One of Italian footwear company La Sportiva’s latest offerings is the Pyramid GTX, a lightweight/day hiker that packs several features into a very light shoe. At $189, it has everything we’ve come to expect from a lightweight/day hiker boot: it’s light, comfortable, and well-constructed without compromising durability. La Sportiva has gone above and beyond on breathability for this waterproof boot and has proven themselves innovators in hiking-boot design. Although we wish they’d accommodate a wider foot, we were overall quite pleased with what they’ve come up with and look forward to reviewing their next line of footwear.

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La Sportiva’s history dates back nearly a century to Narciso Delladio’s bootmaking shop in Italy, and today, the company continues to operate a 250-person factory in the Italian Dolomites (as well as a factory retail store in Boulder, CO). Over the last 93 years, La Sportiva has kept its focus on footwear, specifically in the areas of mountaineering, skiing, and climbing.

One of La Sportiva’s latest offerings is the Pyramid GTX, a $189 lightweight/day hiker that packs a number of features into a very light shoe. It sports premium waterproofing and breathability, durable construction, and excellent traction.

Comfort & Weight

The boot’s midsole is made of compression-molded EVA foam reinforced with 5mm OrthoLite inserts, so break-in time should be relatively minimal. The air channels below the midsole do an excellent job at keeping feet cool, but the trade-off is that there’s a lack of arch support, so some hikers recommend purchasing a perforated insole to supplement this support. The lacing system is relatively straightforward: four pairs of nubuck leather eyelets run up the bottom, with a pair of metal hook eyelets at the top for speedy adjustment while on the trail.

At only 2.1 lbs (0.95 kg) for a pair of men’s size 11 boots, the Pyramid GTX is the second lightest boot in our review, about 5 ounces behind the Altra Lone Peak 4 Mid RSMs. The Altras are really more of a high-top trail runner than a lightweight hiking boot. We also didn’t mind a little extra weight since the Pyramid GTX is also more durable and stable.

Traction & Stability

The outsole of this boot is constructed from the Vibram XS Trek compound, an ethylene vinyl acetate. La Sportiva uses offset lugs and a sculpted heel brake to create what they call an impact brake system, which is intended to reduce impact forces acting on the feet, legs, and back. These elements combine to produce adequate surface grip no matter the terrain.

The upper combines durability and breathability with its perforated nubuck leather exterior and Nano Cell air-mesh lining. The leather is stiff enough to provide sufficient torsional rigidity, but as this is a lightweight boot, it may not provide as much as a midweight hiker/backpacking boot that uses even more rugged materials. Although the boot itself is narrow, the forefoot is still quite wide and the collar is high, so with tight lacing it should offer decent ankle protection.

Water Resistance & Durability

The Pyramid GTX is lined with Gore-Tex Surround, a 3-layer waterproof breathable laminate that is noticeably superior to other Gore-Tex types such as Performance Comfort and Extended Comfort. Along with being incredibly light, it’s also especially breathable. This is due in large part to the fact that unlike most boots integrated with Gore-Tex that vent air only through the upper, the Pyramid GTX also has air channels in the footbed and midsole.

The abrasion-resistant nubuck leather upper is robust and should be able to take on the occasional scrapes and scuffs without tearing. However, the Nano Cell air-mesh lining does raise some concerns, as it appears vulnerable to tearing with heavy use (however, La Sportiva is also touted for their high-quality craftsmanship). Above the outsole, there are polyurethane toe/heel counters, which have excellent coverage on the heel and along the sides but could cover the toe just slightly more.

Styles & Sizes

Don’t expect much variety with the Pyramid GTX, which only comes in a subdued Mocha/Forest style. Sizes run from 40-46.5 EU, which converts roughly to 7-13 US. We recommend ordering a half size up minimum in order to find a size that will best suit your foot. Unfortunately, there is only a regular width option available, and because so many have noted that these boots run a bit narrow, we do not recommend them for anyone with wide feet. The Pyramid GTXs come with a 1-year warranty.

The Bottom Line

The $189 La Sportiva Pyramid GTX has everything we’ve come to expect from a lightweight/day hiker boot: it’s light, comfortable, and well-constructed without compromising durability. La Sportiva has gone above and beyond on breathability for this waterproof boot and has proven themselves innovators in hiking-boot design. Although we wish they’d accommodate a wider foot, we were overall quite pleased with what they’ve come up with and look forward to reviewing their next line of footwear.

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