OWNER REVIEW - Asolo Fugitive GTX Boot

Asolo Fugitive GTX Boot


REVIEWER INFORMATION
Name: Matthew Wilson
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 182 lbs
Email address: vasocretaATgmailDOTcom
City, State, Country: Bellingham, MA, USA
Date: 04/18/2015
Backpacking Background:
I began hiking and backpacking avidly around 12 years ago, usually taking
short trips into secluded wilderness and high alpine areas. I have a
preference toward rugged mountain environments where I encounter snowy and
icy conditions.


PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Asolo
Website: http://www.asolo.com
Year of Manufacture: 2009
MSRP: $225.00
Size: Men's 10 (US)
Listed Weight (based on size 8): 1.5 lbs (690 Grams) per boot
Weight as Purchased: 26.5 oz (751 grams) per boot
Color Reviewed: Wool/Nero (black)


PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The Asolo Fugitive GTX boot is a fabric and suede leather medium duty boot
with a Gore-Tex lining. It is part of Asolo's Energy line of boots and is
targeted at general 3-season hiking.


GENERAL QUALITY & LOOK
The Fugitive is a well stitched, full height boot with a soft, spongy ankle
cuff that has a silky-cotton texture and responsive flex. The boot has a
solid build with good protective coverage around areas of high wear,
including a tough, rubber toe cap and a strip of suede leather running
vertically up the back of the boot, neatly stitched over the thick cordura
that wraps the ankle.


The Fugitive has a light, low profile look that is accentuated with a three
different colors of cordura and suede leather. The nylon webbing that runs
up the center of the tongue and the light but noticeable decorative
stitching patterns that run between each eyelet give the Fugitive a
distinct flare that actually aids in showing off the boot's quality
workmanship.


LACING
The lacing consists of round, nylon laces running first through a nylon
loop just above the toe box then through four pairs of of metal loops.
There are then three pairs of metal speed hooks that bring the laces to
roughly half an inch from the top of the collar on the boot.
The combination of the speed hooks and the metal loop styled eyelets allow
for quick adjustments to how tightly the boot is tied.


SOLES & INSOLES
The sole of the Fugitive is glued, not welted, to the upper and maintains
the multi-toned appearance by layering over the heel a bright colored piece
of rubber on top off the black sole covering the remainder of the base.
Asolo describes the lugs as "self-cleaning". This must be due to the
generous spacing between the sole's treads.


The removable footbed seems to be like any other stock footbed. It consists
of a thin layer of responsive foam.
The actual built-in insole of the boot, which Asolo refers to to as
DUOAsoflex and claims to combat pronation, supination and torsion, while
offering shock absorption.


INTERIOR LINER
It is important to mention that the inner lining of this boot is very well
made. The material is soft, tough and well stitched. Running my hand over
the inside of the boot, I do not notice any stitches or bulges in the
fabric that would create unnecessary pressure points or foot rub.


FIELD CONDITIONS
I have put well over 1,000 miles on this pair of boots (this is my second
pair) overall. They are one of the few pairs of hiking boots that fit my
narrow heel like a glove and provide lasting comfort over miles carrying up
to 40 pound packs.


I have worn this boot on overnight trips up four 14,000' mountains in
Colorado in varying conditions that ranged from hot, dry July days on Mt.
Princeton to wintry mixed conditions on Mt. Bierstadt and Long's Peak.


I have also taken the Fugitive out in mid-winter conditions in Colorado for
overnights where temps got to -2 Fahrenheit (-19 C).


This boot is also my go-to work and general use boot for all around walking
on wet and snowy days during any season.


OBSERVATIONS
The Fugitive was a gamble for me. I had not had good luck in the past with
cordura and leather boots; they were prone to fall apart. I was ready to
purchase an all leather backpacking boot when I found (by sheer luck) my
first pair of Fugitives on sale for $100 USD at REI. I tried them on and
they were so comfortable that I somehow forgot that I was dead set against
buying a boot with a mixed material upper.


The break-in period was literally two days after replacing the stock,
removable insoles with Superfeet insoles. I walked around town in them,
then immediately took them to the wilderness on a nearly 20 mile overnight
trip carrying a 35+ pound pack on Pawnee Pass in the Indian Peaks
Wilderness in Colorado. There was snow on much of the trail and I had to
switch often between snow shoes and crampons. This boot had no issue with
remaining torsionally stiff enough to maintain the integrity of my Black
Diamond Contact Strap crampons and keeping my feet dry and warm.


On most hikes I wear a thin merino wool sock liner under a light weight or
mid-weight merino wool blend hiking sock.


On an ice cold, -2 Fahrenheit (-19 C) overnight into the backcountry near
Aspen, I did experience the warmth limits of the Fugitive. My toes became
cold but not wet. Unfortunately I melted the entire front of the boot off
standing too close to the fire we started in order to stay warm. I used
duct tape to wrap the sole of the boot back to the upper on the walk out
the next day. Upon my return, I immediately went back to REI and purchased
another pair.


Fast forward dozens of hikes later, I have spent a significant amount of
time hiking areas of the Pemigewasset wilderness and the Adirondacks. Wet
weather cannot seem to come close to penetrating this boot. I have never
had wet feet in them no matter how much rain the Northeast can throw at
them. Very shallow stream crossings are the only scenario where I have
experienced internal dampness set in.


I did notice, however, that the suede leather will begin to absorb water
much sooner than non-suede leather without proper conditioning. This will
make life tough in winter conditions where that absorbed water can freeze
in the night during wintry conditions. I have experienced this a couple of
times on trips in the Mount Washington area where the nighttime temps
dipped to freezing. This greatly reduced the warmth factor of the boot for
me.


The tread on this boot instills confidence. I have found it to provide
confident grip on wet rock, though the lugs themselves have not provided me
the best traction on their own in the snow. But that has been my experience
with nearly all hiking boots not marketed specifically as a mountaineering
boot. And the low profile of the boot allows me to handle some more
technical foot work without feeling like I am all of the sudden wearing a
pair of moon boots when the ascent line begins to get really narrow.


The rubber toe cap is one of my favorite features. It provides added
durability to an otherwise wear prone area but it also aids in those
situations when I found myself needing a bit more grip on wet ascents such
as the Desolation trail up Mount Carrigan and fast hikes up the the
Spellman trail on Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire.


The Fugitive is a dependable, durable and fully waterproof boot that can
pretty much keep up with the best of them. I would have no issue taking
this boot on week long trips into the backcountry provided the temps stay
above freezing and I am not carrying more than 40 pounds.


PROS: Solid support, confident traction, durable, comfortable.
CONS: Suede leather requires a bit more care, average stock insoles.


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Matthew Wilson
303-519-3234
[email protected]
http://about.me/vasocreta