Salewa Ortles Light Mid PTX Review 2024

The new, outrageously light and agile mountain boot from Dolomites based alpine specialist Salewa ticks all the boxes for an alpine boot.

PROS

• Lightweight
• Precise Fit
• Good traction

CONS

• Narrow fitting
• No tongue

2014 was the last time we featured a Salewa product, so I jumped at the chance when an invitation popped into the CGR inbox to check out the brand new lightweight offering from the Dolomites based alpine specialists. As the season is yet to get going here in the UK this is a ‘first impressions’ review, 

The first thing to say is straight out of the box these boots look the business – if fast and light adventures and FKTs are your thing then you should take a serious look at these.  Salewa’s Ortles range is a series of clothing and footwear products for more technical mountaineering adventures and the Salewa Ortles Light Mid PTX are exactly that – light, really light. The trusty CGR scales have weighed the size Eur42 (UK8/US9) at 575 grams – that’s right sub 600g. I have some approach shoes heavier than that and remember that’s for a fully featured B2 boot that fits a C2 semi-rigid crampon. They have a PFC-free Powertex (hence the PTX label) lining that offers a waterproof and breathable day out.

The uppers are made from tough, abrasion resistant nylon and the TPU stitching adds some extra durability in those high wear areas that are prone to knocks from loose stones when descending rocky terrain. The heel is further protected with an added layer of high-tenacity TPU and looks like it should offer good heel stability.

The Pocoma Alpine Light sole has great traction and the lugs will offer stability over snow and loose grit securely. There is also a well sized climbing zone so I’m looking forward to seeing how well they perform when I am out researching for a forthcoming scrambling article. More stability is offered by the Edging Plate 2 tech – this offers targeted stiffness for edging stability and enhanced climbing performance. We shall see! The heel has a well cushioned EVA midsole so hopefully, my knees won’t be dreaming at the end of a long day out on the hill.

The Pocoma sole has great friction for when the terrain becomes technical.

The Ortles Light Mid PTX has a combination of corded D’s, plastic tunnels, a speed lacing hook and a couple of locking cams to help lock the toe front of the foot in place. There is also a ‘3D’ lacing system that should help lock the heel better – I’ve always been a little sceptical about these overly complicated lacing additions – let’s hope the Ortles Light can live up to the hype. There is also a cam lock which I have come across before and does work well as you can cinch the boot tight when the ground gets technical and then release them later in the day on the descent.

The lacing system allows for for the boot to be tight on technical terrain and released when you need a little more comfort.

As stated in the Pros and Cons, the fit is narrow and definitely won’t suit everybody. They feel fine on a first fitting but I have had to rummage through my sock collection to get the right combination. As I always like to say boots are particular items of kit and can make or break your day and you should always try a pair on from a specialist retailer who can offer advice, but if you have wider feet you will need to try them on. There are some options however, the boots come with an extra insole which means you can interchange the insoles to get a fit that suits you.

So, in conclusion, the Salewa Ortles Light Mid PTX are an amazingly light boot. They are very much at the performance end of the market and suitable for fast-moving, alpine adventures where weight and comfort are paramount. I’m very much looking forward to giving them a full test when the Scottish spring mountaineering season begins to develop, so why not sign up for the blog to get the update when it’s ready? 

The Salewa Ortles Light PTX comes in two colour options and sizes UK6 to UK12.5 in half sizes. The SRP is £260 and can be bought online or in-store from various specialist UK retailers (who do stock them).

Disclosure – CGR reviewers and writers are never paid to provide a review and the website does not take advertising or link to affiliate sales. We are a bunch of keen climbers and travellers who accept sample products and offer an honest and independent review of the item.