Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX Review

We love the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite for serious hiking and scrambling missions. It is burly, rugged, has exceptional traction and best of all — it is super comfortable right out of the box so you can hit the trails right away.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Mountain Trainer Lite GTX is more comfortable than many other models we tested. Its uppers feature enough mesh and synthetic materials that flex easily. It does not have as much of a prolonged break-in period as other models that use similar materials. This low-cut hiking shoe has a nice, secure feeling ankle cuff that allows for plenty of movement. This shoe is stiffer than most, given that its intended uses are for mountain trails, so although the sole is rockered for a comfortable stride, the nylon midsole insert does give this shoe a firmer feeling on the trail than more cushioned models we review here.

Our only real issue with these shoes is the stiffness of the ankle cuff. The material used here is fairly firm, and even with our favorite thick hiking socks, we could feel the edge of that cuff dig into our ankles when walking along a sidehill. This seems to diminish over time, but it is one of the remnants from the era of heavier and more rigid hiking boots that caught our attention.

Support

No doubt about it, the Mountain Trainer Lite GTX is a rock-solid hiking shoe that gives above-average support on demanding terrain. We love this shoe for its exceptional underfoot stability, thanks to an integrated nylon midsole shank that lets them bound through boulder fields without putting extra undue stress on the foot. This stable platform also helps them to edge in challenging sections of scrambling.

This shoe is low-cut, meaning that the cuff ends just below the ankle, so they do not have the same support to protect from rolled ankles as do high models, but we felt adequate security. We prefer the lower cut that allows for more flexion when challenging climbing terrain.

Traction

Salewa makes shoes that can handle all types of terrain, and the Mountain Trainer Lite GTX is no exception. Featuring a Pomoca outsole that uses a blended rubber compound that is soft enough to smear on smooth rock, though durable enough to allow the sole's deep lugs to chew through mud and scree, these shoes have no problems when the going gets tough.

We took these shoes on hikes in the Sierra Nevada of California and the Olympic Mountains of Washington State. In these two very different climates with vastly different trail types and weather conditions, we found that the Mountain Trainer Lites can do it all. Wet or dry, slick or loose, the stable footing made possible by the stiff midsole and the high-traction patterned outsole made these shoes one of our top choices for traction.

Water Resistance

The Mountain Trainer Lite utilizes a Gore-Tex Extended Comfort waterproof/breathable insert to keep your feet dry while sloshing through puddles on the trail. On one hike, the Ozette Triangle Loop along Washington State's Pacific coastline, we had to hike through tidepools, avoid the incoming tide, and walk through a very wet rainforest. Our feet were bone dry upon our return to the trailhead.

However, a 3.5-inch flood height is not very high, so these shoes only work for minimally wet conditions. If you think you'll have to ford some deeper crossings, then mid or high-top hiking footwear might be a better choice.

Weight

When we first got our hands on the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX shoes, we were pretty astounded at how light they felt. With previous experience wearing the more beefy Mountain Trainer boots, we expected to see weight savings given that these shoes got rid of some heavier fabrics and shed some weight by not having as stiff a sole. We were impressed at their scant 2.16-pound weight per pair.

Too often, it becomes difficult to choose between mountain performance and on-trail comfort. These shoes do both well, and we like how easily they approach objectives and are a full half-pound lighter than their nearest competition in this style of shoe.

Durability

With an all synthetic upper, the Mountain Trainer might seem less durable than other shoes that choose this weight-saving material. Still, there are a couple of useful designs that this shoe employs that keep them from being as susceptible to the rigors of cross-country travel as some of their counterparts.

Along the lower section of the upper, Salewa uses a wear-resistant material that covers the light mesh, making this area, which is typically prone to excessive wear, much more durable. There is also a thick toe cap that is molded to the outsole. The nylon laces are somewhat exposed, so there is a chance of abrading if you intend on exceptionally rocky scrambles. Still, we find these shoes quite durable, especially considering their weight.

Should You Buy the Salewa Mountain Trainer Lite GTX?

This is an all-around solid hiking shoe that absolutely excels in traveling through rough and off-trail terrain. Curiously light considering their above-average support, these are shoes that won't slow you down. Stiffer than most, they are also a good choice for the hiker who demands a bigger boot's stability but craves the functionality of a hiking shoe. We find this shoe to do it all well, but we really recommend it to take you off the beaten path. These shoes are of great value. With top-tier performance, comfort, and traction, they are a hiking shoe that virtually everyone will be able to appreciate and benefit from.

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