SalewaMen's Wildfire GTX Approach Shoe - Durable, Waterproof Gore-Tex Trail Shoe for Hiking & Climbing

I bought these due to reviews of the comfort out of the box - true as reviewed by others. I am a size 8.5 and ordered as such, very, very comfortable.Better grip and more sure footed that many other low-cut trail/approach/hiking SHOES.They appear quite narrow in appearance, but I have not found them to be in how they wear. This is obviously foot/person dependent.Water proof a plus for my wants/needs for intended purpose.Worn for shorter hikes (few miles) and on hilly forested terrain - where they performed very well both up and downhill and also laterally walking across the slope.Again, these are SHOES, not boots, so the same type of ankle support and protection cannot be expected to equal boots.Overall, very pleased. I ordered these at the same time as a pair of "KEEN Men's Wasatch Crest Vent Breathable Hiking Sneakers" and a pair of "Asolo Men's Apex Shoe".The Salewa Wildfire GTX Approach Shoe (these shoes) are my favorite in terms of comfort, weight, performance. Though they are not my favorites in terms of appearance - but are still fairly attractive (if that matters to you).

I have the fire orange ones (no longer being sold) and the olive ones. I bought the olive ones only because I like these shoes so much I don't want to put too much time on one pair. I may buy a third.Fit is perfect, I'm a 9 to 9.5 and the 9's feel custom made for my feet. Mid width foot.I use them for trail running, hiking, and long treks in the chaparral in So California. Perfect for warmer and dryer climates. Never a single blister. Super durable sole as well. Last month I wore them every day for a, 24 day straight "marathon" (2+ mile a day hike/run). I've had them since Oct. 2019 and the soles have hardly worn down. I can't even count how many miles I have on them.Traction is fantastic, feet stay cool comfortable even in big heat. Soles flex enough for comfort but are stiff enough to keep pressure points in feet cushioned from random sharp stones etc. I've yet to have cactus spines penetrate through them as well (not that I'm testing that part on purpose!).Right out of the box they are sublimely comfortable, and I've even done some basic bouldering/skree with them (as they are intended really). They are the perfect warm and dry weather shoe. They shed moisture quickly and dry out fast.Can't say enough about them, and the second pair fit exactly like the first.Totally recommended. Great product.-C

This is my first pair of Salewa shoes which I decided after lots of research. I wore Salomon for 10 years, then Merrell the past year and a half. I really like Salomon trail running shoes as day hiking shoes, and the Merrell's I had were good, but never loved them, too stiff and a little clunky. My criteria for shoes this time was one that would be good for the high desert I am often in here in New Mexico as a rural land photographer. The priority was breathability, as the Merrell's had a Goretex waterproof lining, not needed for the desert. Then I wanted good protection from cactus spines and similar. I needed to shoe to be light as well. This brought me to looking for an approach shoe. Salewa appealed to me from a breathability standpoint with its all mesh upper, but ballistic mesh so it would be strong enough in the desert to resist spines and rocks. Loved the styling of the blue as well. The issue then was what size. I wear size 11 universally. After reading the few reviews for this shoe in particular and Salewa in general, including the similar Vent model, I decided to go a half size up. For my universal otherwise size 11 shoe foot, the 11.5 Salewa fit perfectly. They have met all my needs, as my feet sweat less in the desert, they have held up to cactus spines and rocks, and they are very light. The surprise was how comfortable they were on trail, possibly the best shoes for that I have ever owned. I would not wear these as daily shoes on pavement. I wear them specifically for when I will be in the desert, on trail, etc. These are a specialty shoe and for the price, should be kept for that use only, not wearing the lugs down on pavement anyway. I am now a Salewa loyalist for hiking shoes! They won me over from the very first step!

One thing to be said about these approach shoes is they are very durable. I've had less durable approach shoes that I have considered 5-stars. These are great quality. The midsole is stiffer than I am used to, but they are still new - they may loosen over time. The outsole is quite sticky as you would expect from an approach shoe. What I like about the outsole is how the lugs are quite beefy, but the areas were wear is usually a concern (ball of forefoot and heel) it is built up around the lugs so as to appear flat. This is to slow wear in these areas. The ballistic mesh is nice and really contributes to the comfort. The exoskeleton adds stability and my foot stays put, which is also nice. I'm just concerned about catching one of them on some rocks and breaking them.The heel counters are quite pronounced which I'm not particularly fond of, but some will like this. I think I can get used to it though. The laces are crazy durable to a level I haven't seen before. The shoes seem narrow in appearance which I thought was going to be a problem with my wider feet, but they are comfortable in width none-the-less. I think the pointy toe-box makes them appear narrower than they really are. The lacing system is different too. No matter how I laced them, I always ended up with one side longer than the other - it takes some finagling to get them equal. The Ortholite insoles are comfortable without adding additional weight.All-in-all, I'd say these are going to be a great choice for the trail. Whether backpacking, rock scrambling or traipsing around the woods - these provide a comfortable and durable experience. 5 stars!UPDATE: The inside of the heel counters have started wearing through and ripping prematurely after not even a year. Deducted one star.