Salewa’s men’s Mountain Trainer Mid GTX was a suede-and-fabric GORE-TEX boot for rough mountain trails. The first version is no longer sold. The current model is the Mountain Trainer 2 Mid GTX: a GORE-TEX boot with a Vibram outsole and Salewa’s 3F heel-support system that weighs about 570 g per shoe [1][2]. It’s aimed at steep, rocky approaches and alpine hiking, not easy, flat trails.
Status: original vs. the Mountain Trainer 2
The first-generation Mountain Trainer Mid GTX is sold out at retailers. One European shop lists the women’s version as “No longer available” [3]. Authorized US retailers now stock the Mountain Trainer 2 Mid GTX for men [1][2]. Salewa also made a lighter sibling, the Mountain Trainer Lite Mid GTX, which used a Pomoca outsole and EVA midsole. A UK retailer currently lists it as out of stock [5].
We couldn’t load Salewa’s US product page for the men’s boot, so the specs below come from authorized retailers. No US list price from Salewa is quoted here. Retailer prices for the Mountain Trainer 2 Mid GTX ranged from $219.95 to $319.95 depending on colorway and seller [1][2].
Spec comparison
| Spec | Mountain Trainer Mid GTX (gen 1, women’s listing) | Mountain Trainer 2 Mid GTX (men’s, current) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 570 g [3] | About 570 g per shoe [1] |
| Upper | Suede leather and abrasion-resistant textile [3] | Suede leather and wear-resistant fabric [1] |
| Waterproof membrane | GORE-TEX lining [3] | GORE-TEX Performance Comfort membrane [2][4]; one retailer lists the lining as GORE-TEX Extended Comfort [1] |
| Outsole | Vibram Wrapping Thread Combi (WTC) [3] | Vibram WTC [1]; described as self-cleaning [2] |
| Midsole | Two-layer midsole with Bilight technology [3] | Dual-density expanded PU [2][4] |
| Drop | 13 mm [3] | Not published in the sources reviewed |
| Support | Salewa 3F system, Flex Collar, climbing lacing [3] | Salewa 3F system [1][2] |
| Footbed | OrthoLite [3] | OrthoLite [1] |
| Intended use | Hiking and trekking in the mountains [3] | Steep, rocky ground and alpine hiking [1][2] |
The gen-1 column uses a women’s listing because no men’s gen-1 spec page could be found. Men’s and women’s versions shared the same construction, but sizing and weight can differ.
Key features
- 3F system. Salewa’s heel-support system. One retailer says it provides “firm ankle support and flexibility for a secure fit” [1]. Another says it adds heel stability [2].
- Vibram WTC outsole. Retailers describe it as giving grip on varied surfaces [1] and as self-cleaning in mud [2].
- Dual-density PU midsole. PU tends to hold its shape over time. Retailers list it for the current boot [2][4].
- Protection. One retailer lists a 360-degree protective rubber rand on the Mountain Trainer 2 [4].
Who it suits
- Hikers on steep, rocky or alpine terrain. Retailers describe it for “steep ground and flat, rocky terrain” [2] and call it “engineered for alpine adventures” [1].
- Anyone who wants a supportive boot that isn’t heavy. About 570 g per shoe [1] is light for a leather-and-PU mountain boot.
- Wet-weather hikers. It has a GORE-TEX membrane [1][2].
Who should skip it
- Casual day hikers on smooth, flat paths. A PU-midsole mountain boot is more than those trails need.
- Shoppers who need a wide fit. No wide option was listed in the sources reviewed.
- Anyone who wants a crampon-compatible mountaineering boot. None of the retailer listings describe the boot as crampon-compatible.
Current alternatives
- Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid (men’s), $280. It has a nubuck leather upper, a GORE-TEX lining, a Vibram Renegade Trac outsole and a DuraPU/DynaPU midsole, and weighs 590 g per shoe. The retailer lists it for “on-trail day hikes and short backpacking trips” [6].
- Salomon Quest 5 GORE-TEX (men’s), $240. It pairs a nubuck and ripstop upper with GORE-TEX, a 4D chassis and a 12 mm drop. Salomon positions it for multi-day hikes on rocky, technical terrain [7].
- Vasque St. Elias (men’s), $250. It has a full-grain leather upper, a GORE-TEX Extended Comfort membrane and a Vibram Megagrip outsole [8].
Bottom line
If you’re looking for the original Mountain Trainer Mid GTX, the Mountain Trainer 2 Mid GTX is its replacement. It’s still a suede-and-fabric GORE-TEX boot on a Vibram WTC sole with Salewa’s 3F heel system, at about 570 g per shoe [1][2]. Buy it for steep, rocky mountain trails. If you want a more traditional nubuck boot for general backpacking, look at the Lowa Renegade Evo or Salomon Quest 5.
Sources
- Neptune Mountaineering — Salewa Mountain Trainer 2 Mid GTX, Men's (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Workboots.com — Men's Salewa MTN Trainer 2 Mid GTX Boots (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Sport Conrad — Salewa MTN Trainer Mid GTX, Women (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Viladomat — Salewa MTN Trainer 2 Mid GTX M (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Tiso — Salewa Men's Mountain Trainer Lite Mid GTX (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Neptune Mountaineering — Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid, Men's (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Salomon — Quest 5 GORE-TEX (Men's) (accessed Oct 8, 2026)
- Irish Setter (Vasque) — St. Elias Men's Waterproof Hiking Boot (accessed Oct 8, 2026)