Support and Stability
With a 4.75″ tall, generously padded, ankle shaft, firm rubber 3F heel grip, and precise fit lacing system, the Salewa boots provided a high degree of ankle support and minimized internal foot movement. Designed primarily as an approach boot, with a narrower alpine fit, a relatively thin 3.25″ outsole and angled climbing toes, these boots offered limited stability on uneven surfaces and limited torsional stability over rocky terrain. 

Protection
The boot’s thick rubber toe and ankle guards, reinforced sides and durable suede uppers offered ample protection against trail impact. The outsoles provided a high degree of flexibility and sensitivity to the trail, but resulted in foot fatigue during long rocky hikes. The gusseted tongue kept debris out.

Comfort
Due to the narrow design of these boots, it is recommended to purchase them a half size up. The materials were comfortable and supple from the start, with no break in required. One of the most impressive features of these boots is their nine-loop Climb lacing system (almost double the loops of the other boots), which allows for a highly customizable and a uniformly snug fit along the entire length of the boot. The toe box in these boots is quite narrow and constricting, which resulted in some pressure and tingling during longer hikes. Multiple insoles are provided to help customize the fit. The outsoles were highly flexible, which was a bonus on scrambles. 

Traction
The 4 mm lugs on the base of the Vibram outsoles provided quality traction across a variety of trail surfaces. And the narrow toes were useful when dealing with crevices on rock scrambles.

Weight
At 15.5 ounces these boots were a comfortable weight and easy to wear.