REPOST - OR-Asolo Fugitive GTX Boot

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 2nd REVISED - OR-Asolo Fugitive GTX Boot - Backpackgeartest.org http://tinyurl.com/j7a6t4a

 
 
 2nd REVISED - OR-Asolo Fugitive GTX Boot - Backpackgeartest.org http://tinyurl.com/j7a6t4a Reviews > test > OWNER REVIEWS > 2nd REVISED - OR-Asolo Fugitive GTX Boot Asolo Fugitive GTX Boot REVIEWER INFORMATION Name: Matthew Wilson Date: 28 February 2016 Age: 38 Gender: Male 
 
 
 
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 REPOST - OR-Asolo Fugitive GTX Boot
 

 Asolo Fugitive GTX Boot REVIEWER INFORMATION Name: Matthew Wilson
Date: 28 February 2016
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight: 184 lb (84 kg)
Email address: vasocretaATgmailDOTcom
City, State, Country: Bellingham, Massachusetts, United Stated of America
 Backpacking Background I been hiking and backpacking as often as time allows for around 12 years, and mostly take solo overnight trips into secluded wilderness and alpine areas. I have a preference toward rugged mountain environments where I encounter snowy and icy conditions and carry 20-40 pounds (9-18 kg) depending on the conditions. I hike at an easy pace, averaging around 2 mph (3 kph), and carry hiking poles to lessen stress on my knees.
 PRODUCT INFORMATION Manufacturer: Asolo S.p.a.
Website: www.asolo.com http://www.asolo.com/
Year of Manufacture: 2009
MSRP: USD $236.00 (converted)
Size: Men's 10 (US) 9.5 (UK) 43 2/3 (EUR)
Listed Weight (based on size 8 (US)): 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 Look & Quality The Fugitive is a well-stitched, full height boot with a soft, spongy ankle cuff that has a silky-spandex 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 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 flair 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 metal loops. There are then three pairs of metal speed hooks that bring the laces to roughly 0.5 in (1.3 cm) from the top of the collar on the boot. The combination of the speed hooks and the metal loop eyelets allow for quick adjustments to how tightly the boot is tied.
 Outsoles & Insoles The outsole of the Fugitive is glued, not stitched, to the upper and maintains the multi-toned appearance by layering over the heel a bright colored piece of rubber on top of the black outsole covering the remainder of the base. Asolo describes the lugs as "self-cleaning". This appears to be due to the generous spacing between the sole's treads.
 The removable insole seems to be like any other stock footbed. It consists of a thin layer of responsive foam. The midsole of the boot, which Asolo refers to as DUOAsoflex, 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 over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) on two pairs of Fugitives. The second pair (pictured) had approximately 450 mi (725 km) on them at the time of writing this review. They are one of the few pairs of hiking boots that fit my narrow heel like a glove and provide lasting comfort over double-digit miles carrying up to 40 lb (18 kg) packs.
 I have worn this boot on overnight trips up four 14,000 ft (4,267 m) mountains in Colorado in a range of conditions: hot, dry July days on Mt. Princeton, a rain storm while ascending Pike's Peak and wintry mixed conditions on Mt. Bierstadt and Long's Peak.
 Long's Peak, in particular, presented long stretches of trail in the hot sun, some class 2 scrambling through a boulder field at a cooler 12,000 ft (3,658 m) and steeper, class 3 scrambling on icy rock in crampons to the summit.
 I have also taken the Fugitive out in mid-winter conditions in Colorado for overnights where temps got to -2 F (-19 C).
 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. 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 aftermarket insoles. I walked around town in them, then took them to the Indian Peaks Wilderness in Colorado on a nearly 14-mile (22 km) trip carrying a 35+ pound (16+ kg) pack on Pawnee Pass. There was deep snowpack on a majority of the trail and I had to switch often between snowshoes and crampons. This boot had no issue remaining torsionally stiff enough to maintain the integrity of my Black Diamond Contact Strap crampons and keeping my feet dry and warm. The trip was intended to be an overnight, but my brother and I had to turn back due to weather only a short distance from the top of the pass.
 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 F (-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 off the entire front of the boot standing too close to the fire we started in order to stay warm. I used duct tape to wrap the outsole of the boot back to the upper on the walk out the next day. Upon my return, I immediately purchased another pair.
 I have also spent a significant amount of time hiking areas of the Pemigewasset Wilderness and the Adirondacks. Wet weather cannot seem to penetrate this boot. I have never had wet feet in them no matter how much rain the Northeast can throw at them. Stream crossings, where the water level came up above the ankle were the only times when I have experienced internal dampness set in. I suspect that this has to do with more surface area of the boot getting wet and limiting breathability.
 I did notice, however, that the suede leather will begin to absorb water much sooner than non-suede leather without proper conditioning. 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 of the boot for me the next morning when putting them on.
 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 provides added durability to an otherwise wear-prone area and has held up very well over the years on rock strewn trails such as the Desolation trail up Mount Carrigain in New Hampshire.
 I have found the Fugitive to be a dependable, durable and fully waterproof boot that has outlasted all of my previous mixed material boots. 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 lb (18 kg).
 PROS: Solid support, confident traction, durable, comfortable.
CONS: Suede leather requires a bit more care, average stock insoles.
 

 Reviewer: Matthew Wilson