Increasing comfort is Salewa's dual-density Bilight Technology. This technology has been applied to the midsole of the boot to cushion hard impacts (especially during descents) and to provide superior support thanks to the 3D, ergonomically shaped, design which cradles your foot throughout the day. However, even after the most rigorous assessment and testing, there is no better way to be absolutely sure than to have the boots on your feet for an extended period of time. We therefore offer our Home Trial Period which gives you the opportunity to wear the boots around your house to give you an indication of how they feel before you venture outside. We recommend that during the Home Trial Period that you wear the boots for as long as possible and at different times of the day, wear them up and down stairs, when moving around and when resting, you can even sleep in them if you want. The Women's Rapace GTX from Salewa is a versatile, lightweight and comfortable crampon-compatible boot, ideal for weight-conscious mountain hikers and via ferratas mountaineering

This test will tell you if the shape of the internal heel cup matches your heel to ensure it holds you securely, especially when ascending steep ground. We are trying to eliminate the dreaded heel blister. There is an ergonomic Salewa Bilight midsole for cushioning, a strong ankle support system, and good use of padding throughout. But, there is also the suggestion that this problem could sort itself out after breaking the shoes in. Aside from that, there are some rare comments about faults and breakages soon after getting the shoes.The Women's Rapace GTX features a Bilight TPU midsole which has been designed for long-lasting and ergonomic cushioning, this has been paired with a Vibram WTC outsole for amazing traction and grip with a natural feel. For crampon compatibility, the Rapace GORE-TEX is stiff enough to take semi-automatic crampons. I love these boots. I've used mine intensely for the last three years and they are still good as gold. They are extremely comfortable and very lightweight. They fit my feet (I've got wide and flat feet) perfectly and don't even notice them on my foot due to their light weight. So, there isn’t much to lose in giving these well-considered Salewa walking boots a try for your next adventure.

If you can see this amount of space then you are pretty much on the way to making sure that your boots are the correct size. This space between your toes and the end of the footbed ensures that you will not stub your toes on the inside of the boot when you descend. This can be excruciatingly painful. If you can’t see this amount of space then it’s a good bet that the boots will be too small. The boot comes with a crampon fitting on the heel, which I have used with my Petzel Sarkens a couple of times. It was a good that it had that at the time, as I could use them with the crampons I own, but I wouldn't want to walk all day with more technical crampons on these, as just after a couple of hours they started giving me hot spots.

Unlike most, quite frankly pretty poor footbeds, Salewa's MMF footbed (multi fit footbed) gives you a comfortable and supportive main footbed and enclosed in the box is a second one which can be added to reduce the volume of the boot; this allows you to customise the fit depending on the volume and shape of your foot. In New Zealand, the boot is pitched at the 3-4 season off-trail market, including transalpine travel and lightweight summer mountaineering. The Rapace GTX features a Bilight TPU midsole which has been designed for long-lasting and ergonomic cushioning, this has been paired with a Vibram WTC outsole for amazing traction and grip with a natural feel. For crampon compatibility, the Rapace GORE-TEX is stiff enough to take semi-automatic crampons.

Now that your boots are done up properly stand up on your tiptoes and walk on the spot on the balls of your feet as if you are walking up a steep hill. If your heels lift more than approximately 5mm from the footbed you may need to pull the laces tighter, or the boots may just be the wrong shape for you. The Salewa Rapace GTX Hiking Boots sound like a really tough pair of boots for all kinds of outdoor pursuits. As long as you get a pair that fits well and don’t have any of those immediate issues with the stitching, there shouldn’t be too many problems here.One of the strengths of these trekking shoes is undoubtedly their lightness: with a weight of 1528 g, they guarantee a light stride and do not affect the load that the hiker has to carry, which also means less physical exertion. The leather upper with rubber detailing is sturdy and stable, while the slightly lower shaft compared to many models in the same category can be a pro or a con depending on one's needs and preferences: if, in fact, on the one hand it manages to provide less support, on the other hand it leaves more freedom of movement. Sole Characteristics The glue between the rubber rand and he leather holds well. A known weak spot in many boots I've seen. I would highly recommend these boots for anyone looking for a pair of light summer weight boots though.

For items you would like to collect from our Kirkby Stephen store, we will normally have your item/s ready to collect within 1-2 working days. The Rapace GTX from Salewa is a versatile, lightweight and comfortable crampon-compatible boot, ideal for weight-conscious mountain hikers and via ferratas mountaineering The midsole is stiff enough to keep longer hikes comfortable and help with carrying bigger bags but also offers enough flex to keep the ankle grounded in the boot. I rarely feel entirely at one with bigger boots being a light build but these things are just an extension of my body. I’m hoping I can keep them going for a few more years. Multi Fit Footbed (MFF) with interchangeable layers so you can adapt it to the unique shape of your foot Stand on the A4 paper with your heel pressed firmly against the wall and your foot pointed forward with the edge of your big toe aligned with the edge of the paper.I expect these to be a lighter and more comfortable alternative to a pair of old leather Garmonts that had fit the bill for many years, but that needed to be retired. This general boot style (lacing to the toe, rand, etc), Salewa uses on a number of their boots this spring. Maybe, if these fit, it's likely the other styles (e.g., hikers) based on the same platform may too...? Overall, they have a roomy toe box, without being too wide, and they fit securely around the ankle with a nicely close-fitting heel cup. The fit would suit most people, unless you have very wide and high-volume feet. But remember, you can adjust the MMF footbed to fine tune the fit. One possible issue to keep in mind here is that this shoe is potentially a little tight over the top. One buyer says they may have been better off with a bigger size than normal.