[A self-paying review without any consideration] There's nothing scary, from Satoyama to big killets. LA SPORTIVA AEQUILIBRIUM ST GTX crosses the barriers of mountain boots
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
LA SPORTIVA is a long-established Italian outdoor shoe manufacturer that remains one of the top brands in all genres, including mountain climbing, climbing, trail running, skiing, and more. It's only natural that this should be praised, but the "true tragedy" I feel at Sportiva every day is that they are not always satisfied with the current situation, nor are they afraid to destroy existing values, and not quitting new challenges.
Before I knew it, I wrote a review of the Trango Cube GTX Reading it now is a bit over-extreme, but aside from the quality of it, you can at least see that they have been constantly exploring new forms of outdoor shoes since ancient times.
Sportiva's new mountain boots AEQUILIBRIUM ST GTX is a powerful fragrance of innovation that seems to push the new style of lightweight mountain boots that they vividly carved out with a trango cube seven years ago to an even higher level.
These mountain boots look like light, easy to walk sideways, and are also strong and stable alpine boots that are stable on rocky and snow. These completely new, authentic mountaineering boots make you want to make a point of commenting on what you're saying. I got it at the same time as the release, with the hopes that I had ever had since the Trango Cube. This time I actually stayed at a tent in Mt. Myoko, which had been left with a heavy burden of around 20kg, and walked through the mountains of Okuchichibu, so I'd like to review it right away.
table of contents
Main features of the LA SPORTIVA AEQUILIBRIUM ST GTX
Recommended points
- Fits that wrap around the entire foot
- It's big but light
- Ankle circumference with excellent balance with flexibility and support
- A sturdy sole that can be used to attach crampons to rocks.
- Outsole is calculated from landing to kicking off, providing stable grip
Points that interest me
- Easily loosen the shoelaces
- It is slippery on wet rocks and tree roots
- Expensive price
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | LA SPORTIVA AEQUILIBRIUM ST GTX |
|---|---|
| weight | 659g (EU 43 size, measured one foot) |
| upper |
|
| Midsole |
|
| Outsole |
|
| Waterproof and moisture-permeable | GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort |
| Comfort | ★★★★★ |
| weight | ★★★★☆ |
| grip | ★★★★☆ |
| Robustness | ★★★★☆ |
| Stability | ★★★★☆ |
| Propulsion | ★★★☆☆ |
Detailed review
Easy to walk in! Part 1: Upper that allows for a comfortable fit and flexible ankle circumference
The exterior is a high contrast of black and yellow, typical of the brand, and the fine geometric patterns give it a truly high-tech feel (photo below).
The upper, made entirely of lightweight and sturdy synthetic fibers, is softer than you would expect, and combined with the moderate cushion on the inside, the shoelaces give it a terrifying fit that wraps around the entire instep without any gaps when you tighten the shoelaces. This wrapping, comfortable fit is largely due to the ergonomically calculated last (shoe shape), which is made by 3D modeling of human feet.
The actual measurement of size 43 weighs only 659 grams (photo below). Despite its bulky appearance, your legs are raised without any resistance.
In terms of lightness, it is only natural that it is heavier than trekking boots, but these boots have an excellent structure that doesn't make you feel the weight of them. This is the 3D flex system, which has been steadily evolving since the time I loved the Trango Cube. This time it's the "3D flex system EVO."
The structure, for example, is a high-cut structure that firmly covers the entire ankle, but the back part is made of soft stretch material, making it easy to put on and take off, gently sticking to the ankle, while also making movements back and forth extremely smooth (photo below).
It is supported by the construction of sides (photo below) that are calculated to ensure natural ankle movement (flexion) without compromising the hold and stability of the ankle, and at the same time, making you forget that you are wearing robust alpine boots while walking. Even on steep slopes, traverses, snowy slopes, and uneven rocky areas, I was able to hold my feet firmly on the slope and firmly held my feet down.
After walking for a few days, AEQUILIBRIUM has provided me with a lighter walking experience than any of the boots I've worn so far, as alpine boots for three seasons, including the remaining snow season. If you keep your boots tight too tight, you won't even need to get used to it, and you'll be able to provide a comfortable fit from the moment you put them on.
The cutting edge of the shoelaces is hidden under the upper, not only preventing snags and wear, but also adds a design accent (photo below).
Easy to walk in! Part 2: A sole package that combines stability and comfort
Even if the shoes are light and comfortable, if they are not performing well on technical terrain such as high and rocky areas, they are merely "sturdy hiking boots." In that sense, this guy was strong on any terrain.
What was impressive when walking was that it was just as stable (you can place your feet with peace of mind) whether you go up or down rocky areas or when moving quickly. This is the first time I've ever seen shoes that don't suit the term "terrain that I don't like."
