Italian footwear company Salewa lives by a message of being “pure mountain,” and it’s in that vein that I reviewed the Salewa Wildfire Canvas, a versatile hiking shoe that took me up and down the mountains here in Virginia’s Blue Ridge.

With a sturdy hemp/cotton blend upper and abrasion-resistant rubber at the heel, one thing that was immediately noticeable about the Wildfire Canvases was how comfortable they were straight out of the box. They fit true to size and, even through they look narrow, they were in fact breathable and comfortably snug. Salewa says these shoes are intended to marry outdoor shoe features ideal for both hiking and some light climbing. 

Rock scrambling … here I come!

It’s not hard to find a good rock scramble in my part of the U.S. Inviting rocky terrain and roots from old-growth forests are staples along the eastern mountains. Coupled with grassy regions, some marshy areas and the wetness that rolls in after the winter months, my mountains were suited for testing the Wildfire Canvas shoes

This variant in the Wildfire line is low-cut, but I never worried about my stability in them. The midsole and stock shoe insert did an excellent job of keeping me steady as I traversed sections of loose rock as well as scaled larger boulders. I have abnormally narrow heels, and I never experienced any slippage or other movement inside the shoe. My heel remained locked down on even the steepest sections of a hiking trail, which eliminated any threat of hotspots or foot fatigue as the hours were added to my adventures.

Especially across some of the more aggressive scrambles, the sure-footed grip that the shoes delivered was a welcome feature. The outsole is made with a grippy skin known as POMOCA Speed Mountain Path, which did well holding tight to the trail and rocks, even amid the dampness of a dewy early spring morning.

There was a nice flex to the shoe because of its a diamond-lug pattern, which was helpful in some of trickier footholds. However, that same pattern also had a tendency to create pockets for mud and debris to gather and harden, so it was prudent to pound out the soles after a day of being in sloppier terrain.

The upper has proven very durable over the past few weeks of testing. Most of my hikes have been in cooler weather, so I don’t have first-hand experience yet how these shoes perform in the humid Virginia weather, but Salewa says these lightweight offerings are designed to keep feet cool during summer hiking. (True enough, they weigh in at 10.75 ounces — that’s actually lighter than my go-to pair of ultrarunning shoes!)

Adding to their comfort is the lacing, which is Salewa’s trademarked 3F System. This system — which uses nylon-coated Kevlar cables and clearly pushes forward with innovation — connects the instep area of the shoe with the sole and heel. I particularly loved this lacing system, as it cinched and hugged my foot in all the right places and felt more practical than many more traditionally styled lacing patterns. The 3F System ensured flexibility and support, and was enhanced throughout the shoe by solid structured stitching.

The midsole found a balance between durability and responsiveness — I could scrape these shoes against all kinds of hostile terrain, but the midsole never showed signs of wear. Meanwhile, the Ortholite footbed remained very comfortable and bouncy for miles and miles, and the arch support was fitting for someone like me who has a very standard arch shape.

The Wildfire Canvas is noticeably lighter than other shoes in Salewa’s Wildfire line and has a well-designed 8 mm drop to help propel you ahead on your adventures. Several reviews note how well it straddles the line to be wearable in both trail and town, but I certainly prefer what they are able to deliver off-grid and high above sea level.

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Ryan Tipps is Managing Editor for ActionHub. He lives along the Blue Ridge Mountains, is an avid hiker, backpacker and trail runner and has been a part of the wilderness search and rescue community since 2005.