Every once in a while, I try a piece of gear that immediately earns a permanent place in my rotation. This summer, that piece of gear was the Salewa Pedroc 2 Leather Mid Powertex Women’s Boot.

I picked them up at Valhalla Pure Outfitters in Abbotsford the day before leaving on a nine-day trip through the mountains. Naturally, instead of breaking them in gradually like a responsible person, I wore them straight out of the box for the roughly 15-km hike to Perley Rock in Glacier National Park—a route with approximately 1,200 metres of elevation gain.

Because apparently I like to live a little dangerously.

In my defence, I test a lot of outdoor gear and have become fairly good at recognizing when something feels right. The Pedroc 2 boots felt comfortable the moment I put them on, so I trusted my gut.

Thankfully, that instinct paid off.

Since then, I’ve put more than 200 kilometres on these boots across the Canadian Rockies, the Coast Mountains around Whistler, the North Cascades near my home base in Chilliwack and the rugged alpine terrain of Cathedral Provincial Park. I’ve worn them on long backpacking days, 11-hour hiking days and while carrying a very heavy pack—including our five-year-old in a child carrier.

They keep surprising me and have quickly become the pair I reach for whenever I’m about to hit the trail.

What Are the Salewa Pedroc 2 Leather Mid Powertex Boots?

The Pedroc 2 Leather Mid Powertex is designed as a lightweight, mid-cut speed-hiking boot. It combines some of the protection and support of a traditional hiking boot with the cushioning and more dynamic feel you would normally expect from a trail-running shoe.

That combination is a big part of why these boots work so well for me.

I generally prefer mid-cut footwear for longer days and whenever I’m carrying a heavier pack, but I don’t want my boots to feel stiff, bulky or exhausting after hours on the trail. The Pedroc 2 sits comfortably between those two categories: supportive enough for demanding mountain days, but light and responsive enough that I don’t feel like I’m dragging my feet by the final few kilometres.

Key Features—Translated Into Actual English

The Salewa Pedroc 2 Leather Mid Powertex Women’s Boot includes:

A suede leather and high-resistance nylon upper
A waterproof and breathable Powertex® membrane made without PFAS
Salewa’s 3F System for flexibility, fit and support
An oversized EVA midsole for cushioning and rebound
A firm EVA plate for added stability
A Pomoca™ Speed Hiker 2 outsole with directional lugs
A dual-density recycled footbed
Reflective details for visibility in low light
A 10-mm heel-to-toe drop
A weight of approximately 360 grams per boot

Zzzzzz…

If I completely lost you there, here’s what all of that actually means in normal, non-gear-nerd English: they’re waterproof, lightweight and cushioned, with enough structure to feel stable when the trail gets rough or your pack gets heavy.

The suede and nylon upper adds durability without making them feel like an old-school leather hiking boot. The oversized midsole provides plenty of cushioning for long days, while the firm EVA plate keeps that cushioning from feeling overly soft or wobbly on uneven terrain.

Salewa’s 3F System helps hold your heel securely while still allowing your foot and ankle to move naturally. Meanwhile, the Pomoca outsole and directional lugs—the grippy bits on the bottom—help provide traction across everything from loose dirt and mud to rocky alpine trails.

They also weigh approximately 360 grams per boot, so you get the support and weather protection of a mid-cut hiking boot without feeling like you’ve strapped bricks to your feet.

And yes, they have reflective details for low-light visibility—because sometimes an “early start” becomes hiking in the dark, and sometimes an “easy day” somehow becomes an 11-hour adventure. We’ve all been there.

Basically, there is a lot of technology packed into these boots, but what matters most is how it translates on the trail: comfortable feet, reliable grip and enough support to keep going when the kilometres start adding up.

Comfort Straight Out of the Box

The biggest surprise was how comfortable these boots felt without a traditional break-in period.

Their first proper outing was not a gentle walk around the neighbourhood. Perley Rock is a steep and sustained climb through the forests and alpine terrain of Glacier National Park. My GPS recorded roughly 15 kilometres and 1,200 metres of elevation gain that day—not exactly the recommended first outing for a brand-new pair of hiking boots.

Despite that questionable decision, the boots felt great for the entire hike.

I continued wearing them throughout most of our nine-day trip, including days of more than 20 kilometres with a heavy overnight pack. They remained comfortable day after day, which is usually where a new pair of boots will reveal any fit or pressure-point issues.

Instead, the Pedroc 2 boots continued to feel cushioned and supportive without feeling overly rigid.

Of course, footwear is extremely personal. What worked straight out of the box for me may not work the same way for every foot, but this has been one of the easiest pairs of hiking boots I’ve transitioned into in a very long time.

Lightweight Without Feeling Flimsy

At approximately 360 grams per boot, the Pedroc 2 is considerably lighter and more agile than the traditional leather hiking boots many people picture when they think about backpacking footwear.

That lighter weight makes a noticeable difference on big days.

I’ve worn them for hikes lasting up to 11 hours, and they still feel energetic rather than clunky. The oversized EVA midsole provides plenty of cushioning underfoot, while the trail-running-inspired shape allows for a smooth stride.

They don’t feel like a trail runner pretending to be a hiking boot, though. The suede and nylon upper, mid-cut design and firm EVA plate give them enough structure that I still feel supported when the terrain becomes rough or my pack becomes significantly heavier.

For me, they hit that elusive sweet spot between lightweight comfort and dependable mountain performance.

Support With a Heavy Pack

A lightweight boot is only useful to me if it can still perform when I load up my pack.

