A robust and protective suede leather boot that strikes a good balance between all-day walking comfort and neat climbing precision, the Salewa Ortles Ascent Mid GTX offers solid B2 performance as well as plenty of warmth for frozen terrain and sub-zero temperatures. This makes it a compelling choice for UK winter use from Snowdonia to the Scottish Highlands. It’s very well-built, with padding and structure in all the right places, but doesn’t feel too restrictive, either when plodding through powder snow or when scrambling up mixed rock and ice.
A stiffened midsole with an embedded nylon-fibreglass-carbon composite shank and a heel welt means it can take a C2 crampon, and the boot is burly enough to front point in or kick steps in snowy slopes. On the other hand, it doesn’t feel too hard or board-like underfoot, and the sole unit also has a slight rocker profile for an easier walking action.
The Vibram Alpine Guide outsole has blocky, multi-angled lugs and a deep, widely spaced tread plus a sharply undercut heel breast for decent downhill traction. The roomy forefoot and rounded toe also make it a very forgiving boot. Clever tech like Salewa’s 3F heel cable and two-zone lacing further help to dial in the fit, with no slippage or pinching on test.
Downsides? It’s fairly heavy, which can leave you feeling a bit heavy-legged at the end of a long day. The chunky build and insulated Gore-Tex liner will be too warm for use outside the winter months.
LFTOwww.salewa.com
Pros
- Comfortable
- Protective and durable
- Stable and supportive
- Warm
Cons
- Not the lightest
- Unusual tongue gaiter
| Weight: | 850g per boot (UK 9) |
| Sizes: | Men’s UK 6-12.5, women’s UK 4-9 |
| Upper: | Elasticated softshell gusset and gaiter, suede leather and TPU rand |
| Waterproof lining: | Gore-tex Insulated Comfort |
| Price in USD | $442.34 |
Design and features
Salewa’s Ortles range is its most technical and performance-oriented collection, named after Mt Ortles, the highest point in the South Tyrol region at 3,905m. When it comes to footwear, there are currently four models in the Ortles line – the Light, the Edge, the Ascent and the Couloir. All have crampon compatibility, which makes them viable options for UK winter use in our hills and mountains. However, the first two are really intended as scrambling/summer alpine boots, while the latter two are purpose-built for severe weather and cold conditions.
It's the Ascent that is arguably the best suited for all-round UK use, including Scottish winter mountaineering, with enough stiffness to tackle low-grade gullies, ridges and scrambles. It’s basically a classic B2, so it works well whether you’re planning to bag a few winter Munros or tackling (easier) graded winter climbs.
In design terms, uppers are crafted from thick 2.2mm split suede leather, with a chunky, rigid all-round TPU rand. The result is a boot with a durable and protective feel. There’s plenty of ankle support too, with decent padding around the ankle joint and a thermo-moulded reinforcement that Salewa calls its ‘APS’ (Ankle Protection System).
There’s also a pronounced Achilles cutaway, with a flexible neoprene panel and a small stretch rear ‘gaiter’ to help keep out ice, snow and other debris. This design offers a really good balance of structure and flexibility, ensuring good mobility for climbing and scrambling whilst still giving adequate solidity and support.
The boot is lined with a Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort bootie membrane for reliable waterproof performance and a bit of added warmth in sub-zero conditions too. Unusually, the tongue isn’t gusseted. Instead, there’s a separate stretch neoprene panel under the laces, which is stitched to the upper. It extends to the second set of lace hooks and attaches to the tongue via a Velcro strip. It’s an unconventional design but mostly effective, though occasionally snow seems to get funnelled down inside this gusset, where it can melt and leak into the boot.
This issue is mitigated by wearing thick socks (which stops the neoprene gusset feeling so baggy), tucking in the fabric and lacing the top of the boot tightly. Of course, if you tend to wear full-length gaiters in winter weather, none of this will be a problem. And on the plus side, the two-layer construction adds padding for the top of the foot, alleviating any pressure points under the laces.
