LA SPORTIVA AEQUILIBRIUM SPEED GTX Review: The ultimate all-around mountain shoes that are resistant to mud, rocks and snow from the trails to make them even lighter

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Sportiva, which is always entertaining as a mountaineering boot manufacturer that always takes the lead and carves out new genres, has released a groundbreaking boot that opens up new doors. AEQUILIBRIUM SPEED GTX AEQUILIBRIUM series, which was born last season with a lot of excitement . I was waiting for it to be released, but I received a message that it had finally arrived in Japan this fall, so I immediately borrowed a sample from the manufacturer and tried it out.

The Equilibium series, which means "equilibium" in Japanese, has its basic concept of combining the many functions required of mountaineering boots, such as strength, lightness, comfort and safety, at a high level, and in a balanced manner, without compromising as much as possible. It's the cutting edge of mountaineering boots that seem to "take the best of outdoor shoes."

This work, which was released two years after the birth of Equilibium, is an ambitious work that has maintained a high level of balance and is an even more relaxed experience. Personally , I was really excited about the previous work AEQUILIBRIUM ST GTX

So, I'd like to start a review of these new mountain shoes, but personally I'm particularly interested in the part about how it compares to the standard model, the AEQUILIBRIUM ST. There hasn't been much talk about that, so I'll dig deeper.

Main features of the LA SPORTIVA AEQUILIBRIUM SPEED GTX

Sportiva's AEQUILIBRIUM SPEED GTX is a very lightweight, versatile, low-cut shoe with built-in gaiter, designed to quickly travel across a wide range of off-roads, including technical terrain. The low-cut inner shoes have an excellent fit with an ergonomic last that captures the shape of the foot in a three-dimensional way, and quick shoelaces, and the surroundings are covered with lightweight, durable TPU material, providing extremely durable durability while minimizing weight. The unique sole package with a midsole and outsole that absorbs shocks and provides smooth center of gravity movement and high propulsion provides reliable stability, grip and traction even when traveling at high speeds on harsh roads such as steep slopes, muddy, rocky areas, and snow. This pair of shoes is perfect for stoic alpine hikers who want not only strength on tough terrain, but also lightness and speed. Semi-automatic crampons can also be attached.

Recommended points

• Low-cut inner shoes with a comfortable fit and playful feel
• Integrated outer gaiter that combines flexibility, protection and waterproofness
• Surprisingly light while maintaining high protection
• An integrated sole that combines grip on muddy areas, ease of standing up on rocky areas, and easy to ride on trails in a balanced way.
• Easy to put on and take off and not easily loosen, 100% recycled quick lace

Points that interest me

• It is not breathable, so the inside gets stuffy in hot weather.
• Expensive price

Main Specifications and ratings

Detailed review

Comfort (comfort): A moderate fit, a toe box with a slightly playful look, ankle pads = Everything is exquisite

the AEQUILIBRIUM SPEED GTX (hereinafter referred to as SPEED ) is a shoe with an integrated structure covered with a gaiter on the outside, and prevents sand, pebbles, branches, water, snow, etc. from entering your shoes while you are walking. The inside of the gaiter is low-cut shoes, and the laces are the so-called "quick lace system (photo below)" that is tightly tightened with a cord lock.

The simple way to wear is to first open the Gator zipper fully and wear low-cut shoes, tighten the quick lace, and finally tighten the Gator zipper. The operation is easy and the gaitor is not particularly intrusive and difficult to tighten, making it a very smooth setting. However, this quick race didn't really loosen up halfway through.

I have not had much experience with these types of gaiter-integrated shoes, but as soon as I put my feet in, I was relieved to see the upper that is more flexible than I imagined and has a moderate cushioning that is comfortable to the touch.

The back of both the ankles of the Gator are subtly padded, making it comfortable to wear. Of course, there is no need to wear them for a break, and they will rotate in full with a comfortable feel from the day you buy them. The soft stretch fabric that is placed on your ankles fits firmly on your skin, and you won't even notice any pain during movements (photo below).

A more comfortable toe box than the original

The ergonomic shoe shape used throughout the Equilibium series seems to be still in good condition this time. The shape, which is designed in three-dimensional terms with the toes and heels inside the shoe to match the shape of your foot, gives you a great fit that feels like the shoe will stick to the entire foot without any gaps.

Compared to the original Equilibium, the toebox has an impression that it has more room toe space, making it easier to move your toes inside your shoes. However, the basic comfort remains the same, and I feel that this is not a major change in shape, but rather a difference in impression due to changes in the quality and thickness of the fabric. I'm sure there are some preferences, but this moderate "play" for this model, which will likely move more vigorously and quickly, was personally taken in favor of it.

Weight and durability: Shredded to the very last to make it even lighter

This is the place I was happiest about. The first Equilibium wasn't that heavy as a mountain hiking boot, but for better or worse, it had the weight of an alpine boot. However, this SPEED has since been reduced by nearly 100 grams, making it almost as heavy as a trekking boot (of course, despite being a full-scale climbing boot that can accommodate rocky and snowy ridges). What's more, it has a high fit, so strangely it doesn't even feel that much weight.

