Trails, rocky terrain, hiking, and trekking—the Caravan Grand King GK-ALT mountain boots fill a new sweet spot for hiking boots, allowing you to explore Japan's mountains with just one pair. [Quick Review]

Shirakami-Sanchi in August. A few days prior, heavy rain had closed the forest roads, leaving the forest a muddy mess. The trail, a mix of puddles, wet tree roots, and rocks, made it difficult to even put your feet on, but the ground held firm, allowing me to immerse myself in the primeval beech forest without worrying about the dangerous slopes.

Or at Mount Houou in September, when the leaves were just beginning to turn red. Even on the long path that led from the mossy coniferous forest to the ridge made of sharp granite and gravel, the bike continued to carry me, carrying the heavy load of a tent, forward, gripping the rocks firmly and cushioning the impact.

the new hiking boots " GK-ALT the Caravan Grand King series , a brand that continues to pursue the creation of shoes for Japanese people hiking in the mountains . Prior to their release, we had the opportunity to try them out in various situations this spring and summer season.

My impression can be summed up in one word: " really good, but really strange boots ."

They offer a light, soft, and comfortable fit, yet offer firm support and excellent grip. And yet they're flexible and easy to walk in. You can walk comfortably and with peace of mind on any terrain. They're trekking boots, hiking boots, and approach shoes. It feels like every mountain shoe you've ever worn is packed into this one pair. It's as if the shoes are adapting to the ground as you go. Let's take a look at this new trekking boot, which achieves an exquisite balance never before seen.

Main features of Caravan Grand King GK-ALT

The Caravan Grand King GK-ALT is a versatile trekking shoe that offers durability, grip, and comfort, making it versatile enough to handle all terrain, from gentle trails to technical rock ridges. The sturdy upper, crafted from high-quality, durable suede leather, is waterproof and breathable thanks to a GORE-TEX liner, while the 360-degree land rubber (partially made of foam plastic) protects your feet from scratches and impacts. The sockliner's highly elastic tongue and laces extend to the toe for a comfortable fit that's hard to imagine. Combined with a roomy last designed to fit the Japanese foot, the shoes gently hold the entire foot in place. The ankle area provides both protection and mobility, the midsole features two different densities for flexibility and impact resistance, and the outsole features a Vibram MegaGrip compound and a climbing zone at the toe, ensuring safe, comfortable, and fatigue-free walking on any off-road terrain.

This shoe is perfect for a wide range of mountain activities, from light hiking to rocky terrain and trekking in the Alps, and it offers a high level of balance between the various functions required for a variety of styles.

Recommended points

• The upper provides excellent support from the toes to the entire foot and a sock liner for a comfortable fit.
• High durability that can withstand strong impacts and abrasions
• Comfortable ankle support with excellent mobility
• The VIBRAM MEGAGRIP compound prevents slipping even on wet rocks, and the toe climbing zone on the outsole makes it safe to use on rocky terrain.
• Highly waterproof and breathable thanks to the GORE-TEX liner and leather
• The included half insole allows for subtle size adjustments

Points that interest me

• High-cut models are not suitable for speedy activities (I haven't tried them, but I think mid-cut models would be ideal for fast packing).
• Leather and resin uppers have limited breathability
• For long-term trekking involving multiple nights and heavy loads, more robust hiking boots are a better choice.

Main Specifications and ratings

Detailed review

Fit and comfort: Contrary to its appearance, it is flexible and comfortable to wear. Detailed design combines protection and ease of movement.

The strange sensation I mentioned at the beginning began with the unexpectedly comfortable feeling when I put my feet in.

When I first saw these boots after they arrived, I was impressed by their appearance as "hard hiking boots" and thought they were more serious boots than I had initially heard. However, when I put my feet in them, I was surprised to find that their bulky appearance was completely different from how they actually felt.

The ease of putting them on, the generous foot shape with just the right amount of room, and the gentle fit that holds the entire foot snugly when you tighten the laces - they were nothing like the heavy hiking boots I had imagined from their appearance.

The sock liner tongue was so comfortable

It quickly became clear that the key to this exquisite comfort was the sockliner-style tongue structure.

The GK-ALT shoe tongue is not only integrated with the upper, but is also made of elastic material on both sides from the instep to the ankle joint, which stretches when you put it on, making it easy to put on, and once your foot is in place, it fits snugly to your foot with just the right amount of pressure, and naturally stretches with the flexion of your ankle (see photo above). There are no creases, wrinkles, or roughness between the shoe tongues, making it extremely comfortable against the skin.

