La Sportiva Trango S EVO GTX SKU: #7159148

Joe

from Albany NY

Rugged, light-weight and comfortable boot (****) The Trango S EVO GTX is an excellent boot for serious hikes and light climbs/scrambling. It's light but sturdy, waterproof, has excellent grip and provides good support for the ankles. The lacing system works well, still, the boots felt wider than expected (acc. to size ordered). They lack somewhat in arch support and cushioning, which can be remedied by using insoles. Overall 4-5 stars.

Brands I'd also recommend: Salomon, Asolo, Lowa, Merrell

Anonymous

from Seattle

Ultralight Alpine boot - These boots are the lightest, most comfortable boots I've found for alpine climbing. They have great support, but are light and somewhat compressible. They are the ideal boot for climbs that require crampons and a carryover. I wore them for ten days in AK, snow conditions were very wet and sloppy. My feet were almost 100% dry. I was using full-length gaiters. My partner was wearing the same boots without gaiters and they became fairly saturated and later froze. The Gore-Tex lining is an improvement over the old Trango style, and I'm glad I paid the extra bucks for the new style. My partners boots showed some wear from rocks, snow, and snowshoe bindings. I would guess these boots are fairly low on the durability scale. You definitely want to replace the insoles: the wafers that they come with are not sufficient for long days on your feet. Follow the sizing chart that LaSportiva offers and be sure the U.S. conversion matches their info-I bought the wrong size at first due to a Euro/U.S. sizing confusion. Thanks to Zappos for exchanging my boots so quickly!

Tom@nunatakusa.com

from twisp washington

The EVO Trango S - I test ultralight gear for nunatakusa.com, and these new Trango EVO S boots are the perfect complitment to any new breed of ultralight mountain travel kit. In the first hike they felt like I was walking on a perfect trail of pine needles, springy and soft. In 7 miles , straight from the box, I found no hot spots to complain of nor stress marks from your typical tall mountiain boot on the shins. While the sole appears to be a bit too soft for anything but alpine rock climbing, the stickness is much appreaciated on wet rocky stream crossings. The goretex bakes them a bit hot for summer use on rugged trails, but probabbly no worse the heavy leather boots and wool socks of old. I have problematic heels to fit and other la sportiva boots have been paifull blister machines. Not these, they are amazing. My one complaint other than the gaudy look, the glue on the sole assembly is coming apart...

Brands I'd also recommend: la sportiva mythos

John Y

from Connecticut

One fault. I would say that the LaSportiva Trango could be an excellent mountaineering boot if it did not suffer from the flaw of forcing your two outside toes over and under. The habit in LaSportiva of jamming our toes into a V shaped toe box keeps this company from making the best mountaineering boots available. The Trango is the latest example. LaSportiva should take the lead of more progressive shoe companies and increase the comfort of the toe box of the Trango. Until they do, I’ll steer clear.

Mike

from California

Great shoe - I bought a pair of these boots and loved them and still do, but they may not be the right boot for me. I wore them around town and in the house and took them on two hikes and then I finally went on a longer hike and was wearing a liner sock and I started to get a really bad blister on my heel only after 2 miles of hiking, with no pack and with a heavy weight Smart Wool sock on. Maybe it was just a one time thing, but blisters suck and am a little weary of getting them again, especially on a long approach or backpacking trip.

Brands I'd also recommend: Garmont Tower, Garmont Pinnacle, Boreal Tacul

Steven W

from Aspen, Colorado

Trango S EVO - This boot has limited flexibility for good grip on rocks while hiking, but makes it somewhat uncomfortable for walking in packed snow. Three factors make this an overall great boot. One, it has a Vibram sole which gives great traction. Two, it is made with Gore-Tex material for added warmth. Three, it is a speed lace system for quick in or out lacing.

Big E

from lower Alabama

My Rainier Review - I am writing this review as a follow up to my review from 2006. I used these boots in June (of 2007) to climb Mount Rainier. I used these boots throughout the alpine training school and the two day climb. Our temperatures varied from 40 F to 18 F with 30 MPH winds and blowing snow. Only one time did my toes get cold and that was at about 13,000 feet on the side of the mountain during a rest stop in the high winds. Once we got going again my toes got toasty warm. I had NO blisters, hot spots, etc. EVER! My 17 year old daughter was wearing the women's version of these boots and reported the same performance as I experienced. I was wearing sock liners and one pair of Smartwool mountaineering socks. These boots performed flawlessly throughout the snow, scree and rocks. My crampons stayed put the entire time and "duck walking" and side steps were easy to perform. The light weight was a big plus and I highly recommend these boots to anyone (except cold-footed individuals) climbing in the same conditions as I experienced. I now have about 150 miles on them and they look slightly worn, but still have many more miles to go before I retire them. Yes, we both summited, so go buy these boots from Zappos!

Brands I'd also recommend: La Sportiva Nepal Evo

Anonymous

from Rhode Island

Great light mountaineering boot - Picked these boots up for a short planned winter trip up Mt. Adams. When I found my old boots were a bit too tight. Felt great for the whole 12 hour hike even without being broken in. worked will with my C2 style crampons. Great boot and great price...

Brands I'd also recommend: solomon tech amphibs (good summer approch shoe)