Review: Salewa Pedroc 2 Max Shoe

Hike All Day In The Salewa Pedroc 2 Max Shoe

Product Description From Salewa

Whatever the trail, whatever the terrain. Built to last, the Pedroc 2 Max features a high-tenacity, protective and breathable mesh upper. Its shock-absorbing EVA midsole and integrated stability plate ensure high rebound and guidance. Underfoot, the Pomoca™ Speed Hiker 2 outsole promotes a smooth stride and optimal grip and traction. With reflective details for when sessions push into the dark.

Direction purposely placed traction for tons of grip up and down.

How Are They?

I've been hiking in the Salewa Pedroc 2 Max shoes for a few weeks now and they are honestly pretty much perfect. What really stood out to me within the first time hiking in the Pedrocs was how well they fit! I wear a size US mens 12 shoe in almost all shoes except for my Hoka trail running and hiking shoes which are 13's. I got the Salewa Pedrocs in size 12 and they fit perfect. Salewa has something they call "Alpine Fit" which they claim to be 100% blister free. They say that when worn properly along with Salewa socks they guarantee a 100% blister free fit for a period of a year from purchase date. From the time I put them on right out of the box they have felt amazing. I haven't noticed any hot spots anywhere and absolutely no sign of blisters. The Salewa Pedrocs feel super light on my feet but don't lack protection like other lightweight hiking shoes or trail runners. I've kicked and smashed down upon plenty of sharp rocks with no harm to my feet at all. The sole is super comfortable and blocks out any unwanted feeling of rocks and other trail debris coming up through the bottom. Traction is amazing with these shoes. The lugs have been strategically placed to give you plenty of grip going both up and down even in the loosest of conditions. One thing that stood out to me as well were the footbeds. Most stock footbeds are pretty much just for make believe and need to be replaced with an after market footbed. However the stock footbeds Salewa provides are actually pretty great. They have some arch support as well as some decent padding along with a heel pad to avoid bruising. The shoes seem well made and I haven't seen any signs of wear or places where the shoes are coming apart at all. I feel like these shoes actually give back a bit of energy into my feet and legs, almost like regenerative braking on a electric car. It almost feels like they are assisting me up the hills in a way. I haven't figured out if it's because they are so light or what's actually happening or even if it's real, but I will take it as a win. Going both up and down my feet don't move around in the shoe at all. Most shoes, espeically when going downhill, my foot will slide forward into the end of the toe box and my toes will be wrecked at the end of a hike. And typically I will have some kind of heel lift when climbing. The Pedrocs stay put. Period! Another standout on these shoes is how breathable they are. My feet never feel like they are overheating, yet they are not filling up with dust either. If you are looking for a lightweight hiking shoe you can move quickly in while still getting maximum protection, these are a great pick! I'll be wearing these all summer for hiking and backpacking and I'll have some final thoughts on these in a few months.

SHOP SALEWA PEDROC 2 MAX