La Sportiva

TXS GTX Backpacking Boot - Men's

Waterproofing Failure

Waterproofing failed after less than 90km (failure identified halfway through second backpacking trip). Failure where rand meets upper at approximate location of toe-bend creases. Openings are small, but render boots useless for any heavy rainfall or puddles deeper than rand. An otherwise comfortable and decent boot. But a failure of a key feature (waterproofing) renders these basically useless for their intended purpose.

Great boot but uppers wear/break down too fast

I destroyed a pair of these in only 1 and a half hiking seasons, and I don’t think the use was anything crazy or extreme. I specifically just saved them for my high Sierra high trips. Multiple 3 to 9 day trips with a 20-40lbs backpack depending on the trip. Some trail, and lots of off trail, granite talus-hopping, and high Sierra alpine walking and scrambling. The sticky soles are a dream in the high Sierra granite. Was always 100% confident in class 2/3 passes, cols, and technical traverses with a backpack, when a slip would have been bad. For how soft the rubber is, it didn’t wear down too quickly! The rest of the boot did, before the tread even got low. The cushion is great at first and carries a heavy load with comfort. Fairly quickly though the cushion goes flat and can begin the feel the impact of the pack weights over harsh and rocky terrain much more than when they were plush and new. Like walking on air when they are new! I’m also not a huge fan of the Gore-Tex. Sure it keeps my feet dry, until they sweat from being too hot. Then I find myself taking off my boots often to cool/dry out my feet. I can keep my own feet out of water, I want something that doesn’t make my feet overheat. Wish they made a non waterproof version. I’d buy it. Anyway, this is the perfect lightweight, technical, hike/scramble with a load, boot. Unfortunately the cushion flattens and the uppers breakdown quickly, especially around where the boot creases at the big toe/ball of the foot. Can’t really repair that. This is my second pair, with the same failure in the same spot, on both boots. 3.5\5 stars, but I’ll round up. Would recommend but also hope LS makes some improvements in future models. Also, please make a non Gore-Tex version.

Way too narrow

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Size Bought:

44

I've had several pairs of the old Trango TRX GTX, which I believe were the origins of this boot, and I wore a 43 very comfortably and were a great fit for summer use with thin socks and winter use with thick wool socks. The TXS GTX in 43 was way too small, in length and width, so I sized up to 44, and those were perfect length, but they were still too narrow in the mid foot. It is very odd too, as they were simply too small up and down in the mid foot area, not left and right like you would typically think of "width". Very disappointing because these are the replacements for the TRX which are extremely light and comfortable.

Most comfortable boots ever tried

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Size Bought:

13

Height:

5' 8"

Weight:

170

I've been wearing high-end boots for 30+ years. I have several pairs now that I wear regularly. These are more comfortable than Salomon X Ultra and thats saying a lot. Most people say X Ultra is the most comfortable that have ever worn. These feel similar in that they are very flexible. These are the most flexible backpacking boots I've ever experienced. Unlike the Salomon x Ultra, these have a very superior tongue to many boots. The tongue goes all the way to the top of the boot, is gusseted, and folds very comfortably. The tongue feels like memory foam and just hugs the top of your feet without having to make them too tight. These boots (with a good insole) sort of remind me of wrestling shoes. Wrestling shoes are extremely comfortable when walking on a wrestling mat. These feel like that. I can't say enough about the comfort. Jury is still out on durability, but any shoes more comfortable than X Ultra with a superior tongue and lacing system, (2 metal eyelets a ove the ankle) gets the top rating from me. They are also super lightweight and have great lugs on the soles especially the heels for downhilling. I would definitely buy again. I wish I had these when I was working security and walking 16 hours on concrete. I recommend backpacking boots for ALL jobs where you are on your feet all day and need protection from elements. I paint houses so I can do way more on a ladder and stand longer than those cheapskates who wear tennis shoes. As with ALL boots I buy, the first thing I do is lace them up and if I like the feel, I get them wet to make sure they are waterproof. I have yet to have gore tex leak when new but im sure it can happen. Waterproofness is my number one requirement for quality footwear, way ahead of comfort. No footwear is comfortable when it's soaked. I hope no reputable boot company would try to RE- sell a boot that somebody has proven to not be waterproof even though they are Gore Tex. I see that in other industries but dry boots are a matter of life and death for us when we are deep in the wilderness. Do me right, and I will give you excellent TRUTHFUL reviews and try to help boost your sales and boost your customers comfort and security levels. I would give these boots a top rating no matter how high the scale went to. I look forward to trying some other La Sportiva boots very soon. I have a suggestion for LA Sportiva. I want some extremely rugged, lightly insulated GORE TEX- ALL LEATHER mountaineering boots. I know you make good leather boots but I will never spend that sort of money or trust boots that don't have the best Gore tex available. (,No cheap membranes) I've tried them. Gore tex is superior. Leather can be maintained and since its real skin it molds to your feet better just like your own skin. Good leather boots will last for many years and I'm not going to rip a hole in them with a sharp rock or stick like these textile boots will fail. I realize leather is heavier, but it's so much more trustworthy and if I get a hot spark on them from having a campfire with my friends, they won't get a hole burned through them and make them worthless. I take off my expensive textile boots for this very reason when I'm around a campfire. I also suggest a full protective rand and please make sure to make it high in the heel section so crampon straps can't wear through the stitching and cause the boots to fall apart. The extra beefiness in the heel area would also make then way more stable in sidehilling. Color is not an issue as long as it's masculine enough. The color will change anyway when I use my Obenaufs leather conditioner. I almost forgot, most mountaineering boots are too short. I don't get that. I like boots about 8-9 inches tall for total protection. A glove leather tongue will make them extremely comfy. Thanks for the wish list opportunity. I didn't know where else to put it where it would actually get read.

