Tests & reviews

La Sportiva - Boulder X Mid GTX - Approach shoes tested

Praise vs. Criticism
Catherine's profile picture

Catherine

01.09.2022

Durable, with excellent grip

I bought these boots following a recommendation from a friend, in order to walk the GR20 in Corsica. I was amazed at how lightweight they were. Due to time constraints, I didn't really have time to wear them in, but to be honest, they didn't really need it.

On the walk, they were durable, and gripped the rock well. On scrambles, the soles and rubber rand stuck like a dream and made the uphill sections so much easier. Whilst other people were duct-taping their boots back together, I was struggling to find any minor damage to my boots!

The laces are easy to adjust, although I did find the laces slipped at times, this wasn't a huge issue. They held out well in 35+ degree heat, and felt relatively breathable. For the first time on a long distance walk, I had no heel blisters over the whole 16 days. A couple of pressure areas on the bottom of my feet - but I think this was more the nature of the walk/rock than the fault of the boots.

I would say that they do come up a little small - I'm a size 5/5.5, and usually wear size 6 walking boots with liner/walking sock, but the size 6 seemed short, and I ended up re-purchasing a size 7, but they were spot on. Would recommend for hot, long distance treks, especially those involving lots of rock work.

Didn't really get the opportunity to try them in heavy rain, but they seemed to dry quickly and no leaking when walking through streams etc. Would buy again.

Advantages
Comfortable
Lightweight
Durable
Breathable
Good grip
VS
paul's profile picture

paul

10.09.2021

NO

NOT Waterproof i have rgis pear off LA sportive boulder x GTX mid
But they are fine in the first 2 weeks off hot weather in the uk son as we had rain with garters on also my feet both where water logged in inside the boots
i have emailed AlpinTrek as off yet no answer
I am not Happy with is model
off LA Sportive because of this it's sad as LA sportive are a top brand i would not have this model again + Will Send them back

Advantages
Lightweight
Finish
Good grip
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This is what other customers say:
Catherine's profile picture

75% have found the reviews
by Catherine helpful

Durable, with excellent grip

I bought these boots following a recommendation from a friend, in order to walk the GR20 in Corsica. I was amazed at how lightweight they were. Due to time constraints, I didn't really have time to wear them in, but to be honest, they didn't really need it.

On the walk, they were durable, and gripped the rock well. On scrambles, the soles and rubber rand stuck like a dream and made the uphill sections so much easier. Whilst other people were duct-taping their boots back together, I was struggling to find any minor damage to my boots!

The laces are easy to adjust, although I did find the laces slipped at times, this wasn't a huge issue. They held out well in 35+ degree heat, and felt relatively breathable. For the first time on a long distance walk, I had no heel blisters over the whole 16 days. A couple of pressure areas on the bottom of my feet - but I think this was more the nature of the walk/rock than the fault of the boots.

I would say that they do come up a little small - I'm a size 5/5.5, and usually wear size 6 walking boots with liner/walking sock, but the size 6 seemed short, and I ended up re-purchasing a size 7, but they were spot on. Would recommend for hot, long distance treks, especially those involving lots of rock work.

Didn't really get the opportunity to try them in heavy rain, but they seemed to dry quickly and no leaking when walking through streams etc. Would buy again.

Product images by Catherine
  • Smaller pair have walked GR20 once, larger pair have walked it twice!

  • Advantages
    Comfortable
    Lightweight
    Durable
    Breathable
    Good grip
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Sergiy's profile picture

66% have found the reviews
by Sergiy helpful

This is the best for hiking I've used so far

I was looking for boots that will allow me to drive and hike at the same time.
This is it. Flexible enough to allow driving and robust enough to hike.

  • Advantages
    Stabilizes the foot
    Good grip
    Comfortable
    Waterproof
    Durable
    Price / performance
's profile picture

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Paul's profile picture
Check fitting

The shoe has performed well on trails and forest paths.
The fitting required me to purchase a pair one size larger than my normal shoe size.

