La Sportiva Trango Cube GTX Review
By Travis Bertrand, Rokslide staff
The question comes up all the time, What are your top 3 essential items that you will not skimp on? My answer is always the same: Boots, optics, and pack. Yes, in that order. There is nothing worse than being 12 miles into the backcountry and having blisters so bad on your feet, you don’t want to make it out of your shelter (Been there done that!). With that said, I am always looking for the perfect boot for hunting western big game.
I’m not saying to buy the most expensive boots on the market, however I am saying you need to buy multiple boots and put some miles on them to find what your feet like. That is what I have done making it a point to buy a pair or two each season until I found the right boot. That boot for me is the La Sportiva Trango Cube GTX.
I have seen these boots in years past but was very hesitant because of the color. I don’t know why but they always reminded me of clown shoes. It was an immediate turnoff but that changed when I saw a pair in Kryptek Highlander. I did a little research and found out there is a Spec-Ops team that was wearing the Trango Cube GTX and was spray painting them. They then went to La Sportiva to ask if they can get them in Camoflauge, Highlander specifically. The relationship between Kryptek and La Sportiva was born from those protecting our freedom and sportsmen like us get to reap the benefits as well.
It was love at first lace up. It felt like La Sportiva molded these boots just for me once I found the correct size. In my previous La Sportiva boots, I ran size 43 however these run on the small size so I bumped up to a 44. I immediately noticed how light they were and the amount of ankle support they have. I couldn’t wait for a day off to go shed hunting.
Over the next 3 months, I put over 120 miles hitting the hills looking for sheds. These boots saw days in 3 feet of snow in snowshoes, 80 degree desert sand, and everything in between. These are the lightest boots I’ve ever owned that offers unreal ankle support! In size 44, they weigh only 56 ounces for the pair!
The toe box resembles your average boot not the wide La Sportiva style I am used to. Laces are your standard non stretch Nylon. The locking eyelets really lock your heel in reducing ankle slip. The Trango Cube GTX has a Gore-Tex liner making them waterproof to around 7”(size 43).
These boots are made for technical and ice climbing so the traction on rocks was well above par with their 4mm Vibram One sole. I do feel they suffer on loose sand on top of hard pack though as the sole is very stiff. It doesn’t wrap around an object like a softer boot would do. The sole is made up of a combination of PU injected rubber in the heel and toe and EVA in the middle of the boot.
I have my fair share of boots in my collection and the Trango Cube have quickly made it to the top of the shelf and will be my go to for the 2017 hunting season.
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