The Salewa Ortles Light Mid PTX boots have been designed for “mountaineers who want to move fast in all conditions”. The brand suggest the boots offer a combination of lightweight protection with climbing performance.
Features include:
- Pomoca Alpine Light outsole for grip and traction
- Edging Plate 2 technology and a stabiliser in the rear of the midsole for torsional stiffness
- Suitable for semi-automatic crampons.
- 3F system with Kevlar cables to “cradle the heel”
- Two-part customisable footbed
- PFC-free nylon fabric upper with Powertex PFC-free membrane
- Protective rubber rand
- Anti-debris stretch gaiter
- Climbing lacing
- Laces made from recycled materials
- Weight: My women’s fit UK8.5 is 590g per boot
- Women’s sizes: UK4 to UK9
- There is a men’s version
- Price: £260.
- See Salewa for more details. To buy, check stocks in shops on-line and in-store.
My thoughts: Salewa Ortles Light Mid PTX boots
I have never got on well with full-on winter walking boots because they usually feel too heavy and stiff. So, a pair of boots I can wear in winter that are lightweight and give a bit of flex in the sole will always get the thumbs up from me.
There are, of course, limitations and situations and conditions when only heavier and stiffer mountaineering boots will do a good job, such as on very icy and snowy ridge hikes or in full-on winter mountaineering conditions, but I tend to avoid being out in the mountains during these times.
My aim in winter is for comfortable and fairly lightweight boots that keep my feet dry and warm and offer good traction in the wet, bog and snowy slopes.
My first impressions of the Salewa Ortles Light Mid PTX boots are they are nicely lightweight but still robust and sturdy. There is a dual-layer insole for improved fit. You can choose to have a single layer or an added extra layer to reduce the volume inside the boot.
Note that Salewa boots are often a bit smaller sized that other brands so, while I would normally benefit from the double-layered sole due to having fairly flat and narrow feet, I found the UK8.5 with a single layer of insole was just about right. The boots did slip slightly at the heel to start with but this didn’t cause me any issues while hiking and my feet seemed to bed in nicely to the boot.
The boots are not the easiest to pull on though. The ankle is quite high and designed like a gaiter. It would be better if there was a large finger loop at the rear to give some traction when pulling them on.
The cuff is made partly of a stiff fabric around the ankle joint and then a flexible material higher up. There is also piece of fabric that covers the front of the ankle and is closed with velcro. This acts like a small gaiter to keep out some debris.
The result is a boot that gives extra support around the ankle but still with great flexibility. I felt confident when walking on a wide range of terrain. Note, though, that the ankle is not highly supportive. If you want a stiffer support at the ankle, you’ll need to choose a different boot.
The laces tie the boots securely along the full length and ankle of the boots and you can slot them into a small pocket at the rear of the ankle. I didn’t actually have enough lace left to use the wee pocket and it does seem a but odd having that at the rear of the boots.
The soles are a deep tread but do not have a sharp edge at the rear of the heel, nor at the front of the sole. This means you will lose traction when climbing or descending on steep slopes, whether this is on mud, grass, scree, snow or ice. It seems strange to me that Salewa would not sharpen the toe and heel at the sole for better use in winter mountains.
That said, the sole material is grippy, even in the wet, and you can easily add micro-spikes or semi-automatic crampons, such as Grivel crampons.
The boots have a fabric upper but with a reinforced rand and rubber toe-cap and heel. The waterproof and breathable membrane is Salewa’s PowerTex. It is also PFC-free. I found the boots to be highly waterproof. I walked through puddles, snow and mud and my feet stayed dry. In sustained rain or deep snow, it’s still a good idea to add a pair of walking gaiters to improve the water tightness of the boots at the ankle area.
The best thing about these boots is comfort. They are easy to wear and rather like a stiff pair of trainer-boots for winter. They are not as flexible as running shoes and they have an ankle for support, but they are not so stiff and heavy that you are put off heading into the mountains in winter.
I’ve found the boots great for a variety of conditions in the winter mountains – and often in one hike – including wet, bog, mud and snow. When it’s been icy, I’ve added micro-spikes. The Salewa Ortles Light Mid PowerTex (PTX) boots have coped really well.
Step up to the Salewa Ortles Ascent Mid GTX
If you are looking for a similar boot that offers greater grip in snow and ice, there’s the Salewa Ortles Ascent Mid GTX (£325). The Ortles Ascent features Vibram’s new Alpine Guide sole, combining a smooth “climbing zone” at the toe with a tread pattern specifically developed for traction on snow and ice.
The midsole balances double-density PU cushioning with stiffness from a crampon-compatible nylon/fibreglass/carbon insert.
The upper uses robust, high-quality 2.2mm leather combined with a Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort membrane that features an integrated layer of waterproof, breathable insulation to keep feet warm and dry.
The Ankle Protector System (APS) provides ankle support, while Salewa’s 3F system adds stability by connecting the heel and instep to the lacing area, ensuring a more precise wrapping fit.
I have not tested this boot but it looks good on paper and it’s a step up for winter hiking.