Reviews > Footwear > Boots > ASOLO HIKING BOOTS TPS 520 GTX > Owner Review by Robert Troutman

ASOLO HIKING BOOTS TPS 520 GTX
BY ROBERT TROUTMAN
OWNER REVIEW
July 30, 2006

TESTER INFORMATION

Backpacking Background: I began backpacking at age 14 in Colorado doing weekend trips in mountainous terrain. I backpacked quite often from the ages of 14 to 21. I have 6 year old triplets, two boys and one girl. We do weekend hikes in the mountains of Utah. My pack is typically 20 lb (9 kg) before food and water and hikes are generally short between 2 to 6 miles (3 to 10 km). On occasions I do get the opportunity to do longer hikes in mostly mountainous terrain. I really like summit hikes that require little climbing experience.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Asolo
Year of Manufacture: 2005
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.asolo.com
MSRP: US$210.00
Listed Weight: 2.2 lbs or 1.0 kg each
Measured Weight: 2.2 lbs or 1.0 kg each
Other details: Size: US 12, UK 11.5, FUR 46 1/3
Color: Brown

Product Description

The Asolo TPS 520 GTX is a full grain leather boot with a gusseted tongue, Vibram sole and Gore-Tex liner.

I purchased the Asolo TPS 520 GTX boots because I was seeking a sturdy comfortable boot that I hope will provide years of comfort. I have a low volume foot and have had a hard time finding a boot which would fit my feet well. When I tried the Asolo boot I was very pleased that the boot held my feet in place so well. I was also surprised at how comfortable they were without being broken in. The boots came in a standard shoe box. The box also had a Gore-Tex guarantee card that states Gore-Tex will stand behind the waterproof and breathability of the footwear. The boots appear to be well constructed. They are brown in color with a black tongue which is well padded and protected by a thick layer of leather. These boots came with nylon bootlaces which thread through a series of five metal shoe string holders, one on each side that lead to three speed loops for ankle support. Overall the boots look well made and of high quality.

The soles of the boots are produced by Vibram. They are black in color and have three power structure shock absorbers. One is located under the ball of the foot and two under the heel. Of these two, one of these is on the back of the heel and the other on the inside of the heel. These soles look to be custom manufactured for Asolo, and probably need special equipment in order to replace. The rubber of the soles seems to be a little soft and is moderately lugged. Overall I think these soles are well made and should last for few years.

FIELD USE

My first test of the Asolo TPS 520 GTX boots was in May of 2006 in Utah's Wasatch mountains. The temperature was around 60 - 70 F (15-21 C) on a bright sunny day. The terrain started at about 7000 feet (2100 m) in elevation. The terrain in May was wet from spring runoff and changed to snow pack for the rest of the hike. I was very pleased with how well these boots felt walking on the snow pack. They provided excellent support and traction on the melting compact snow. My feet remained dry and comfortable throughout the hike. The boots performed well and were quite comfortable. The only "breaking in" I did with these boots was walking around the house for two days. I have since gone on several more hikes in the Wasatch mountains and the boots have been very comfortable at every temperature and condition I have experienced.

The only time I had occasion to truly test the water resistance of the boots was on July 23, 2006 at Great Basin National Park, Nevada. I was hiking at an elevation around 10,000 ft (3,000 m) when a thunderstorm brought heavy rain and hail for about two hours. I walked down the rain drenched trail and had no problems stomping through puddle after puddle as deep as about 4 in (10 cm) of water, and the boots remained dry inside. I was very pleased with their performance.

I have been on at least seven hikes wearing these boots since May and they have not disappointed me. All of these hikes have been done in mountainous terrain. They have been through snow, rain and hail but primarily dry conditions. The leather is a little scratched up, but other than that, they are in great shape and have not shown much sign of deterioration. The only area I see a sign of breaking down is at the top of the boot where the lining of the tongue of the boot is stitched to the leather top of the boot. It looks like one of the stitches is broken.

These boots have provided very good traction on dry dirt, loose gravel, rain and snow. They also have very good grip on both wet and dry rock. I believe these boots are an excellent choice for hiking in mountainous terrain. I have enjoyed these boots and feel they will provide years of hiking comfort. I really like the ankle support they provide. They are a good looking boot in my opinion and are very well built. I look forward to putting much more distance on them.

SUMMARY

I believe that these boots are very well made and durable. They are good looking, and best of all, comfortable. These boots have never disappointed me in any terrain or condition I have subjected them too.

THINGS I LIKE

So far I have liked everything about these boots. No blisters, no sore toes, no complaints.

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

The boots are a little pricey.

SIGNATURE

Robert Troutman

Reviews > Footwear > Boots > ASOLO HIKING BOOTS TPS 520 GTX > Owner Review by Robert Troutman