Salewa

Wildfire 2 Hiking Shoe - Men's

Comfortable shoes!

3 models compared

In Salewa footwear I am delighted to find multiple options of hikers that are not constructed with waterproof "breathable" membrane scheme. That's all marketing. None of which is actually very breathable in the conditions in which we need them to breath. Let's face it, if its that wet on the trail, the water is going to be coming in over the top or wicked in through your socks! Regarding Wildfire, overall fit is very comfortable. The shoe seems to be very breathable which is appealing. The support for a light hiker is good; However in this case because of the fabric construction of the uppers is fairly light-weight the attachment points for the laces tend to apply high pressure on the foot at those specific locations. Other wearers may experience this differently. When compared to the MS Wildfire Edge, which I also recently purchase, the Edge has a stiffer upper with molded gussets that attach the lace tensioning points to the sole and thus more uniformly distribute the clamping force of the laces. The MS Wildfire Edge seems to be a bit less breathable than the Wildfire 2 but likely more water resistance and offers better support in the upper. I also recently purchased the Wildfire Canvas. This purchase was inspired by the potential breathability of the canvas which seems well suited to my travels in the tropics. The shoe arrived with a lighter insole which, in my opinion, is inadequate. I've since added a stiffer after market insole. The support, or clamping force, of the uppers is less concentrated which I prefer. However, this possibly comes a the cost of a bit less support in the upper. All three models seem to share the same sole. The sole is fairly stiff which I prefer. I'd change nothing about the sole design. The 3 models compared, contrary to my exceptions, I favor the MS Wildfire Edge and Wildfire Canvas (in that order) over the Wildfire 2. I'm hopeful that Salewa will extend this non-membrane architecture to it's hiking boot offerings. Mark Z. Austerlitz, NY

Diggin em out of the box

based on my initial try-on of this shoe im a fan. it is a narrow fit as you would expect from an alpine approach shoe. the toe box is more narrow than my other approach shoes but still reasonable. im a fan of the toe cap rubber, its very tacky. tread pattern looks like a vibram. concerned about all the exposed cordy bits around the heel... looks kinda cool i guess but not sure how that will hold up going through scree fields over time. overall a top notch shoe.

Decent shoe that fits well. Wore the tread out a little faster than I expected

Super Comfortable

This shoe has been great. Super comfortable right out of the box and has held up well. I've had many days wearing these with 12k+ steps and my feet don't seem to mind at all. I've worn them in mud and rain and they always clean up easily.

These shoes felt a little narrow at first. But after wearing them for a few weeks, I really like them. The lacing system is well suited for a more tailored fit.

Fantastic approach shoes

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought:

9.5

Height:

5' 10"

Weight:

135

My go to shoes for the crag. Great traction and surprising ankle support for a sneaker. The toebox is tight, and the toe tread is good enough for 5.9 if you're confident. Great shoes for doing leads on moderates to setup top-ropes for beginners. Good breathability, feet dried out between multiple creek crossings when wearing synthetic wool blend socks. Since the shoes are stiff comfort on trails is not comparable to softer less precise hiking shoes, there are better options for trail hikers but if you do any amount of scrambling get these! Quality is good enough I will be picking up some Salewa boots once my Solomon Ultra 3s wear out

Good boots

From Unfamiliarity to Two Pairs

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Size Bought:

10.5

Height:

5' 11"

Weight:

235

Away on vacation, realized I had forgotten my light hiking/approach shoes. Salewa was the only brand the local place had in my size; so I bought a pair out of necessity. Wowzers! They fit great, tracked perfectly, provide the best support I've experienced and have a terrific undersole. I liked them so much that when I saw a pair of the waterproof model on sale in my size, I grabbed them too. I don't think much of the innersoles that come with most shoes; but the Salewa innersoles actually perform better than the Superfeet Carbon/Runners I tried. The "tighter" grommet from around the heel actually WORKS to increase support and prevent your socks from shimmying down into the heel cup. Frankly, I would not get any other brand after enjoying the quality and performance of these shoes.

Great shoe, holds up better

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Height:

5' 8"

Weight:

162

I have had 3 different pairs of Wildfire approach shoes, these one have held up the best. I have done over 100 miles this season with a fairly heavy pack on (they show a little wear) As far as performance, they climb very well. They are lighter than previous versions and fairly cold. I prefer the leather Wildfire, I don't think you can get it anymore. I would buy these again