La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX Review

The La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX has a tall ankle height. While it does provide extra protection and improved support, the reason we appreciate it most is how well it keeps deeper water from flowing over the tops of boots. These boots let us simply tromp through mountain streams with far less concern for careful foot placement.

Comfort

The La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX has a relatively narrow fit, but the toe-box is surprisingly generous. The Nucleo High II is made in Vietnam, but La Sportiva is an Italian footwear company, so the boots maintain a European anatomical foot shape. One of our testers found the trim fit to be perfect for one foot but slightly snug on the other, but the boots broke in very quickly. After just one mile of walking, both boots felt awesome.

The compression-molded EVA midsole offers good impact protection, though it's not squishy or even plush. Even though the ankle is high, La Sportiva's 3D Flex multi-directional upper hinges to provide natural ankle movement. Some of our testers thought the pliability of the upper didn't provide enough ankle support while other testers appreciated the nimble feel. If you're a fan of short socks, you might want to wear longer socks in these boots because there's a seam on the interior that can rub annoyingly against bare skin.

Support

We were generally pleased with the forefoot and heel support provided by the Nucleo High II GTX. The heel is a bit narrower than many modern hiking boots these days, but it was stable on both mixed terrain and steep ground. Heel strikes were predictable on every surface, including on steep descents and when side-hilling through thick forest duff and brush. The leather forefoot does a great job of providing snug support without needing to ratchet down the laces.

The ankle is simply more flexible than the height would suggest, meaning that we didn't get the extra support we were expecting. Part of this is due to La Sportiva's deliberate emphasis on flexibility to provide a more nimble, agile ride. The point is, these are not the best boots for supporting weak ankles, despite their tall height.

The lacing system helps keep the heel locked down, but the flexible ankle design isn't as stiff and supportive as some testers wanted.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

The forefoot stability is snug and predictable.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

The footbed was stiff enough to support our feet on rocks with little contact but flexible enough to keep our motion natural, resulting in confidence during off-trail exploring.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

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Traction

The sole of the Nucleo High II GTX uses a Vibram rubber compound that provides excellent grip on dry materials like rock, dirt, and forest duff. The lugs have sharp, aggressive angles, and they're well-spaced for biting through loose material. The sole is stiff enough to provide confident side-hilling, but the grip is only about average on wet, slick rock.

Downhill braking is very good, and the company's “Impact Braking System” uses a lug pattern on the heel that has slanted, opposing angles that are designed to reduce impact forces. We're not sure how to measure this feature, but out in the wild, downhill descents on packed trails and granite slabs never left us feeling jarred or with sore heels.

Water Resistance

The Nucleo High II GTX has one of the most unique waterproofing designs we've seen. It starts with a Gore-Tex Surround waterproof membrane, which is designed to channel warm, moist air out to the sides where it can exit. La Sportiva adds mesh vents on the lower sides of the boot, made with a material called Nano Cells 2.0. Multiple testers found this system to seal out water easily, keeping our feet dry. In addition, after a 12-hour day wearing these boots, one tester was surprised by how dry his feet remained, bolstering these boots' breathability claims. In his experience, most other leather boots tended to get a bit clammy after similarly long days.

We were also impressed by the tall flood height of 6.75 inches, making it one of the tallest waterproof hikers we've tested. Our only water resistance concern is more anecdotal than specific to our testing. Some users have reported leaky vent areas over time, and our women's test pair leaked after a full day of hiking through snow. While our boots haven't leaked, we can see that the vent area isn't as robust as a single, solid wall of leather, so it's possible that it could get prematurely damaged. If you walk through areas with a lot of sharp sticks or rocks, this might be a design factor to keep in mind.

Weight

The Nucleo High II GTX is a bit lighter than most other leather boots in this category. Our latest size 14 test pair weighed in at just 2.78 pounds.

This below-average weight, combined with good stability and a flexible collar, makes this boot feel more nimble and agile than most similar leather options. This is a boot that we could wear all day without feeling fatigued.

Durability

Overall initial build quality is very good, but the meshy vent areas are not as strong as full leather uppers. We can imagine that they could fail over time or when navigating particularly rugged terrain. However, they've held up without scratches or concern over 25 miles that included walking through forested areas with heavy ground cover and blowdowns.

So far, we have no initial quality concerns. The fit and finish is excellent, with precise seams and construction. The metal eyelets feel stout and all the seams in the upper are double-row stitched for extra longevity.

The La Sportiva Nano Cells 2.0 vent looks tough but it's definitely thinner and lighter than the surrounding rubber.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

The metal eyelets and double-row stitching should improve longevity.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

We've heard of some reports of the rubber toe rand separating from the leather upper, but we've seen no signs of failure during our firsthand testing so far.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

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Should You Buy the La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX?

The Nucleo High II GTX are for those who want a waterproof, leather boot that won't get clammy. Dry land stability and traction is very good, making these a great general-purpose option. They have a comfortable insole with a supportive leather upper that is only a bit weak through the ankle if you need extra ankle support.

What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?