When walking by picking up fine hold scaffolding on rocky areas, stiff sole is required, while when quickly and powerfully stepping and moving sideways, flexibility (repulsion) of the sole is necessary for stable action, but both of these hiking boots have a high level of comfort.
First of all, the rigidity of the sole, which is necessary when working with heavy loads on tough terrain such as snow or rock, is sufficient to be sufficient to ensure that it is not a problem unless it is used in winter mountains. As can be seen from the edges on the heel, a semi-one-touch clamp can also be installed (photo below). It's also easy to climb a slope with a kick step on the remaining snow.
There is also a climbing zone on the toes of the outsole, and although the sole has a weak flex (flex) compared to authentic alpine boots and winter climbing boots, you can apply a solid load even on fine holds (photo below).
The lug pattern, which has a strong visual impact, is deep and large overall, and the heel in particular is made up of a large, bold shape, just like the hoofs of an ibex running down a cliff. This heel is called the " Vibram Impact Brake + Double Heel System " and seems to have been made with various ingenuity, but there are two of my favorite points that I have experienced.
One of the reasons is that the edge of the heel is cut diagonally, making it extremely smooth to walk when walking (photo below).
Normally, authentic Alpine boots are forced to land from heel to toe like ski boots, like "battan battan" and become like robots. By cutting the corners a little and setting the angle like this, I have been able to naturally feel my feet come forward, which are similar to the rocker shape (though I wouldn't say so) that are popular in recent years in trail running and trekking shoes.
Another favorite point may be obvious in appearance, but of course it's stability on the downhill. During the test, I went down the mountain on the remaining snow route, digging my heels into the snow, and it was impressive how powerful the brakes were applied so well.
This is largely due to the lug shape that combines high cushioning and Brekie performance, based on the Impact Brake System, which has been widely used in the company's hiking shoes, as well as the two high-performance grip structures, namely "double heels" created by the double brakes made from the two huge blocks at the end of the heel and just in front of it.
What's more, although it uses such a voluminous outsole, there is still some ingenuity to keep the weight from being too shaky.
This shoe has a large outsole lug hollowed out, and a new technology is used to directly inject high cushioning low-density polyurethane (photo below). This allows for maximum cushioning while keeping weight down with minimal parts. When I was told that, I tried pushing each rug into it, and I realized that it was certainly softer than I thought.
*Quoted from La Sportiva's official YouTube channel.
Still, I'm worried about this (I want to be careful)
If you are using it on a route that mixes a variety of terrains, including rocks, snow, and soil in three seasons, you will hardly find any complaints. However, the points I will be discussing below are the advantages, so there are some parts that can't be helped, but one thing that caught my eye on the smallest details is that as usual (?) shoelaces tend to loosen up easily. I think this is made from a durable and non-freezing material, but if you wear a bow tie it normally it won't last for a few hours. It should be tied in a way that is difficult to untangle.
Also, although this is a comparison with soft rubber like hiking shoes, the outsole boasts high performance is a matter of when considering high-altitude routes centered around rocky ridges, so be careful when walking in low mountains or forests. The fate of the hard sole is slippery on wet rocks, tree roots, and grass, so of course you should not let your guard down.
Summary: "AEQUILIBRIUM" is a good example of a variety of outdoor shoes.
The shoe name " AEQUILIBRIUM " means equilibrium or balanced in Japanese. What this means is that in a nutshell, these boots combine the goodness of Alpine boots, which require a strong sense of stability on rocky and snow, with the goodness of light and easy to walk in trekking boots. However, if you look further, you can see that it has been skillfully incorporated into the evolution of more diverse fields, such as trail running shoes and hiking shoes. and it is no exaggeration to say that these boots were made only by Sportiva , who has made top-class shoes for all kinds of mountain activities
AEQUILIBRIUM , which has been considered to be a contradictory feature, has been a highly balanced combination of comfortable walking performance and stable climbing and descending performance. is a highly balanced boot that is both safe and comfortable and makes you want to wear it anywhere in Japan for three seasons, except for when it is only used during the harsh winter, routes that only appear in specific terrains, and routes that have difficult, pinpoint terrain.
This is especially ideal in the Alps and Mt. Yatsugatake, where you can enjoy a wide variety of routes, from forests to rocky areas and remaining snow. who have loved the light suspension and trango cubes , I feel like I can't let go of it anymore in the sense that it is more stable to walk and covers a wider range, including being able to get through a little snow. It was about time for the sole to wear out, so I'm glad I made it in time.
Incidentally, in addition to the ST (synthetic fiber) models introduced this time, the AEQUILIBRIUM series also includes LT (leather) models at the same time. The weight and basic performance remain the same, so if you find it difficult to throw away the leather's familiarity even considering the slightest maintenance effort, then this is a good option.
