La Sportiva Tibet GTX

Do not miss it if you can find it from a forgotten stock.

Yes, it is off the production line, but is still on the market in Turkey, so when I see it on sale, I purchased a pair right away. I returned a brand new pair of Asolo Fugitives and got these.

The looks are a little old fashion, but when you put it on, one easily find out this is no ordinary backpacking boot. The outsole is rather stiff so it reflects this stiffness to the insole as well, I prefer somewhat softer insole feeling so I placed an additional pair of insoles inside.

I was in Croatia last week, after checking the weather I saw it was going be OK but I took em with me anyway to shorten the break-in period, etc. The weather was rather warm when I was there, during which time I wore the boots all the time and they breathed just fine thanks to their GTX lining, when the rain came, again my feet were all cozzy and dry. The outsole is Vibram. Ankle support is aggressive, locks your ankle tight.

My initial thoughts are all positive about them.

I have had my La Sportiva boots for 6 years and hiked with them through the Himalayas, East Africa, Kokoda, Australia, Argentina and Antarctica. Great boot for carrying heavy packs, difficult terrain, ankle support and for comfort. Take some time to break in though so wouldn't recommend them for those thinking of back packing or trekking before wearing them in (3-12 months).

Have trekked 1000s of kms with these boots and with a little care they are very durable. My soles are starting to wear and the leather is cracking around my toes. Still waterproof and amazingly the Gore-tex lining is still in great condition.

Obviously it is important that you try as many boots as possible before deciding which best fit you. I found that these boots best fitted my broad flat feet when searching for a hiking boot and am hoping that they still have a few years left.

I hope I don't have to buy a backpacking boot but once every ten years, so I want it to be a good one. I look for the following: light; leather; few seams; vibram sole; roomy toe box; high cut; and quality construction. The La Sportiva Tibet has all that plus a goretex bootie. This boot is easy to break in, protects you from rocks if you cross-country, and is waterproof. What else do you want except low price, which it does not have. Most people do not need the Makalu, their most popular boot. It is hard as hell to break in. This boot is plenty for 90% of backpackers, esp. if you are not looking at winter camping and crampons. Well made, well fitting boot. By the way, I ordered them through REI, so I will eventually get a 10% dividend back on the purchase.

Obviously, everyones feet are different so talking about fit is a waste of time, you need to find a pair of boots that fit before any other considerations. I own La Sportiva climbing shoes and mountaineering boots that I'm very pleased with and that fit my wide feet well so I stuck with the brand. I went on a tryout hike w/them (9 miles) right out of the box and was astounded that I had not even a hot spot. Since then they've become my favorite boots. One caveat: Because the boots are handmade, the fit varys slightly from pair to pair. I had to try on 3 different pairs before I found one that fit perfectly. Also, the Gore Tex liner works great at keeping water out but can be a little steamy on really hot days.

Well, I hiked 18 miles round trip into and out of the Grand Canyon with the La Sportiva Tibets. The quality of these boots are fantastic but I did suffer some blisters during my hike. I think the injuries were more a function of my soft feet than the boots. This was my first real hike so I don't think my feet were conditioned to the kinds of stresses a hike of this kind can generate. All in all I'm happy with the boots and am looking forward to testing them some more.