The AKU Superalp NBK GTX is a premium looking boot for giant miles in excessive mountains. I examined these by way of a Rocky Mountain elk looking season to be taught extra.
It was the day earlier than the elk rifle season opener, and as I hiked quick up the rutted path, I feared I’d made a rookie mistake. On my toes, a pair of AKU Superalp NBK GTX boots pounded over rocks and soil wanting method too new.
The chorus “by no means hunt in new boots” rang again and again in my head as I slogged up the path with a 60-pound pack for a 4-day backpack hunt hanging off my again. However my fall had been busy and, whereas I’d worn the brand new boots a bit, I didn’t actually have an opportunity to interrupt them in nicely. It was an enormous gamble.
4 days in a while the return journey, I spotted I received fortunate. After mountain climbing 10ish miles, day after day, off-trail by way of steep terrain, I had nary a blister. I didn’t even have any foot discomfort. I appeared admiringly on the boots on my toes, now actually damaged in, and realized: The AKU Superalp is one candy set of kicks.
In brief: The AKU Superalp NBK GTX ($350) is a reasonably stiff looking boot excellent for mountain looking in cool to reasonably chilly climate. It has wonderful traction, good foot safety, and good assist for these carrying heavy packs over rugged terrain. It’s a midweight boot, weighing about 24.7 ounces every. It’s a major funding however ought to final for a really very long time due to its burly, high-end construct.
AKU Boot Evaluate
When AKU approached me to assessment a pair of trainers, I had by no means heard of the model regardless that I’ve had the prospect to check a number of the finest boots for looking. However a little bit of analysis and my eyes perked up. I learn by way of AKU’s web site and realized the model has been constructing boots in Italy for greater than 40 years. Whereas it’s nonetheless relatively unknown within the US, it has legions of completely happy clients and has earned some spectacular scores.
Okay, I believed, I’ll give these a attempt as my main looking boot for the autumn. However as archery season progressed, it was simply too heat for a burly, supportive boot. I spent most of my days in path trainers. So the Superalps principally stayed unscuffed within the truck. This anxious me as a result of I knew an enormous rifle hunt was coming, and that I’d want them for the heavy haul into camp.
Nicely, you realize the story now. Even with out being damaged in, the AKU Superalp NBK boots held as much as the problem and left me unscathed after a tough, albeit unsuccessful hunt. I got here away extraordinarily impressed with the boots, which examine favorably with one of the best boots available in the market corresponding to Crispi, Kenetrek, and Danner.
AKU Superalp NBK GTX
AKU makes dozens of pairs of trainers and footwear. The Superalp is likely one of the model’s extra rugged boots — though it does make much more burley fashions.
The Superalp is extremely good. Ranging from the underside up, you get super-grippy Vibram Foura mountain soles. I discovered these to carry out extremely nicely on all the things from hard-packed dust to moist rocks and stream crossings. On steep hills, these soles had been nonetheless sufficient to kick steps and chew into the hillside. Even on frozen, close to vertical dust, the boots discovered buy on barely walkable terrain.
Shifting on to the midsole, double-density polyurethane offers a stable platform for toes. I might name the Superalp each supportive and pretty stiff. It’s undoubtedly not a light-weight hiker in that the boots command your decrease physique considerably. They don’t flex loads whereas strolling however as a substitute transfer by way of your gate with the authority of a boot meant for off-trail terrain. That’s partially because of the 4 to 6mm nylon and die-cut EVA lasting board that gives stiffness and rock safety.
Above the midsole, you discover a rubber rand across the complete boot, which protects the higher leather-based from rocks and put on. The higher itself makes use of robust 2.6mm nubuck leather-based, which held up nicely after about 2 weeks of robust use.
On the higher, you’ll discover sturdy lacing grommets and pulleys. These work nice, with the pulleys working to easily tighten the boots with clean lacing. The grommets lock the laces into place so you’ll be able to simply modify simply the decrease or higher portion of the boot for an ideal match.
AKU Superalp NBK GTX Evaluate: A Close to-Good Boot for Rugged Mountaineering
Is the AKU Superalp excellent for everybody? Undoubtedly not. It is a tremendous rugged boot principally for hauling a pack over rugged, usually off-trail terrain. This isn’t a lightweight hiker. In the event you’re principally mountain climbing with a lightweight pack on trails, it’s method an excessive amount of boot.
However for elk looking within the mountains, I discovered it practically excellent. It’s value noting that testing climate ranged from about 15 to 50 levels Fahrenheit. In that vary, the boot was comfy. I didn’t hunt with gaiters given the dry circumstances however had no points with particles in my boots. They stayed good and dry regardless of loads of stream crossings.
For hunters who must cowl large miles, carry heavy masses, and achieve this over steep, rocky, and tough terrain in cool to chilly climate, the AKU Superalp NBK GTX is an excellent boot. It’s pricy, however given it’s constructed like a tank, it ought to maintain up for a number of seasons.
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