![]() Some footwear with Gore-Tex Surround lacks the durability seen in boots like the Nucleo. For comparison, similar boots often weigh 3 to 5 ounces more apiece. Lightweight Hiking Boot Choiceįor leather hiking boots, the Nucleo is lightweight. The same holds true on dewy, early-morning hikes or light mountaineering in snow. Go ahead and walk through shallow streams or puddles. Gore-Tex Surround provides full waterproof protection and improves airflow around the foot. The result is underfoot breathability, whereas most footwear offers no air movement where the sock compresses against the insole. But Gore-Tex Surround incorporates a woven polyester or polyamide mesh insole that allows air to pass beneath the Gore-Tex bootie insert. Gore-Tex has long been used in hiking boots. La Sportiva balances the leather with breathable, protected mesh (see “Nano Cells” section above) to give you the best of both rugged protection and breathable comfort.įootwear Breathability From Gore-Tex Surround It is resistant to wear and a good choice for hiking boots. Nubuck leather is a rugged performer with a velvet-like surface. This system protects the mesh yet allows air to circulate around the bottom of the foot, letting feet breathe. You can see a fine (breathable) mesh material through the PU web. La Sportiva injects a polyurethane “web” onto the mesh upper to form what it calls Nano Cells. The Nucleo is for sale now at REI, in men’s and women’s models for $199. GearJunkie got a pair to inspect for this breakdown. ![]() This year, La Sportiva upped the ante with its Nucleo hiking boot by combining Gore-Tex Surround and a proprietary feature, Nano Cells (see the web pattern on the image above). The waterproof/breathable membrane Gore-Tex Surround increases breathability in footwear. Hiking boots can get clammy, especially on warm days. But the quest for breathability in waterproof boots has taken a step forward in recent years. Buying used because they are cheaper, broken in, and I can really try them out before committing (at REI anyway).A ‘macro membrane’ pattern serves as a visual cue (and a functional feature) on the Nucleo High GTX boot, which La Sportiva claims is its most breathable boot to date. They feel like high top basketball shoes but with a Vibram sole.īeen through lots of boots lately trying to find a replacement for my worn out Alico boots for backpacking. If the boots had fit I would have kept them despite the odd setup, but it is definitely out of the mainstream. The clips and the narrow laces are not too bad. 12.5 USA is bigger than 29.5 But I was getting a little heel slip in the 12, and even in the wide version my left foot was too long (hitting the end of the shoe), so figured 12.5 would not fit either. Most m ondopoint 12 hiking boots are 29.5 La Sportiva is less than 29.5 So La Sportiva is definitely smaller if you go by USA size. Since La Sportiva have a reputation for being narrow I figured they might fit my narrow heel wide toe foot. Emailed La Sportiva they told me their wide in this shoe (and the Raptor BTW) is only wide in the toe box area. I find La Sportiva's to be my new go-to footwear for just about any occasion. I can even wear them around my residence for any occassion and keep my feet feeling comfortable all day long.īeing prior military, fire/law enforcement, I have worn many types and styles of footwear. Temp Control: With the proper socks, these boots kept my feet very warm in sub-freezing temps and likewise, in warmer temps my feet weren't drenched from sweating.Ĭonstruction/Durability: From dry sandy conditions to wet, rooty, rocky, mossy, muddy or wet environments these boots performed as advertised and did not experience any breakdown or tears from environmental conditions.Īs stated above, I have worn two different pair of these boots on the Appalachian Trail on long distance section hikes. Support: The design of the tread allows one to negotiate rocky terrain and not create pinpoint stabbing to your heel, arch, and toe box. Fit: My custom orthotics added a huge plus to the comfort of the shoe for long distance hiking.
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