Nestled in amongst the awe-inspiring Italian Dolomites is the small village of Ziano di Fiemme, this village is home to a modest sized factory run by 150 people which at first could be mistaken as nothing special. However this is in fact home to La Sportiva Italy an outdoor footwear company that has continually raised the bar when it comes to high performing mountaineering footwear.
The V-Lite Altitude Pro Lite RGS Waterproof Hiking Boot by Hi-Tec is both lightweight and fully waterproof, made from a waterproof suede and mesh upper that keeps the water out whilst the Dri-Tec breathable membrane allows heat to escape. The removable insole adds extra cushioning and the ankle cuff is flexible; giving you ample support without restricting movements.
La Sportiva produce some of the best technical footwear on the market, and the Nepal Cube GTX are no exception. These lightweight boots weigh a mere 825g per boot and boast exceptional thermal properties. The sole/midsole uses a Carbon Tech Honeycomb that reduces bulk, which combined with the boot’s mini steel parts allows the Nepal Cube GTX to remain light.
The Hanwag Tatra Wide GTX Boot is specifically designed for people with a wider forefoot who may find traditional walking boots uncomfortable and irritating. The Tatra Wide has an extra wide toebox, with more room for the forefoot but without just widening the entire shoe like some wide fit boots do, this ensures a more anatomical and proportional fit around the heel.
Zamberlan represent three generations of Italian boot makers who have been constructing boots suitable for every type of terrain since 1929.
Never let rain spoil your fun outdoors again with the Heron Rain Tarp. This 8.6oz (243g) Silpoly hexagonal rain tarp is ultralight and won’t weigh down your pack. Traditional lightweight tarps are often made from 1.1oz Silnylon that can stretch out when wet, but Hummingbird’s Rain Tarp is made from a newly developed 0.9oz Silpoly which provides a full coverage that doesn’t mist through or stretch.
The Arcteryx Beta SV jacket is designed for tough mountain environments. Available in a subtle black or grey, as well as bold ‘Macaw’ (blue) and ‘Magma’ (orange) options, it is made from a breathable N80p-X three-layer GORE-TEX Pro fabric that will protect you against even the harshest of weather.
The Trango Tower from La Sportiva is a lightweight, Gore-Tex boot designed for mountain hiking, via ferrata and backpacking, even with heavy loads. As we have come to expect from this brand, these boots are beautifully designed. We were lucky enough to test out the women’s version in emerald, also available in light grey and berry (thankfully there is not a pink detail in sight). In the Men’s version these come in that classic La Sportiva red/yellow, black/yellow and ocean/sulphur.
If you love to explore the great outdoors, chances are you will also be keen to preserve it as much as possible. The newest innovation from the Columbia Sportswear Company is the first high-performance, environmentally friendly rain jacket with no PFCs intentionally used (may contain trace amounts). As well as that, the fabric used is dye-free, which saves over a whopping 13 gallons of water per jacket in the manufacturing process.
The G5 boot beautifully showcases the best of what La Sportiva has to offer. That distinctive black, red and yellow colour palette shows the world that you have a high-quality boot on your foot. This ultra-technical, waterproof shoe is best suited for high altitude mountaineering and working outdoors in cold temperatures. The G5 is unbelievably weather-proof; it features a quick-drying and protective outer shell that consists of a Cordura stretch, a water-repellent, anti-abrasion stretch fabric with a waterproof membrane.