La Sportiva have an impressive hiking boot pedigree and these lightweight but rugged mid-cut La Sportiva TX5 GTX use every bit of the company’s experience to deliver a boot offering straight-from-the-box comfort and performance. Designed for long-day wear in challenging conditions or with a heavy load, these are the sort of boots that’ll tackle a day hike in the Malvern Hills or a self-supported hut-to-hut hike in the Alps and everything in between.
The fit is on the generous side, and those with narrow heels (like me) might find them a touch loose, but not so much as to have to size down. The spacious fit is quite unusual for a continental-designed boot which can often be too narrow for the average – often wider- British foot, but does give plenty of scope for thicker socks and wiggle room if desired. The excellent range of sizes -including EU half sizes- makes getting a good fit an easier proposition though.
Lara Dunn Highly Recommends
These are a capable and well-made hiking boot, perfect for hiking and trekking on varied terrain, making the £200 a sound investment in a very versatile and wearable piece of kit.- Light, supportive and grippy.
- Versatile for various conditions and surfaces.
- Worth checking the fit
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £200 Weight 930g (for size UK6) Materials: Nubuck leather, Gore-Tex Extended Comfort lining, EVA shock-absorbing insole, Vibram MegaGrip outsole Features: Ortholite Approach 4mm footbed, rubber protective rand on upper, 3D Flex system for protection and precision Sizes: UK3.5-UK8 (EU36-42 including half sizes) Women’s/Men’s Version: Women’s (men’s direct equivalent available) www.lasportiva.com |
Comfortable straight from the box, they’re nimble and capable over all sorts of terrain, with a shaped toe area with deep protective rand making more technical scrambly sections as straightforward as gravel trails. They’re warm but not overwarm, making them suitable for year-round use, the Gore-Tex reliably keeps out the wet stuff and the Vibram MegaGrip outsole lives up to its name on a variety of surfaces and in different weather conditions.
The Ortholite Approach 4mm insole is sufficiently cushioned for long days with a heavy pack, and the level of stiffness of the boot and support offered (even with a slightly lower ankle height) lends itself happily to this too. Given the light weight of the boot though, it’s particularly good for those who like to move at a faster pace with a smaller pack.
The La Sportiva TX5 GTX a capable and well-made hiking boot, perfect for hiking and trekking on varied terrain, making the £200 a sound investment in a very versatile and wearable piece of kit.
