Crampon-compatible mountaineering boot for lightweight and flexible performance from La Sportiva The Trango Tech Leather GTX from La Sportiva a lightweight and flexible boot, ideal for alpine hiking and technical approach routes. The upper made from durable nubuck leather, which offers ultimate comfort and performance. To minimise seams and increase waterproofing capabilities, the upper comprises a single piece of leather, which combines with microfibres to offer unbeatable protection against the elements and surrounding terrain. These boots are lined with Gore-Tex Performance Comfort Lining so regardless of the weather, your feet will remain dry. Moreover, the integrated tongue made of a soft stretch and ergonomically shaped fabric, allowing you to walk over longer distances in consistent comfort.The laces run right down to the toes, allowing maximum volume adjustment and weight containment, whilst a 3D Flex System allows more mobility around the ankle for precise support on rough terrain. Additionally, the midsole built from low-density polyurethane to withstand impact shock which results in a more durable shoe. The Trango Tech Leather GTX features the Cube sole which has been designed in collaboration with world-renowned manufacturer Vibram. The heel laced with Impact Brake System lugs to provide traction on a multitude of terrains. The Cube sole additionally features a broad climbing zone to enable dexterity whilst perching on rock lips. The Trango Tech Leather GTX for those who enjoy mountain hiking, via Ferrata and backpacking. With its stiff Vibram Cube sole and high-cut design, this boot aims to provide maximum foot support, while the Gore-Tex lining keeps your feet dry while allowing them to breathe.
Crampon-compatible mountaineering boot for lightweight and flexible performance from La Sportiva The Trango Tech Leather GTX from La Sportiva a lightweight and flexible boot, ideal for alpine hiking and technical approach routes. The upper made from durable nubuck leather, which offers ultimate comfort and performance. To minimise seams and increase waterproofing capabilities, the upper comprises a single piece of leather, which combines with microfibres to offer unbeatable protection against the elements and surrounding terrain. These boots are lined with Gore-Tex Performance Comfort Lining so regardless of the weather, your feet will remain dry. Moreover, the integrated tongue made of a soft stretch and ergonomically shaped fabric, allowing you to walk over longer distances in consistent comfort.The laces run right down to the toes, allowing maximum volume adjustment and weight containment, whilst a 3D Flex System allows more mobility around the ankle for precise support on rough terrain. Additionally, the midsole built from low-density polyurethane to withstand impact shock which results in a more durable shoe. The Trango Tech Leather GTX features the Cube sole which has been designed in collaboration with world-renowned manufacturer Vibram. The heel laced with Impact Brake System lugs to provide traction on a multitude of terrains. The Cube sole additionally features a broad climbing zone to enable dexterity whilst perching on rock lips. The Trango Tech Leather GTX for those who enjoy mountain hiking, via Ferrata and backpacking. With its stiff Vibram Cube sole and high-cut design, this boot aims to provide maximum foot support, while the Gore-Tex lining keeps your feet dry while allowing them to breathe.
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La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GORE-TEX Boots Black Yellow Red - 46
Crampon-compatible mountaineering boot for lightweight and flexible performance from La Sportiva The Trango Tech Leather GTX from La Sportiva a lightweight and flexible boot, ideal for alpine hiking and technical approach routes. The upper made from durable nubuck leather, which offers ultimate comfort and performance. To minimise seams and increase waterproofing capabilities, the upper comprises a single piece of leather, which combines with microfibres to offer unbeatable protection against the elements and surrounding terrain. These boots are lined with Gore-Tex Performance Comfort Lining so regardless of the weather, your feet will remain dry. Moreover, the integrated tongue made of a soft stretch and ergonomically shaped fabric, allowing you to walk over longer distances in consistent comfort.The laces run right down to the toes, allowing maximum volume adjustment and weight containment, whilst a 3D Flex System allows more mobility around the ankle for precise support on rough terrain. Additionally, the midsole built from low-density polyurethane to withstand impact shock which results in a more durable shoe. The Trango Tech Leather GTX features the Cube sole which has been designed in collaboration with world-renowned manufacturer Vibram. The heel laced with Impact Brake System lugs to provide traction on a multitude of terrains. The Cube sole additionally features a broad climbing zone to enable dexterity whilst perching on rock lips. The Trango Tech Leather GTX for those who enjoy mountain hiking, via Ferrata and backpacking. With its stiff Vibram Cube sole and high-cut design, this boot aims to provide maximum foot support, while the Gore-Tex lining keeps your feet dry while allowing them to breathe.