I’ve worn the Pedroc 2 boots with overnight backpacking gear and while carrying our five-year-old in a child carrier—a situation that adds plenty of extra weight and makes stable footing especially important.

They have continued to feel supportive without limiting my natural movement.

Salewa’s 3F System connects the instep area with the sole and heel, with the goal of balancing flexibility, fit and support. Combined with the firm EVA plate, it creates a secure feeling underfoot without turning the boot into something stiff and cumbersome.

That balance has been particularly noticeable during long descents, over uneven terrain and on days when my legs are already tired from carrying a heavy load.

Grip and Trail Performance

The Pedroc 2 uses a Pomoca Speed Hiker 2 outsole with directional lugs designed to provide traction on variable terrain while encouraging a fluid stride.

So far, I’ve tested these boots across a wide range of mountain environments:

Rocky alpine routes in the Canadian Rockies
Coast Mountain trails around Whistler
Forest, mud and mountain terrain in the North Cascades
Long alpine days in Cathedral Provincial Park
Steep climbs and descents while carrying a heavy pack

Through all of it, the boots have felt stable and predictable. The outsole provides a reassuring connection to the trail without feeling overly aggressive on smoother sections.

I especially appreciate that I can move confidently across changing terrain without feeling like I’m wearing an oversized or excessively stiff boot. They are agile enough for faster hiking but still feel substantial when the trail becomes more technical.

Waterproof Protection

The Pedroc 2 is lined with Salewa’s waterproof and breathable Powertex membrane. The membrane is made without PFAS, which is a welcome feature for anyone trying to make more conscious gear choices.

As with most waterproof footwear, there is always a trade-off between weather protection and maximum breathability. If your priority is the lightest and most breathable footwear possible for dry summer trails, a non-waterproof trail runner may still be the better choice.

For variable mountain conditions, backpacking trips and shoulder-season adventures, however, I appreciate having the added protection of a waterproof mid-cut boot—especially when the trail includes damp vegetation, mud or unpredictable alpine weather.

Fit and Sizing

Sizing was another unexpected part of this purchase.

I typically wear a women’s size 8.5, but Valhalla Pure Outfitters was sold out of that size when I went in. Instead of automatically trying to make my usual size work, I had my feet properly measured.

According to my measurements and the Salewa size chart, a size 9 was actually my correct size.

That came as a surprise, although I’m blaming pregnancy for the changes to my feet.

The size 9 has worked extremely well, particularly on long descents and days when my feet naturally swell. I have enough room without the boot feeling loose, and my heel still feels securely held in place.

The lesson here is simple: get your feet measured and use the brand’s size chart instead of relying entirely on the size you normally buy. Feet change, sizing varies between brands and the right amount of space becomes especially important during long hiking and backpacking days.

What I Love Most

After more than 200 kilometres, these are the qualities that stand out:

Comfortable straight out of the box
Lightweight and responsive over long distances
Supportive enough for heavy packs
Cushioned without feeling unstable
Secure and predictable on variable terrain
Mid-cut protection without the bulk of a traditional hiking boot
Waterproof construction for changing mountain conditions
Versatile enough for day hiking, backpacking and long family adventures

Most importantly, I don’t spend my hikes thinking about my feet.

That may sound like a small thing, but it’s one of the best compliments I can give a hiking boot. When footwear fits properly and performs the way it should, it fades into the background and lets you focus on the trail.

Things to Consider Before Buying

No hiking boot will be perfect for every person or every adventure.

The Pedroc 2 is best suited to hikers who want a lighter and more flexible alternative to a traditional backpacking boot. If you prefer an extremely stiff boot, need maximum protection for mountaineering or regularly carry expedition-level loads, you may want something more substantial.

The waterproof membrane may also feel warmer than a fully breathable, non-waterproof shoe during hot and dry summer hikes.

Finally, the fit is listed as standard, but every foot is different. I strongly recommend trying them on in person or carefully checking the size chart before ordering.

I’m also only one summer and just over 200 kilometres into testing them. They are holding up well so far, but I’ll continue watching their long-term durability as I add more distance.

Who Are the Salewa Pedroc 2 Boots Best For?

I would recommend these boots for hikers who:

Regularly tackle long day hikes
Want a lightweight boot with more support than a trail runner
Carry overnight or child-carrier packs
Move through varied mountain terrain
Prefer a cushioned and responsive feel
Want waterproof protection without a heavy traditional boot
Value comfort over an extended break-in process

They would be particularly well suited to fast hikers and backpackers who want one versatile pair for everything from local forest trails to bigger alpine days.

Final Thoughts After 200+ Kilometres

The Salewa Pedroc 2 Leather Mid Powertex Women’s Boot has become one of the best hiking boots I’ve tried in a long time.

I bought them the day before a nine-day mountain trip, wore them straight out of the box for a steep 15-kilometre hike and then continued testing them through more than 200 kilometres of long days, heavy packs and varied terrain.

At every stage, they have exceeded my expectations.

They are light enough that I’m happy to wear them for faster day hikes, cushioned enough for 11-hour trail days and supportive enough for backpacking or carrying our five-year-old. That versatility is what has moved them to the front of my gear closet.

These are now the boots I instinctively reach for when I’m getting ready to head into the mountains—and based on how they’ve performed so far, I expect they’ll be seeing plenty more kilometres.

You can find the Salewa Pedroc 2 Leather Mid Powertex Women’s Boot here.

See you on the trails!

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through one of these links, at no additional cost to you. I purchased and tested these boots myself, and all opinions are my own. Affiliate links are one of the ways I can continue creating free guides and resources for my readers. Thank you for your support!