Salewa Wildfire Edge GTX: leather and suede upper

What the listing tells you

Water resistance is listed as waterproof and Gore-Tex is in the title. The outer material field names EVA, leather, rubber and suede, and the material type reads leather suede ethylene vinyl, which suggests a suede and leather upper with EVA in the midsole. Breathable is listed as a special feature.

The listed weight is 1.12 kg, with no note on whether that covers one shoe or the pair. Since this is a low approach shoe, a pair figure seems more likely, but it is worth checking.

How a multi-use approach shoe earns its keep

A shoe listed for both approach and hiking needs to balance two things. On rock you want a snug fit and a sole that edges well. On the walk in you want comfort and some cushioning. Shoes that lean towards climbing feel precise but tiring over distance, and hiking shoes feel comfortable but vague on rock.

The Wildfire Edge sits towards the middle. It will not climb like a dedicated scrambling shoe, but it is easier to wear for a full day than most of them. The listing does not name the outsole rubber, so if grip on wet rock is your main concern, check Salewa's technical page.

Against the TX4 Evo and the Wildfire

La Sportiva's TX4 Evo GTX lists rock, gravel and wet slabs as its surfaces and uses a suede upper, so it is the more rock-led option. The women's Salewa Wildfire GTX is a lighter, synthetic shoe at a listed 370 g. The Wildfire Edge is the sturdier of the two Salewas, with leather and suede for better wear on abrasive rock.

Who might want something else

Walkers who need ankle cover should look at a mid-height model such as the Scarpa Rapid XT Mid GTX. And anyone who mostly scrambles in dry summer weather may prefer a shoe without a membrane, which breathes better and dries faster.