La Sportiva LS Trango Cube GTX

Versatility

Not many boots we test can accomplish so many tasks so well like this update to an already-cherished shoe. A combination of materials (polyurethane under the toe, shock-absorbing EVA under the foot, sturdy TPU inserts) makes a stiff-yet-shock-absorbing midsole that’s at home on high-mileage mountain trips with heavy loads. And the heel welt makes the boots compatible with semi-automatic and universal crampons.

Outsole

The chunky lugs and smooth ridge on the inside toe edge let us move with confidence on tiny edges, slippery surfaces, and shifty talus fields on the Loft Route on Colorado’s Longs Peak.

Protection

A lightweight, flexible plastic coating runs up the sidewalls and around the heel to provide structural support and enhance durability. The TPU heel inserts protected against jagged rocks when we hiked around Colorado’s Holy Cross Wilderness.