Approach shoe style laces that can be adjusted all the way to the toes provide a firm, even hold on the entire foot

The GK-ALT 's last is based on a roomy 3E last that is gentle on the foot shape of many Japanese people. Overall, it offers a comfortable fit with just the right amount of room without any unnecessary tightness. Furthermore, like other Grand King models, the fit has been fine-tuned three-dimensionally from this base, so for example, the heel fits perfectly in the heel cup, preventing the heel from slipping or sliding around easily when walking.

In addition, when I looked at the shoelaces, they had a wrap-around structure that extended all the way to the toes, like approach shoes or climbing shoes, which allowed me to precisely adjust the tightness of the entire foot, making it easier to get a hold and fit that I was satisfied with. This provided a firm hold that allowed for delicate stances on rocky terrain that required small holds and pushing.

The included half insole allows for subtle adjustments to your foot shape.

Thankfully, this model, like other Caravan shoes, comes with a "half insole" that allows for subtle size adjustments. With this, even if you have narrow feet or different foot sizes, you can fine-tune the fit to suit each individual foot. As I mentioned before, my feet are different sizes and shapes, so this is a very appreciated consideration.

Prevents sprains and foreign body intrusion while providing free movement around the ankle without feeling too tight

At first glance, the ankle area appears to be high enough to provide considerable protection. When I actually put them on, the support was just as I expected, with firm yet soft padding covering both ankles, preventing my ankles from twisting even when I slipped. This height also makes it safer, preventing pebbles and other foreign objects from getting in.

What's more, the ease of ankle movement when walking was even more nimble than expected. This is due to careful considerations such as the use of stretch material that doesn't restrict forward or backward movement while still providing good protection for lateral bending, and slits in the leather part of the instep to increase flexibility, which provides a good balance between safety and comfort when walking (see photo below). However, the flexibility is not extremely high, and security is prioritized over activeness, so it is only "slightly easy to bend" (naturally, a mid-cut model would have more flexibility and less protection).

The heel (left) has a flexible pad with a slight recess at the rear to make walking easier. Highly flexible fabric ensures flexibility even when the foot is bent forward (right).

There are also small slits on the instep to help prevent digging in when bending.

Performance: A perfect balance of comfort, stability, rock strength and excellent grip.

The midsole is a clever blend of two different density EVA materials, providing both stability and flexibility.

The "mystery" of these boots, in a good sense, that they are suitable for any style of mountaineering, is of course something that you can really feel when you walk in them. One of the secrets to this is the midsole, which is a clever blend of two types of EVA with different densities.

When it comes to hiking boots, the more flexible, soft, and fluffy the soles are, the more comfortable they will be when it comes to ease of walking. However, soles that are too soft are prone to deformation under the weight, making them less stable. This means your feet will easily shake when carrying heavy loads or when the strong impact of landing will make it difficult to get a foothold on small rocky terrain.

Therefore, the GK-ALT has a hybrid structure that places low-density (i.e. softer) EVA foam near the center and high-density (i.e. harder) foam near the toes and heels, aiming to achieve an excellent balance between stability and ease of walking.

The harder foam in the front and back provides stability when landing and makes it easier to stand on rocky surfaces, helping with walking with a heavy load and dexterity when ascending and descending rocky surfaces. On the other hand, the softer foam in the center improves the shock absorption and flexibility of the sole, allowing for a more natural walking style similar to that of hiking shoes, rather than the awkward stomping that occurs when walking on flat ground with alpine boots, for example.

The foam in the center is more flexible and cushioned than the foam in the heel and toe areas.

For reference, the sole hardness is slightly softer than Grand King GK88 Zamberlan Salathe Trek GT RR RECCO . In other words, in terms of the sole alone, the GK-ALT strikes , being better suited to walking on flat ground than the GK88 also better suited to mountain climbing with a heavy load than the Salathe Trek

A midsole that is both flexible and firm enough to withstand heavy loads without impairing ease of walking.

The terrain we walked during the test ranged from gentle trails in the forest to rocky ridges above the tree line, and the midsole, which combines flexibility and stability, allowed for a natural and easy walk on the trails, and ensured a flat footing that minimized the impact of the road surface on the ups and downs of rocky ridges, providing a footing that was stable and less likely to wobble or slip in any situation.

