Test of the SLOPE MICRO GTX from AKU
Autumn is just around the corner, nature is turning colorful, temperatures are dropping and it is sometimes wetter and more slippery for hiking. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, fall is considered an excellent time for hiking - as long as the tours don't take you to altitudes where the first snow has already fallen.
But when the weather is changeable, you need a hiking boot you can rely on. I tested the SLOPE MICRO GTX from AKU for you.
Requirements for the perfect shoe for fall
I can only really enjoy extended autumn hikes with the right footwear: above all, the shoe has to be comfortable, protect against moisture and offer good grip at all times on both dry and wet ground, as well as fallen leaves.
So far, I have either used my hiking boots when it was wet and I wanted dry feet, or my trail running shoes when it was dry. Neither was always ideal, as the hiking boots were sometimes too firm and stiff and the trail running shoes quickly became too light or thin for the fall.
I simply didn't know of an ideal "intermediate shoe" until now. A shoe that would keep me dry and offer protection while being comfortable enough for long hikes.
But now I think I've found that shoe: the SLOPE MICRO GTX from AKU.
The shoe and its features
The SLOPE MICRO GTXfrom the traditional Italian company AKU has been established on the Italian market for 30 years. And you can see that in the shoe: The model has a classic design and looks almost retro, but at the same time manages to look timeless and casual. I really like the interplay between the classic look and the military green and red color.
AKU itself describes the shoe as exceptionally comfortable, which I thought was a rather standard description from a manufacturer before I tested it. How comfortable can a high hiking boot be? - I thought. Until I put the shoe on for the first time: The foot has room in the shoe without having to sacrifice the necessary support of a high shoe. And even after the first few steps and ultimately after the first hike, this was confirmed: The shoe is really very comfortable, rolls wonderfully thanks to the soft sole and offers a pleasant, dry foot climate thanks to the Gore-Tex Performance Comfort upper and AKU's specially developed AIR8000.
The low weight of just 560g per shoe also gives me the feeling of wearing a lightweight shoe. However, the low weight does not compromise on robustness: The upper material is made of 1.4mm thick suede and ballistic textile, which makes the shoe pleasantly soft to the touch on the one hand, but at the same time provides great protection for the foot.
The test routes
With the features described above and my positive first impression, I was afraid that there would be a compromise somewhere, for example in the grip and stability of the sole.
But the opposite is actually the case: the VIBRAM ERICA EVEREST outsole has a strong profile and is therefore ideal for tours in mixed weather on wet, sometimes slippery forest ground.
I feel most comfortable with these shoes on easy to moderately difficult terrain and they are suitable for all outdoor activities. I tested the shoe both in the Black Forest and in the Allgä u. The shoe masters low mountain ranges and easy alpine terrain excellently. However, I was particularly impressed by the shoe on tours - even longer ones - with a low mountain character: meadow and forest paths, gravel paths and easy hiking trails .
Conclusion
For me, theSLOPE MICRO GTX from AKU is exactly the shoe that was missing from my outdoor shoe portfolio.
I am thrilled to have found a shoe that gives me the best of two categories: the comfort and lightness of a really lightweight outdoor shoe paired with a great, classic look, the protection and stability as well as the comprehensive grip of a mountain boot.
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