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Asolo Falcon GV GTX summer hiking boot

Written by Fiona

April 19 2017

Men's Asolo Falcon GV hiking boot.

The new Asolo Falcon GV hiking boots are part of the brand’s “A-Fast” collection. They are aimed at the summer trail walker, with boots for men and for women.

Features include:

  • Durable and grippy Vibram Redstar sole (with self-cleaning lugs)
  • Upper: Water-resistant suede and polyester
  • Gore-Tex Performance Comfort Footwear lining for waterproofing and breathability
  • Lite 2 Anatomic footbed
  • Mid-stiffness for backpacking and trekking
  • Asoflex 00 SR fast last
  • Weight per pair (average):  980g
  • Sole Type:  Vibram
  • RRP £175.
Women's Asolo Falcon GV hiking boot.

Women’s Asolo Falcon GV hiking boot.

On test: Asolo Falcon GV GTX boots

The boots are lightweight and comfortable and that is important when walking in warmer weather.

At first I thought they would be a bit roomy for me because they are a wider fit that my old Asolo boots but this didn’t seem to matter when I was walking. They felt comfortable and did not rub my feet at all. There was a bit of excess fabric caused by tightening the laces to fit my feet but nothing that rubbed or cased a problem.

I do really wish that brands would stick to the same sizing. Asolo used to be an excellent fit for my narrow feet and has become my brand of choice but now the boots seems to be a bit wider. (Perhaps they have reacted to requests for people with wider feet to change the designs but, for me, it’s annoying.)

The ankle height is “mid” which is good for summer hiking on easy-going trails. This offers enough ankle support but without being overly rigid.

Comfort around the ankle to good and at the tongue.

Walking in mud.

The lacing system is a combination of metal hooks and two cloth eyes. On other Asolo boots, the cloth eye has worn through, rendering the boot useless. I can see that the cloth eye is useful where the lacing system moves through a right angle from the foot of the bot to the angle but it wears out.

I would love to see Asolo update this poorly designed feature. Once the eye wears through you can’t effective lace up the boots. The laces also feel rather thin and are a bit slippery so you need to tie them tightly to stop them coming undone while walking. There are better laces on the market that stay tied without as much effort.

Side view while out on the trails.

The boots look and feel durable. There is plenty of protection from debris and rocks on the trail and en extra toecap bumper.

The cushioning is medium, so it’s not overly cushioned yet it’s not barefoot minimalist. It’s a good compromise sole for easy going summer trail walking.

Waterproofing and breathability is excellent and provided by tried-and–trusted Gore-Tex.

Not every woman will like the pink so, luckily, there is a light blue version. The lighter colours will be prone to becoming dirty with mud but the boots, when new, look great. I have had a few favourable comments about the look and design of the boots.

Soles of the Asolo Falcon GV hiking boot.

Soles of the Asolo Falcon GV hiking boot.

The soles are good quality Vibram and ideal for had-packed trails, paths and grass. They are not aggressively lugged so they will not be ideal for steep slopes and in very muddy conditions but for most lower level walks in summer they are ideal.

Sole view.

Asolo say the soles have self-cleaning lugs. This didn’t work 100%. After a walk on fairly muddy paths I found there was a lot of dried mud debris coming off the shoes. I think this is perfectly normal but it’s misleading to say they are “self-cleaning”.

Aside from some negatives, the boots look to be very well made and I can see them becoming a favourite for summer dog walks, forest trails and hills. It’s great to have boots of high quality that are lightweight and super comfortable.

But, please, Asolo, can you go back to doing a narrower fit, as well as the medium width?

RRP is around £175. See Asolo.

A note on price: Asolo manufacture all of their products in Europe using materials that are largely sourced in Europe (Vibram and Pervanger leather from Italy; Gore-Tex from Germany; Schoeller from Switzerland). A spokesperson said: “Producing a high quality product inevitably costs more, but it does result in a range with a very low return rate and a better fitting product.”

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