La Sportiva Spire GTX Review

At first glance, the La Sportiva Spire GTX looks as if it has a straightforward synthetic upper with typical mesh for breathability. Upon closer inspection, the midsole includes dozens of small mesh vents. Designed to work with the Gore-Tex Surround waterproof/breathable membrane, these vents and the special version of Gore-Tex work together to allow warm moist air to escape from under your feet by channeling it out the sides.

Comfort

The La Sportiva Spire GTX fits like it was meant to follow the contours of a foot, creating a sense of total foot support. Feeling slightly stiff at first, the upper softens within a couple of miles, leading to a comfortable ride that feels as if it had been tailor-made for our feet.

The fit, however, is slightly narrow and just a tiny bit short. The nearly straight toe box gives plenty of room for big toes, though, so we don't recommend sizing up. The biggest drawback is the lack of a wide option. If you have a regular or even a narrow foot, you might fall in love with these bad boys. If you have a wide foot, you may need to look for a roomier shoe.

Support

The Spire GTX footbed is stiffer than those found in many hiking shoes, providing outstanding torsional stability. For example, when we stepped on rocky outcroppings or exposed roots with just a portion of the sole making contact, the rest of the sole resisted distortion. This gave us improved confidence when navigating tricky trails or exploring off-trail when traversing slopes at different angles.

The Spire also maintained its stability even when carrying extra weight in a backpack. Plus, the rear of the shoe is more rigid, keeping our heels secure. The forefoot upper hugs well but does not stretch under loads, which helped keep our feet firmly connected to the footbed. The Spire GTX definitely fosters increased confidence over rough terrain. Because it is a low-top shoe, there is no ankle support, so those needing direct contact ankle support should look at hiking boot options instead.

Traction

The Spire GTX features an aggressive Vibram XS Trek rubber outsole. Its deep lugs are spaced far enough apart to grab like claws into dirt and sandy trails. Downhill traction is stellar, and the brand's Impact Brake System seems to soften heel strikes on steep descents without losing grip. Some heavy-duty soles on hiking boots can feel clunky, but these soles feel remarkably agile.

Because the sole is a bit stiffer than most trail shoes, off-camber bite while side-hilling in forests is surprisingly great. Traction on slick wet rock was about average, though we felt traction was better than average in mud.

Aggressive heel lugs bite into soft material to provide a firm grip on descents.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

The widely spaced lugs help the soles shed mud.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

Note the uniquely angled heel treads. The design is part of La Sportiva's Impact Brake System, which is designed to soften heel strikes to improve comfort.   Credit: Chris Maxcer

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Water Resistance

The La Sportiva Spire GTX uses a special Gore-Tex Surround waterproof/breathable membrane. It's designed to help channel warm moist air from underfoot out of the shoe. La Sportiva built dozens of unique vents into the midsole to help the system work to keep your feet cool and dry. In our experience, our feet rarely overheated, even after a full 12 hours of wearing these boots during a spring day. While the breathability does seem to be better than average when it comes to stout hiking shoes, they're not as cool as lightweight hikers with thinner uppers.

As for the waterproofing, we stepped through shallow streams without getting our socks wet. Similarly, we strode through muddy sections of trail with zero fear. In our most recent tester's size 14, the flood height over the top of the collar was a very competitive 4.5 inches. All told, these are great shoes for hikers facing wet environments.

Weight

In our admittedly large size 14 test shoe, the Spire GTX weighed in at a respectable 2.35 pounds per pair. Previous test pairs in a size 11 weighed in at 2 pounds, making these shoes lighter than most hiking boots. Basically, you get stability that compares well to hiking boots in a lighter package that feels more nimble with each step.

The synthetic upper and PU TechLight in the toes and heels does a very good job of providing protection that nears a full-leather upper but with much less weight. We consider the weight a good compromise for the amount of support and protection the upper provides. The same goes for the rugged, stiffer sole. Hikers who want a lighter shoe should know they'll give up stability and protection if they decide to trim ounces.

Durability

The Spire GTX upper looks leathery, but it's not. It's an abrasion-resistant mesh with Nano Cell 2.0, which is a La Sportiva reinforcement lattice-like system made with the mesh. We wore these boots through a forested area with a lot of blowdowns and sharp sticks, and these shoes walked away without a scratch.

The PU reinforcements for the heel and toe are burly, and the front bumper easily protected our toes from accidental rock strikes. Overall, it feels tough compared to most synthetic uppers but doesn't seem as durable or protective as leather. The overall fit and finish is truly excellent. No obvious weak spots. Our most recent tester noted, “It feels bomber, actually.”

Should You Buy the La Sportiva Spire GTX?

If you're looking for a versatile, extra-stable hiking shoe that feels at home in gnarly terrain, the La Sportiva Spire GTX is hard to beat. The waterproofing is excellent, and the breathability is better than what we experience in most full leather shoes. The comfortable ride comes from the full-foot support, so it's not as cushy as ultralight hikers. If you plan to carry a backpack for weekend trips, the stability and foot support is outstanding.

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