Salewa Men's Firetail 3 GTX Approach Shoes

I followed the recommendations on the sizing and order appropriately. So far, I have a couple weeks on these shoes. The day after buying them, I put on three six miles days of walking around San Diego and they felt good. As other have mentioned, they are solid shoes and not overly soft. However, they fit great, which reduces most fatigue. Based on this purchase, I will probably order other Salewa models, including a GTX version.

Shoes were awesome, but ran a smidge small on length. I needed to return for a 1/2 size bigger, but if you buy through 3rd party (backcountry) on Amazon they won’t exchange for a different size. I suggest buying directly from Backcountry, who will complete a proper exchange if needed.They fit a little on the narrow side, but the laces are very adjustable.Also, ortholite inserts are great, but these are VERY thin with a hard sole below that. Some might want new sole inserts.The vibram sole is also great, but the tread on the front half of the foot is pretty thin. I usually blow through that section of shoe first, so I’m curious to see how they hold up. The heel is pretty rugged and maybe a smidge bulky. And the toe of the sole is smooth - no tread. That’s great for some amateur climbing!

The first pair was much smaller than I anticipated and the second pair was far too large. I returned them both. It was the third pair that fit...I purchased these for hot and humid weather, and for situations that I need the support of a hiking/approach show. They seem to have enough venting to allow for sufficient air flow and the color, although dark, does not appear to attract the heat (absorb may be a good word). But it is only April and I have not had these shoes long enough to comment on fit, durability, or if they are any good in the hot weather. (If I update this it will be because the shoe impressed me).PROs:-They are comfortable, that is certain. The softness of the sole provides great traction, even on wet pavement (which I discovered this morning).-The lacing system provides for a very secure fit, to include heel placement in the deep cup of the shoe. When I first put these on, (before I laced them up) I thought for sure that I would be sending them back - if my heel is not secure, I will blister terribly which is not something I am prepared to deal with. (My favorite brand Lowa occasionally has a shoe with this issue - changing the insole to a filler (like Superfeet Orange) can solve this problem). However after I laced them up there was no issue. The tether lines around the back of the shoe are not just for looks, they anchor the heel properly.-The tags call this the "Alpine Fit 100% blister free". Salewa has a manufacturer's guarantee for two years against defects and to be blister free. Pretty bold.-These shoes come with an 'Ortholite' (Ortholite.com) insole which are surprisingly comfortable. I have no experience with these soles, I usually prefer the stiffness of the Superfeet insole. The Ortholite is very comfortable.CONs:-The laces are slick and there is no resistance in the eyelets, which makes lacing them up a pain. (When you untie them they do loosen right up without 'unlacing' them which can be a plus').-I prefer a thicker lace to avoid pressure pointing across the top of the foot. There is significant padding on the tongue of the shoe and so far there has not been any issue with this. (Perhaps I just prefer the thicker laces).Initial Impression: I think these shoes are very well made and are very comfortable. I don't foresee any issues as the craftsmanship and production are excellent. Even if you are looking for a casual sneaker for a night out, I think these are a great choice.

I question the production legitimacy of these shoes!I bought these in October 2016. I wear these just about daily and they have not been exposed to any harsh conditions. Although the shoes look nice and fit very well I have to say the quality suffers substantially. As of a few days ago I noticed that the tread is beginning to separate from the sole of the shoe. This is very disheartening as I have had cheaper shoes last way much longer. I'm not sure I will be buying another Salewa product ever again, instead opting for Solomon.UPDATE: I finally got around to taking pictures of the soles after they began to considerably separate from the shoe. I feel the need to repeat that theses shoes are LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD! I feel like perhaps I bought a "knock-off" version through Amazon but hoping that's not the case.

While I just received these and haven't had a chance to use them yet, I wanted to leave a review on how they fit. As much as I like to wear trail runners on day hikes, routes with prolonged scrambling can be rough on a pair of trail runners. I don't have a wide foot, but I am a fan of wide toe boxes (like Topo Athletic, Altra), so I've been reluctant to purchase approach shoes since most have a relatively narrow toe box (which makes sense since their intended use is more climbing oriented and not just hiking). But if I'm on my feet for 8-12 hours I want my feet to be comfortable. I read multiple reviews on the Salewa Firetail 3 and a couple mentioned the wider toe box when compared to other brands of approach shoes, so I thought I'd give them a try. Considering their intended use, I wouldn't expect a wide toe box like my trail runners, but I was pleasantly surprised and agree the toe box is roomier than any other approach shoe I've tried on. If I remember, I'll update my review after I have a chance to use them a few times.Also, these shoes do have thinner laces, but the lace is replaceable and a more traditional lace does fit through all the eyelets.

I have owned other approach shoes and the Salewa’s are more comfortable and fit great. Haven’t had them long so no details on how they Will wear.The fit is great. I usually wear 10.5 but I ordered 11s. Have had sizing issues with other approach style shoes in the past. Half size up seems to work for me. So as far as “ fitting as expected” I adjust for the style.