Crampon-compatible mountaineering boot for lightweight and flexible performance from La Sportiva The Trango Tech Leather GTX from La Sportiva a lightweight and flexible boot, ideal for alpine hiking and technical approach routes. The upper made from durable nubuck leather, which offers ultimate comfort and performance. To minimise seams and increase waterproofing capabilities, the upper comprises a single piece of leather, which combines with microfibres to offer unbeatable protection against the elements and surrounding terrain. These boots are lined with Gore-Tex Performance Comfort Lining so regardless of the weather, your feet will remain dry. Moreover, the integrated tongue made of a soft stretch and ergonomically shaped fabric, allowing you to walk over longer distances in consistent comfort.The laces run right down to the toes, allowing maximum volume adjustment and weight containment, whilst a 3D Flex System allows more mobility around the ankle for precise support on rough terrain. Additionally, the midsole built from low-density polyurethane to withstand impact shock which results in a more durable shoe. The Trango Tech Leather GTX features the Cube sole which has been designed in collaboration with world-renowned manufacturer Vibram. The heel laced with Impact Brake System lugs to provide traction on a multitude of terrains. The Cube sole additionally features a broad climbing zone to enable dexterity whilst perching on rock lips. The Trango Tech Leather GTX for those who enjoy mountain hiking, via Ferrata and backpacking. With its stiff Vibram Cube sole and high-cut design, this boot aims to provide maximum foot support, while the Gore-Tex lining keeps your feet dry while allowing them to breathe.
The lowest price for La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GORE-TEX Boots Black Yellow Red - 46 right now is $429.73 at Deporvillage.net.
The all-time low was $392.02 on 21 Mar 2026 — today's price is 10% above the lowest ever. That's a little above the best price we've seen.
Prices last updated 12 May 2026.
Last updated at 12/05/2026 21:53:41
La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GORE-TEX Boots Black Yellow Red - 46
Delivery $65.99
originally posted on REI
I'm a big La Sportiva fan (first brand I look at when I need new outdoors footwear), but these are a rare miss. There are a few good things going for them, but the bad outweighs the good in this case. The first major issue is sizing - in my experience, most La Sportiva shoes tend to run small (relative to US brands, Salomon, etc.), but these are way off. For reference, I'm usually size 12.5 / 13 (EUR 47) in boots and upsize to 13.5 (EUR 47.5) in La Sportivas. In 47.5, these are still too small. Also, there doesn't seem to be a lot of commonality with the old Trango last... I wore one of the old Trango boots (now discontinued) in 46.5 and the fit in this boot is completely different. Further, the toe box is incredibly cramped. I get this is intended for precision and ... MoreI'm a big La Sportiva fan (first brand I look at when I need new outdoors footwear), but these are a rare miss. There are a few good things going for them, but the bad outweighs the good in this case. The first major issue is sizing - in my experience, most La Sportiva shoes tend to run small (relative to US brands, Salomon, etc.), but these are way off. For reference, I'm usually size 12.5 / 13 (EUR 47) in boots and upsize to 13.5 (EUR 47.5) in La Sportivas. In 47.5, these are still too small. Also, there doesn't seem to be a lot of commonality with the old Trango last... I wore one of the old Trango boots (now discontinued) in 46.5 and the fit in this boot is completely different. Further, the toe box is incredibly cramped. I get this is intended for precision and technical terrain, but the inside edge of the big toe gets jammed. There is also very little vertical volume, with the rubber rand pressing on top of the big toe - a problem that is exacerbated by what seems to be a seam connecting some of the decorative yellow fabric (which is entirely unnecessary from a practical standpoint) right at the junction between the toe rand and the rest of the upper. There is a another hidden seam in the tongue running vertically from the top of the tongue to the rand. It connects in the same place as the first seam, taking up more of whatever little precious vertical toe box volume you have left.The other weakness is the lacing system: the main issue there is that you have the yellow "loops" instead of metal hooks in the second to top lacing spot - these are very impractical as they require you to thread the laces in every time instead of quickly "catching the hooks". This makes lacing slow and inconvenient and does not seem to add any practical benefit outside of La Sportiva saving a few $ by not installing proper metal hooks. Another issue with the lacing system are the fabric lacing wholes along the rest of the shoe - I get that they shave a bit of weight, but I would rather see proper metal ones that can be tweaked to adjusted for hot spots, lace tension, etc. This last one is not as big of an issue, but not great. While we are on the topic of laces, it's worth noting that the actual boot has a proper metal hook in the third lacing spot, allowing for dual zone lacing - this is a great feature, but for some reason the photos do not show it.It is not all bad, however. As with all La Sportivas, the build quality is excellent, the leather seems to be of good quality (for the price point), and I liked the feel of the boot in the ankle, heel and midfoot sections. The soft, stretchy collar (used in other La Sportiva boots) is comfortable and practical, likely to keep debris out whilst allowing for mobility without sacrificing ankle support.Fit is always a personal, subjective matter, so if these fit your feet, I'm sure they will hold up well. I just wish sizing was a bit more accurate (esp. relative to other La Sportiva boots, esp. relative to other Trango models) and the lacing system was better, particularly given the price point.
