Salewa boots

[niceviews]

I'm trying to get some reviews of the Salewa Alp trainer with the Kevlar toe rand. I've worn the mountain trainer and really liked the fit, the traction (after the initial breakin), and almost everything about it, other than the durability. It blew out where the rubber toe rand met the sole after about 5 months of moderate use. I'm wondering if the Kevlar toe rand is making a difference with durability? All I get from the local shop is how none of the hiking boots are made for the type of work we do and that I just need to accept that my work boots will only have a 6 month or so life.
I'm quickly destroying a pair of Garmont Vettas ( I don't reccomend these for durability. Had them for maybe 3 months.) that I picked up on sale locally, but will need a new pair of boots over the winter, and hoping to make a solid boot purchase.
Thanks for the input.

 

[DBT]

from ive seen you will wear the ALP trainer out a lot quicker. awesome boots but designed for lightweight technical mtn walking. TreeWork will just kill them..

 

[simplyarbor]

I have some mtn trainers sitting in my closet. Waiting for my kayland vertigos to blow out. Haven't ever had the rand last on any boots, always first to go.

 

[Wesley Full]

When I started climbing 5 years ago I started out with the alp trainers because they were cheaper than the mountain trainers but still had the same sticky sole. Two huge differences between the boots are the mtn trainer's have a 360 degree rubber rand, where as the alp's rubber rand ends just past the toe box. On my pair of alps I blow two holes one on each boot on the outside right past the rubber rand toe box. At that point they were junk. The 360 degree rubber rand holds up quit well for most of the spring until fall. The rubber will start to peel but not enough to start damaging the leather underneath. And at that point it's winter already in Minnesota (October) and I send my mtn trainers off to Colorado to get resoled and the rand replaced. This brings me to the second huge difference RESOLING. The mtn trainers have a mid sole which is necessary for getting your soles replaced. If the main structure of the boot is still good then resoling will extend the life of the boot until you gaff them. The alp trainers lack the mid sole which makes them less stiff and better for hiking or ground work. But I actually prefer a stiffer boot while climbing and the mtn trainers are stiff enough to wear spikes a couple hours at a time but not all day. I only wish Salewa would replace their cheap metal lacing hooks with something more durable. I normally only get about 2 months before one breaks and its is always the one on the outside where the 3f lacing system is. Other than that Salewa boots are rock soild.