La Sportiva  Aequilibrium Hike GTX Hiking Boots - Men's

This is my third pair of Aequillibriums and these were very tough on my ankles. Took them on a 36 mile hike in Scotland and the waterproofing was great, traction excellent, toe box protection good...but the ankle collar kept digging into my tendon causing inflammation and preventing me going an extra 18 miles to achieve the 54 mile goal set for the day. Going back next year with a different shoe.

I’ve gone through a series of lightweight hikers that are durable and comfortable for long technical days on the trail. I think I finally found what I’ve been looking for. Break-in period was a snap. Living in Colorado, I do lots of high Alpine trails, including snow fields and plenty of rocky terrain. This past year, I also hiked the Mont Blanc circuit in seven days. These boots have just been fantastic through all the conditions, 10 to 15 miles a day, kept my feet comfortable and dry. I like them so much that my partner got a pair also and she has been pleased too.

I’ve had these La Sportiva Aequilibrium Hike GTX boots for about 9 months now and have used them on anything from mild to moderate smooth-trail hikes, to bagging peaks on classically rough Adirondack “trails” involving steep wet gullies lined with mossy boulders, exposed rocky ridges, and class III to IV scramble/climbs, and I’ve found a new favorite hiking companion! I’ve yet to take them back to my beloved Sierras or the beautiful Rockies where I’ve logged many hiking, backpacking and mountaineering miles, but I’m confident they’ll do very well in these environments and plan to take these on my adventures there this coming summer. The upper has few and well-placed seams and reinforced cladding that protects it from abrasive forces like rock scrapes and the occasional toe drag, and looks practically new. I expect it to hold up well for such a flexible, lightweight boot. The tongue is gusseted to keep water and debris out, and comfortably folds into the boot without creating any hot spots on the top of my foot or under the laces. The articulated ankle provides, for me, a superbly snug and supportive hold that moves naturally and freely without any impingement, while also helping to keep a close fit around the boot opening to prevent duff and pebbles from entering at the collar. I recognize that another reviewer had a significant problem with the ankle pockets not fitting them well and causing pain, so you should try them on to ensure a proper fit while paying close attention to the fit around your ankles while flexing, but for me they are spot-on and I think Sportiva nailed that part of the design for most ankle profiles. I do wonder how long the soft stretchy material at the back near the Achilles tendon will hold up over time, but even if it stretches out or tears, I don’t expect it to be overly problematic in terms of making them unusable, and a loop of webbing at the back of the boot would be welcome but it’s absence is also not a big deal. The Gore-Tex lining has kept me completely dry while hiking though ankle-deep stream beds, and the upper dries quickly and has never felt heavy or soggy. While it can’t be as breathable as more open mesh-style hikers, they weren’t too warm to wear on warm, muggy summer mountain hikes, but if one were looking to mainly hike in warm or balmy weather, one could definitely find a cooler boot. This one seems to be a good balance of durability and waterproofness well suited to mountainous terrain and the associated climate and weather conditions you’d face there, while also being a comfortable, flexible, light boot. The sole provides an amazingly tenacious grip on surfaces from loose dirt and scree, to patches of hard and crusty snow, to swamped mud-slogs, rocky ledges, and smooth granite rock faces. I have yet to lose footing even on steep descents, in part due to the aggressive braking section on the heel and the incredibly grippy rubber tread, and the well-spaced deep lugs also do a very good job of shedding mud, snow, and trail debris. The sole/midsole combination offers a moderately soft ride that is never mushy but well-cushioned enough to keep my feet feeling fresh after many miles on the trail, and the curved rocker profile at the ball of the foot offers a smooth, natural feeling gait under foot, whether with a heavy load or unburdened. So far the sole has worn evenly and appears suitably durable for being so sure-footed. This boot sole really is incredible! Regarding the feel, it has a nice snug heel pocket that is also smooth and well-padded inside, and despite my exceptionally bony heels, I have yet to get a heel blister, even after taking them on a rugged hike right out of the box. The toe box is a bit more rounded than some of Sportiva’s other more traditional boots, though it may not be wide enough for those with wide feet or squared-off toes. The fit through the instep is pleasantly secure as it narrows through the waist of the foot, so there are no baggy areas and it successfully holds my feet back preventing toe-bump on steep descents without needing to be over-tightened. While these don’t feel as bouncy or flexible as some of the new speed-hikers out there from Hoka or Altra, I have actually trail run in these for short distances just to see how they felt (the fit and flex characteristics were inviting me to try it), and while I won’t be suiting up in these or in any way recommending them for regular trail runs, they were surprisingly adaptable and adequate. Regarding fit, I measure an 11 D (Medium width) on the Brannock device and usually fit into a US size 11 or 11.5 medium width in most brands, but had to size up to a 45.5 (US 12), which follows Sportiva’s trend of running about a half-size short. The toe box, as mentioned earlier, is more well-rounded and roomier than others in their lineup (like my Ultra Raptor II Mids) and offers a bit more room for the smaller outside toes, but it definitely could not be called wide. While Sportiva offers several stiffer versions within the Aequilibrium line of boots and targets this one for trail hiking, unless you favor the feel of a burlier boot or tend to be particularly rough on your footwear and need tank-like durability, I feel confident these would perform well, including while carrying weight, on anything short of a mountaineering route where the ability to use crampons would necessitate a jump up in stiffness and performance. I am very impressed with this lightweight and impressively capable boot, and highly recommend as it really hits the sweet spot of performance and comfort. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better boot as long as it fits your feet.