originally posted on mec.ca
I bought these back in september of 2020 for use as a lightweight alpine/mountaineering boot for long days car to car on scrambling terrain. Since then I started using them in April 2021 for a 14km day in winter like conditions on an alpine route. They fit perfectly then, but as time went on and despite me washing and re conditioning them at a minimun of every 40kms put on them they shrunk and ended up taking out some toe nails. That aside though I have put close to 300km's on these boots in the last year in all conditions from post holing in January to scrambling up Assiniboine in August, and they performed well in all aspects. I used semi auto irvis hybrid crampons on these boots on several occasions, on glacier travel and moderate snow slopes they functioned fine ... MoreI bought these back in september of 2020 for use as a lightweight alpine/mountaineering boot for long days car to car on scrambling terrain. Since then I started using them in April 2021 for a 14km day in winter like conditions on an alpine route. They fit perfectly then, but as time went on and despite me washing and re conditioning them at a minimun of every 40kms put on them they shrunk and ended up taking out some toe nails. That aside though I have put close to 300km's on these boots in the last year in all conditions from post holing in January to scrambling up Assiniboine in August, and they performed well in all aspects. I used semi auto irvis hybrid crampons on these boots on several occasions, on glacier travel and moderate snow slopes they functioned fine but once you got onto some steeper ice the lack of stiffness is noticeable. The only main complaint that I have would be that I would have liked to have seen a lace locking technology on the boots such as on arctyrex's newer boot "Acrux lt gortex" where they have a much more abrasion resistent material on the inside and outside of the foot for scree slopes.Should be noted that the photos included are after the year of a lot of abuse on several different slopes. I would and probably will buy again but I have a hope that their new boot lineup will be improved and will arrive in Canada once my next pair is done.
originally posted on mec.ca
I purchased these boots for mountaineering as they were advertised.Perfect fit right from the box and comfortable regardless the length of the hike. And this is all in the positive side.After few months of use, I took them in the wet snow and at end of the hike there was water inside the boot...and I mean water, no like sweat. I had GoreTex gaiters and the pants under the gaiters were perfectly dry.After 20 hikes or so, the sole start cracking along the bending area. Deep crack up to the insole. After 10 more hikes there is just a little material handing the sole together, the rest is a deep crack from left to right all the way to the insole.Also, the tip of the sole is almost gone and soon the rand would be affected/abrazed.MEC said they are too ... MoreI purchased these boots for mountaineering as they were advertised.Perfect fit right from the box and comfortable regardless the length of the hike. And this is all in the positive side.After few months of use, I took them in the wet snow and at end of the hike there was water inside the boot...and I mean water, no like sweat. I had GoreTex gaiters and the pants under the gaiters were perfectly dry.After 20 hikes or so, the sole start cracking along the bending area. Deep crack up to the insole. After 10 more hikes there is just a little material handing the sole together, the rest is a deep crack from left to right all the way to the insole.Also, the tip of the sole is almost gone and soon the rand would be affected/abrazed.MEC said they are too bitten-out to consider any help from them.It is my first pair of boots in 15 years which has GoreTex and still lets my foot soak, gets the sole worn out in a year of usage and gets a crack in the sole in just few months (in fact no other brand had major issues with the sole either then regular wear and tear on the tracks).I have to add that I am doing hiking and scrambling with a group of average hikers so I am far from using the boots on sharp rocks. I am getting in high alpine areas but the boot exposure to sharp rocks is half, at most, from what a mountaineer would do.And MEC covers small defects on stuff they sell but do not cover big warranty issues, while they still sell these boots as "mountaineering boots" in that section of their store.I do not recommend this product, low quality material and unless you use them for light trails they wont last for the money you pay for.
