Reviews > Footwear > Boots > La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR > Kathleen Waters > Initial Report

Initial Report: La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR Trail Shoes
2 November 2005

Contents:
Biographical Information
Product Information
Arrival Information
First Impressions
Test Plan

Tester Biographical Information    <back to top>

Name: Kathleen Waters
Age: 54
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Boot Size: 8 women's
Weight: 128 lb (58 kg)
Email address: kathy at ring dot com or TheMiddleSister at usaring dot com
City, State, Country: White Lake, MI USA

Backpacking Background: My husband and I started hiking in 1998 on a gorgeous fall day, starting with Mt. Hahn located just north of Steamboat Springs, CO.

Since then, we have returned to Colorado, mostly to the Vail Valley area twice a year, both summer/early fall and winter to play outdoors - we snowshoe in the winter.

When we are home in Southeast Michigan, we generally hike 2 or 3 short hikes, 6 to 8 miles (10 to 13 km) and then one whole weekend day each week. Our weekday hikes generally take place in the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, which is a decent mixture of moderately steep hills and flat terrain, heavily wooded. Our weekend hikes can end up being anywhere!

Product Information (from website)    <back to top>
http://www.sportiva.com

Manufacturer: La Sportiva
Year of Manufacturer: 2005
Model: Venture Mid XCR
Weight: 2 lb 8 oz (1.1 kg)
Upper: Nubuck Leather/AirMesh/Rubber coated rands
Construction: Slip Lasted Strobel
Last: Magic
Lining: Gore-Tex®
XCR Sole: FriXion® AT/Trail Sport
Midsole: Trailon with polypropylene shank
Insole: None
Color: Olive
MSRP: $125 USD

Warranty: "We guarantee La Sportiva Products to be free of defects in materials and workmanship to the original buyer for one year from the date of purchase. There is no implied life span for our products due to the many variables that affect footwear. This Warranty does not cover wear and tear or extend to any La Sportiva product that has been resoled, repaired or otherwise modified. Only original La Sportiva materials and workmanship are covered under this Warranty. Dealers are not authorized to replace La Sportiva products without prior approval. Any La Sportiva product to be warrantied must be returned to La Sportiva for evaluation. Upon inspection, La Sportiva will either replace the product, repair the product credit the account, or return the product as is. La Sportiva cannot replace products due to incorrect sizing if they have been worn outside, used on indoor climbing walls, or treated with a waterproofing product. Damage due to normal wear and tear will be repaired at a reasonable charge."

Description: Super light, breathable and waterproof multi-purpose trail shoe for everyday use. Built for protection from the elements as well as off-road terrain.

· Mid height and low cut options with contoured heel pocket to keep your foot firmly in place when the terrain is technical and the footing tricky
· AT compound FriXion® rubber outsole provides soft, resilient ride and superior traction on rocky loose dirt trails
· Gore-Tex® XCR lined to keep the wet stuff out, with sturdy full Nubuck leather protection for the rigors of daily life

Product Information (from tester)

Size: 8 USA/40.5 EUR/7 UK
Weight: 2 lb 4 oz (1.02 kg)

Arrival Information     <back to top>

The La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boots arrived in a shoe box labeled "trail sports" which is the classification La Sportiva gives these boots on their website. The box contained the boots, a colorful catalog of La Sportiva products and a round La Sportiva decal. Attached to the boots was a hangtag with a Gore-Tex® logo and slogan. A second hangtag contained a product registration pre-paid postcard and warranty information.

First Impressions    <back to top>

The first things I noticed about the La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boots were the substantial outsoles of the boots and in light of those outsoles, the surprising light weight of the boots. These boots are a full 8 oz (227 g) lighter than my current boots!

The outsoles of the La Sportiva boots ARE heavy duty with the black rubber extending up the toecap and cradling the heel just above the outsoles. The FriXion® outsoles are intricately patterned with a central "suction-type" design running the length of the boot almost from heel to toe, as well as the usual lateral water-draining tread.

The La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR uppers are a nice mix of dark gray mesh inserts with olive green nubuck leather bands supporting the heel, sides and front of the boot. The padded collar is nicely highlighted by an almost too large leather "pull" loop to aid in sliding in the toes. The boot tongue is attached and well padded also.

The round yellow and gray laces utilize five sets of loops made from the nubuck leather and end in two sets of metal hooks at the top.

Gore-Tex® lines the interior of the La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR, which is why the boot earns the designation "XCR" - "extended comfort range". A thin but adequate removable mesh inner sole completes the package.

