The men’s hiking boot industry has stepped up, pun intended. Among the available brands, there’s a plethora of choices for fit, style, cushion, lacing and tread. Truely, you can find a boot for any occasion at most any outdoors store. I subjected this pair to three scenarios: the pavement of Washington DC and the trails in Shenandoah National Park.
Full disclosure, I received the La Sportiva TX Mid Leather GTX Hiking Boots as part of the REI Trailblazer’s promotion.
- Roomier forefoot, no blisters or hot-spots on toes, to which I’m particularly prone.
- Cushioned collar, no blisters or hot-spots on ankles, which I usually get from bare leather or canvas collars.
- Lacing system secures my heels, my toes never slid forward regardless of inclination.
- Grip is average to above average, I felt sure footed on flat wet rocks and muddy slopes.
- Leather uppers are surprisingly durable. Survived being wedged into and dragged across rock faces with little wear to show.
- Broke-in well, but the ankle support remained rigid enough to save my ankles from a few potentially disastrous rolls.
- Waterproofing held through muddy trails, stream crossings and sprinklers on the sidewalk.
- Didn’t need sock liners, a pair of medium cushion, lightweight, quarter hiking socks prevented any sores. The forefoot is still roomy enough to allow for liners, if that’s your preference.
- Fantastic all-rounders for the price point.
Though not exactly off-trail, you’re on your feet all day walking between Smithsonians in Washington DC. Pavement and marble steps didn’t quite push the envelope, but the extra support and cushion kept me going where flat shoes would’ve had arches wailing.
The harshest tests were in Shenandoah. Most of the trails we hiked incorporated a rock scramble and plenty of water to ford. Often, the only option I had to step-up on a boulder was to shove my foot in a vertical crevice and use the tension. Proverbial rock and a hard place. The leather got a little scuffed and the tread took some gouges, but nothing compromised the stability of the boots or significantly impacted their lifetime. The 1 lbs 15 oz weight was particularly appreciated.
The spacious forefoot is the game changer for those of us hunting for relief from hot spots on our toes. The overall build survived miles of pavement in DC and the rugged rocks on Old Rag Mountain. If you’re not in the market for boots tailored to backpacking, ultralight, mountaineering or some other specialized expedition, these will see you through most trails you can tackle in a day hike. Pair them with my favorite hiking pants and you’re good to go hit the trail or hit the streets!
