Product · Salewa
Salewa Wildfire GTX (women's): 370 g, Gore-Tex lined
Note: This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
The women's Salewa Wildfire GTX is the lightest shoe in our waterproof approach guide, listed at 370 g. It has a synthetic upper, a Gore-Tex lining and is named for both climbing and hiking. For women who want a nimble shoe for walk-ins and easy rock that will still keep feet dry through wet grass, it is a practical, low-weight option.
- Upper
- Synthetic
- Membrane
- Gore-Tex
- Cut
- Low
- Listed use
- Climbing, hiking
In its favour
- Climbing and hiking are both named as uses in the listing.
- A Gore-Tex lining is stated, and the shoe is described as breathable.
- The listed weight of 370 g makes it the lightest shoe in this guide.
Good to know
- A synthetic upper is less resistant to sharp rock than the suede and leather options.
- This listing is the women's version only, so men need a different model.
Our take
What Salewa and Amazon state
The listing gives breathable and waterproof as special features, Gore-Tex as the lining and foam as the insole. The arch is listed as medium and pronation as neutral. Hard ground is the recommended surface, and the item type is a low-rise hiking boot.
There is one contradiction to note. The water resistance field says water resistant rather than waterproof, though the lining is Gore-Tex and waterproof appears among the features. Most buyers will take Gore-Tex as the stronger signal, but checking with Salewa costs nothing.
Lacing is standard with plastic-tipped laces, and the listing gives the closure as lace-up. The insole is foam, and the cushioning level is described as moderate, which fits a shoe meant to balance walking comfort with feel on rock.
Benefits and costs of a light synthetic upper
A synthetic upper keeps weight down and needs little breaking in. It also dries faster than leather once wet. On the other hand, synthetic material is more easily cut or scuffed by sharp rock than suede or nubuck, so expect it to show wear sooner on gritstone and granite.
Light shoes like this suit day trips with a small pack. They are less suited to long approaches with heavy climbing gear on your back.
Where it sits in the line-up
Its sibling, the Salewa Wildfire Edge GTX, adds a leather and suede upper for durability. The La Sportiva TX4 Evo GTX uses suede and is listed for rock, gravel and wet slabs. The Wildfire GTX gives up some toughness compared with both in exchange for the lowest listed weight.
Sizing advice is the same as for any approach shoe. Try them with the socks you scramble in, check that the heel does not lift on a slope, and leave just enough room in front for descents without the toes sliding around inside.
Verdict
Buy the women's Wildfire GTX if you want a very light waterproof shoe for walk-ins, easy scrambles and dry-footed hill days. If durability on rough rock matters more, the Salewa Wildfire Edge GTX or the La Sportiva TX4 Evo GTX will last longer, and men will need a different listing.
Compared with alternatives in: Best waterproof approach shoes
Amazon listing title: Salewa Wildfire Women's Approach Shoes