Inconsistent construction. Left boot has a very different feel than the right boot. I can feel inconsistencies in the rand form and side material on the left boot that I cannot feel on the right. The right toe box is also noticeably smaller. Would be a great boot if the quality was there, but it is not. I am returning these after one short hike. The rubberized back above the ankle makes it very difficult to put your foot in the boot and seems like a really inevitable failure point. Enshitification from LaSportiva. I would expect much more.

I found that this model runs smaller and narrower than the Nucleo High II GTX, so I sized up 1/2 size. It’s definitely a narrower model, but because I sized up, there seems to be more room in the toe box than my previous shoe which I was looking for. Not being leather, it’s lighter which I think is better for hiking in general; less weight but also makes a lighter shoe as a woman, less fatigue. On my first hike I found it has just amazing grip for stability. I hiked a steep, rocky path without stairs on the route going up, and I felt so secure. Did not slip once. Should probably size up a full size (I only went up one half size and I’m a little worried if I was doing a longer hike downhill). I like the chunkier sole and I’m really looking forward to having more grip on the trails.

I found that this model runs smaller and narrower than the Nucleo High II GTX, so I sized up 1/2 size. It’s definitely a narrower model, but because I sized up, there seems to be more room in the toe box than my previous shoe which I was looking for. Not being leather, it’s lighter which I think is better for hiking in general; less weight but also makes a lighter shoe as a woman, less fatigue. On my first hike I found it has just amazing grip for stability. I hiked a steep, rocky path without stairs on the route going up, and I felt so secure. Did not slip once. Should probably size up a full size (I only went up one half size and I’m a little worried if I was doing a longer hike downhill). I like the chunkier sole and I’m really looking forward to having more grip on the trails.

I bought these boots for hiking in the White Mountains of NH. I really wanted to like them as I expected them to be a step up from previous La Sportiva boots I had owned. And in some senses they are- they are incredibly water proof and great for just plowing through mud and spring snow without caring much. However I find the grip of these boots is pretty disappointing. I've found with prior La Sportiva boots and trail running shoes they have so much grip they inspire me to go faster and be more daring with the confidence that the boots with grip to any surface. These have regularly slipped on wet surfaces leading to a significantly lack of confidence and fear that I'm going to slip to my death on an exposed slab. I'll add the caveat that maybe this is just a poor misunderstanding of what these boot were designed for but if you ask me I would think you would want any hiking boot to have really good grip. I'll certainly keep these around for dry or snowy conditions but for what I want them for in the Whites they won't work.

I was a bit worried given the lack of the reviews on this product but couldn’t be happier that I took the risk on them. Definitely built like a mountaineering boot more than a hiking boot which is great for scrambles and heavy pack days. Not necessarily the best boot for everyone but for mountaineering or just heavy backpacking I have found them to be exceptional

As a long-time user of trail runners, I was nervous about moving to traditional boots for a 2-week off-trail backpacking trip in Greenland. But these boots were incredibly comfortable, very supportive, and remarkably lightweight. They were confidence-inspiring on Greenland's extremely rocky terrain, even when I was loaded down with a very heavy backpack. Absolutely A+.

Have been using this pair of boots to hike in the White Mountains in New Hampshire, US. Although they perform well under dry conditions, they are terrible when wet. Walking on wet rock is just like walking on ice. Zero grip. Slipped and fell multiple times. Do they ever test this product properly?