The high-cut shoes provide some protection around the ankles, but unless you're running or walking fast, you don't feel like your mobility is restricted, and you can naturally put your feet out even on rocky areas with large steps, allowing you to walk naturally and comfortably while still feeling secure.

The highly reliable Vibram PEPE (VIBRAM MEGAGRIP) outsole provides top-class slip resistance and ease of stepping on rocky surfaces.

Vibram PEPE (VIBRAM MEGAGRIP) (see photo), which also introduced in the Zamberlan Sarate Trek GT RR RECCO that we reviewed previously

The Vibram PEPE outsole provides excellent traction and braking on rocky and rough terrain, while also being lightweight.

Vibram Megagrip Vibram Pepe has been designed to minimize weight and maximize the range of terrain .

The central honeycomb lug pattern provides maximum grip on a wide variety of terrain and directions with minimal weight, the toe area has a climbing zone that makes it easy to grab tight holds on rocky terrain, the heel area provides more stable braking, and both sides make it easier to expel pebbles and mud, making it an all-around solution for any rough terrain you may encounter while climbing.

The toe (photo left) features a climbing zone that is effective for bracing on rocky terrain, and the heel (photo right) increases braking force when landing.

This allows me to easily bear my weight on slopes with poor grip, from dirt and gravel to roots and mud, on trails in rainy weather, and on rocky areas where I have to climb with my toes on small holds. I particularly felt the true power of these boots when I descended steep, wet rocky slopes carrying camping gear without slipping or feeling uneasy.

The waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX liner and integrated shoe tongue mean that water won't get inside the shoes even when your feet are up to your ankles, so you don't have to worry about stepping into puddles or mud, or even when crossing the occasional stream. The leather is water-repellent, so it repels a little water and dirt (see photo below).

During the test, we felt stable grip regardless of the road surface, not only on a typical dirt trail (top left), but also on rocky ridges (top right), gravel (bottom left), and in water (bottom right).

Protection & Durability: Full protection against strong impacts and abrasions caused by heavy loads

Designed to withstand Japan's harsh mountainous terrain, the GK-ALT uses supple and durable 2.0-2.2mm suede leather as the main fabric for the upper, and the outer periphery is reinforced 360 degrees with thick rubber (with some foam resin sheeting), which reduces damage from strong impacts and prevents damage even when walking over rocky ridges, making for a durable upper that you can trust.

Durable leather upper with 360-degree rubber reinforcement for a sturdy feel

During testing, the rubber on the toe and the shoelace hooks on the ankle were rubbed hard against rocks several times, but they still looked like new, proving their durability even in tough, abrasive environments. While it's understandable that the boots are somewhat at a disadvantage in terms of breathability due to the highly protective fabric covering the entire boot, this also highlights the concept of these boots, which are focused on all-around use rather than active use.

Summary: Long trails and traverses of the Alps. From ancient roads to trails and high mountains, this is the perfect pair of shoes for walking all over Japan.

The GK-ALT offers superior comfort, ease of walking, and slip resistance without sacrificing the robust protection and rock-surface durability of heavy hiking boots. It's the most versatile and versatile hiking boot I've ever worn. It's a walking shoe for casually walking on old paths, a hiking shoe for leisurely trekking along trails, a trekking shoe for rugged terrain, and an approach shoe for leaving the trail and heading to rocky terrain. While there have been many hybrid hiking boots before, I can't recall ever seeing one that offers such exceptional comfort while also offering such a wide range of fit and durability. The "ALT" (Alternate) name is worthy of its name, and its wide range of fit is surprising, accommodating any style. Perhaps it's only possible because of Grand King's dedication to creating the perfect footwear for hiking in Japan's mountains, characterized by their rugged and varied terrain. This time we tested a high-cut model, but if you are looking for lightness over protection, we also recommend a mid-cut model.If you are mainly planning on day hikes or hiking with a light load, the mid-cut model may also be a good option.

Of course, this versatility also comes at a disadvantage in that it cannot compete with specialized models that are specialized for a specific field. For those who have a set activity or style in mind and are looking for a pair of shoes that are suited to that, other options may be better, but if you want to cover a wide range of Japanese mountains, even for short days of one or two nights during the snow-free season, with just one pair of shoes, there is probably no other pair that is more suitable than these at the moment.

Please try wearing these shoes and experience this exquisite balance for yourself.

Caravan Grand King GK-ALT details and purchase information

For more details about the product, please also check or product details page on the official online store

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