OWNER REVIEW - La Sportiva Makalu

April 26, 2006

Reviewer Information

Name: Seth Daniels

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.9 m)

Weight: 160 lbs (68 kg)

Email address: ssdaniels(at)juno(dot)com

City, State, Country: Yreka, California, U.S.

Date: April 26, 2006

Backpacking Background: I started backpacking about two years ago and

serious hiking about 4 years ago.  In that time I have not been able

to get out as much as I have wanted, only about 100 mi (161 kg) per

summer but I am hoping that this summer will be different.  I love to

be out in the woods with my friends enjoying nature.  I backpack

within the Marble Mountain Wilderness area of Northern California

where the terrain is mountainous with elevations ranging from 2000 ft

(610 m) to over 8000 ft (2438 m).  Being California the temperatures

in the summer in the mountains are roughly 70 F (21.11 C) to 90 F

(32.22 C) in the day with temps dropping at night to a cool, if not

cold temp.  I am not overly concerned with being as lightweight as

possible but it is nice to be able to shed a few pounds here and there.

Product Information

Manufacturer: La Sportiva

Year of Manufacture: 2002

URL: http://www.lasportiva.com/

Listed Weight: 4 lbs 5 oz per pair (1.952 kg)

Actual Weight: 4 lbs 5 oz (1.952 kg)

MSRP: $255.00

COLOR: Natural

UPPER:.12 in (3 mm) Idro-Perwanger Roughout Leather/Vibram® XSV

Rand/Removable EZ Flex Tongue with Dri-Lex® lining

CONSTRUCTION: Board Lasted

LAST: Makalu

LINING: Dri-Lex®

SOLE: Skywalk

MPE MIDSOLE: SBR Aircushion

INSOLE:.31 in (8 mm) Mtnflex with .06 in (1.5 mm) Dacromet-coated full

steel shank

(Specifications from www.sportiva.com)

The Makalu is a backpacking/mountaineering boot made by La Sportiva.

The boot is mostly constructed of natural, full grain leather with a

black leather tongue. They have high ankle support and locking D-rings

to allow for a more custom fit and difference between the foot and the

ankle. The boot also includes a gusseted tongue to keep water and

rocks out with a soft padded inner tongue, also in black leather, for

comfort. The La Sportiva logo shows up three times on each boot.

Twice it is tastefully embossed within the leather on either side of

the ankle, and the third is on the tongue. Consistent with other La

Sportiva boots, this boot has very little flash, just the necessities

of a good boot. This boot is fully crampon compatible for those

mountaineering adventures but is not your typical overly heavy

mountaineering boot. As said before it is also a backpacking boot.

This boot performs well on all types of trail from loose dirt to mud

to slick rock. The sole is made with a heel brake for downhill travel

and a smooth toe for grip on rock.

I have used these boots on all of my backpacking trips, day hikes, and

even to climb Mt Shasta here in Northern California. The elevation

where I hike ranges from about 2000 ft (610 m) to over 8000 ft (2438

m) with summer temperatures ranging from 70 F (21.11 C) to about 90 f

(32.22 c). During these trips this boot has encountered every type of

terrain out there.  It has climbed dusty dry trails, scrambled up

rocky slopes, descended muddy valleys, crossed rushing creeks, and

climbed snow covered mountains. The majority of the trails I have

hiked are dry and dusty.  However I have also encountered rain, mud,

loose rock, slick marble, and snow while doing my hikes within the

Marble Mountains. I have found them to perform well no matter what

Mother Nature has thrown at them. During the summer I use them on the

trail every weekend. I have found the high, stiff ankle support to be

very nice when I am looking out at the scenery and not noticed the

ankle breaking rock on the trail, the support has saved me everytime.

It does not allow my ankle to roll sideways at all. They grip well

going uphill and hold well coming down the steep trails. Rushing

creeks are no problem, the ankle is high enough to keep the water out

while crossing most mountain streams, however even though the boots

are full grain leather they still need to be waterproofed. I have only

had to waterproof them once. For this I used Sno-Seal and they have

performed well with that. This was after the one time my feet got wet

by moisture seeping through the boot. This happened while hiking up Mt

Shasta in deep snow.  They are a little heavy but I have not had a

problem with that, even on day hikes I would rather wear these then

lighter boots or shoes.  I have also only gotten one blister on my

heel, and no where else, while wearing these. I usually backpack with

a 30 to 40 lb (13.61 to  18.14 kg) pack up steep hills and down sharp

switchbacks and my feet never complain.  I am very pleased with how

these boots perform in all situations that I have used them in.

After having these boots for about four years and after hiking at

least 100 mi (161 km) each summer, they are still in what I would call

great condition. The leather is still nice and flexible and shows no

signs of any cracking. Even the sole (which is a Vibram sole, they

have since switched to a Skywalk MPE sole) has stood up well to the

hiking I have put these through. The only thing that I have done to

them is replace the laces because they were looking like they might

break.  There is only minor separation of the sole from the boot at

the toe of each, but it is nothing I am concerned about.

Summary

I have found the La Sportiva Makalu to be a great boot tackling a

little bit of everything all in one boot.  Although a little heavier

than some, I have never found it to slow me down.  It is a great boot

to hike and climb in.

Likes:

Comfortable

Durable

Good Grip on any surface

Dislikes:

Not waterproof

A little heavy