These are the first Asolo hiking boots I’ve worn in years and I’m impressed. A climbing heritage is clear from the laces that tighten very low down the foot like an approach shoe, and I feel the boot benefits from this. The fit for me is one of the best here, although it could be on the narrow side if you have wide feet.
The upper is one piece of high quality Tyrolean Perwanger leather that feels like suede. I’m not sure why it’s textured rather than smooth, but it doesn’t seem to have a detrimental effect. The leather is quite thin, so could be worn for much of the year without overheating. There’s a wide toecap, but no rand around the boot which I’d have preferred – I expect some more wear along the sides.
The flex is semi-stiff and just about fine for crampons. They are the lightest boots here. There’s a Gore-Tex lining that I’m not a huge fan of. However, I find these boots very comfortable and because they are not overly warm, more versatile than some of the others tested.
First published: Jan 2014