| Uppers | Nubuck, microfiber inserts |
| Material characteristics | breathable |
| Outer fabric | Nubuck Leder |
La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GORE-TEX Boots Black Yellow Red - 46
Delivery $65.99
I'm a big La Sportiva fan (first brand I look at when I need new outdoors footwear), but these are a rare miss. There are a few good things going for them, but the bad outweighs the good in this case. The first major issue is sizing - in my experience, most La Sportiva shoes tend to run small (relative to US brands, Salomon, etc.), but these are way off. For reference, I'm usually size 12.5 / 13 (EUR 47) in boots and upsize to 13.5 (EUR 47.5) in La Sportivas. In 47.5, these are still too small. Also, there doesn't seem to be a lot of commonality with the old Trango last... I wore one of the old Trango boots (now discontinued) in 46.5 and the fit in this boot is completely different. Further, the toe box is incredibly cramped. I get this is intended for precision and ... MoreI'm a big La Sportiva fan (first brand I look at when I need new outdoors footwear), but these are a rare miss. There are a few good things going for them, but the bad outweighs the good in this case. The first major issue is sizing - in my experience, most La Sportiva shoes tend to run small (relative to US brands, Salomon, etc.), but these are way off. For reference, I'm usually size 12.5 / 13 (EUR 47) in boots and upsize to 13.5 (EUR 47.5) in La Sportivas. In 47.5, these are still too small. Also, there doesn't seem to be a lot of commonality with the old Trango last... I wore one of the old Trango boots (now discontinued) in 46.5 and the fit in this boot is completely different. Further, the toe box is incredibly cramped. I get this is intended for precision and technical terrain, but the inside edge of the big toe gets jammed. There is also very little vertical volume, with the rubber rand pressing on top of the big toe - a problem that is exacerbated by what seems to be a seam connecting some of the decorative yellow fabric (which is entirely unnecessary from a practical standpoint) right at the junction between the toe rand and the rest of the upper. There is a another hidden seam in the tongue running vertically from the top of the tongue to the rand. It connects in the same place as the first seam, taking up more of whatever little precious vertical toe box volume you have left.The other weakness is the lacing system: the main issue there is that you have the yellow "loops" instead of metal hooks in the second to top lacing spot - these are very impractical as they require you to thread the laces in every time instead of quickly "catching the hooks". This makes lacing slow and inconvenient and does not seem to add any practical benefit outside of La Sportiva saving a few $ by not installing proper metal hooks. Another issue with the lacing system are the fabric lacing wholes along the rest of the shoe - I get that they shave a bit of weight, but I would rather see proper metal ones that can be tweaked to adjusted for hot spots, lace tension, etc. This last one is not as big of an issue, but not great. While we are on the topic of laces, it's worth noting that the actual boot has a proper metal hook in the third lacing spot, allowing for dual zone lacing - this is a great feature, but for some reason the photos do not show it.It is not all bad, however. As with all La Sportivas, the build quality is excellent, the leather seems to be of good quality (for the price point), and I liked the feel of the boot in the ankle, heel and midfoot sections. The soft, stretchy collar (used in other La Sportiva boots) is comfortable and practical, likely to keep debris out whilst allowing for mobility without sacrificing ankle support.Fit is always a personal, subjective matter, so if these fit your feet, I'm sure they will hold up well. I just wish sizing was a bit more accurate (esp. relative to other La Sportiva boots, esp. relative to other Trango models) and the lacing system was better, particularly given the price point.
