Thread: Hanwag to Salewa

I've had my new Salewa Rapace gtx boots for couple of months now, been on a few good armed tramps with them and last weekend walked into a favourite spot of mine and managed to blood them with this nice hind.
It turned into a fairly long day bye the time I got back to the hut for lunch and to let the meat cool down , then a 4 hr walk with a heavy pack out to my car, but very happy with my Salewa boots.
I had been wearing some Hanwags and had a good run with them too but just a bit to rigid and heavy for my old legs.
Dry they are 1080 grams and wet more like 1.5 kg each that is to .Bloody hell I thought when I weighed them no wonder the ole legs were feeling a bit weary.
My Salewas were listed as 680-700 gr but mine are more like 780 gr, but that is still 300 gr less than the Hanwags.
All my work boots and regular shoes are size 9 UK but my Hanwags are 9.5 UK 44 EU so ordered the Salewas 44 EU and while they fit perfectly they are a snug fit , even another half size bigger would have been ok I think as they come with some extra inserts you can put on top of the insoles they come with to get a better fit.

I suspect they mite not be quite as waterproof as my Hanwags as the Salewas have a gore-tex tongue that runs right down to near the toe rather than the full leather uppers on the Hanwags, but so far very happy with my Salewas I think they suit my style of hunting my feet feel more nimble but still plenty of ankle support and the ole legs appreciate the lighter weight. Cheers

@30late , I'm looking at a pair of these salewas myself now, coming from meindl. Any update on how these boots are holding up? Sounds like it's best going about a size larger than normal boot / shoe size?

Cheers

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Originally Posted by Feral

@30late , I'm looking at a pair of these salewas myself now, coming from meindl. Any update on how these boots are holding up? Sounds like it's best going about a size larger than normal boot / shoe size?

Cheers

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Im onto my second pair. First pair outlasted any other hunting boot I have had. In the end they got a little split in the outer leather at the flex point. I filled it with super glue and they are still ok for a few more miles. I keep them in my ute as a spare dry pair.

New pair (a year or so now) are going well. Same size and exactly the same fit. Best boot Ive had in 60 years of this hunting lark. Next best were an original pair of all leather Asolos 30 years ago.

Pic after about a years' constant hunting and some farm use (and of me after 73 years of use).

Originally Posted by Tahr

Im onto my second pair. First pair outlasted any other hunting boot I have had. In the end they got a little split in the outer leather at the flex point. I filled it with super glue and they are still ok for a few more miles. I keep them in my ute as a spare dry pair.

New pair (a year or so now) are going well. Same size and exactly the same fit. Best boot Ive had in 60 years of this hunting lark. Next best were an original pair of all leather Asolos 30 years ago.

Pic after about a years' constant hunting and some farm use (and of me after 73 years of use).

Attachment 193406

What are they like in the wet grass? and how much feel do you get through the sole?

Originally Posted by Steve123

What are they like in the wet grass? and how much feel do you get through the sole?

They are gortex lined but I think some moisture gets through the tongue. Quite good feel through the sole given that they are stiff enough for rocky and hard going. Ive used them after Tahr. Ok for bush hunting as far as Im concerned.

I’ve been using their mid mtn trainers for about 6 months now, comfortable,nice and light, plenty of grip. Worn mendls for years then crispi more recently, I won’t be going back.

What sort of dollars for a pair of those?

Thar put me onto Salewa boots, really like mine, great product

I see your sitting on a stockpile of hushpuppies too

Originally Posted by Tahr

Im onto my second pair. First pair outlasted any other hunting boot I have had. In the end they got a little split in the outer leather at the flex point. I filled it with super glue and they are still ok for a few more miles. I keep them in my ute as a spare dry pair.

New pair (a year or so now) are going well. Same size and exactly the same fit. Best boot Ive had in 60 years of this hunting lark. Next best were an original pair of all leather Asolos 30 years ago.

Pic after about a years' constant hunting and some farm use (and of me after 73 years of use).

Attachment 193406

Originally Posted by Chur Bay

What sort of dollars for a pair of those?

https://dwights.co.nz/products/salew...RoCDBMQAvD_BwE

I have Mt Trainers, Crows and the Rapace. All excellent boots in varying degrees of flex. Repace seem a very slightly larger fit than the other two in the same size? but are size 42 like my other brands of boots. All light weight and agile.

Originally Posted by Feral

@30late , I'm looking at a pair of these salewas myself now, coming from meindl. Any update on how these boots are holding up? Sounds like it's best going about a size larger than normal boot / shoe size?

Cheers

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I am very happy with my Salewas, had a bit of use now and they seem to have loosened up a bit and there lighter weight has made a big difference to the energy levels at the end of a long day. Will be getting another pair for sure when these ones wear out.

So they leak through the tongue eventually when walking through sodden wet grass? can you nip across shallow creeks without getting wet feet? Do you need to dry them out on a boot drier after every trip? They sound great and it looks like they can be had for reasonably cheap off ebay but I have always been leary of any boots with gortex panels or tongues because of the leak issue

Originally Posted by yerimaginaryM8

So they leak through the tongue eventually when walking through sodden wet grass? can you nip across shallow creeks without getting wet feet? Do you need to dry them out on a boot drier after every trip? They sound great and it looks like they can be had for reasonably cheap off ebay but I have always been leary of any boots with gortex panels or tongues because of the leak issue

Just returned from a week in the Ruahines that involved some creek walking,and yeah you can nip across creeks without getting wet feet but they are not as waterproof as a full leather boot. But i can live with that , a great north island boot i recon. cheers

I picked up a pair of the mountain trainer mid gtx's from Dwight's today. Holy shit they fit like a glove straight away and are amazingly comfortable (I also own Lowas and Meindles).

Very happy so far. Now for the Alps and Marlborough high country...

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