Salewa Mountain Trainer Gore-Tex Men's Shoes

I have wide feet and bought these (the first shoes I've ever bought online and without trying on first) based on previous reviews praising the wide fit.It's true, these shoes are incredibly comfy and do have a nice wide fit (unusual for Italian shoes) without looking silly. Unfortunately for me, they did rub a bit on my small toe on one side as my small toe sits right where the top cap material joins the body; the natural bend zone on this shoe. The rubbing was initially very painful even when using Zinc tape and thick socks but did stop after a few weeks and they now fit very well.For me there are 3 big selling points for these shoes.1) The rubber protection band that extends all around the toes and body of the shoe.Normally the rubber 'stub protector' just covers the front toes and not the rest of the foot. On these, the protection extends all around, perfect for scrambling on rocks or just for clumsy people like me, with wide feet. I don't know if this design has an inherent weakness at the bendy bit of the shoe as it may become unglued or misshapen in this area. Time will tell. So far, it is still in perfect condition. (see UPDATE: yes, the new design did break here after a lot of wear)2) They look really good (I think). More like understated trainers then the usual geeky walking shoes or brightly coloured Fell running shoes. The quality of the materials is good and the general construction is great too. Definitely suitable for different occasions.3) The sole. It is nice and firm, much more like a walking boot than a trainer. However, the best bit is that it has so much grip. You can safely jump around (dry) rocks without feeling like you are going to slip and slide.Not sure how long the sole will last if used on tarmac. From previous experience, nobbly off-road soles wear away very quickly if used for walking around urban areas. (UPDATE: It did wear down and also become very slippery. The new style design is a big improvement here)I have not felt them be too warm although I have noticed they can be a bit smelly, possibly from the Goretex making them a bit sweatier/less breathable.Overall, these are the best pair of shoes I have owned. They are no substitute for the comfort and protection of full walking boots, but for holiday wear or extended travelling where you need a multipurpose shoe, this is it. I was impressed that they came with two removable insoles; a 'wide' and a 'normal' fit version. (UPDATE: the new style no longer includes this, unfortunately). I will consider upgrading the insoles at a later date. Nice to have the option to do so.I ordered my normal UK size and they fitted fine, although had I been in a shop, I would have tried a half-size larger to see if it rubbed less on my toe.It's a shame they don't sell these more widely in the UKUpdate: Jan 20235 Years in, and I'm about to buy my THIRD pair. I thought I would provide an update.My first pair were as described above, and are the 'Mountain Trainer' (called GTX when I originally purchased) that have fabric eyelets running parrallel. My second pair were the newer design 'Mountain Trainer' and feature a wire support on the heel, innovative plastic lace eyelets and an improved sole. Salewa still advertise both Styles, just not on Amazon.As a comparison between the two, my second pair definitely had improved lace system and a better sole. They look a bit more plasticy and they have not lasted as long. Specifically the rubber around the toe has split where it bends, compromising the waterproofing. The heel has also become damaged after accidentally standing on it, and one of the new eyelets has snapped off. The shoes did not ship with different insoles whereas my first pair had different insoles to suit different pronations. As someone with wide feet, I really liked this feature so disappointed to see it removed.I think I preferred the comfort of my original pair. The 'all around rubber toe protector' seemed more durable and generally worked better whereas the new style felt thinner and didn't protect as much (although this is still superior to other shoe brands).The two major drawbacks from the original design are the lace eyelets, and the sole.Firstly, the lace system causes too much stress on the laces so they tended to fray after a year or so. It was also more difficult to pull tight. Having said that, none of the eyelets broke or have shown much sign of wear.Secondly, the sole must be softer as it has noticeably worn away. I had an issue with the sole being slippery when wet anyway, even before it wore down.

Bought these Salewa footwear after getting Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot.I would say this choice of footwear was a blessing, within 3 days of wearing, i was able to walk without pain and a pronounced limp due to pain.I couldn't believe the transformation in my foot and it's down to this footwear brand.I would honestly recommend especially people who walk regularly, you need solid footwear.Salewa provides that with sturdy, robust footwear, as a bonus, in my opinion, there styles look fashionable and on trend.If you walk 10,000+ steps daily i think decent footwear is essential, the Salewa brand will meet your requirements helping to protect your feet over uneven terrain.Do yourself a favour and try them for yourself, you can always send them back if inappropriate.I would also recommend inserting Plantar Fasciitis heels, this helps distribute the upper body weight evenly over the foot. It pushes the weight towards the front of the foot, it feels like your walking on the balls of your feet.I would also highly recommend if your considering buying Salewa to order a half size up.Example if your a general size 8, like myself you will need a size 8.5. The footwear is so compact it compromises the overall size slightly, so i suggest a half size up.I had to buy a second pair with extra half size to fully appreciate the difference, which is clear regarding distance of walk.For comfort and practicality it's best to go with a half size up.I hope this review is helpful in making your decision to go with Salewa.Good luck....

Quality in every way. BUT they are not for day to day use.Shank is like walking with solid steel base.

I do a lot of walking and hiking, so these are not my first pair of Salewa shoes. The fit is snug, so you are best to try a size first. I find that after about 5 miles, they are broken in and fit like soft trainers; very comfortable. The soles will wear, but they are very grippy and give you confidence, especially on down hill stretches.

early days yet as I only got them yesterday. Their quality has gone down since my 2017 purchase. I still wear these today! The overall look is good and they are reasonably comfortable. I don't think they will last as long because of the materials used. There is more plastic rather than cotton material. the originals have supportive removable insoles these new ones don't. Time will tell. I also note that the old pair was made in Vietnam and the new pair was made in Romania.update: I have been wearing these for a couple of weeks on relatively short walks. they are ok but they don't give the comfort and support that the older shoes gave. I have bought a pair of Merrell's and they knock the spots off these shoes. Merrells give everything that you need.

BEWARE!!! Yes, these look lovely and appear well made. When I wore them, they were really comfortable. Then, after 2 months use, the heel peeled away from the upper. I have attached pics which are remarkably similar to pics in other reviews for the same shoe. The kicker is, this happened after the Amazon returns period expired and, on contacting Salewa, I was told that due to Brexit there is no warranty service in the UK at the moment - this was in June 2021 and (Sept 2021) their website still carries the same message. Funny that Amazon don't mention this when they're trying to get you to part with £140. If I could have given this product zero stars, I would.