AKU SUPERALP GTX Boot | Review - Outdoors Magic

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AKU SUPERALP GTX Boot | Review

AKU's SUPERALP mixes neat alpine styling with plenty of underfoot stiffness, but excellent all-round comfort at a decent weight.

‘A beautifully made, sturdy, supportive mountain walking boot, but the SUPERALP GTX is still reasonably light and superbly comfortable too’

Outdoors Magic: Underfoot stiffness, solid feel, full rand, durable PU midsole cushioning, grippy Vibram sole, understated good looks, sleek fit.

Outdoors Tragic: Reasonably light rather than ultra-lightweight.

Outdoors Grabbit? The SUPERALP GTX is a sleek-fitting, reassuringly stiff and supportive soled boot, that’s still reasonably light and comfortable. Plenty of flex and cushioning in the ankle cuff makes it unrestrictive, but if you prefer a stiff sole unit for mountain terrain or carrying heavier backpacking loads, the AKU IMS3 chassis delivers. It’s still comfortable for walking thanks to a pronounced rocker to the sole unit, the PU cushioning underfoot should last for years and AKU’s slimmer than average fit makes it a good call for those with narrower feet. Beautifully made too. A really nice mountain walking boot.

 

 

Full Specification

Lightweight mountain walking and backpacking boot / suede and Air 8000 uppers / full protective rubber rand / Gore-Tex liner / double density PU midsole / Vibram Foura outsole

Full Review Below

Serious Vibram sole and stiff chassis give a supportive feel on rough ground with heavy loads - Photo: Lukasz Warzecha (lwimages.co.uk)
All-round rubber rand helps to ward off abrasion damage from snow and scree - Photo: Lukasz Warzecha (lwimages.co.uk)
Simple but effective lacing gives excellent forefoot hold, fit is narrower than average - Photo: Lukasz Warzecha (lwimages.co.uk)

AKU SUPERALP GTX Boot | Performance

If you have slightly narrower feet than average and like a boot that’s reasonably light, but still has plenty of underfoot stiffness for walking on rugged terrain or carrying heavy loads in the mountains, the SUPERALP GTX might just have your name on it.

Produced by one of northern Italy’s family-owned outdoor footwear specialists, the boot is beautifully made using modern technologies, including direct PU injection, which gives a durable, but cushioned sole unit.

What we like about is that from the ankle down it’s a sturdy, supportive mountain boot complete with a full rubber rand and Vibram sole unit with toothy grip, but the high flexible ankle has been designed with comfort and mobility in mind and enough padding to keep things comfortable.

Lots of heel protection from that all-round rubber rand – Photo: Lukasz Warzecha (lwimages.co.uk)

Add in a sole with a distinct curved profile – or ‘rocker’ – for an easy rolling stride and you get a nice balance between comfort and the sort of underfoot support usually associated with heavier, stiffer, more traditional leather mountain boots.

The slightly ‘alpine’ lacing arrangement works well too and a Gore-Tex waterproof liner works hard to keep your feet dry. Chunky, understated looks round everything off neatly.

It's all in the ankle mobility which gives excellent comfort despite the chassis support - Photo: Lukasz Warzecha (lwimages.co.uk)

AKU SUPERALP GTX Boot | Verdict

If you want traditional mountain walking sole stiffness, but without sacrificing comfort and mobility and the SUPERALP’s shape fits your feet, it’s a cracking, alpine-styled mountain walking boot.

At 1540 grammes for a pair of size 43s, they’re not the lightest boot out there, but given the durable PU cushioning and full rubber rand, we reckon that’s a very decent weight and they never feel heavy on the foot.

The plus side is that the stiff sole with its nylon lasting board keeps things on an even keel on rocky ground and helps with stability if you’re hauling a big load. It’s very much personal preference, but if you like that, these do a great job. The rocker of the sole unit helps with an easy walking stride too.

Finally, the Vibram sole unit gives excellent all-round grip on a range of surfaces from rock through to softer terrain.

More Information

See aku.it

 

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