Salewa Raven 3 Ws GTX review

As part of of The Great Outdoors magazine’s February 2021 review of winter mountaineering boots, Lucy Wallace reviews the Salewa Raven 3 Ws GTX

I’ve never tried Salewa boots before, but having heard good things I was intrigued to give these a go. These are quite narrow, and snug from heel to toe, whilst being true to size in length, prompting me to wear a thinner sock than I normally would in winter. The insoles are customisable, to reduce or increase volume in the boot. There is good cushioning around the ankle and midfoot, with support and ankle-flex as needed, and insulation provided by layers of fabric and a Gore-Tex insert. The Salewa Raven 3 is quite a stiff boot that will have no problems with a C2 crampon. I’m not a huge fan of the sole unit, which I find fussy, with cutaway sections in the edges to show off the midsole – cleaner lines would be better for slicing and kicking in to snow.

That said, it performs admirably on wet rock and scree. The rand has good toe coverage, but is light around the mid foot area, and I think the fabric uppers could wear quite fast, especially after a few peaty bog immersions. I love the lacing system, which is very adjustable and can be locked at the toe as well as the ankle. This boot would be absolutely fine for Scottish winter, and finds its natural home in spring and summer alpine conditions.