I bought these back in september of 2020 for use as a lightweight alpine/mountaineering boot for long days car to car on scrambling terrain. Since then I started using them in April 2021 for a 14km day in winter like conditions on an alpine route. They fit perfectly then, but as time went on and despite me washing and re conditioning them at a minimun of every 40kms put on them they shrunk and ended up taking out some toe nails. That aside though I have put close to 300km's on these boots in the last year in all conditions from post holing in January to scrambling up Assiniboine in August, and they performed well in all aspects. I used semi auto irvis hybrid crampons on these boots on several occasions, on glacier travel and moderate snow slopes they functioned fine ... MoreI bought these back in september of 2020 for use as a lightweight alpine/mountaineering boot for long days car to car on scrambling terrain. Since then I started using them in April 2021 for a 14km day in winter like conditions on an alpine route. They fit perfectly then, but as time went on and despite me washing and re conditioning them at a minimun of every 40kms put on them they shrunk and ended up taking out some toe nails. That aside though I have put close to 300km's on these boots in the last year in all conditions from post holing in January to scrambling up Assiniboine in August, and they performed well in all aspects. I used semi auto irvis hybrid crampons on these boots on several occasions, on glacier travel and moderate snow slopes they functioned fine but once you got onto some steeper ice the lack of stiffness is noticeable. The only main complaint that I have would be that I would have liked to have seen a lace locking technology on the boots such as on arctyrex's newer boot "Acrux lt gortex" where they have a much more abrasion resistent material on the inside and outside of the foot for scree slopes.Should be noted that the photos included are after the year of a lot of abuse on several different slopes. I would and probably will buy again but I have a hope that their new boot lineup will be improved and will arrive in Canada once my next pair is done.
I purchased these boots for mountaineering as they were advertised.Perfect fit right from the box and comfortable regardless the length of the hike. And this is all in the positive side.After few months of use, I took them in the wet snow and at end of the hike there was water inside the boot...and I mean water, no like sweat. I had GoreTex gaiters and the pants under the gaiters were perfectly dry.After 20 hikes or so, the sole start cracking along the bending area. Deep crack up to the insole. After 10 more hikes there is just a little material handing the sole together, the rest is a deep crack from left to right all the way to the insole.Also, the tip of the sole is almost gone and soon the rand would be affected/abrazed.MEC said they are too ... MoreI purchased these boots for mountaineering as they were advertised.Perfect fit right from the box and comfortable regardless the length of the hike. And this is all in the positive side.After few months of use, I took them in the wet snow and at end of the hike there was water inside the boot...and I mean water, no like sweat. I had GoreTex gaiters and the pants under the gaiters were perfectly dry.After 20 hikes or so, the sole start cracking along the bending area. Deep crack up to the insole. After 10 more hikes there is just a little material handing the sole together, the rest is a deep crack from left to right all the way to the insole.Also, the tip of the sole is almost gone and soon the rand would be affected/abrazed.MEC said they are too bitten-out to consider any help from them.It is my first pair of boots in 15 years which has GoreTex and still lets my foot soak, gets the sole worn out in a year of usage and gets a crack in the sole in just few months (in fact no other brand had major issues with the sole either then regular wear and tear on the tracks).I have to add that I am doing hiking and scrambling with a group of average hikers so I am far from using the boots on sharp rocks. I am getting in high alpine areas but the boot exposure to sharp rocks is half, at most, from what a mountaineer would do.And MEC covers small defects on stuff they sell but do not cover big warranty issues, while they still sell these boots as "mountaineering boots" in that section of their store.I do not recommend this product, low quality material and unless you use them for light trails they wont last for the money you pay for.
I am a long-term fan and dedicated consumer of La Sportiva. They produce some of the best climbing and mountaineering boots on the earth. However, the Trango Tech model is an obvious failure. Firstly, the boot runs small. Normally, I wear a size 8, but when I ordered the 8.5, it was way too small for me, even without socks. Consequently, I decided to order a size 9 from another seller. (It's important to note that when ordering from La Sportiva that you have to pay for delivery and shipping back; there is no free return!) The size 9 boots felt okay, perhaps even a bit longer than necessary, but the toe space was very narrow and gave me blisters after just a 15-minute walk. Consequently, I returned the boots. They are on sale for a reason.
