Walking on Water in La Sportiva Synthesis Surround GTX Hiking Shoes

Living in the midst of mountains is something I never thought I would come to appreciate. I'm an urbanite, born and raised, and plopping me in the alpine desert was disconcerting, to say the least.

But we are adaptive creatures and nowadays, I cannot imagine living elsewhere. I like cosmopolitan areas, but only to visit, and never entertained the idea of it as a habitat of my choosing any longer.

Hiking is the one of the activities I have no shortage of where I live and I do with friends rather often. I have some wild adventures lined up in the summer so I was looking for a hiking boot upgrade. The beautiful thing about the mountains is that there are creeks and waterfalls this early in the spring and it was opportune time to field test some hiking shoes contenders.

And here they are. The waterproof mid-ankle La Sportiva Synthesis Surround GTX and it passed the test like a dream. La Sportiva is an Italian brand (thus the infusion of style and aesthetics) with a niche in rock climbing and trail running and though I have never owned anything from this shoemaker, I'm now a fan.

Middle Ground

I’m used to wearing a low boot, but we will be traipsing in rad mountains in the French and Swiss Alps this summer, and I feel the need to get at least a mid-ankle boot for greater support. The other contender was an Ahnu high boot and although the fit was great, my feet started sweating in ten minutes just trying them on at the store.

Fit for a Queen

I have very narrow feet and in the ideal world, maybe an Ahnu boot would have been better suited for my foot frame. But at the time I was shopping, Ahnu did not have a mid-boot that had the breathability of this La Sportiva shoe. I must admit that I was insecure about how “roomy” the shoe felt in the beginning especially given that you’re supposed to leave a bit of an allowance at the front of the shoe to allow for downhills and descends. When laced firmly, they adhere to my feet fine. I’m also banking on the fact that our feet expand as the day progresses.

TIP: Tighten your laces from the top down. These La Sportivas have a cinch lock so you will never ever be bothered with shoelaces untying on the trail. There’s a loop to tuck the cincher in so they’re out of the way as you’re hiking.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

My body composition is such that my feet run warmer than the rest of my body. My feet could sweat like no other so I would pay a premium for shoes that would help keep my feet dry and comfortable in active environments for extended periods. This shoe definitely passes the heat test!

Walk on Water

I will be hiking in potentially unpredictable, wet, and rainy environments this summer. In the winter, assuming that winters have not completely forsaken us forever in the Tahoe area, there will be snowshoeing. With the right pair of socks, this boot will be both a summer and a winter adventure boot. Note that I did not say backpacking, because carrying heavier loads require a more rigid boot.

Deathlike Grip

The corrugated sole provides a steady grip, on uneven surfaces like rocks. They are boots to get dirty and muddy in because, you know what? To clean them, you just slosh your foot around in a hallow puddle (or hose it down) since it’s 100% waterproof. (And just a side note: these Eddie Bauer Travex pants have amazing moveability, if that's a word.)

Tread Lightly

When it comes to gear, I will sound like a broken record already, but I'm all about style and substance. I have been wearing a Merrell Goretex low boot for the last five years. They are indestructible and I’ve hiked many miles on them. But I’ve noticed that at the end of the day, they start feeling too clunky and heavy.

Gear technology is ever evolving and the fact that they have made a stylish, lightweight, yet rugged and technical boot compels me to do cartwheels. In these La Sportivas, of course. And You will feel like a warrior princess in these boots. So go ahead, be brave to do those Warrior 1’s, 2’s and 3’s. In wet surfaces even.

The La Sportiva Core GTX is sold at a pretty penny. But the giddy news is that REI is having its annual members’ sale starting May 15th to take off 20% of one item. If you’re in the market for your first hiking shoes (the low cut version might be easier on the pocket) or for a swanky upgrade, these La Sportivas are a definite shoe-in. More on this shoe at the REI website here.

| All photos shot on location at Thomas Creek Trail by fellow rad chick, Jenny Sinocruz, for collaboration number two.|

Update

I loved this shoe and I wanted so badly to keep it, but after a six mile hike, I realized I sized up more than I needed. I wear a size 6 US women's and I had on a 37 Euro women's. My feet sloshed around too much and it had to go back to REI. :( I wanted to size down to at least a 36.5, but none of the stores I called even had that size. I still highly recommend this shoe if you wear a US women's size 7.

I did find the La Sportiva Core High GTX which is a higher version of this shoe. It proved to be a reasonable alternative. I wore these shoes hiking in the Swiss and French Alps, as well as local hikes here in the Sierras. I was due for an upgrade though, and I chose these Lowa Renegade Mid GTX and I'm head over heels for them. I don't think I'll wear any other boot! Read my full review here.

#adventure #welcome #gear #hiking