well on wet rock. The lacing system is the best that I have used providing the ability to tighten down the boot around the ankle without creating points that may rub into hotspots. The boot is also very supportive when moving under load. In summary this is just a great boot.

Originally posted on ExpertVoice.com

I can't decide and either can the boot

In my opinion the boots design is trying to be too much. The upper fits a medium width foot very well and the heel locking system works great. The upper is very flexible and conforms to the foot and you also can’t go wrong with the Gore-Tex upper. However, the midsole is so hard under foot it feels like I’m in a heavy backpacking boot. Even after adding a soft (aftermarket) insole it makes my feet tired in a few hours. This style could have been developed two ways. Soften up the midsole durometer to make it a comfortable outdoor cross trainer. Or add a stiffer/longer shank to the midsole and beef up the leather upper for ankle support so you can use it in challenging terrain. Also, the laces should be a bit thicker and shorter…

Originally posted on ExpertVoice.com

Cool concepts, lackluster execution

I wanted boots for quick excursions and day hiking, that don’t completely look ridiculous when worn off the trail…these fit the bill. They blend form and function well. The waterproof leather so far, is holding up. It’s a bit thin, but it allows for more flexibility and lighter weight. The vibram outsole is fantastic. The chevron pattern offers impecable traction on a variety of surfaces, even when wet (I’m primarily in the eastern woodlands of the US). The foam midsole is fine, it offers some cushion, and offers a good balance of stability to flexibility. Where I think this boot really falls flat, are in the 3F lacing system, and the Multi-fit footbed. I don’t find the 3F system actually locks my heel in place. Even with different heel locking lacing techniques, I get heel-slip leading to blisters after only about an hour of wear on moderate terrain. Also, the laces are so thin, it’s painful for my fingers to actually pull the laces taught (they do look cool though). The Multi-fit footbed (MFF) is a brilliant idea, but the foam is so thin and flimsy, it barely makes a difference in comfort. I wound up putting in a pair of Kneed hiking insoles, and that has helped tremendously on treks longer than 2 hours. The flex collar, is actually really effective! It’s always been such a pain for my Achilles tendons wearing traditional hiking boots on descents, and this flex collar is a genuine game changer. So big ups to Salewa for implementing that. Overall, solid, good looking day hikers, but definitely a bit gimicky. Double socking is enough to manage blisters from the ineffective 3F system, and 3rd party insoles make up for the poor MFF.

Originally posted on Salewa

Favorite new boot for winter

I’ve had these boots for a while now, I wear them about 4-5 days a week depending on weather. They are warm enough for general outdoor activities well below freezing. They have good traction for most outdoor surfaces rocks, wet grass, mud, gravel, etc. Somedays I also spend a lot of time on my feet on concrete and they are still fairly comfortable. They are a little on the heavy side but I think that aids with durability. They are also a little hot once temperature gets over 70 so with probably end up with a different boot for summer.

Originally posted on ExpertVoice.com

Epic

These are, hands down, the best most comfortable boots I have ever worn out of the box. I have worn Salomon’s for years, until I got these. Amazing stability, grip and one of the most important things to me light and not clunky. Some boots I have worn in the past are very chunky looking and feel like I like the ability to move quickly when needed. With these guys on I feel that my foot is protected and I have great grip, warmth (not too much), and overall comfort. Keep it up, these are majestic!

Originally posted on ExpertVoice.com

Incredible all-purpose boots

Salewa markets these as mountaineer trainers but they are excellent for many other uses too. Right out of the box they are comfortable and get even better as they break in. The grip is fantastic and the height on the ankle is perfect for support without being cumbersome; just what you want in a mid-top. I don’t know how they squeezed this durability and quality into a boot this lightweight. I use primarily for hunting and hiking and these things are bulletproof.

Originally posted on ExpertVoice.com