LaSportiva Trango TRK Leather GTX
+ weight; scrambling performance; leather upper with minimal stitching; ankle cuff
– tongue and ankle cuff durability needs more investigation
This features a leather upper, a fabric ankle cuff and tongue material that extends to the toe, which is unusual. The upper uses a welded construction for more durability and less weight, with Gore-Tex lining for waterproofing. A rubber rand protects much of the boot but, strangely, not the outer side. The sole is a stiff and very aggressive Vibram Mulaz unit. We’re just not sure if this is the best design for durability. 4/5
The size range is 41-48 for men and 37-42 for women. The fit is neat and close with a very precise feel around the toes in particular, although some may feel the toe box is too restrictive. The neatly fitting ankle cuff has a similar height to others, but benefits from a little more lateral and forward flex than other designs. 5/5
It’s relatively light with good padding to line the contact areas with the foot, so the result is greater comfort than many others boots. However, its snug toe box may feel a little uncomfortable if you have wider feet or like more space. The ankle cuff is very comfortable though thanks to soft padding and that extra flex. Underfoot is quite stiff, but there is a controlled toe flex for walking comfort. 4/5
That neat toe area means it excels on scrambling and long, rocky ridge routes, as every step feels so precise. On soft ground, gravel and scree, the deep, outsole lugs and heel breast are superb. However, this boot doesn’t have a full rubber rand, plus fabric at the ankle cuff and tongue extends over the toe box and seems less durable than the rest of the boot. Time will tell. 4/5
These may become a pricy option in the long term if there are other boots around this price that are more durable. 3/5
The neat precise toe fit makes this ideal for more technical scrambling and traversing rocky ridges, but 4.0/5 will it be durable enough?