I’ve grown to love and prefer trail running shoes compared to traditional hiking shoes. Shoes like the Altra Experience Wild 2 provide a level of comfort and flexibility that adds a level of calmness to a small trek outdoors.
But that’s just it. I think trail shoes are better for shorter trips. Because the farther and longer you go for, there are direct tradeoffs. Mainly stability and durability.
But, in this day of innovation, the Salewa Pedroc 2 Max tries to bridge this gap between trail running and traditional hiking shoes. Striving to provide the best of both worlds.
A Hike vs A Trip
There’s been countless 1-6 hour hikes over the last few years where I’ve worn trail running shoes. And 90% of the time, they’ve been perfect.
They’re agile, quick, and easy.
But when I push the envelope and go on a hike that’s more extreme than others, they struggle. And as the distances increase, the faster trail shoes can wither away.
Their soft midsole foam takes a beating inside and out. The shoes become less comfortable, and the outside materials get scratched up. (I’ve had small bits chip off too.)
More often than not, trail running shoes become too squishy and soft after a few hours. Leading to slips or sore feet as you step on a boulder or over a tree trunk.
That’s not the case for the Pedroc 2 Maxs though.
The shoe is seriously rigid and strong, so it lasts longer, even in harsher environments.
Just yesterday I spent 8 hours in sandy and gravely conditionals. When I took them off last night, they looked just as they did before. Just a bit dustier.
And where the upper fabric of trail shoes scratch or tear, the Pedroc’s hard plastic and rubber might have a mark or small groove in them. Aka, they just keep going.
And if all of that isn’t enough, the Pedroc 2 Maxs feel consistent throughout the entire day. Preventing a drop in performance and comfort.
The Tradeoffs
When I say these things are stiff and rugged, I mean it. They don’t have the foam buffer like running shoes do. These are solid, yet supportive.
Because of this, they’re not as comfortable as trail running shoes.
And I’m okay with this. Especially when you compare them to a hiking boot that I used to wear. If you do that then the Pedrocs are so much nicer to wear!
Let me explain.
Comfortableness
A running shoe is comfortable because of a blend of things. The main ones being that they’re super light, breathe exceptionally well, and each step has a plush cushion to it.
Traditional hiking shoes, like the ones I grew up using, aren’t any of those things. They’re heavy, don’t breathe at all, and have hard rubber-like midsoles.
They’re not pleasant to use.
The Pedroc 2 Maxs are light, especially when you hold an old school hiking boot in one hand and a Pedroc in the other. Breathability isn’t great but remember that they’re made more for protection. And after wearing these in sand, dirt, and rain, these pass with flying colors.
Again, the midsole isn’t as comfy as a regular running shoe. But only if you’re talking about 2-3 hours in them.
If you’re hiking in them all day or for multiple days, they are so much more comfortable than trail running shoes! That’s what Pedroc made these shoes for. Not a quick trail run.
The first time I wore these, the last 2 miles of a 3 mile walk had my feet arches hurting. But after that my feet got used to them. For not having a wide toe box and their 6 mm heel drop, it didn’t take long for my feet to get used to them.
They are great for going uphill too with the incredible tread! You don’t need to worry about traction with these.
The Recap
These aren’t your average, run-of-the-mill hiking shoes. Coming from a history of trail running shoes for hiking, they do feel quite intense.
But when you actually use them, they come right into their element.
And if you compare them to hiking shoes my parents and grandparents use, you realize just how good the Pedroc 2 Maxs are. Where traditional hiking shoes feel like another heavy piece of gear you put up with on a hike, these don’t.
The amount of comfort, durability, and grip is next level.