Hanwag Banks II GTX review

Who should buy the Hanwag Banks II GTX

Hanwag’s Banks II GTX is a high-cut boot specially crafted for male and female outdoor adventurers seeking:

• a lightweight trekking boot perfect for hikes on softer grounds or in low mountain ranges
• comfortable footwear that would perform well both on day hikes and on long-distance walks

Updates to the Hanwag Banks II GTX

• The direct successor of the first Banks GTX, the Hanwag Banks II GTX comes in a much lighter size (about 50 g lighter) than its predecessor
• The Banks II GTX can be resoled, and a new Vibram outsole may replace the old one for a fee

Vibram's premium grip and protection

Producing and maintaining traction on the trail is the boot’s resoleable Vibram Endurance outsole. The lugs generously covering its surface come in different shapes and are positioned at different angles to secure the user’s footing in practically every direction.

This grippy component cups the upper’s forefoot region, covering the toe box slightly. This marginal encroachment serves as the boot’s protective bumper.

Ample flex and comfort on the trail

The Hanwag Banks II GTX midsole grants full-length cushioning to the user. Its ample flex delivers walking comfort. It has enough thickness for shock absorption and protection against pointy rocks. It also has a removable footbed sitting securely atop the midsole unit for added cushioning. 

Breathable waterproof upper in Hanwag Banks II GTX

Hanwag engineers combined lightweight nubuck leather and Cordura fabric in the Banks II GTX’s stitched-on upper. They imbued its bootie with a Gore-Tex membrane, endowing the gear with ample protection against watery substances as a result.

The Banks II Gtx also has a bellows tongue—a kind of tongue that has both of its sides sealed to fence out intrusive debris.

For the eyelets of the footwear’s lacing system, the designers went mostly metallic.