User Review: Asolo Granite GV

Asolo Granite GV
Above: The current Granite GV, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed February 6, 2008 by Kevin Lake

Rating:
Materials: Leather, and Gore-tex
Use: rough trail with very heavy pack, winter conditions
Break-in Period: 2-3 hours a day for one week.
Weight: Apx. 6lbs.
Price Paid: $199

I bought these as a replacement for a pair of Salomon X-Terra boots that my dog ate. I like a heavy duty boot with a stiff sole for heavy loaded packing (think quarter of an elk at 85#+). These boot really fit the bill.

I have had them about a year and a half now, and have a couple hundred loaded miles on them, and a lot more day to day outdoor miles on them. I still miss the X-Terra, but these are a more comfortable boot at the end of the day.

These are also a nice winter, and cold weather boot. They have a little more insulation than my other boots had, and I have worn them in -20F weather on a few occasions. I wouldn't want to stand around for very long in that kind of weather, but if you are moving, they work fine.

I am NOT a climber, so I can't speak to that use, but I do backpack, hike, and pack some very heavy loads. My boots are showing very little wear after more than a year, and are showing no separation or breakdown that I can tell.

I have a large (13) foot, but not very wide. I had a very easy break-in period on these boots. With the design, I could see how they could be BAD if they did not fit properly. I guess to sum it up, I LOVE the boots, but could see how they could be hard to live with if they did not fit your feet.