Of course, there is a trade-off somewhere that has become so lighter. For example, the shoes themselves are low-cut, which reduces support around the ankle. It was also seen that the fabric and surrounding protection were adjusted to be simpler with lighter materials. The original Equilibium uses a rather sturdy fabric and thick TPU protective material, which is also used in the company's high-end alpine boots, the TRANGO TOWER GTX, while SPEED has been changed to a thinner and lighter TPU material (photo below).

However, although it has been simplified, the protection of this SPEED is far from poor, so it is strong and durable. Compared to the original, it is difficult to walk under a slightly heavy load and pass through even more steep rocky ridges, but if you weigh the lightness, agility and flexibility that has been achieved through this, it will be a shame.

Ease of walking and running: The outstanding stability that has been around for a while is sprinkled with spices of lightness and flexibility.

With my heart bulging out with the rising expectations, I walked, ran, and climbed in the actual field to see what it really was. I tried Hacho One in Ryokamiyama. Here you can try everything from climbing rocky areas to walking and running along the mountain trail.

First of all, the "lack of weaknesses that allow you to walk comfortably and stably on any terrain" was what impressed me when the first Equilibium was. It performs well enough to easily place your weight on uneven surfaces of soil and gravel, slopes that don't get grippy, such as wood roots and muddy, and rocky areas where you climb with your toes on fine holds.

The only thing I haven't tried snowy roads, but since I tried this with the first Equilibium last time, it is estimated that there is no major difference, as it is almost the same structure as that. By the way, this SPEED also has a edge on the heel, allowing you to attach a semi-one-touch clamp (photo below). You can rest assured even on snowy or frozen roads.

Thanks to the water-repellent stretch gaiter and GORE-TEX bootie, the waterproof performance is excellent.

In addition to the traditional stability, exquisite flexibility allows for even faster and smoother walks.

This extraordinary lightness and stable response to all kinds of terrain the AEQUILIBRIUM SPEED GTX worth it, but here's where the true appeal of SPEED It was so flexible that you wouldn't imagine from the appearance of the sole, it allowed you to walk smoothly, and was able to ride the trail with an incredibly light feel. The video below shows you passing through a slightly narrow ridge quickly, but in reality, you can also do natural running on a wider road. At that time, the soles of the feet didn't look like they were when they were hiking boots, and the smoothness felt like hiking shoes.

One of the factors that make it possible to walk smoothly is the "double heel system" that has been adopted since the first generation. The diagonal cut of the heel edge encourages the foot to smoothly move forward after landing from the heel (photo below).

Furthermore, the sole has increased flexibility compared to the original model, making it easier to bending the forefoot, allowing for faster, more powerful steps. It makes travelling at high speeds even more comfortable (photo below).

This certainly reduces the ease of standing on rocky areas (compared to the original), but you won't feel worried about lighter luggage, and it is still a shoe that is still more resistant to rocky areas than trail running shoes or soft trekking shoes.

The lug pattern on the sole is as deep and large as the original Equilibium, and it has a lug pattern that is calculated to provide braking performance, stability and traction even on harsh roads such as rocks and mud, and to ensure stable standing on rocky areas where there are many toes (photo below). I especially like the outstanding stability of the heel brakes, which allow you to land comfortably on steep slopes, and I also loved going down snowy slopes on the original Equilibium.

Things that bothered me: heat and stuffiness

The AEQUILIBRIUM SPEED GTX has reached a high level in all aspects, including lightweight, easy to walk in, and protection , but the only thing that is not very breathable. That was the only thing that made me feel uncomfortable with this shoe: after a half-day walk through the low mountains in October, when I took off my shoes, my socks were wet with sweat more than usual, and there was a slight condensation on the back of the gaiter (photo below).

Even if the inner low-cut shoes themselves have a GORE-TEX membrane, the gaiter itself is not breathable and there is extremely little gap between the inside water vapor that causes sweating to escape, so this is likely to occur. I don't know if this is the fate of a Gator-integrated shoe, but at least you need to be careful when walking in low mountains in the middle of summer with these shoes.

Summary: Perfect for hikers who want to go on a light and aggressive hiking trip even in autumn and winter

Through testing, the AEQUILIBRIUM SPEED GTX is a mountain shoe that has achieved even more lightness, flexibility and lateral propulsion by sacrificing some durability and stability while maintaining the comfort and grip of the original Equilibium.

The original Equilibium boasted all-around performance that combines toughness and lightness that can be reached anywhere on the planet, but it still retains the rigidity and protection of an alpine boot, making it a true fact that it was not a shoe that actively "runs". In that sense, this new Gator-integrated shoe can be said to have opened up a new frontier for mountaineering boots called "Running Alpine Shoes."

In any case, it can be said that a new best choice has emerged for hikers who want to take the routes of harsh rocky areas on the ridges of the Alps and Mt. Yatsugatake with the lightest possible pace. On the other hand, for those who want to long-term trekking in alpine mountains with a burden of 20 kilos of luggage, or for those who want to focus on stability over speed, the original Equilibium fits more overall than this one. I didn't expect to get stuffy, so the best season is fall and winter, excluding harsh winter. It is a route that involves walking from low altitudes to ridges that exceed the limits of forests, making it an ideal choice. It is not recommended in hot places such as low mountains in the middle of summer, but as long as you are careful, it is not possible to use it all year round. These shoes can also be reupholstered, so they are a recommended pair of shoes that can be used to hikers who like active climbing such as fast packing, and once they have obtained them, they will be reliable in a variety of situations.