La Sportiva Spire GTX Hiking Shoe Review

In a departure from the recent trend toward fast and light, La Sportiva’s Spire GTX is a backpacking-ready hiking shoe that performs like a low-top boot in many ways. The shoe is sturdy, moderately stiff, and offers solid protection on the trail. You pay a premium for the Spire, and it sits taller than much of its competition, but it’s a capable companion on everything from shoulder-season hikes to a wet and muddy backpacking trip along Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Below we break down the Spire GTX’s overall performance. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best hiking shoes.
 

Table of Contents

• Comfort
• Weight
• Traction
• Stability and Support
• Breathability
• Quality and Durability
• Fit and Sizing
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Comfort

Hiking shoes have been trending closer to trail runners in weight and flexibility, but La Sportiva’s Spire GTX is more of a traditionalist. The shoe is stiff and substantial with a strong heel counter, and La Sportiva even calls it a low-cut hiking boot. The foam underfoot is firm, and the thick midsole isolates you from rocky, rough terrain. The Spire was a great match for backpacking: the shoe was comfortable while hauling a 30-pound load on a coastal hike that ranged from wooden boardwalks to rock, mud, and sand. It took time to loosen up, but it was plenty comfortable within a few miles. The Spire is a great option for those transitioning out of a traditional hiking boot. You’ll save a significant amount of weight, and it’ll feel more nimble, but the shoe still has enough substance to trust on difficult sections of trail.
 

Weight

My men’s size 42 weighed 1 pound 15.1 ounces on our scale (only 0.1 ounces more than La Sportiva’s listed weight), which puts it on the heavier end of the hiking shoe spectrum. Other Gore-Tex models, including the Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX (1 lb. 10.8 oz.) and Danner Trail 2650 (1 lb. 8 oz.) undercut it by at least a few ounces. If you’re prioritizing weight for fastpacking or easygoing day hikes, lighter shoes are available. But the Spire never felt excessively heavy underfoot, even over full days of backpacking, and the extra sturdiness is a bonus for some.
 

Traction

The Spire’s Vibram rubber outsole has a well-rounded tread design with substantial lugs that bite both uphill and on steep descents. The outsoles also did a good job in mud and weren’t prone to caking up, and the rubber is tacky enough to hold well on everything from rock to the moss-covered wooden bridges along Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. You can technically get a tackier shoe for rock-heavy approaches with La Sportiva’s TX4 Evo, but I have no complaints about traction with the Spire.
 

Stability and Support 

The Spire GTX feels a lot like a hiking boot that’s had a few inches trimmed off the top. The shoe is stiff underfoot thanks to TPU inserts in the midsole and feels stable on most trails while carrying a full pack. My only complaint is that the midsole is thick, which may be due to the Gore-Tex Surround system. Combined with a platform that runs narrow at the heel, the shoe can feel tippy while hiking over rocky trails. That’s not to say it isn’t stable in general, and the added support is helpful on long climbs. But if you’re looking for a more capable off-trail scrambler, La Sportiva’s lower-slung TX4 approach shoe is a better pick.

Waterproofing

After wearing the Spire GTX on a wet and sloppy backpacking trip on the Olympic Peninsula, I’m confident in trusting the shoe’s Gore-Tex membrane. The hike was extremely muddy, with many sections of ankle-high muck, puddles, and creek crossings. Through it all, my feet remained dry and comfortable. The tongue is connected to the upper almost all the way to the collar, which means the Spire is waterproof almost to the top—not always the case with low-top hikers.
 

Breathability: Gore-Tex Surround

The Spire was one of the first shoes to feature Gore-Tex’s Surround waterproofing system. Rather than just venting through the upper of the shoe, the Spire GTX has been designed to release air through the footbed and midsole as well. Compared to standard Gore-Tex, the improvement in breathability is incremental. When working hard in mild summer temperatures, the shoe ran about as warm as Salomon’s X Ultra 5, which uses the standard membrane. On shoulder-season hikes in cooler temperatures (mid-40s to mid-50s Fahrenheit), the Spire did a nice job keeping my feet cool, but it was still warmer than a non-waterproof shoe. And given the slight upgrade in ventilation, I wouldn’t recommend the Spire for snowshoeing or winter activities. Here, standard Gore-Tex will provide a light boost in warmth.
 

