For example, on a tent-based traverse of the Northern Alps, where you'll be walking long distances carrying a heavy load and sometimes passing through steep rocky areas, you'll need serious hiking boots that can withstand the tough terrain and weight
The " Grand King " series is a high-performance mountain boot series made by the Japanese mountaineering boot brand Caravan , designed for technical and demanding mountain climbing. I had the opportunity to try out one of the boots, the " GK88 ," in detail, so I would like to review it from various angles, including the differences between it and boots I have worn in the past.
Many people may be familiar with Caravan through C1_02S (commonly known as Caravan Shoes) which we reviewed on this site recently Grand King ", it is a model for high mountain trekking from a long-established manufacturer, so few readers may immediately know what kind of boots it is.
However, after walking around Okuchichibu and Mount Nasu in these boots for about a month, I discovered that they are flexible and comfortable to walk in, something you wouldn't expect from their rugged appearance. What on earth is that all about? Anyway, let's get straight to the review
table of contents
- Main features of the Caravan Grand King GK88
- Main specifications and evaluation
- Detailed Review
- Fit and comfort: These boots are genuine hiking boots that offer a soft, comfortable fit and a secure hold
- Protection & Durability: Reliable reinforcement that withstands strong impacts and abrasions
- Performance: It is easy to step on and does not shake easily on unstable rocky ground, and it is well-balanced so that it does not impair ease of walking on flat ground
- Summary: A pair of shoes packed with just the right amount of comfort, made possible by careful consideration of Japanese feet and Japanese mountains
Main features of the Caravan Grand King GK88
The Grand King GK88 is a high-performance mountain boot that combines comfort and stability for a wide range of mountaineering activities, from forested areas to technical rocky ridges and long-term traverses, even in the snow-free season. The upper structure is fully reinforced for robustness and durability, while an improved last for a better fit and hold, and a stress-reducing shoelacing system ensure a comfortable fit. The high-cut design around the ankle, with a shallow cut around the Achilles tendon, provides high support and allows for a more natural gait. The midsole is designed for ease of walking without sacrificing rigidity, and the outsole is designed for braking, stepping, and climbing on tough terrain, even when carrying a heavy load. Combining the comfort and ease of trekking boots with the protection and stability of alpine boots, these boots are ideal for all high-altitude and demanding mountaineering in Japan's snow-free season. Their affordable price point is also a major attraction.
Recommended points
- Upper structure provides excellent fit and hold
- High durability that can withstand strong impacts and abrasions
- Shoelaces that are hard to loosen and allow for easy adjustment of the tightness
- Cushioned, supportive and mobile ankle area
- Outsole that combines grip and durability
- The included half insole allows for subtle size adjustments
- Surprisingly high cost performance compared to competing models
Points of interest
- Depending on the use and purpose, they may be "too soft for a sash and too long for a sash" compared to specialized models of trekking boots and full-scale alpine boots (they are a bit soft for full-scale alpine boots, but a bit bulky and heavy for low-mountain trekking boots)
Main specifications and evaluation
| item | Caravan Grand King GK88 |
|---|---|
| official weight | Approximately 682g (26.0cm standard size) |
| upper |
|
| Midsole |
|
| Outsole | Vibram TSAVO (midsole: EVA) |
| Waterproof and breathable | GORE-TEX |
| Sales price including tax (as of June 25, 2025) |
29,700 yen |
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Fit & Comfort | ★★★★★ |
| weight | ★★★★☆ |
| Protection & Durability | ★★★★★ |
| grip | ★★★★☆ |
| Ease of walking with a heavy load | ★★★★☆ |
| Climbing aptitude | ★★★☆☆ |
Detailed Review
Fit and comfort: These boots are genuine hiking boots that offer a soft, comfortable fit and a secure hold
The tricky thing about trekking shoes is that no matter how functional they are, they are useless if they don't fit your feet. For this reason, no matter what shoes you choose to wear, it is most important to first choose the right size for you
The size is different from Caravan shoes (it's important to try them on in a store)
the Caravan Shoes (C1_02S) I reviewed the other day , I felt that the US9 (27.0cm) that I usually choose from overseas brands was too loose, so I went down one size (closer to my actual foot size) to 26.5cm. As a result, it fit perfectly in the field, and I thought that going down one size from usual for Caravan was the right choice.
However, just to be sure, I also tried on the Grand King ( GK88 ) at the store, and found that while this model is based on the traditional 3E last, it has a more three-dimensional design that provides a better fit. As a result, the size 26.5cm, which had fit perfectly with the previous Caravan shoes, felt a little tight, and my usual size 27.0cm was just right.
