Support & Stability

The Trango TRK GTX have four rows of closed grommets along the top of the foot and 3 rows of open grommets on the ankle, offering the ability to adjust and tighten these boots in whichever direction you need. The ankle height is about the median for the boots we looked at in this test set. The sole is beefy, a Vibram sole with a traditional mountain boot layout. There is a ‘Climbing Zone’ near the front of the toe, that does a decent job on little rocky ledges, giving good performance up to third- or fourth-class scrambling, and perhaps more, depending on your confidence and competence.

Quality & Construction

These are synthetic boots of very secure construction. These boots show La Sportiva’s roots in the mountaineering boot business–every inch is engineered for performance. The tongue is median thickness and is connected at about the upper-ankle. The lower closed grommets are threaded through a loop of webbing, which is secure and light. The 3 upper open grommets are riveted to the ankle.

Comfort

These boots are about average breathability, which is a very good performance, considering how secure and supportive these boots are. They feature a nice wide toe box for splayed feet while walking, hauling gear, or scrambling. The removable insole performs adequately but can be swapped out for your own in you have specialized needs. The boot’s comfort comes from the general feeling of invincibility that you get from them.

Weight

The La Sportiva come in a touch above our average of 2.5 pounds, but we can forgive them, on account of their protection and support. It’s a good weight considering they’re the best performing boot in alpine climbing and mountaineering, and for when the trail throws us all-mountain conditions.

Protection

These boots shine in this category. They have the most winterized sole, which partly explains why these boots were crowned ‘Best for Alpine Climbing & Mountaineering’. It’s also explained by the very good technical edges that will come in handy while scrambling or climbing, as well as the very solid tow cap. It’s no exaggeration to pin a ribbon that says ‘Superior Weatherproofness’ on these boots. The ankle is thin but firm and supportive, which adds to a narrative of “I am bulletproof in these boots”.