Foot and Ankle Protection

Despite the low cut, the La Sportiva Spire GTX offers good all-around protection from rocks and other trail obstacles. The thick midsole and TPU inserts keep foot soreness to a minimum, and the synthetic toe cap is thick and protective. There’s light protection along the outside of the foot, and the heel is well-cushioned and built up. Taken together, the Spire offers better protection than most low-cut designs we’ve tested.
 

Quality and Durability

I put a lot of miles on the Spire over a six-month testing period, and the shoe is almost no worse for wear. The outsole is wearing evenly, and there are no indications that it will break down prematurely. The overlaid materials along the upper are all holding up well. Some of the upper—primarily over the toes and along the sides—is made of mesh to boost breathability, but these sections have been reinforced, and there are no signs of tearing or failure. 
 

Fit and Sizing

I would describe the fit as a little wide in the heel, and the toe box is average. As a result, I had to cinch the shoe tightly to avoid heel slippage. Hikers with narrow feet will likely need to either opt for a shoe like Salomon’s X Ultra 5, which has a snugger heel, or really lock down the shoe before an extended climb to prevent rubbing. 

As for sizing, La Sportiva uses European sizing, which means the increments are smaller than U.S. sizing. If you usually wear a 10.5, you could go with a 43.5 for a snugger fit or 44 for more room. I typically wear a men’s 9 and opted for a 42, which had a just-right length, allowing enough room to avoid toe bang on descents. Overall, given the average fit and incremental sizing, the Spire should work for many people and foot shapes, though no dedicated narrow or wide sizes are offered.
 

Other Versions of the La Sportiva Spire

In addition to the men’s Spire reviewed here, La Sportiva also makes the shoe in a women’s-specific version for the same price. The two are identical in build and features, but the women’s Spire GTX weighs less at 1 pound 10.2 ounces and is available in a different color. 
 

What We Like

• The sturdiness and protection of a hiking boot in a low-cut design.
• Solid and reliable grip on terrain ranging from mud to moss-covered bridges and hard-packed dirt.
• The Spire is more accommodating than the narrower La Sportiva shoes.
   

What We Don’t

• The Spire is heavy for a low-top hiking shoe and rides higher than other low-slung designs.
• The shoe is a little wide at the heel, and I had to cinch it down tightly to avoid heel slippage.
• A thick midsole can feel tippy on especially rocky trails.
• Gore-Tex Surround offers only a slight improvement in breathability over standard Gore-Tex.
   

Comparison Table

The Competition

La Sportiva’s Spire GTX is unique among its hiking shoe competition for its boot-like sturdiness and protection. The Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX is its primary competitor and our top-rated hiking shoe. Both are comfortable, offer ample protection for day hiking and backpacking, and have excellent traction. That said, the X Ultra is a more balanced shoe: it’s lighter at 1 pound 10.8 ounces, more flexible, easier for fast hiking, and it's less expensive than the Spire. The Spire is better suited to technical trails, but it’s not worth the added investment.
 

Another hiker to consider is the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2.0, which is a close competitor to the Spire. Both are stiff out of the box and offer a good balance of protection and support, but the Spire is more built-up and protective, with high-quality cushioning underfoot. The Terrex feels less cushioned, so if you've been wanting a lower-cut shoe that still offers ankle support without too much underfoot stiffness, we recommend the Spire. 
 

A final option is La Sportiva’s TX4 Evo. Technically an approach shoe, the TX4 has become one of our favorite hikers. It’s grippy on rock, moderately flexible, and excels over long days, and the cushioning hits a sweet spot between comfort and protection. That said, the Spire is fully waterproof, offers more balanced traction in mud and wet terrain, and its stiffness is nice for extended climbs and descents. The TX4 Evo edges the Spire for technical scrambling, but the Spire is the better pick for hiking and light backpacking.