Backpacks

Asolo Falcon EVO GV Boot | Review

A versatile boot that hits a number of sweet spots

The Asolo Falcon EVO GV is a hiking boot that will tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people and, from our experience testing it here at Outdoors Magic, it’s well worthy of inclusion in our Outdoor 100 Gear of the Year list. It’s mid weight, mid height and has a medium amount of flex and torsion. You could say it’s in the middle of the scale in terms of pricing too.

OM editor Will testing the Asolo Falcon EVO GV on rocky climbs in the Preseli Hills of Wales. Photos: Dave Macfarlane

I’ve been using it over the last month or so on muddy hikes around my local hills and on some rocky trails in Wales and have found it to be a solid, all-round performer. My partner Hannah has also been using the women’s version, most notably on our month-long backpacking trip through Greece, which included an ascent of Mount Olympus.

What The Asolo Falcon GV is Best Suited To

I’ve found this great for general hillwalking. It’s been equally at home on muddy coastal paths and rocky mountain ascents. I’d also say it’s the right kind of weight for long-distance walking too – I can see it as an ideal boot for a trail like the Pennine Way or the West Highland Way through Scotland.

Materials

The upper is made from a mixture of suede leather and a nylon mesh and the result is something that feels flexible and quite thin but without feeling unsupportive or flimsy. A TPU protects the toe while the ankle has comfortable padding right around it. A Gore-tex membrane lines the whole upper, extending right through the tongue for complete wrap-around protection. The laces draw in smoothly and evenly and the metal eyelets seem solid and good quality.

It features a Vibram Megagrip sole. Photos: Dave Macfarlane

The sole has a dual density EVA foam directly underfoot and a Vibram Megagrip outsole with lugs that are around 4mm in depth. This sole should last well, but if and when it’s worn itself out, it can be replaced. Vibram themselves are a good company to turn to for that service.

Performance and Fit

I had these in a UK size 10, which is my usual size, and they fitted well. They are on the narrow side though, so the fit might be a bit tight for anyone with wider than average feet. I’d say I have an average sized foot so I didn’t have any issues. There’s a bit of light arch support and you can sense the heel and forefoot are ergonomically shaped to cater for the natural roll of your foot while walking. The ankle is a classic mid cut, coming high enough up the ankle to give a nice bit of support without feeling overly restrictive.

The women’s version during our tests in Greece.

The grip is good and, from my experience, quite versatile. I found I had all the traction I needed in these when hiking on wet and dry trails and it performed on rocky surfaces too (though, like most boots, there are limitations on wet, slimy rocks). If you like something that’ll really clamp right into very steep muddy slopes then there are boots with a bit more bite to them. Still, I found the grip to be reassuring enough.

Men’s Verdict

All in all, I’ve found this to be a good all-round boot. It’s what I’d call a workhorse; the boot that you call upon the most – whether that’s for hiking, backpacking or just day-to-day use. Time will tell how well it will last, but initial signs are good – and from my experience, Asolo tend to craft their boots with longevity in mind.

Experiences With the Women’s Version

My partner Hannah used the women’s Falcon GV EVO on a backpacking trip in Greece and wore them on an ascent up to the refuge below the summit of Mount Olympus.

“For the last year I’ve been wearing a very flexible pair of Salomons and these boots from Asolo have felt so sturdy and reliable in comparison,” said Hannah. “They were the perfect kind of boots for the rocky trails we encountered while climbing Mount Olympus and I found they brought just that perfect balance between flex and stiffness, letting me traverse difficult terrain (including hard packed snow patches and wet boulders) while also covering a fair few miles. It was a fairly demanding month of use that I put them through and they held up exceptionally well. In fact, they’ve not caused me any issues at all from the very first moment I pulled them on, with comfort right out of the box. I opted for my usual size and they fitted perfectly.”

Finally, it’s worth bearing in mind that there’s also a nubuck leather version of this. Expect that to be thicker, more durable and warmer – probably more suited to hiking into the shoulder seasons.

What we liked: comfortable, light, protective, well crafted
What we didn’t like: might be too narrow for those with wide feet, particularly at the forefoot