La Sportiva Mens Nucleo High II GTX Waterproof Hiking Boots

Liked: lightweight, very solid construction, stiff sole with good traction. Narrow which is good for those of us with narrow feet.Disliked: not superior to my Oboz in terms of comfort. Innersoles are marginal and would need upgrade. I can see where the laces may age prematurely based upon design and break (noted on other reviews).

I would like to return theses but probably will not. I wore them and they were not comfortable. Very stiff. Maybe require a break in period. I'll repost if they turn out to be better.

I live in one of the most remote areas in the lower 48 and spend all my time in the mountains. These are rugged and warm like a boot, but have a low top, and are comfortable like a shoe. I have bad knees so prefer to wear a low tops so my ankle can twist and bend, preventing my knee from doing so. But, it is almost impossible to find a heavy-duty low top that can handle the terrain of the Rocky Mountains for long backpacking trips and big game hunts. Then I found La Sportiva Spire GTX's. I have worn these for years now. I have the pair I'm currently using and at least one or two new pairs tucked away in the closet; I don't ever want to be without these shoe-boots ever again. In my opinion they are the absolute best. The sole is stiff, they are warm, but still have excellent breathability, they are 100% waterproof as long as you prevent moisture from coming in the top. They are truly the best of all worlds! My one complaint is the price tag. I pay it because they are worth it and still more affordable than a real pair of boots. I highly recommend these hiking shoes. I absolutely love them.For reference: If you've never worn La Sportiva they fit very similar to Nike's. I wear an 11.5 in both brands.

Fantastic shoes. Really well made. Way better than the Raptor 2’s. The La Sportiva Raptor 2’s are not made as well as these because the soles are spongy and cheap materials in my opinion and lack foot support needed to truly hike miles and miles without foot pain. I think La Sportiva cut quality for profit in the Raptor 2’s. Save yourself the trouble and buy the Spire GTX shoes while they’re still manufactured. I stocked up and bought 6 pairs of Spire GTX and they were hard to find in stock. I think true hikers know the Raptor 2’s had quality cut for profit so stocked up on Spires. The Raptor 2’s kill my feet due to lack of a supportive sole. The Spires are solid—the Raptor 2’s are cheap soft foam/rubber soles without support needed to really hike far.

Very comfortable, wear these shoes all days sometimes for hiking and working around the house. Would strongly recommend to others if they are looking for a decent looking hiking shoe.