Zamberlan Salathe Trek GTX Boots Review

A pair of hunting boots that would work for climbing some of the biggest peaks in North America and worldwide comes to us from Zamberlan. The Zamberlan Salathe Trek GTX Boots are incredibly unique in their alpine climbing design that can easily be adapted to hunting in a variety of conditions.

Now if you take your former favorite hunting boots and compare them to the Zamberlan’s one of the first thing you’ll notice is the narrow toe box design. This is typically only seen in technical climbing shoes and now Zamberlan has added it to the Salathe Boot.

Sometimes traditional hunting boots can feel a little big, heavy, and bulky—but that is absolutely not the case with the Zamberlan Salathe Trek GTX RR Boots. I think the alpine athletes who will enjoy these boots the most are backcountry hunters who regularly scramble up and down loose, vertical scree fields. Think mountain goat hunters, sheep tag holders, and those chasing big game high above the timberline in the Rocky Mountains. Demanding vertical ascents require a precise, low-bulk balance of rigidity and weight, which is exactly why we heavily vet this technical Italian design in our definitive master directory of the best cold weather hunting boots for hardcore mountain terrain.

GORE-TEX

When it comes to keeping your feet dry and comfortable in wet terrain we always look for boots with the GORE-TEX membrane. GORE will always dry faster then other materials while keeping your feet warm and dry for longer periods. This is especially important if hunting and hiking in wet conditions, snow, rain and if you plan to cross streams during your hunt a pair of GORE-TEX lined boots are a must have.

I have crossed many a streams to start my elk hunts in these boots and was really stoked to have dry feet for the remainder of the hunt.  Zamberlan also has socks to go along with these boots for the ultimate in dryness and comfort.

Not all boots are created equal though, so if you plan to cross stream’s be sure you’re rocking boots with GORE-TEX like the Zamberlan Salathe GTX Boots.

6″ Tall Boot

Being 6″ tall is great for the above mentioned stream crossings but more so the added height equals more ankle support. I have spend a lot of days sidehiling with heavy loads packing game out of the field while wearing these  Zamberlan Hunting Boots and always felt like I had reliable and secure fitting underfoot.

Zamberlan teamed up with Vibram, to offer the Vibram Pepe with Megagrip outsoles that are built with huge lugs under the boots that really stick to rock and uneven terrain.

Some people like to hike in shorter boots which is fine, but for hunting taller seems to be better for stability and longer days in the mountains.

Colorways

The Zamberlan Salathe Trek GTX Boots come in 2 colorways, Olive (think camo) and black and white.  I picked the olive camo as I wanted it to blend in that much better with my environment. However either colorway should be fine as when animals do see you, the first thing they notice is surely not your boots which in many cases would be already hidden in the terrain your hunting or hiking in.

Lacing

Zamberlan uses the to-the-toe lacing system which really pulls the boot on nice and snug against your feet. I have a narrower foot so these boots fit me perfectly, like a custom pair of insoles.  Then when laced up there are 2 eyelets that are easy to pull the laces around to give you an even more secure fit and feel.

Zamberlan Salathe Trek GTX Boots Pros & Cons

Pros:

• GORE-TEX membrane for dry and warm feet
• 6″ tall boots for ankle support and stability
• To-the-toe lacing system for secure fit

Cons:

• Narrow toe box design
• Some may find them bulky

Overall Impression

I have waited years to finally test a pair of Zamberlan Boots and now I get what all the buzz is about. The Zamberlan 226 Salathe Trek Boots ($330.00) are a must have for hunting over long distance and rocky especially wet terrain where every step counts.  Made in Italy since 1929 these are boots from a company that understands how to construct high end footwear for recreating in the mountains.

For a great approach shoe / hiking boots the Zamberlan Salathe Trek GTX are a solid pick.

Teton Tested: The Essential Hunting Ecosystem

• The 30 Best Hunting Gear Picks – Our master field audit of the absolute best clothing, backcountry packs, trail cameras, and predator-country survival tools.
• Best Cold Weather Hunting Boots – Our technical vetting of mountain footwear, covering insulation tracking, support under heavy loads, and waterproof membranes.
• Best Hunting & Camping Knives – Our hands-on review of fixed and folding blades evaluated for edge retention, steel hardness, and field-dressing performance.
• Best Elk Hunting Electric Bikes – Our definitive mountain guide to high-torque e-mobility, payload capacities, and silent backcountry transport.