Verdict from 3 experts and +100 user reviews
10 reasons to buy
- A large percentage of reviewers spoke quite highly of the shoe’s level of comfort.
- According to a healthy number of owners, the Salewa Ultra Flex Mid GTX had extraordinary ankle support.
- Thanks to the outstanding traction brought forth by Michelin’s technical performance outsole, this shoe received acclaim from numerous sources.
- Several expert reviewers grew extremely fond of the Ultra Flex Mid GTX’s lightness.
- Based on several reports, one of which was contributed by a gear blogger, this speed hiking shoe was a real stunner.
- It took a handful of users only a few hours to completely break in this hiking footgear.
- Some consumers commended the Salewa Ultra Flex Mid GTX for its speed lacing system. A portion of them particularly liked the stretchy membrane under which the remainder of the laces may be tucked securely.
- Without a shadow of a doubt, a couple of wearers hailed this shoe as completely waterproof.
- A very small number of users were more than impressed with the hiker’s internal ventilation.
- Despite its hefty price tag, a professional footwear reviewer still called his Ultra Flex Mid GTX a purchase worth every dollar.
2 reasons not to buy
- This shoe may not be spacious enough for wide-footed individuals, according to experts.
- A few individuals disdained the footwear’s confining toe box.
Bottom line
With its inspired good looks, tenacious traction, and otherworldly comfort, the Salewa Ultra Flex Mid GTX achieves success. Thankfully this lightweight boot also has an unbelievable supply of ankle support. It is rather unfortunate, however, that those with wide feet may not get the best experience in this shoe. In closing, provided that it can be excused for its confining width, the Ultra Flex Mid GTX just might be what every speed hiker is looking for.
Tip: see the best hiking shoes.
Good to know
- The Ultra Flex Mid GTX combines several quality features in its lightweight shell. The Salewa 3F system is among such features, in that by connecting the instep zone with the heel and sole, the shoe gets to provide users with flexibility, ankle support, and precision fit.
- It is a vegan-friendly product. This means that the shoe, from top to bottom, has been engineered free of any animal substance.
- The shoe primarily owes its lightness to its mesh and fabric upper. Its mid-cut shaft houses the Flex Collar which, as its name suggests, gives ample flexibility, thereby improving the wearer’s overall mobility, especially during descents. The main bootie of the shoe is bonded with the Gore-Tex Extended Comfort membrane for water protection.
- Michelin and Salewa have collaborated to give this shoe a grippy yet stabilizing sole unit called Ultra Train. Its midsole is extra thick for cushioning and shock absorption, while its Michelin outsole has zonal lugs for traction on mixed terrain.
Salewa built the Ultra Flex Mid GTX for male speed hikers. The shoe has a fairly true-to-size fit and comes in standard width. Its sizing options include both whole and half sizes. Its quick lacing mechanism grants wearers a personalized lockdown. The 3F system, with its heel and instep-hugging overlay, is also involved in giving wearers a precise fit.
A Salewa-exclusive, multi-density rubber outsole, the Michelin Ultra Train lends hikers slip resistance and traction, as well as adaptability over different types of terrain. The aggressively shaped lugs dotting its surface provide grip in practically all directions. For lateral movement assistance, the engineers gave the sole treaded sides. Aiding wearers during descents, on the other hand, are curved grooves at the heel.
This grippy layer has another purpose besides slip prevention and surface traction. By making its front end extend to the upper, covering the forefoot zone by about an inch, the shoe is given a protective rubber bumper. This additional outsole feature is easily recognizable by the quirky Michelin logo embossed on it.
The Salewa Ultra Trek Mid GTX has a noticeably robust midsole for comfort and shock mitigation. It is made of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA for short) which means this cushy yet sturdy platform has ample resistance to stress, heavy weight, and even ultraviolet radiation. Its tapered construction also gives the footwear its overall sleek design.
Extra underfoot cushioning comes in the form of the shoe’s removable Ortholite footbed. It is engineered with a unique spring-back technology that grants it the ability to grow back up to about 95% of its original thickness, even with prolonged use. Its means of giving comfort comes not only by its cushioned surface but also by its moisture-wicking feature.
Salewa’s Ultra Trek Mid GTX is a speed hiking shoe that is endowed with breathability and agility, thanks to its mesh upper. Its mid-cut shaft is extra flexible as it is built with a stretchy material. The interior of the collar line and tongue are padded for extra cushioning. In terms of abrasion protection, the base of the upper’s front arc is layered with coated fabric, while its heel zone is covered with a plate-like, synthetic overlay. The footwear’s defenses against debris, on the other hand, are handled by the upper’s gusseted tongue.
Wet elements are kept at bay thanks to the Gore-Tex Extended Comfort liner. This waterproofing technology is also engineered to be breathable and moisture wicking, making the shoe ideal for the summer months as well.
The shoe’s lacing system trades classic laces for synthetic cords. It features an easy-adjust locking clip made of hard plastic. It has a set of synthetic lace tunnels in place of standard eyelets. There is also a net-like clasp bridging the instep flaps of the upper. It serves as a pocket for the remainder of the cords.
