Proalp Contact S2

Hiking is one of my favourite free-time activities and exercises. I love spending time in nature, enjoying the views and having some quiet time for myself. I searched quite long and hard for a barefoot hiking shoe that would really fit me, make me feel secure and stable even in difficult conditions. I found my winner in Proalp Contact S2.

General

• Brand: Proalp
• Model: Contact S2
• Colour: Grey and pink (custom)
• Price: 162 EUR (182 EUR with a custom colour)
• Available sizes: 36 – 47 (half-sizes available and two different widths)
• My size:
  • 41-wide (my foot is 26.3 cm long and 10 cm wide; medium/wide; low/medium volume)
  • stretched to 41.5-wide which is a better fit
• Inner length:
  • 27.4 cm (26.2 cm + 1.2 cm, size chart)
  • 27.3 cm (size 41 measured with plus12)
  • 27.5 cm (size 41.5 after stretching – more info under Fit)

Material and Sole

The outer is made from robust leather, which is appropriate for harsher conditions but still feels soft. The shoes are also lined with leather on the inside. On the bottom, there’s a 5 mm wool felt layer and a layer of aluminum foil for additional insulation.

Leather is not exactly waterproof, but I treated mine with a waterproofing spray and they haven’t let me down so far. I regularly walk on wet and muddy ground and my feet always stay dry.

These ankle boots also come with additional insoles made from wool and hemp which is useful for colder days or for a bit more cushioning.

The most important part of any hiking shoe is probably the sole. The Proalp Contact S2 is equipped with a durable Vibram sole which has deep treads that provide excellent grip. The sole is still very flexible and offers a great ground feel for this type of shoe. I’m super impressed by how sturdy the boots feel, while still being pleasant to wear.

Fit

Since this is a hiking shoe, it’s designed to hug the heel and fixate around the ankle very well. That’s important for offering stability on uneven and slippery grounds, and to prevent feet from sliding forward (too much) when walking downhill.

These ankle boots are available in two widths, marked as women’s (narrow) and men’s (wide). The narrow width is most suitable for medium-wide feet and can work for narrow feet to, since they can be fixated well. The wide width is most suitable for medium/wide and wide feet, but not very wide. The women’s width is available for sizes 36 – 43 and the men’s width is available for sizes 39 – 47.
It’s best to check their detailed size chart (be aware that the lengths in the chart represent the recommended foot length for each size and the actual lengths of the shoes are supposed to be 12 mm longer than that).

Proalp shoes work best for low-volume feet. Mine are low/medium and there’s not much room left, especially when I add the insoles.

The Contact S2 comes with a Velcro strap around the ankle. The strap offers extra fixation and prevents laces from getting untied. It’s quite short, so bare that in mind if your ankles and calves have more volume.

If your feet don’t really fit the recommended characteristics, you can also opt for custom made shoes and have them adjusted (length, width, volume, strap length, etc.).

I wear a size 41-wide with a measured inner length of 27.3 cm (my foot is 26.3 cm long and 10 cm wide; medium/wide; low/medium volume).
I wish I had chosen a bigger size because my foot slips forward slightly when going downhill and my toes sometimes touch the front of the shoe. There’s also not much room left for a winter insole or thicker socks. Luckily I don’t really feel like I need the insoles in hiking boots, since my feet get warm enough just from being active. Proalp offers a shoe-stretching service and I plan to try it out. I’ll write an update when I do.

Update: I had them stretched for about half a size and the inner length now measures 27.5 cm which is perfect. It’s not a big difference from before but it’s just what I needed.
I only had to leave them at the shop for a few days and they look just as nice as before and not like they’ve been altered at all. I was warned that they might shrink back to the original size but I can just bring them again and they’ll repeat the process.

My Thoughts

I’ve used mine in all sorts of tricky conditions – wet ground with leaves and rocks, snow, mud, … and they perform very well. I don’t think I have ever felt so stable in any hiking shoes I’ve ever owned. I don’t know of any shoes that are completely slip-proof, but these are quite close to that.

I’m super impressed by how lightweight and flexible they feel. I didn’t expect such a good ground feel from heavy-duty hiking boots. It’s very pleasant when walking on uneven natural ground. I also noticed it’s much easier to prevent slipping since my feet get so much feedback from the surroundings.

They are available in blue, brown and grey, or they can be customized. I decided to make mine more girly and asked for a few pops of pink to be added (any cosmetic custom adjustments cost extra) – this colour combo is now available permanently.

I couldn’t recommend Proalp Contact S2s more, I think they are excellent hiking boots. They make me feel comfortable and safe during all outdoor adventures, and I enjoy feeling more connected to the ground through the flexible sole.

Also, I’m sorry for the boots being so dirty in the pictures. I tried really hard to clean them but they were just too muddy to get everything off. At least it shows that they’ve really been thoroughly tested.

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