Customer Reviews La Sportiva Blade GTX

I ordered these boots after wearing the Synthesis for a few years. The Synthesis didn't have a good sole for rockier hikes so I stepped up to these. I just got back from a 10 mile hike and they did great! The gortex held up in river crossings, they gripped as well as my companion's shoes (also new Sportivias), I had absolutely not hot spots or blisters forming, and not once did I have to adjust my laces! My feet are sore from the rocks, but to be fair I think you will be sore no matter what after walking on first size rocks 2+ hours. I can say my feet are nowhere as beat up as they were in my other boots and the top of my foot was much better protected. Without going upgrading to a full boot I think these did their job. I will likely try out an insert as the arch support/cushioning wasn't as good as I like. I sized up .5 size from my typical shoe size as I thought my actual size was a tad narrow in the toebox (EX: 39.5 in other Sportivias (8) and got a 40 in these). WARNING - the light color will get dirty. Overall great shoe!

I absolutely love these hikers, in fact the first week I bought them I hiked 55 miles at Glacier National Park in June. No issues at all, my feet felt the best they had ever felt. This was two years ago and I'm in the process of buying my second pair after many more miles on the tread.

(Review from my wife) To be fair, I do have a slightly narrow foot, but this pair was probably one of the widest pairs of hiking boots that I've tried. In order to get the shoe to fit snuggly (and even then my foot was slipping quite a bit), I had to tie the laces very tightly and I could feel the tightness of the laces digging into the tops of my feet.