User Review: La Sportiva Men's Nepal EVO GTX

I have to give these boots mad props (yes I said mad props). Here's the story: I was stupid and had the brilliant idea of traversing Mt. Adams north to south but the catch was I parked my car on the south side forcing me to backpack around the mountain...

Great idea right? Any way I wore these boots for the entire 11 mile trip around the west side of the mountain and although they weren't exactly comfortable, they didn't destroy my feet either. Ok, so I thought I'd be clever and not lace them up all the way so I could flex my ankle a bit more which resulted in some blisters, an easy fix. Once laced correctly they were comfortable, walked well enough for me chew through the hike in about 8hrs (I could've done better in my tennies).

As far as the climb went they grip rock like a dream. The north ridge of Adams in one giant gravel pile, and they helped grip the tiny bid of solid rock there was. They kept my feet dry during the numerous stream crossings and gripped the wet rock amazingly as well. The ankle support is very intuitive. I could flex as needed but not so loose that when stumbling on the loose-pile-that-is-the-north ridge-of-Adams my ankles were not injured either.

Obviously they accept crampons, have a gore-tex lining, and all that good stuff. I didn't notice my feet being too warm with the duratherm lining but at the end of the day after taking them off, there was quite of bit of moisture build up.

Bottom Line: Great boot for CLIMBING. Don't try to hike in them. Wear your tennies instead ;P.

There is a glaring downside though: They are heavy, like 2lbs heavier than than my regular hiking boots.

Oh yeah, found mine used, pretty pricey otherwise.