Salewa Women’s Raven Combi GTX Hiking Boot Review

Whenever I get the chance to hike, I hike. I like to hike all year long and my feet are a little bit difficult to fit in a pair of boots: the heel and foot are narrow, but I have a rather long second toe. So finding the right hiking boots, was kind of like finding the needle in the haystack.

But I found these Salewa boots and I couldn’t be more satisfied with their performance- on snow and rocks they work the best!

The boots take good care of the natural shape of the heel, molding perfectly to the foot.

During wintertime, they perform very well- my feet are never cold and I am able to wear some thick, warm wool socks as well.

The boots are water repellent and I can take them into puddles and in the snow and my feet stay dry.

The toe box is well structured and rigid in a good way, providing big volume for the toe.

The sole is both soft and thick at the same time, performing great when climbing through the snow or over some rocks.

The heel pocket secures the heel very well, giving the foot a great range of motion.

The ankle support is great with these boots as is the ankle support.

I took these boots hiking right off the box, so no break in time was needed.

The boots work great while hiking over long distances, for many hours, and I didn’t experience blisters or hot spots in them.

There is a 3 laces up system and that manages to tighten the toes, but allowing a good amount of moving and circulation of the blood. This system is great and keeps the laces tied all the time.

The boots are hardcore boots and they are crampons compatible- climbing the high tops is easier in the winter.

Waterproofness goes along great with breathability- which is also a feature of these boots: the feet are kept both warm and dry, keeping away the bad odors.

The quality of the boots is amazing and I’m sure they’re gonna last a long time.

My short list of “pros”:

• the boots are great for long distance hikes, through the snow and rocky trails
• the boots are waterproof and breathable
• the arch and ankle support is great
• the 3 laces up system is very efficient
• the boots mold to the shape of the feet
• the toe box is wide, but rigid to secure the toes
• the heel pockets comfort the heel and allow a big range of natural motions of the feet
• the quality of the boots is great
• they don’t need time to break in

I think the insulation for these boots is not enough, this is why I do use inserts.

After hiking for hours, there are some hot spots on the balls of my feet- the sole is quite rigid, even though the rubber allows it to be more flexible.

You do need some time to get the lacing right and the lock laces might bend if you don’t do it correctly.

So, my short, very short list of “cons”:

• the insulation needs more cushioning
• the lock laces could be better
• even though the boots work great on snow and rocks, their performance needs to improve on ice.

So, if you are looking for some all-year-round boots for your long hikes, these boots work great and give you the comfort and stability you want.