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Durable
    Comfortable
    Well made
  • Disadvantages
    Fitting
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Julian's profile picture

60% have found the reviews
by Julian helpful

Great

This is the second pair of these boots I have purchased. They are light and extremely comfortable (no blisters straight from the box). Good grip and support. Excellent all round.

  • Advantages
    Comfortable
    Robust
    Lightweight
    Good grip
    Stabilizes the foot
's profile picture

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paul's profile picture

14% have found the reviews
by paul helpful

NO

NOT Waterproof i have rgis pear off LA sportive boulder x GTX mid
But they are fine in the first 2 weeks off hot weather in the uk son as we had rain with garters on also my feet both where water logged in inside the boots
i have emailed AlpinTrek as off yet no answer
I am not Happy with is model
off LA Sportive because of this it's sad as LA sportive are a top brand i would not have this model again + Will Send them back

  • Advantages
    Lightweight
    Finish
    Good grip
's profile picture

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Bob's profile picture
Nearly perfect.

Wasn’t expecting this boot to become my favourite for scrambling however, it work’s really well up to low grade rock climbs. My only reservation is getting the lacing sufficiently tight to prevent foot slipping to the toe box when descending slopes.

  • Advantages
    Price / performance
    Lightweight
    Durable
    Good grip
    Comfortable
    Breathable
    Robust
's profile picture

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Russell's profile picture
would buy again

Very comfortable

  • Advantages
    Comfortable
    Waterproof
    Price / performance
    Good grip
    Finish
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andy's profile picture
Question from andy
07.11.2023
Is the sole as stiff as the Boulder X?
's profile picture

Oops! You forgot about your answer

Adrian (Community)'s profile picture
Adrian (Community) | Customer Service
07.11.2023 14, 46

Hi Andy,

Exactly the same with no difference at all.

This is what customers from around the world say:
Arnd's profile picture

100% have found the reviews
by Arnd helpful

  • Advantages
    Comfortable
    Durable
    Good grip
    Robust
    Lightweight
    Breathable
    Finish
    Stabilizes the foot
    Waterproof
Gerit Sophie's profile picture

56% have found the reviews
by Gerit Sophie helpful

  • Advantages
    Comfortable
    Good grip
    Lightweight
Samuel's profile picture

83% have found the reviews
by Samuel helpful

Product images by Samuel
  • Advantages
    Waterproof
    Comfortable
    Good grip
    Breathable
Thorsten's profile picture

60% have found the reviews
by Thorsten helpful

The thread was edited on 12.04.22

Product images by Thorsten
  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Waterproof
    Lightweight
  • Disadvantages
    Causes blisters
Henryk's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Comfortable
    Stabilizes the foot
    Price / performance
    Robust
    Finish
    Waterproof
Wolfgang's profile picture

30% have found the reviews
by Wolfgang helpful

  • Advantages
    Robust
    Good grip
    Lightweight
    Comfortable
    Stabilizes the foot
    Finish
Bernard's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Comfortable
    Price / performance
    Lightweight
    Breathable
Lukas's profile picture

75% have found the reviews
by Lukas helpful

  • Advantages
    Lightweight
    Robust
    Finish
    Good grip
    Comfortable
    Stabilizes the foot
Hubert's profile picture

julien's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Finish
    Comfortable
    Price / performance
    Lightweight
Fabian's profile picture

71% have found the reviews
by Fabian helpful

  • Advantages
    Lightweight
    Finish
    Comfortable
    Waterproof
    Robust
Nicola's profile picture

75% have found the reviews
by Nicola helpful

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Comfortable
Florian's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Stabilizes the foot
    Finish
    Lightweight
    Good grip
    Waterproof
    Robust
    Comfortable
    Price / performance
Thomas's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Durable
    Robust
    Comfortable
    Lightweight
    Finish
    Good grip
    Stabilizes the foot
    Price / performance
    Waterproof
Mathias's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Stabilizes the foot
    Robust
    Price / performance
    Waterproof
Mats's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Comfortable
    Breathable
    Robust
    Waterproof
    Lightweight
    Stabilizes the foot
    Good grip
    Finish
Pascal's profile picture

  • Advantages
    Good grip
    Waterproof
    Finish
    Comfortable
    Price / performance

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