All visible stitching is neat, straight with no loose threads. All glued seams are tightly sealed with no excess glue in sight.

It's a good-looking boot, the La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR, with discrete yellow accents of the La Sportiva logos and insignia on the tongue, heel and outer ankle. A very small "Gore-Tex® XCR" tag is also attached at the midstep.

Having never ordered boots without first trying them on, thoroughly testing them in the store and then at home for hours before wearing them outdoors, I was very concerned as to how the La Sportive Venture boots would fit. The La Sportive website was not very helpful, referring me to the "insert in middle of catalog" which I did not have. After some research elsewhere on the internet, I ended up ordering the same size La Sportiva Venture boots as my current boots' size.

When I first slipped the La Sportive Venture boots on my feet, my fear of sizing was raised as the boots felt huge on my feet. However after I put on my usual thick SmartWool hiking socks and tightened up the laces, I realized that the boots were a good fit. My initial conception of "bigness" was due to the generous width in the toe box. This will take a little getting used to, but was not totally unexpected since these boots are unisex and not designed specifically for a woman's narrower foot.

The La Sportive Venture boots were very stiff right out of the box, but not uncomfortably so. I did have to lace up the boots two or three times to get them tight enough to be supportive without being hurtful. The laces are too long for my liking. I "double-bowed" them, but still they hang almost to the ground.

I immediately noticed a friction point on my left outer ankle right where the Gore-Tex liner is seamed to the padded collar. I don't think it will be a problem, but time will tell. Weirdly, I don't have the same problem on the right foot.

A quick two-mile (3.22 km) hike found me happily oblivious to my new footwear (which is how footwear should be IMHO). I am totally looking forward to wearing these babies relentlessly during the test period and beyond!

Test Plan    <back to top>

This was the year my backpacking day trips finally expanded into backpacking overnight trips! I love it! I am looking forward to at least two more 2-3 day hiking trips here in Michigan through late fall and winter and have one long weekend (Thanksgiving) trip scheduled for the Upper Peninsula. I am also hoping to be back in Colorado for the Christmas holidays where I plan to get in a 2-3 day trip to Pike's Peak. In February, again I will be Colorado for a birthday trip to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. I also plan on averaging my usual 2 day hikes (or snowshoeing trips when weather permits) per week.

Hiking or snowshoeing will take place in terrain that will include the sandy lakeshore dunes of Lake Michigan in western lower Michigan, the rockier shore areas of Lake Superior in the UP and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Elevation will range from 177 ft to 14,110 ft (54 m to 4301 m) and I anticipate that temperatures over the remaining days of fall and winter will vary from 10 F to 60 F (-12-21 C to 15.56 C). I'm sure to experience cold, wind and rain and snow in Michigan and most certainly at Pike's Peak and the Sangres in Colorado.

While a tester for the La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boot, it will be my first choice of boot for the whole testing period - I'll give my poor Asolos a rest. I am very eager to try a lightweight boot. I generally wear SmartWool or heavy-duty Thorlo socks with a silk liner during the winter months so I will test the La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boot with various combinations and report on any differences in comfort and performance.

The La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boot will be tested for the rest of fall and into winter in a wide range of weather and locations. Most of the testing will be 2-3 day trips in western and northern Michigan on lakeshore trails, ranging from sandy, open areas, to rocky, heavily treed terrain and short 2-3 hour day trips. The boots will most likely get damp, if not wet.

Comfort is my primary concern in a boot and I will thoroughly test for comfort as well as overall utility.

I will be testing La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boots for comfort in construction.

How do the La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boots feel as the test period progresses?
Is there enough support in the arch? Ankle?
Is there a stiff or flexible feel to the soles? The uppers?
Do the boots "break-in"?
Do the boots lace up easily and hold position when wet AND dry?
Is there sufficient padding?
Does my heel remain firmly in place on loose scree, rocks, etc.?

I will be testing the La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boot for utility and truth in advertising.

How well do the La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boots repel dampness? Wetness?
Does the AT compound outsole really provide good traction?
Do the La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boots breathe and provide enough ventilation to prevent wet feet from sweating?

I will be testing the La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boots for sturdiness and durability.

Do all the seams and stitching stay tight?
Will the sole remain firmly attached to the boot? How do the La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR boots hold up to extended use on the trails?
What care is recommended by the manufacturer?
How long do the boots require drying out if wetness does occur?
How do the laces hold up?

I will also report any other issues that arise during the testing period.

Reviews > Footwear > Boots > La Sportiva Venture Mid XCR > Kathleen Waters > Initial Report