Look great but runs extremely small.

Familiarity:

I returned this product before using it

Size Bought:

47

Height:

6' 3"

Weight:

185

I wear a size 13 typically and these are wayyy too tight at 13. I wish they werent because they are very nice shoes. Had to unfortunately return.

Do everything boot!

I now have enough time in these boots to leave a review. My feet have stayed dry on countless treks through the wet forests of western Washington. Paired with good gaiters my feet have continued to stay in great condition. Great support while climbing shale slides in the deserts of eastern Washington. I took these boots in as steep of country as one would want to go without fall protection and never felt like the boot was inadequate. I hunt in these boots and I am able to stay quiet on my feet due to how light they are. I switched to these after using a heavy pair of mountaineering boots of another brand and I will probably not use them anymore unless I need to use crampons. I have ran in these and they feel like a pair of stiff trail runners. Backpacked with a 40lb pack and they remained comfortable all day. After wearing them almost every day for 4 months they are showing a little wear on the tread due to being a little softer/gripy soles. I wear 10.5 - 11 size boots and I ordered the 11s and they fit perfect. Can’t be happier and I recommend to everyone who wants a versatile boot.

Overall Great Shoe

I purchased this shoe around 5 months ago, and its been astounding. While it was narrow at the start, a little breaking in fixed it. I started to wear it during the Spring season, so every time I hiked with it, it was pouring rain and (with a shell layer on) my feet remained completely dry. I walked through streams and deeper puddles, and not once did my feet get wet. But, the waterproofness ended up causing problems when I waded through a calf-high stream and filled the boot with water. It took days of wearing and leaving it out for it to fully dry, and with no access to a shoe drier, it was quite annoying. It was my fault, but I guess it shows how waterproof the boot is. I brought this boot to Alaska and backpacked for a couple days with full packs up 2 mountains, and they worked perfectly. When everyone else was complaining of wet feet or foot pain, I had zero problems. Even with a 50lb pack on, it pushed along. The grip of the boots was also great. While up in the peaks, it was wet all day and I had no issues at all with the grip of the shoes. I didn't slip on wet rocks or on the snow and even held on with loose ground and rocks. Highly recommend.

Very functional, but durability issues

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Terrific grip, durable, lightweight, and a good bargain on sale. Primarily used for hikes and scrambles, with some short backpacks. These are very good in mixed alpine terrain, off-trail, scree and scrambling. Durability is very poor. After about 100 miles, the fabric upper is separating from the rubber lower at the same place on the instep side of both boots. Warranty request submitted to La Sportiva.

Can?t go wrong with these

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Size Bought:

41.5

We bought a pair of these for my husband for a week of hiking in the White Mountains in NH. Without braking in, they carried my man through over 10 miles of intensive hiking on the first day without a single rub. Lightweight, comfortable, with superior grip on the bare rock (I was sliding in some places in my Asolo boots while he was like a mountain goat, which is understandable since this boot has a bit of a approach shoe feel and design). He said he could complain about a lot of things during that hike, but he did not once think about his feet or shoes. Very nice upgrade to his 10+ year old heavy hiking boots. They are also very pretty in person, the backcountry photo does not do justice to the look of the boot.

Narrow but high quality

I am trying to break these in after buying them. Nothing rugged yet but walking around indoor and out and they are just too narrow. They are plenty long enough at my size but the toe box is smashing my foot. There isn't much ability to loosen the laces to get more width either. Great, high quality boot otherwise. Light and well built.