TreeLineBackpacker

The TX Hike Mid GTX Hiking Boots from La Sportiva are lightweight, waterproof boots designed for fast, supportive, yet agile hiking with an eco-friendly design philosophy. My review:

The focus of the TX Hike MID GTX (The GTX for the rest of the review) is speed and agility. They are designed and built top to bottom to be lightweight without sacrificing build quality or stability for long effortless trail miles. They have a mid-cut design that sits just above the ankles with the upper being made of a combination of lightweight, breathable mesh, padding, and TPU overlays for added stiffness and durability. Inside is a dedicated waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX membrane and removable EVA insoles. The outsole is Vibram Ecostep which is made from partially recycled materials, featuring relatively deep 5mm lugs and a dedicated heel brake pattern. It has thin yet sturdy laces woven through a series of fabric and metal eyelets with extra reinforcement around the bend of the ankles. The boots weigh roughly 2 lbs. 3 oz for the pair, retail for $189, and are made from 65% recycled materials (by weight).

What I liked

The first time I hit the trail in the GTX, I instantly noticed just how fast and light they felt on my feet. The low weight and lack of resistance when getting my feet moving was a nice change of pace from the heavier boots I have been using lately, and really didn’t feel like I was wearing a boot at all. Much more, the sensation was akin to that of trail shoes with each step feeling light and effortless. Each step was quick and nimble. This paid dividends on steep terrain and especially stairs where lifting the feet up high was a regular occurrence, saving me a lot of energy by the time I made it to the top of the climb. Long hauls where I would normally be somewhat fatigued by the time I hit the precipice, especially in the humid heat of summer, felt much less draining. This I very much appreciated.

Traction has overall been very good, especially on dry and hardpack terrain thanks to the soft, grippy outsole. The relatively deep lugs provide good purchase on soft, loose soil and gravel too as their wide spacing and angular perimeter allow them to bite into less stable surfaces. The dedicated heel brake and lugs provided extra attention and material, allowing extra grip on steep descents. The thick closely spaced knobs have angled edges that provide more surface contact and work great on rocks and dirt alike. Tree roots and slick rocks provide a slight challenge due to the relatively large gaps between the lugs and lack of general surface area to stick to them, but this hasn’t been much of an issue for me yet. Still, running streams, algae and cascades are probably the boots weak point, so take care there. Mud and tarmac also grip great, making them good rainy weather boots.

Comfort has been mostly great in these boots, with a close fitting, smooth construction that wraps around the foot in a very natural way. The internal seams are completely unnoticeable and I didn’t experience any friction points. The padding along the top of the foot is minimal, so tight lacing can be felt but hasn’t been bothersome for me. Thicker socks are really beneficial, considering. Heel slip has been non-existent, and my feet generally stay in place, preventing blisters and instability from shifting.

Trail stability has been good. Being a light-weight, mid-height boot they are more flexible and somewhat less supportive than larger boots, but they still managed to keep me stable and secure in uneven, rocky terrain. I did find some ankle fatigue near the end of longer hikes, but this was within expectation for this weight class of boot. I never had my feet roll or rock unexpectedly, so that is a win.

The toe and heel bumpers provide great protection from rocks and bumps, despite the light-weight construction. They’re both stiff and rigid, generally preventing obstacles from punching through when stubbing the toe or coming down hard against rocks. The ankles are also nicely padded, which can come in handy during slips, falls or just scraping across obstacles.

Construction overall is quite good. The stitching is smooth and consistent, with all the seams being well glued and smooth, without extra material to hang up or fray on obstacles. The laces and heels are reinforced, both by generous stitching and by TPU overlays, which are printed on sections that act as layers in the shoe for additional tear strength.

Waterproofing is solid. Crossing streams, hiking in the mud, nothing has managed to get through these yet. They also do a great job of shedding water droplets, mud and dirt, which is important for long-term use.

What I didn’t like

The tongues of my boots have this odd kink in them. It doesn’t provide any real harm, at least with tall socks, but does kind of wad up against the leg and bit when wearing the boots. I thought this might fade with use but so far hasn’t. If your socks do not extend past your boots this can create a hotspot, so that is something to note. Otherwise, it hasn’t caused me any problems. It is just odd to see especially as the left and right boots both curl up the same way.

Despite the meshy upper, these can still get a bit sweaty in hot weather. Thankfully they dry rather quickly and they do breath a bit, but it’s not enough to keep the feet dry all the time. If it’s above 75 F, I work up a good bit of perspiration inside. Typical of any membrane based waterproof boot, but worth mentioning.

Other thoughts

The toe box comes in about 1/4″, or 6mm shorter than expected given their sizing. Despite following the sizing guide, I found my toes right against the tip of the toe box (I’m sized between a 9.5 and a 10 US, or 42.5/43 EU). I recommend sizing up one size for everyone, or possibly two steps if you prefer your boots to fit loose or if this is generally an issue for you at your typical size. I’m not sure how this will affect the rest of the fit, however, as I didn’t have other sizes available to try.

The foot platform inside is quite flat, with little arch support. I personally quite prefer this but I like to provide this info for those who are interested. The soles are replaceable but arched soles will reduce the space available inside.

These being lightweight boots they’re great for hiking and ultra-light backpacking, and even wearing around town. However, those who plan to carry 30 pounds or more may want to consider a heavier, more supportive option for longer treks.

Overall

The La Sportiva TX Hike Mid GTX are great hiking boots. They’re fast, light, comfortable and provide enough support for rough terrain. Traction is good on hardpack and muddy surfaces, while traction on wet, slick rocks and roots is just O.K. Waterproofing is great, construction is very high quality, and they are made largely from recycled materials, which is a win. They do run a touch small, especially in the toe box, so moving up a size or even two may be necessary. My particular sample had an odd kink in the tongues, but otherwise I have no real complaints. If lightweight, durability and waterproofing are prime concerns, this is a great option.

Highly Recommended

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