It is common for the fit to differ depending on the model, even within the same manufacturer, such as Caravan Shoes and Grand King. This shows once again that it is important to actually try on the shoes in the store and check them out, rather than making general assumptions such as whether the brand is narrow or wide
A firm hold that wraps around the entire foot evenly without being too tight
Unlike relatively lightweight and moderately flexible trekking boots like Caravan Shoes, sturdy hiking boots for traversing the Alps inevitably have a thick, hard upper that makes them uncomfortable to wear.However, the Grand King GK88 , despite its bulky appearance, will surprise you with its soft feel against your skin when you put it on and the comfortable fit that snugly hugs your entire foot.
Based on a 3E last that is gentle on the wide, high-arched feet commonly associated with Japanese foot types, the basic fit is roomy. However, the GK88 utilizes a new last design that has been fine-tuned and refined to improve the overall fit, from the toes to the instep and around the Achilles tendon, resulting in a comfortable, secure fit without feeling too tight.
It's not the kind of grip that typically occurs with narrower shoes, where the sides of the foot are pinched together, but rather a comfortable fit that "wraps around the entire foot" and secures the entire thing in place, freeing my feet from unnatural tightness
The three-dimensionally designed last encases the entire heel and supports the Achilles tendon, improving the fit
The wide space around the big toe ensures ample room for toes to move, which is also very gentle on Egyptian-shaped feet (where the big toe is the longest and the toes curve gently from the index finger to the little finger), which is said to be common among Japanese people, including myself. Of course, my toes don't get jammed up when I'm going down a slope, so I can wear them comfortably
Subtly widening the space around the big toe provides more room for toes to move and a stable feeling of landing
Of course, with hiking boots of this caliber, you do need to break them in a bit on the first day, but after that, they gradually become more comfortable with each wear, and there is no chafing or anything like that, and the discomfort when walking quickly disappears. The weight of about 682g (standard for one 26.0cm shoe) is more than adequate, and by no means too heavy
Comes with a half insole that allows for precise size adjustment
Just like Caravan shoes the GK88 also comes with a "half insole" that allows for precise size adjustments. For someone like me, whose left foot is nearly 1cm shorter than my right, I purchased the size for my right foot and inserted the half insole into just my left foot, allowing me to adjust the fit to just the right feel on both sides. This thoughtful attention to detail is very much appreciated.
Comes with a fully cushioned insole and a half insole for size adjustment
Safe and comfortable ankle area with cushioning, injury prevention and ankle mobility
What's even more impressive is the construction around the ankle. First of all, the highly breathable, generously cushioned padding on the inside of the shoe tongue and collar makes it extremely soft against the skin, eliminating any chafing while walking and providing an extremely comfortable fit
The padding at the collar is comfortable and the breathable fabric makes it extremely comfortable
Although it's a small detail, padding has also been carefully inserted into the upper part of the heel, which, combined with the three-dimensional shape of the heel cup for a snug fit, ensures an exquisite fit for the heel
The Achilles tendon area inside is also well padded, providing a comfortable fit for the heel
The ankle area is designed to be high enough from the front to the sides, while the back where the ankle bends is boldly cut out, allowing for unrestricted movement of the foot. While providing solid protection against lateral bending, which can lead to injury, the freedom of movement in the front and back directions is not exaggerated and is almost the same as when wearing Caravan shoes. Not only are the shoes comfortable and safe to wear, but they are also designed with comfort in mind when walking
The back of the heel and Achilles tendon area are boldly cut out to improve mobility when walking
Shoelaces are designed to be easy to tighten and stay in place for a comfortable fit
Another factor that contributes to this exquisite fit is the shoelace system, which allows you to adjust the tightness in two stages, up and down, with a single shoelace, making it easy to fine-tune the fit
First, the lower part from the toe to the instep is designed with tape lacing, which allows the shoe holes to easily conform to the foot and provides a comfortable fit. By locking it with the hook on the instep, you can determine the tightness of the forefoot here
The tightness can be adjusted from the toes to the instep, so you can tighten the ankle area tightly and the foot itself loosely
From there, there are tape lacing holes that tighten all the way up to the ankle, which keeps your foot in the correct position inside the boot while supporting flexible ankle movement. This also prevents your foot from stumbling forward when descending. Two hooks at the top of the ankle securely fasten the entire boot, but the tightness here has almost no effect on the tightness of the instep below, so you can, for example, tighten the instep a little loosely while keeping the ankle tight
The hooks located at the ankle are attached to microfiber parts, providing an excellent hold
Protection & Durability: Reliable reinforcement that withstands strong impacts and abrasions
With 1.6mm suede leather and extensive rubber reinforcement around the perimeter, the GK88 offers ample protection against scrapes and punctures on rocky terrain. The toe bumper design, which extends the outsole all the way to the tip, provides ample impact absorption.
