La Sportiva Aequilibrium Hike: A Great Boot for the Mountains (But Not Full Mountaineering)

• Tester Background/Context: Store staff member with multiple years of professional backpack guiding and outdoor education experience

• Shoe Tested: La Sportiva Aequilibrium Hike - "an agile and lightweight mid-cut boot, perfect...for mixed-terrain hiking. The synthetic fabric guarantees a lightweight and breathable feel without sacrificing protection and durability, also thanks to the abrasion-resistant welt in the most highly exposed areas. The 3D Flex System Evo™ ensures natural flexibility and mobility at the ankle and guarantees secure traction on all types of terrain. 100% waterproof thanks to the GORE-TEX Extended Comfort membrane. The resoleable tread extends the life of the product and ensures the durability of the sole."

• Length/Style of Test: I decided to give my new pair of boots a proper test: summiting Mt. Agassiz via the West Slope, out of the Bishop Pass Trailhead at South Lake near Bishop, California.  The romp clocks in at 14 miles, just over 5,000 feet of gain (according to my Strava), and goes up to class 3. Other than wearing them for a few minutes in the house, they were fresh out of the box when I took them to Agassiz.

• Performance Verdict: They are my trusted mountain boots, but not quite a mountaineering boot.

2. Advertised Construction & Material Features

From La Sportiva themselves:

• Sizes: 37 - 47.5 (Half Sizes)

• Weight: 480 g / 16.9 oz (Half Pair)

• Upper: Anti-abrasion and water-repellent fabric / Mesh Collar & 3D Flex Ankle System Evo™ / Recycled Laces / Fabric reinforced heel & toe counters

• Lining: Bluesign® Certified ePE Gore-Tex® Extended Comfort / Air Mesh Collar

• Insole: Ortholite® Hybrid with 5% recycled rubber + 15% production waste foam

• Midsole: 5mm Polypropylene Stiffener / Polyurethane foam with anti-abrasion TPU film

• Sole: Vibram® Spring-Lug w/ PU foam lining and Impact Brake System™

• Last: Aequilibrium

• Fit: Medium

• Protection: 6/10
  Stability: 8/10
  Stiffness: 6/10

• Key Features
  • Exceptional walkability thanks to the innovative Double Heel™ construction
  • 3D Flex System EVO™ directional articulation for contoured, protected ankles: provides stance control and perfect ankle mobility
  • Vibram® Spring-lug outsole with Impact Brake System™ for greater break force control and precision
  • Bluesign® and OEKO Tex® certified ePE Gore-Tex® membrane and abrasion-resistant welt to tackle any terrain and extreme weather conditions
  • The resoleable tread extends the life of the product and ensures the durability of the sole

3. Fit & Comfort

• Sizing: The boots fit tight.  I normally wear a size 46.  Size 46.5 would have been just about fine for length, but making contact with the pinky toes of my Topo/Altra-shaped feet. Size 47 gave me a satisfactory amount of toe room without sacrificing performance in the rest of the fit.

• Cushioning: Definitely not trail runner light and cushy, but for a sturdy and supportive boot they seemed especially wearable.

4. Performance by Technique Type

• On & Off Trail: These boots were pleasant to have on my feet. Uphill, they didn’t weigh me down, and having the stiffness of the platform underfoot freed me from needing to mind my every step. I kicked a few rocks on the way with the full swing of my gait, but my toes never knew. The boots offered ample support and protection for the downhill.

• On Rocks & Scrambling: The ascent had some class 2 and 3 terrain, and I occasionally followed it into some class 4 moves to see what the boots could do. I was not particularly blown away by how the boots climbed.  They handled 3rd class just fine, but they did slip a few times on 4th class moves. I believe this is the result of a combination of the rubber, some polish on high elevation granite, and my choice to go for a roomier fit. For comparison, my old summer mountaineering boots climbed almost as well as my approach shoes.  But they were also a half size too small at 45.5.
  

• Snow & Water: I stood in a few streams to test the waterproofness while I filled my flask. I was happy to find there were no leaks. In terms of snow, I got to briefly test their gnarly heel while descending a snow field, and was very satisfied with the braking power and control it provided me. 

5. Miscellaneous

• Break-In: Other than wearing them for a few minutes in the house, they were fresh out of the box when I took them to Agassiz. the only complaint I had was from my left pinky toe. It had been getting familiar with the front of the boot over the final four miles of my return trip. When I took my boots and socks off I had no sign of a blister. The remarkable thing was that the rest of my feet were complaint free. That was a big day to do with completely fresh boots. I will be curious to see whether, and how much, these completely synthetic boots break in. If my left pinky toe can find a little more space for itself on descents then I will be even more eager to put them on. The sole did become more flexible over the course of the day, but I don’t think they lost any of the snow performance I was hoping for.

• Repairability: The boots can be re-soled by any La Sportiva authorized resoler. See here for the authorized shops in the United States.

6. Final Verdict

They are my trusted mountain boots, but not quite a mountaineering boot. I am happy to add them to my lineup for technical hiking, scrambling, and other off trail fun where I want a little more support. While I was happy with their performance in Class 3 terrain, I’d like to give them another chance to prove they are sticky enough get into more consequential terrain that has occasional Class 4 moves.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If the La Sportiva Aequilibrium Hike GTX has caught your attention, stop by the store to test them out or click here to see if we have your size in stock and get your own pair shipped today!

As always, don't hesitate to call us at store (760-873-7520) if you have questions about the right footwear for you!

(And if you need any gear to prepare for your own Eastern Sierra adventure, we got you covered with free shipping if you meet the criteria! All you have to do is join our email list and place your order of a certain amount with us online.)