I used them for one year hoping I'll eventually get them to fit right. I tried hard but in the end I'll return them. They are great if you can get the fit right. If not they are not very accommodating due to mountaineering type construction - a very good thing otherwise.The good: waterproof (tested), abrasion resistant uppers, robust construction and materials, very supportive can be used for backpacking, good 2 zones lacing, love the elastic top closing around the leg - less stuff in my boots, love the colors, crampons compatible, lightweight, tight fit, easy to clean, not expensive, excellent value, can be resoled right here in Seattle.The bad: it takes considerable time to break in, the rubber is not grippy enough for an approach/scramble boot - a ... MoreI used them for one year hoping I'll eventually get them to fit right. I tried hard but in the end I'll return them. They are great if you can get the fit right. If not they are not very accommodating due to mountaineering type construction - a very good thing otherwise.The good: waterproof (tested), abrasion resistant uppers, robust construction and materials, very supportive can be used for backpacking, good 2 zones lacing, love the elastic top closing around the leg - less stuff in my boots, love the colors, crampons compatible, lightweight, tight fit, easy to clean, not expensive, excellent value, can be resoled right here in Seattle.The bad: it takes considerable time to break in, the rubber is not grippy enough for an approach/scramble boot - a disappointing point, tip slips easy - surprising.The fit: I have not listed it as good or bad because it depends on your foot. But for me with big and next toe same length or inverse length the very toe of the boot has not enough volume cramping the toes. Then there is the heel volume that is on the larger side. No matter what kind of foot beds and shims I tried I could not adjust for that so my heel was constantly lifting, rubbing and had to use lube to prevent blisters. Initially I assumed this is because of the stiff sole, but even after break in the issue remained unchanged. So make sure the boots fit right especially in the front as the bomb proof construction will prevent the boot from adjusting to your foot. Also make sure the heel is not too wide for you as there is nothing you can do to adjust it.The sole heel: it is not the usual hiking boot heel. They call it braking heel. It is actually doing what they say but the stride required to walk is a bit different. In the beginning I was catching my heel sometimes. After plenty of miles I got used to it and it is no longer a problem. Some people complained about this so just to give you a different angle. You will need to adjust your stride.The warmth: this is not a cold weather boot. The fit is akin more to climbing shoes than winter boot, so it is tight. There is no insulation anywhere. There is not enough room to wear thick socks. Excellent summer boot. Ok for late spring and fall.Comparison to the textile uppers version: I tried that to and it has pretty much the same fit. Here are the diffs. The textile version is much easier to break in - no break in required for the uppers, break in required only for the sole flex point. The textile is missing the second lace hook row so it is a one zone - that is a big miss for no good reason. The textile does not feel as robust and supportive making it less suitable for backpacking. The textile is harder to clean or better said not as easy.Overall I wold have loved this boot and used it/resole it for many years if not for the fit.
I got started hiking about 10 years back on La-Sportiva hiking boots - boots that are still going strong. (ECO2.0) The fit is perfect, the boots have served me well.Coming to these boots - they are great. A couple years back, I was on Whitney with my Hiking boots, and it was super slippery in snow (when not using crampons - something the shoe wasn't even compatible with, but worked reasonably well anyway.) I thought the tread had given out, but it would seem just the flex plus maybe the way the rubber compound reacted to cold temperatures was causing it to not have traction.I tried these booths on a couple of trails in snow recently, bot with crampons, with microspikes, and without. This boot is stiff! And well made. On now chutes, even with just microspikes, I ... MoreI got started hiking about 10 years back on La-Sportiva hiking boots - boots that are still going strong. (ECO2.0) The fit is perfect, the boots have served me well.Coming to these boots - they are great. A couple years back, I was on Whitney with my Hiking boots, and it was super slippery in snow (when not using crampons - something the shoe wasn't even compatible with, but worked reasonably well anyway.) I thought the tread had given out, but it would seem just the flex plus maybe the way the rubber compound reacted to cold temperatures was causing it to not have traction.I tried these booths on a couple of trails in snow recently, bot with crampons, with microspikes, and without. This boot is stiff! And well made. On now chutes, even with just microspikes, I felt very assured of the footing. With crampons, they are even better! Overall, can't go wrong for snow.There are a couple of negatives though.1. They run a little small/narrow. compared to the same sized la-sportiva hiking boots, the fit is tight. It didn't cause too many issues on my short hikes, but I do wonder if it would work great on multi-day hikes.2. The loop eyelets are crazy. Why a mountaineering boots would have those I don't understand. I can already see wear on it from the half a dozen times I have used these boots.
