Walking Boots

Asolo Thyrus GV Walking Boot | Review

Leather boots from Asolo that are surprisingly breathable and lightweight

The Asolo Thyrus. You can just tell from the name that this is going to be a serious bit of kit.

It sounds like it could easily be a weapon wielded by one of The Avengers. Possibly because it sounds a lot like the word ‘thyrsus’; a thyrsus being a fearsome staff, sometimes covered with ivy vines and leaves, and always… topped with a pine cone. That’s right. A pine cone. Scary stuff, right?

The thyrsus was the symbol of power for the Olympian God Dionysus. The Asolo Thyrus is the latest symbol of power from Italian outdoor experts Asolo. It’s a high-performance walking boot that will help you command the mountains just like Dionysus, the god of sex and wine, commanded… errr… yeah, we really wish we hadn’t gone down this path.

Anyway, the important part is that the Asolo Thyrus is a hiking boot that can conquer pretty much anything. If the Olympian Gods were going to pick a hiking boot, it may well be this one.

“These are leather boots without the uncomfortable warmth or weight that leather boots can often provide…”

Usually with a leather walking boot you sacrifice weight and often comfort (try hiking in a standard leather boot in summer and you’ll be overheating in minutes) for the benefits of the leather; the durability and reliability.

With the Asolo Thyrus, you sacrifice nothing. The Thyrus is surprisingly light and designed to be more breathable than most. There are few seams on the Thyrus, so even by the already high expectations of a leather boot it stands up to the elements sensationally well.

A leather boot which doesn't chronically overheat... Photo: Chris Johnson.

Look at that sole. That's a nice sole. Photo: Chris Johnson.

We're not sure how your feet would get in this position, but they would look nice if they did. Photo: Chris Johnson.

Great for grip no matter what the terrain. Photo: Chris Johnson.

Nothing is getting into these boots except your feet, and the outside of the shoe dries quickly too. Not as quickly as some synthetics of course, but quick for leather.

The boots have a nice tight fit that hugs the the feet, and the soft-shell fabric and thinner nature of the upper part of the tongue and upper boot make them a softer, breathable pair that’ll stop you overheating.

Underfoot there’s an EVA midsole designed for shock absorption, and a thermoplastic plate added in for increased stability and protection. On the outsole there are deep lugs designed to provide traction whether you’re walking or scrambling over dirt, rocks, mud or more.

These are leather boots without the uncomfortable warmth or weight that leather boots can often provide. They’re perfect for everything from day trips to longer expeditions, and as long as you’re not going to be in the scorching sunlight for hours and hours on end, they’re going to be up to the task.