User Review: Montrail Helium GTX

Montrail Helium GTX
Above: The current Helium GTX, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed April 26, 2008 by Ultralight Packmule

Rating:
Materials: Gore-tex, Gryptonite Rubber Sole
Use: all purposes but running
Break-in Period: no need for breaking in, perfect out of the box
Weight: 1 lb 8.6 oz
Price Paid: $220

This is by far the most comfortable boot I've ever worn. The Helium GTX story:

Two years ago, Montrail came out with a design for a boot called the Overland GTX, which never made production. It utilized the Boa lacing system in conjunction with a traditional lacing system to keep you foot planted in the heel of the shoe, while still lacing down into the footbed. The Boa system, as most of you know does a good job of failing, so Montrail scrapped the design.

Ownership changed and the design resurfaced without the Boa system but with the really cool features it had before under the new name Helium GTX. Some of those features are: a composite shank that weighs less but holds up and wont wear as quickly as a steel shank; a bombproof fabric; Gore-tex liner.

The two other things to discuss are the heelcup and the width. Montrail is known for the integra-fit--800,000 feet were measured to determine sizes and widths for montrails shoes--and they have a few models of boots that are available in a wide size, but the helium takes the cake here: it is by design wider. It is made to be a wider boot for a wider foot. I usually wear a 9 wide in Torre GTX by Montrail and the 9 in Helium GTX is heaven.

Next on discussion is the heel cup. Montrail makes a lot of climbing shoes and the Helium is a monster of two worlds. The heel cup of the Helium is made the way a heel cup of a climbing shoe is--sometimes known as a slingshot heelcup. It holds the ankle and heel in place by pulling slightly down and in.

To sum it up the Helium GTX, to me and the friends I've sold on them, is the soulmate of feet.