2022 La Sportive Trango Tech GTX.I have put many miles on my old La Sportiva Trango TRK GTX (2017). They were my go-to boot for long treks in Alaska and offered uncompromising support and comfort in a super light package. From the start, I knew I’d like these boots, when I took them for a break-in hike with a friend it strangely turned into a 4-mile run. I figured if I could run in a new trekking boot without blisters, something was right. Well, as rugged as they are, the heavy packs and rough scree finally took their toll and although they’re still functional, it was time to start looking for a replacement. In this category between a true mountaineering boot and a rugged hiking boot there don’t seem to be a lot of choices and I kept coming back to the La Sportiva ... More2022 La Sportive Trango Tech GTX.I have put many miles on my old La Sportiva Trango TRK GTX (2017). They were my go-to boot for long treks in Alaska and offered uncompromising support and comfort in a super light package. From the start, I knew I’d like these boots, when I took them for a break-in hike with a friend it strangely turned into a 4-mile run. I figured if I could run in a new trekking boot without blisters, something was right. Well, as rugged as they are, the heavy packs and rough scree finally took their toll and although they’re still functional, it was time to start looking for a replacement. In this category between a true mountaineering boot and a rugged hiking boot there don’t seem to be a lot of choices and I kept coming back to the La Sportiva line. I was disappointed to find the design of Trango Tech GTX had changed considerably in the past few years, but I thought I’d give them a try.I found the first challenge was simply getting my feet in them. The new design includes a full-gusset tongue that provides a considerable challenge to entry. When I chose the same size as my old Trango’s, I found I absolutely could not get my foot in them. I have healthy “normal” feat and typically don’t even try on shoes when I buy them as I don’t have trouble with fit. Lately though, it seems like shoe and boot manufacturers have been messing with the concept of sizing (but that’s a different rant). I ultimately bought a size larger which felt good in the store but were still a challenge to get into. My first test was a packraft trip in the Brooks Range this spring. Conditions were typical early spring: rain, snow, rock, ice, and boggy tundra. The boots provided the support I expected, but the fit wasn’t up to par. As it turns out, when wet (which is standard for me after a couple of days hiking in Alaska), these boots were near impossible to put on. The struggle of the small boot-opening was exacerbated by the softer heal cups/ankle-seals which had tendency to bunch up as I put them on. The heal-pull didn’t help and I sometimes resorted to using smooth sticks or the handle of my camp spoon to shoe-horn my foot in. Once on, they were fine – not great - but fine. Upon my return from the 12-day trip, I tried the boots on various day hikes and overnighters, and things didn’t get any better. Finally, I realized I wasn’t truly happy with this boot and started busting out my old Trango’s. I was just about to start to modify my new boots to fix some issues, and then I thought to myself, “hey these suckers are expensive – why should I have to cut them up to make them work?” So, I took them back. Thanks REI, this was truly a case of a customer just not being “satisfied” by my purchase. I am still in search of another perfect boot, but in the meantime, I’m sticking to my leaky and worn old Trango’s.
La Sportiva has upped the bar for the competition with this boot. Bought these and wore them for a day in the office walking around. Seemed a little stiff at first. Next day - RMNP and a 5-mile trek in every condition you could encounter just about. In the snow they performed great, keeping feet warm even when traversing through 2-3' of snow at times and rarely slipped. The mud was not an issue and never slipped as the tread provided great traction. Then water on the trail - totally submerged up to the 3rd eyelet multiple times. Foot did get a little cool inside but never wet. Matter-a-Fact, the water washed the mud right off. Traction on dirt is great even in steep terrain. Afterward, my feet felt like new, with no hotspots, or soreness. That's just incredible when ... MoreLa Sportiva has upped the bar for the competition with this boot. Bought these and wore them for a day in the office walking around. Seemed a little stiff at first. Next day - RMNP and a 5-mile trek in every condition you could encounter just about. In the snow they performed great, keeping feet warm even when traversing through 2-3' of snow at times and rarely slipped. The mud was not an issue and never slipped as the tread provided great traction. Then water on the trail - totally submerged up to the 3rd eyelet multiple times. Foot did get a little cool inside but never wet. Matter-a-Fact, the water washed the mud right off. Traction on dirt is great even in steep terrain. Afterward, my feet felt like new, with no hotspots, or soreness. That's just incredible when trekking up in high altitude with all types of terrain in an unborken-in hiking shoot. Five miles may not sound like much but at the altitude and conditions, it was a good 6 hours of footwork/trekking. Got these home, rinsed them off and they looked like they came right out of the box. Not sure what La Sportiva puts on the leather to protect them, but nothing seemed to phase the material.My applause to La Sportiva!! You will not go wrong with this boot if you are out all day in harsh conditions hiking or backpacking. I would say that if your pack is heavy and you're in rocky terrain and steep ascents/descents you may want something with more defined foot placement and support - The TRANGO TOWER EXTREME GTX or any of the La Sportiva AEQUILIBRIUM or La Sportiva's Mountaineering footwear may be a better choice.
