la sportiva nucleo high gtx backpacking shoes

#La sportiva nucleo high gtx backpacking shoes full#

Nucleo High II GTX provides improved upper protection While being a complete revolution over the Nucleo High GTX might be a tall order, the boot in question does have welcome improvements. They say that the follow-up to something considered high-quality has to be better in every way. The Nucleo High II GTX is the successor to a well-loved trekking boot by La Sportiva. off-trail use, camping, fishing and summer scramblesĭelivers better performance than previous model.backpackers, outdoor adventurers and trail-goers.The La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX is a weather-ready and lightweight hiking boot best suited for:

should buy the La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX I’m not prone to make superlative product declarations, but La Sportiva’s latest do-all boot is by far my favorite hiker of the last year. Whether I’m out for a quick day hike, strolling through an airport, or lugging a fully loaded backpack, the Nucleo High GTX seems to be the perfect choice. I tend to be that person with either too much or too little boot for a given outing. My feet were perfectly comfortable the entire time. While others on my trip fussed with hotspots and pressure points, I didn’t even bother to change socks over the course of 4 days. Under the weight of a 35-pound pack, and charging hard to get in big miles each day, the Nucleo maintained a swift trail shoe stride while providing hiking boot support. With the last weeks of summer quickly passing, I had another chance to put the Nucleo High GTX to the trail, this time with a 30-mile backpack trip through the Sierra Nevada Mountains outside of Tahoe, California. I’ve been a longtime user of Superfeet insoles and their latest footbed is perfectly suited to hiking boots. Much of that walking comfort can be attributed to the low stack height of the mid and outsole package as well as the soft cushion of the EVA foam. For hauling a light pack on modestly technical trails, it feels more comfortable and efficient. I appreciate the protection a stiff sole provides delicate foot muscles and ligaments, but the Nucleo affords more flex and a more natural stride.

#La sportiva nucleo high gtx backpacking shoes full#

The result is a boot with a near running shoe weight at just 476 grams, but with the full protection of a proper hiking boot.Īs much as I love my Trango Cube boots, their climbing-inspired midsole is just stiff enough that they walk a little on the clunky side. The unique Nano-Cell mesh exterior is visible at the mid-foot with the rest of the boot covered in light and supple nubuck leather. Like the Synthesis Mid, the Nucleo uses Gore-Tex Surround technology to maximize breathability, not just in the upper aspect of the foot, but throughout the footbed as well.

Their new Nucleo High GTX fit the bill perfectly as they are slightly lighter than my Trango Cubes, but far more substantial than my Snythesis Mid shoes. With another foray into the high peaks of Peru approaching, I decided to streamline my footwear even further by melding the better attributes of my two favorite La Sportivas into one pair. Both pairs went on to summit Mount Washington and ascended to over 16,000 feet in the Peruvian Andes. The rest of the trip, including the long 36-hour flight over, I wore the lightweight Snythesis Mid trail shoe. For rugged hiking days, I used Trango Cube boots. Because I travel light, I only packed two pairs of footwear for the near month-long trip, both from La Sportiva. In late 2015, I had the good fortune to visit Nepal and trek deep into the Khumbu Valley.