Verdict from 89 user reviews
7 reasons to buy
- The La Sportiva Hyper GTX is phenomenal when it comes to grip prowess, says almost everyone who has reviewed it.
- According to multiple sources, this high-quality approach shoe is mighty comfortable.
- Waterproofing is one of its strongest suits, based on numerous reports.
- Many outdoorsy folks find the Hyper GTX’s stability tremendously impressive.
- This approach-centric shoe from La Sportiva is remarkably light, several purchasers claim.
- About a handful of customers are in love with the Hyper GTX’s eye-catching aesthetics.
- Its breathability is commendable, a small group of patrons says.
3 reasons not to buy
- Based on a few reviews, the outsole of this shoe detaches from the upper’s front end quite easily.
- It is one of La Sportiva’s slightly expensive approach hikers.
- An owner is not a fan of the abrasive finish of the shoe’s laces.
Bottom line
Where surefootedness over rugged terrain is concerned, the super-comfy Hyper GTX appears to be a bankable gear. It is also a reliable shoe when it comes to stability and water protection.
That said, this offering strays a bit too far from perfection, as it is marred by flaws, the most saddening of which has to be the questionable design of its outsole. Nevertheless, the Hyper GTX has enough positives to be considered amazing on approach routes.
Good to know
-The La Sportiva Hyper GTX is built to provide adventurers with multi-faceted solutions to their trail-to-rock challenges. Its suede leather upper’s ability to stave off wetness is courtesy of Gore-Tex.
-Underfoot security in the Hyper GTX is a collaborative effort between the shoe’s multi-layered midsole and Vibram’s Idrogrip outsole. These two components form the hiker’s slightly toe-rockered sole unit. A rockered toe zone delivers added walking comfort, especially over level terrain.
La Sportiva’s Hyper GTX is a low-top approach shoe for men and women. Since this hiker is engineered around the brand’s Ergonomic last, its lace-up closure gets to provide a 360-degree wrapped-in fit. This particular lockdown system also has a cuff-to-toe design, which translates to more options in terms of fit personalization.
The Hyper GTX can claw into different types of terrain thanks to its Vibram outsole, called Idrogrip. It is made entirely of a kind of rubber that, come rain or shine, promises sufficient surface traction. Over loose soil, this component has the ability to produce enough slip and skid resistance with its grippy lugs and treads.
La Sportiva shoemakers built the Idrogrip outsole with a climbing zone—a feature that allows users to edge and smear with extra stickiness. They also imbued it with IBS or Impact Brake System. This brand-exclusive tech, as its name suggests, doubles down on braking power. Moreover, this technology mitigates shock or force by approximately 20%.
This approach-specific hiker from La Sportiva is equipped with the MEMlex midsole, which is made of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), for comfort underfoot and footing balance. It comes with a cushy injection-molded element and an extra-stiff wedge, called Rock Guard, making it a multi-density component. To make twisting maneuvers as safe as possible, La Sportiva engineers crafted its heel with an anti-torsion stabilizer made of thermoplastic polyurethane or TPU.
Completing the Hyper GTX’s midsole equation is a cushioned footbed. It brings to the table additional cushioning and midfoot support. Its perforated construction delivers sufficient breathability.
The comfy low-top shell of the La Sportiva Hyper GTX is a mostly leather-on-leather construction. It is built with not one, not two, but three synthetic pull loops for easy on and off. Gore-Tex’s Extended Comfort membrane lines the shoe’s main bootie, giving wearers a protected experience against wet elements without sacrificing ventilation. What takes point in this approach shoe, on the other hand, is a hardy polyurethane (PU) toe cap for knock and bump protection.
Reinforced lace holes and cord-like loops make up the Hyper GTX’s combination eyelets. Configured through them by default is a heavy-duty synthetic lace.
The Hyper GTX is one of La Sportiva’s watertight approach kicks. In it, hikers-slash-climbers can reach their preferred rock sites without fear of having wet feet along the way. That said, the limelight the featured shoe finds itself in is shared by yet another La Sportiva footgear—the TX4 GTX. When it comes to water protection, buyers could choose one or the other. That said, outside waterproofing (and a handful of other minor aspects), the two offerings are quite different. The following points will highlight these distinctions.
Weight. On this front, the La Sportiva TX4 GTX seems to be the more appealing approach shoe. Yes, it is lighter than the Hyper GTX by approximately 50 grams.
Price tag. The two La Sportiva approach hikers in this head-to-head may both be considered almost expensive. That said, those who strongly prefer affordable kicks might find the Hyper GTX the better deal in this regard. Indeed, the featured shoe is less costly than the TX4 GTX by roughly 5 U.S. dollars.
Rand coverage. When it comes to randing, the competitor edges the La Sportiva Hyper GTX quite a bit. This is because the bottom portion of its leather upper is fully randed. The Hyper GTX, on the other hand, only sports a toe rand (cap), which has more forefoot coverage than the TX4 GTX’s.
Footbed technology. Both offerings in this comparison come with removable footbeds. That said, the one in the La Sportiva TX4 GTX is an approach-specific insole courtesy of Ortholite.