User Review: Asolo Men's Power Matic 200 GV

Summary

The out-of-the-box comfort praises are true, and these things give me grip on rock faces and ledges like Spiderman! You can plow through the brush like an elephant with their support, or scramble up rock like a mountain goat with their grip.

Note on my "cons" above ... I was just joking to underscore how little I could find deficient. See sizing/foot-type notes below.

I did a lot of research, and mostly made my choice based on the comments here. They really are comfortable out of the box. I'm a paramedic and chose to do a basic fit test before taking them on the trail during my 24hr 911 shift Saturday. My partner remarked how after 8 hours in my well-broken-in and well-liked duty boots, I'm always swapping into base slippers for comfort. I did 16 hours on the truck out of the box, no problems.  

Then I took them for their virgin hike on about 14 miles climbing Whiteface and Passaconaway ... when I lost the Blueberry Ledge Cutoff, I loved their stability for bushwhacking and managing surprise rocks under leaves.  

On the ledge, as noted in my summary above, grip was like Spiderman ... could not believe to what and how well they held. I got no blisters though felt a little heel rub to be expected ... and, because of getting lost, I was hiking very fast and aggressive to make up lost time so they got a very aggressive blister-test (used thick hiking socks with thin liner socks).

Once again, the Asolo's helped there with their strong lateral stability and strategic flexibility.

No water testing yet, but Goretex is Goretex.

I'll keep my eye out for wear issues such as I've seen in reviews, but no signs of anything but dirt on these. Oh, and the folks whining about scuffs ... REALLY?? It's a HIKING boot ... not pimpin' wear. I'll report back on this after a few months more climbing.  

A note about sizing and my feet, since everyone is different:

SIZING: In distance running shoes, I wear a 10.5, and the 11s for Asolo fit perfect — with room for winter socks and lace-tightability for thinner summer ones.  

FEET: Mine are a trainwreck of past injuries from playing way too hard in too many sports, and having flat feet to start with. I have collapsed arches, have destroyed the cartilage on a medial malleosis, and cracked both large tarsals, as well as pulled both plantars.  I used my Green Superfeet on top of the Asolo insole and they were awesome for support and comfort.