Underfoot stiffness comes from a “nylon fibreglass carbon loaded” shank, which is presumably a mix of plastic, fibreglass and carbon fibre. The rest of the midsole is made from dual density expanded PU foam rubber for durable cushioning. In any case, it gives ample rigidity and support when wearing crampons, and the Ortles Ascents are stiff enough to front point up moderate slopes or kick steps when required. There’s minimal lateral or torsional flex, and a good climbing zone at the toe, which also ensures these are great boots for scrambling and edging on rock.
However, the Ortles Ascent strikes a nice balance here, since it doesn’t feel too hard or board-like underfoot. The sole unit also has a slight rocker profile, ensuring good walking comfort for longer plods and traverses.
The outsole is Vibram’s Alpine Guide pattern, which has blocky, multi-angled lugs and a deep, widely spaced tread. A sharply undercut heel breast ensures decent traction on descents. The rear of the boot has an oversized heel welt to accommodate a C2 crampon.
Unlike some other technical winter boots, the Ortles Ascent Mid comes in both men’s and women’s versions, with the latter being built on a different last with a lower volume fit. Our men’s size 12 (EU 47) test pair fit true to size.
Performance and comfort
The Ortles Ascent Mid boot has quite a rounded toe profile, with a roomy forefoot and a fairly slim heel and midfoot. This ensures a nice, locked-in feel, which is aided by Salewa’s excellent 3F system, an arrangement of external steel cables that really help to pull in the heel and eliminate slippage. Similarly, the lacing extends right down to the toe, with a set of locking hooks positioned across the top of the forefoot. This enables you to dial in the fit separately in the lower and upper lacing zones.
We’d describe this boot as having a medium-to-high volume and width overall. On test, we experienced no pinching, nor any toe strike when descending. There’s room for toes to splay when walking (and plenty of space for thick winter mountaineering socks). Salewa is also one of the few outdoor footwear brands that devotes a bit of attention to insoles, supplying a two-part footbed that helps to adjust internal volume a little.
When it comes to comfort, we found it a great boot whether walking or scrambling, at least in winter conditions. With its Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort lining, it’s definitely warm for an all-round mountain boot. This is a benefit when the ground is frozen and temperatures are below zero, but on the flipside they’re a little too toasty to be useful outside of the winter months.
Sustainability
The Ortles Ascent Mid doesn’t score as well for sustainability as some of Salewa’s footwear, since it uses an ePTFE-based Gore-Tex liner, whereas Salewa’s own Powertex waterproof-breathable membrane (as found in the Ortles Light Powertex Mid) is fully PFC-free. Nor does it bear the ‘Salewa Committed’ tag, which highlights the brand’s most eco-conscious products.
However, according to Salewa’s parent company Oberalp Group’s last sustainability report, published in 2023, the group has a stated aim to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve Net Zero within 2050. It also aims to have ‘best in class’ factories by promoting fair working conditions plus set standards, supplier auditing and actively engagement to jointly improve their environmental performance. This particular boot is made in Romania. Oberalp is a well-established member of the Fair Wear Foundation.
Price and competition
This boot reminded us of the Scarpa Manta Tech, perhaps the archetypal B2 boot for Scottish winter conditions. It’s similarly priced and has the same solid feel, though the Ortles Ascent Mid shaves a little weight. As a result, it seems slightly less clumpy and therefore more climbing-oriented. However, the Ortles Ascent is still a very comfortable boot for long winter plods – so, all in all, it’s an impressive winter all-rounder.
It was still the heaviest B2 boot in this year’s test selection though. If you want something lighter but are unwilling to sacrifice the warmth and long-term durability of leather uppers, then look at the La Sportiva Aequilibrium LT or the Scarpa Ribelle HD. If money is no object, then you could consider the excellent AKU Croda DFS GTX. Alternatively, if you’re strapped for cash, there’s the great value Kayland Grand Trek GTX.
Verdict
A solid and capable winter hillwalking or mountaineering boot that makes a brilliant all-rounder. Extremely well-built and durable too, but also the heaviest on test.
About the author
Matt Jones is a freelance journalist based in the heart of Snowdonia National Park; he’s a vastly experienced gear tester and self-confessed outdoor kit geek. Matt’s been one of our main gear testers for the last couple of years and is the first person we call with any complicated kit queries that need in-depth and forensic analysis.