I’ve always found it funny how some people would spend thousands of dollars on vehicle modifications but at the same cheap out on other essentials such as a quality pair of boots. Whether we’re hitting the road for destinations unknown or taking the truck out for a quick trail ride, quality footwear is an essential piece of kit, because the only thing you spend more time in besides your rig is your boots (underwear also but that’s another review).
During my freshmen year of college which now was almost 7 years ago I found myself in need of a quality pair of boots. Long before I had even heard about overlanding or vehicle based travel I was a backpacker who enjoyed spending my weekends rambling around the woods with my now fiance. I quickly learned that cheap work boots and sneakers were a poor choice for covering miles of terrain on the trails. Luckily I quickly found myself in an REI where after trying out what seemed like dozens of boots I settled on the Asolos, my feet have been thanking me since.
Asolo TPS 520 GV
Pros:
- Durable full grain one piece leather upper
- Breathable and waterproof Gore-Tex Lining
- Comfortable Vibram Sole
Cons
- Cost
- Weight – this boot is heavy
- Poor traction in wet weather
The Asolo’s are a durable boot built with a full grain one piece leather upper which includes a waterproof Gore-Tex lining, and a great Vibram sole. They’re capable of handing rocky hills, muddy trails, and torrential downpours, when the terrain gets rough these boots don’t let you down. I’ve scrambled up loose rock with them, and have beaten up the leather repeatedly over the past 7 years; none of the components of the boot have yet to fail. When they start to look rough I’ll treat them once a year with some Nikwax and then they’re ready for another round.
I’ve found the traction and support provided by the sole to be extremely valuable when I have to get out of the truck to perform a tricky recovery. Pulling winch line uphill is no easy task and being able to maintain traction while free spooling the cable off of the drum is essential. Also the majority of the time I’ve gotten stuck on the trail the conditions have been either muddy, or very rocky where a rolled ankle could quickly end a trip. The deciding factor for me was during last years Vermont Overland Trophy, without a quality set of boots it would have been a struggle and for that reason I always wear or keep a pair in the truck.
Now these boots haven’t been 100% perfect over the years and I would have to say the biggest hurdle to get over is their cost. When I purchased these boots in 2007 they retailed for almost $300 and they continue to hold that price. One thing I have to say is that if they were not a good boot I doubt they would be able to charge that kind of money, and from what I’ve experienced they’ve been worth every penny. None the less $300 is a lot of money to put down for some footwear but when you’re paying over $250 for a quality mud terrain it doesn’t seem so bad anymore.
The other big complaint is that these boots are heavy, I personally have never found them to be a problem but these are not a pair of lightweight trail shoes. Another thing to consider is that leather will fade with heavy use and will get nicked up if you spend a lot of time in the rocks, but once you clean then up and treat them they will be good as new.
The last thing I have to bring up is their traction, I’ve worn them in every season and weather condition that mother nature has and they just don’t do well in some wet conditions. On hard packed snow/ice they have a tendency to slip like any boot, but they can also get a little sketchy on wet rocks and especially creek crossings. I’ve been fine using them in both situations but when I get them resoled this year I’m going to try and use a different Vibram sole if possible.
Overall I’ve got to say that these have been a great pair of boots, I’ve tried some others along the way but they haven’t stuck around and I keep finding myself going back to my trusty old pair. Whether you buy these boots or another quality pair just don’t be that guy out there in a pair of Croc’s.
You must be logged in to post a comment.