During the test, I repeatedly hit and scraped the toes and heels hard against rocks while walking, but so far they have remained intact except for dirt, which gave me peace of mind that they are strong enough to withstand any tough mountain in Japan
On the other hand, the area from the tongue to the ankle is made of durable synthetic fiber, ensuring a certain degree of breathability, and this balance has been well thought out
The integrated shoe tongue is made of synthetic fiber, providing excellent fit and waterproofing, while also ensuring a certain degree of breathability
Performance: It is easy to step on and does not shake easily on unstable rocky ground, and it is well-balanced so that it does not impair ease of walking on flat ground
When carrying a heavy load and walking on rocky ridges over 2,500 meters, such as in the Alps, the ideal shoes are those that provide as little shaking as possible on the ground and are less likely to slip, yet still allow for a smooth and easy walk.Until a few decades ago, however, stability and ease of walking were in a sort of trade-off relationship, and the reality was that such ideal shoes were difficult to find
However, thanks to advances in equipment, this problem is now being overcome to some extent. The GK88 left a strong impression on me, with its excellent balance of stability, support, and ease of walking, compared to other boots.
All of the courses we walked during the test started out as a fairly flat wooded area, then moved onto off-road terrain with dirt, tree roots, and pebbles. Even on these routes, the GK88 , despite its heavy appearance, responded flexibly to the movements of the soles of my feet and ankles.
The sole is naturally much harder than Caravan shoes, but it is still soft enough that it flexes to a certain extent when you stand on your toes and put your weight on it, so there is less awkwardness from landing to pushing off, and I felt that it was one of the easiest hiking boots to walk in for this level (photo below)
When you bend the sole, trekking shoes like Caravan Shoes (right) are relatively easy to bend, but the GK88 (left) is so rigid that it does not bend easily
On the other hand, when you go out onto a ridge and go over ups and downs of large rocky areas, you want a firm and stable sole that won't be affected by unevenness, and even in that case, the moderate rigidity of these boots provided a stable and non-slip footing. Of course, the GORE-TEX liner provides high waterproofing up to the ankles, so you don't have to worry about fording streams or walking through remaining snow (see photo below)
The GK88 provides a firm grip on a wide range of terrain, including rocky mountain trails (top left), wet and slippery surfaces (top right), puddles and streams (bottom left), and trails with tree roots and dirt (bottom right)
The ease of bending the ankle is especially useful when stepping on large rocks. Thanks to the free ankle movement and the flexible yet stable sole, I was able to get through both situations without any difficulty
that the excellent balance that allows you to walk comfortably on both flat surfaces and over rocky ridges , and the versatility, are what really make these boots great.
Incidentally, the sole is clearly softer than full-fledged alpine boots or winter boots that are compatible with one-touch crampons, so for tough routes where you need to stand on small holds on rocky ridges, a model with stronger alpine elements would be better. In that sense, the most attractive thing about these boots is that they allow you to walk on rocky ridges comfortably and smoothly, which is an extension of trekking
This ease of walking is only possible because the functions of each part work together, such as the upper structure which provides a good fit and flexibility, the high-density EVA midsole which combines cushioning and rigidity, and the Vibram outsole which is durable yet has excellent adhesion and is non-slip.In that sense, the GK88 has an excellent balance.
This excellent balance, which does not favor either comfort or walking stability, makes these boots suitable for the widest range of mountain ranges in Japan, and is an appeal not found in boots from overseas brands
The lug pattern is designed for good mud shedding and traction in all directions. The arch is also textured to prevent slipping on log stairs
A rubber that is neither too hard nor too soft, with an excellent balance of grip and durability
The toe area makes it easier to grab holds on rocky terrain, and the heel area has a zone that allows for strong braking, increasing safety when stepping off and landing
Summary: A pair of shoes packed with just the right amount of comfort, made possible by careful consideration of Japanese feet and Japanese mountains
the GK88 , I felt that it was a genuine mountain boot that carefully incorporated the design and functionality necessary for the feet of many Japanese people to walk in the widest possible range of Japan's tough mountains in the most comfortable and safe way possible. It perfectly balances the strengths of a typical authentic alpine boot with the strengths of a lightweight trekking boot, making it a boot that caters to a wide range of climbers, from tough climbers to beginners looking to step up their game.
These boots are perfect for comfortable long-term alpine hikes in the summer, as well as day hikes through a wide range of terrain, from the forested areas at the trailhead to the rocky peaks. They are also ideal for those who want both stability and ease of walking on technical terrain
Last but not least, the price is surprisingly affordable compared to competing products from other brands. If I were a member of a student mountaineering club, I'm sure I would recommend these to new members as the "only choice." Or, for those who want to take on the challenge of a full-scale traverse of the Alps but have to buy a lot of new equipment and can't afford to spend too much on each item, these shoes will surely be a valuable ally
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