La Sportiva Aequilibrium Trek & Hike — Anyone Used Them?

[patagonialuke]

Curious if anyone here has 1st-hand experience with the new 'Trek' and/or 'Hike' variants of the La Sportiva Aequilibrium series?

On paper, both seem appealing as light hikers, but I can't find any useful reports on them. Mostly wondering about their longitudinal and lateral stiffness.

 

[gostovp]

Which one is this?

https://www.rei.com/product/183606/la-sportiva-aequilibrium-lt-gtx-mountaineering-boots-mens

I looked at a pair of these at the local REI and the sole seemed pretty dang stiff
I may go there and try them on at some point.

 

[patagonialuke]

Which one is this?

https://www.rei.com/product/183606/la-sportiva-aequilibrium-lt-gtx-mountaineering-boots-mens

I looked at a pair of these at the local REI and the sole seemed pretty dang stiff
I may go there and try them on at some point.

That's the original Aequilibrium LT, which is designed as a light-and-fast mountaineering boot. A buddy of mine in AK absolutely loves that boot for his goat and sheep hunts, but I suspect it'll be overkill for my use case (CO archery elk / early rifle). I also generally prefer a softer boot / don't like hiking in really stiff, mountaineering-esque ones.

They recently expanded the line with the Aequilibrium Hike and Aequilibrium Trek, which are lighter and, I assume, softer. Sportiva lists stiffness ratings for them, but they don't seem to do that for any of their other boots / shoes, so it's not very helpful. I may just have to order some cause I don't have any Sportiva dealers nearby.

 

[gostovp]

So just an update on this....I was at REI the other day to try on some Salomon Quest 4 GTX's. Those boots didn't work for me at all, but they had the La Sportiva Aequilibrium LT's that I linked above on sale...they had a size 46 Euro in stock so I said what the heck I'll try 'em on (I'm normally a 45 Euro). Holy cow they actually fit and actually felt really good. They were not overly long and the width was perfect. I wore them around the store for like 10 mins, played around on the little rock step thing REI has and bought them. I put on my 50 lb K4 yesterday and went and did 2 miles at a local trail (not really and kind of knarly stuff, but some elevation change). No hot spots, no heel slip. Granted they are a stiff boot (similar to my HanWag Alaska GTX in stiffness I would say, and also similar to a Lowa Tibet and Kenetrek Mountain Extreme) but I didn't find them overly difficult to hike in. They are much lighter than the stiff boot options, as the size 46 (labeled 12.5 US) came in at 3.5lb's for the pair on my scale (vs 4.25 lbs for the pair for my Hanwags) ...not a super light boot, but you do get a lot of support and 'boot' in that package. I figure it will take about 40 miles to get them really broken in. I would say if they fit, and a person likes a lighter but stiffer boot, these would work for western archery elk and mule deer where the terrain dictates.

 

[patagonialuke]

but they had the La Sportiva Aequilibrium LT's

Thanks for the update!

On my end, looks like I'll be able to test the Hike version soon, and hopefully the Trek version later this summer; will report back with any notable takeaways re: those lighter and softer variants.

 

[gostovp]

I wonder if the Trek version is about the same stiffness as the LT, but without the added crampon capabilities and less of the rubber rand to lower the weight a bit

 

[KSBackCountryHunter]

I went into the La Sportiva Retail Store in Boulder today to try on some boots - the LT is much stiffer than the Trek. Their website lists the trek as an 8/10 for stiffness -- if that's the case then the LT/ST version is a 16/10. If you're wanting a stiffer boot I'd go w/ the LT or ST version - I was very surprised at how soft the Trek version was.

 

[patagonialuke]

Aequilibrium Hike showed up. Wearing it inside, I think the stiffness is in the same ballpark as the Salomon Quest 4 and a bit softer than a Lowa Renegade. I.e., much stiffer than most trail runners, a bit stiffer than most lightweight day-hiking boots with EVA midsoles, but softer than most PU-midsole boots marketed for trekking / backpacking.

Great fore/aft ankle range of motion. Width feels surprisingly good for my medium-volume foot (older Sportivas were often too narrow for me).

We'll see how I get on with them throughout the summer. I don't want mountaineering-boot stiffness but do want better lateral support than a trail runner, so I'm feeling optimistic at the moment. Still hoping to compare it to the Trek at some point.

 

[RAM190Hog]

I just bought the treks. I normally wear a size US 12-12.5/EU46. Fairly narrow/low volume foot. Bought the 46, which LS calls a 46. Took them on 10 mile/2500’ hike. Felt great, no hot spots or blisters. I did have my toes kissing the front of boots on steep descents, and kind wish I had bought the 46.5+.12.5. I think they may run 1/2 size small.

I would characterize them as a 2.5-3 on typical hunting “stiffness” rating. I don’t think I’d take them on a steep mule or elk hunt, but for summer training and general hiking I dig them.