You should now be able to see approximately 2 cm (about an index fingers width) of the footbed poking out in front of your toes. So far so good on fit. The footbed construction is firm but not rigid, and the vibram sole provides very good traction. For items you would like to collect from our Kirkby Stephen store, we will normally have your item/s ready to collect within 1-2 working days. However, there are also claims that you can use these shoes with hybrid crampons. There is an appreciation for the rubber caps for added protection and users have no problems walking through mud and puddles. One of the strengths of these trekking shoes is undoubtedly their lightness: with a weight of 1528 g, they guarantee a light stride and do not affect the load that the hiker has to carry, which also means less physical exertion. The leather upper with rubber detailing is sturdy and stable, while the slightly lower shaft compared to many models in the same category can be a pro or a con depending on one's needs and preferences: if, in fact, on the one hand it manages to provide less support, on the other hand it leaves more freedom of movement. Sole Characteristics

But, there is also the suggestion that this problem could sort itself out after breaking the shoes in. Aside from that, there are some rare comments about faults and breakages soon after getting the shoes. For items you would like to collect from our Grassington store, we will normally have your item/s ready to collect within 4-5 working days. Now that your boots are done up properly stand up on your tiptoes and walk on the spot on the balls of your feet as if you are walking up a steep hill. If your heels lift more than approximately 5mm from the footbed you may need to pull the laces tighter, or the boots may just be the wrong shape for you. As long as you get a pair that fits well and don’t have any of those immediate issues with the stitching, there shouldn’t be too many problems here.The Rapace GTX is a tough, beautifully made alpine trekking and lightweight mountaineering boot with superb underfoot comfort and flexible support for unrivalled comfort during long treks and arduous mountain days. It's ideal for alpine trekking, scrambling or via-ferrata and will accept semi-automatic crampons for a spot of winter mountaineering. Stand on the A4 paper with your heel pressed firmly against the wall and your foot pointed forward with the edge of your big toe aligned with the edge of the paper. I love these boots. I've used mine intensely for the last three years and they are still good as gold. They are extremely comfortable and very lightweight. They fit my feet (I've got wide and flat feet) perfectly and don't even notice them on my foot due to their light weight.

Multi Fit Footbed (MFF) with interchangeable layers so you can adapt it to the unique shape of your foot This test will tell you if the shape of the internal heel cup matches your heel to ensure it holds you securely, especially when ascending steep ground. We are trying to eliminate the dreaded heel blister. Increasing comfort is Salewa's dual-density Bilight Technology. This technology has been applied to the midsole of the boot to cushion hard impacts (especially during descents) and to provide superior support thanks to the 3D, ergonomically shaped, design which cradles your foot throughout the day. The Women's Rapace GTX features a Bilight TPU midsole which has been designed for long-lasting and ergonomic cushioning, this has been paired with a Vibram WTC outsole for amazing traction and grip with a natural feel. For crampon compatibility, the Rapace GORE-TEX is stiff enough to take semi-automatic crampons.

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Unlike most, quite frankly pretty poor footbeds, Salewa's MMF footbed (multi fit footbed) gives you a comfortable and supportive main footbed and enclosed in the box is a second one which can be added to reduce the volume of the boot; this allows you to customise the fit depending on the volume and shape of your foot. The boot comes with a crampon fitting on the heel, which I have used with my Petzel Sarkens a couple of times. It was a good that it had that at the time, as I could use them with the crampons I own, but I wouldn't want to walk all day with more technical crampons on these, as just after a couple of hours they started giving me hot spots. If you can see this amount of space then you are pretty much on the way to making sure that your boots are the correct size. This space between your toes and the end of the footbed ensures that you will not stub your toes on the inside of the boot when you descend. This can be excruciatingly painful. If you can’t see this amount of space then it’s a good bet that the boots will be too small.