I've worn these for work about 3 months now working in tree care on the ground and climbing trees. I've also worn them on two backpacking trips. They were comfortable out of the box, I sized half a size down for leather stretch and a tight climbing fit. It took about two weeks of heavy use to break them in. I've been in water ankle deep and stayed dry. They don't breathe well. Some sole wear and rubber peeling up on where the uppers crease. They get solid grip anywhere dry, and ok with hard wet surfaces. I struggle to keep traction on wet grass or leaves with a slope. The forefoot lacing isn't very adjustable you're stuck with the shape of the boot but the ankle lock system gives enough adjustability for different aggressive terrains. I've never gotten blisters from ... MoreI've worn these for work about 3 months now working in tree care on the ground and climbing trees. I've also worn them on two backpacking trips. They were comfortable out of the box, I sized half a size down for leather stretch and a tight climbing fit. It took about two weeks of heavy use to break them in. I've been in water ankle deep and stayed dry. They don't breathe well. Some sole wear and rubber peeling up on where the uppers crease. They get solid grip anywhere dry, and ok with hard wet surfaces. I struggle to keep traction on wet grass or leaves with a slope. The forefoot lacing isn't very adjustable you're stuck with the shape of the boot but the ankle lock system gives enough adjustability for different aggressive terrains. I've never gotten blisters from these boots, even when they've gotten wet. I plan on buying trango extremes (if they weren't discontinued), and would love to see these come out with a safety toe version as I know many arborist who climb in these. The S3s just seem so bulky.
Pros: Build quality is fantastic; everything appears to be masterfully crafted with longevity in mind. These boots are very warm as well, would be excellent for late fall/early winter hiking. They are compatible with strap-on or semi-automatic crampons as well so if you're looking for a boot that would work for rougher hiking or lighter mountaineering these would likely work well for you.Cons: The biggest issue for me is the weird shape of the interior. Sportivas do typically run narrow so you will need to go up a little bit in size to get them to fit, however with these the height of the foot cavity is also very short. This is a good thing in some ways because it keeps you from slipping forward and hitting your toes against the front of the boot on descents, but ... MorePros: Build quality is fantastic; everything appears to be masterfully crafted with longevity in mind. These boots are very warm as well, would be excellent for late fall/early winter hiking. They are compatible with strap-on or semi-automatic crampons as well so if you're looking for a boot that would work for rougher hiking or lighter mountaineering these would likely work well for you.Cons: The biggest issue for me is the weird shape of the interior. Sportivas do typically run narrow so you will need to go up a little bit in size to get them to fit, however with these the height of the foot cavity is also very short. This is a good thing in some ways because it keeps you from slipping forward and hitting your toes against the front of the boot on descents, but it can be quite uncomfortable especially if you're wearing thicker wool socks. The heel area is a bit large as well - no matter what I've tried I haven't found a way to keep my heel from moving around so I ended up just putting some KT tape over the areas where blisters were forming preemptively every time I wear them to help mitigate the damage. The boots also don't really breathe at all, so expect hot feet - definitely wouldn't be my first pick for summer hiking. These boots are extremely rigid so expect a long break-in period. The built-in gaiter is great for keeping debris out, but it also makes it difficult to put them on and take them off as there's not really anything solid there to grab onto - they probably could've included a look of fabric at the back to make this part easier.Overall thoughts: I think these boots are for people looking to get into cold weather hiking or some lower elevation mountaineering, but I would not recommend buying them without trying them on first and seeing if the shape is compatible with your foot. Not my favorite Sportivas I've ever owned, but overall I still recommend these boots.
| Uppers | Nubuck, microfiber inserts |
| Material characteristics | breathable |
| Outer fabric | Nubuck Leder |
