When you’re heading into the mountains away from paths and civilisation, if there’s snow and ice on the ground you’ll need – and here comes the oft-repeated but solid advice – winter walking boots, crampons, an ice axe, and the skills to use them.
These gear requirements alone keep many summer walkers out of the winter hills altogether. But if you’re staying low and/or sticking to constructed paths, you may be perfectly safe with more flexible, comfortable footwear augmented by a set of microspikes or ice grippers.
And if winter is sinking its sub-zero fangs in but has yet to scatter any snow, it may be that the only concession you need to make is to ensure your feet stay warm enough.
This brings us nicely to the Salewa Puez Winter Mid PTX boots. At first glance they look like any other pair of relatively lightweight hiking boots. On closer inspection – when you put them on or read the specs – you soon discover what the ‘Winter’ in their title really means.
These aren’t your average three-season hiking boots; they have been fully winterised. To see what that entails, let’s take a closer look.
Pros
- Impressive warmth
- Comfortable over long periods
- Grippy in icy conditions
Cons
- Not crampon-compatible
- Too warm for year-round use
| RRP: | £220 / $259.95 |
| Women’s Sizes: | UK 6-13 |
| Men’s Sizes: | UK 3-9 |
| Weight: | 480g (men’s size 9) |
| Upper Fabric: | High resistance ripstop PE with protective PU rand |
| Lining: | PowerTex PFC-Free waterproof and breathable membrane |
As you can see from the card above, these boots score a perfect 5/5 for features. The Puez Winter, as well as performing excellently in snow, is chock full of extra details that we really appreciate. So to deviate from our normal structure, here are...
5 things we love about the Salewa Puez Winter Mid PTX
1. Heat retention
The first thing to set the Puez Winter aside from regular walking boots is the insulation. Within the high cut construction of the boot (which helps to keep heat in and snow/slush out) there’s a toe box insulated with PrimaLoft Gold to keep your lower extremities warm.
The plush padding around the ankle also helps retain warmth, while the CFF Winter footbed is felt-lined to further hold onto heat.
2. Protection inside and out
As you’d expect with a boot designed for hiking in the worst of the weather, the Puez Winter features a waterproof lining to keep out the snow, slush, and good old-fashioned rain.
Salewa has used its own Powertex membrane, which is waterproof, breathable and free of nasty PFAS chemicals. On the outside of the upper, PU panels over the toe and around the ankle offer extra resistance to the effects of rough terrain.
3. Trademark 3F system
Salewa’s 3F system is common to all its Alpine Trekking footwear and is found on the Puez Winter. Kevlar cables connect the instep area with the sole and heel for better flexibility, fit and support.
A precision fit is also aided by the climbing-style lacing which extends almost all the way to the toe.
4. Helpful hemp
The Puez Winter is one of Salewa’s ‘Committed’ items – high-quality, durable mountain sports products whose creation leaves as little trace as possible in nature. This involves monitoring production methods and materials used.
In the case of these boots, along with the uppers being PFAS-free, the midsole is made from a mix of recycled hemp fabric waste and virgin hemp – a more sustainable material than man-made alternatives.
5. Cold weather grip
Salewa’s Pomoca Alpine Trekker outsole has been designed to provide underfoot grip on slush, snow and ice. On really hard-packed snow or ice, there’s always the option to add a set of microspikes for maximum traction, but it’s important to note that the Puez Winter boots are too flexible to take a proper crampon.
That said, if it’s chilly but there’s little snow or ice coverage, these are far more comfortable to hike in than a typically stiff winter boot.
Verdict
While not a replacement for proper winter mountaineering boots, these super comfortable and cozy boots are perfect for less technical winter hikes.
About the author
Ben Weeks has been with Trail for over 10 years and is our main point of contact for all gear reviews. As well as being a hugely talented writer and photographer, Ben is also a qualified Mountain Leader and Climbing Instructor.
Along with walking, scrambling and wild camping, he loves gnarly Scottish winter routes so is a master at putting cold weather kitthrough its paces.