Yahoo
8 maart 2025
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.