Test: Salewa Ortles Couloir

Climb like a pro

Let’s immediately clear the field from misunderstandings: Salewa’s Ortles Couloir boots, although being super cool, are intended for an audience that looks for a certain level of performance in the mountains and that, above all, ventures on particularly challenging terrains. This model is in fact part of the Salewa offer with regard to mountaineering and mixed and ice climbing. This model is 100% compatible with crampons and has been awarded for its cutting-edge design. Despite being a concentrate of innovative techniques, this shoe, with its 725 grams, is among the lightest models on the market because it can boast a carbon structure, which is both light and resistant: strength, resistance and torsional and longitudinal stiffness in fact they are not in the least compromised by the low weight. The calves are protected by the upper part, reinforced with Kevlar and PU, while the Ankle Protector System (APS) in carbon fiber for the protection of the ankles is connected to the boot by a zipper, so that during the walk is still guaranteed a certain freedom of movement. We said rocks and scree: for this reason the foot is super protected by the upper, which is surrounded by a resistant PU layer. These boots have been designed in collaboration with mountain guides and it shows: the feet always remain beautifully dry and warm thanks to the presence of a waterproof and breathable membrane, the protective elastic nylon gaiter with a heat-sealed and the water-repellent zip and a resistant PU band abrasion. The Vibram sole with Litebase technology completes the picture, 30% lighter than the average but with non-slip graduated lugs for better traction.

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