Gear Review: Spire GTX Hiking Shoes by La Sportiva
The La Sportiva Spire GTX is a lightweight, breathable hiking shoe with serious grip and support: perfect for scrambling 14ers, navigating slickrock, and tackling rugged terrain with confidence.
The La Sportiva Spire GTX is one of those rare hiking shoes that manages to feel like a trail runner on your feet, while still offering the confidence and protection of a hiking boot. For hikers who value breathability, waterproofing, and stability- especially on rugged terrain or backpacking trips, this boot delivers.
I’ve been testing the Spire GTX everywhere from slickrock scrambles in Utah to Colorado 14ers and messy blowdown-filled trails in the San Juans. Through it all, they’ve stayed surprisingly lightweight, supportive, and tough as nails.
What Makes the Spire GTX Stand Out
- GORE-TEX® Surround™: The star of the show here is the breathable waterproofing. GORE-TEX Surround means water stays out, but sweat and heat escape — even through the sole.
- Low Weight, High Support: These weigh in like a trail runner but offer ankle protection and control, especially when descending loose terrain.
- Vibram® XS Trek Outsole: Grippy and reliable on everything from sandstone slabs to alpine scree.
- STB Control System™: Integrates the upper and midsole for stability without excess bulk.
One thing we really appreciated on high peaks was the shoe’s performance while scrambling class 2 and low class 3 routes — the outsole clings confidently to rock, and the supportive midsole keeps your feet from collapsing on sharp, uneven terrain. And when it came time to bushwhack through a mess of blowdown and thick undergrowth, the uppers held up beautifully with no snags or torn fabric.
On southern Utah slickrock, the grip was honestly better than expected. The Vibram sole bit into angled rock faces with confidence, and the shoes flexed just enough to give solid surface contact while side-hilling across domes and fins.
Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick look at what we loved, and a couple of things to keep in mind:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Incredibly breathable for a waterproof boot | Runs slightly narrow for wide feet |
| Grippy Vibram outsole excels on slickrock and scree | Break-in period needed for some hikers |
| Lightweight, supportive, and great for scrambling | More expensive than some competitors |
Final Thoughts
The La Sportiva Spire GTX is a winner for serious hikers who want performance without sacrificing comfort. It’s ideal for long days with variable terrain and weather, whether you're chasing 14ers, navigating off-trail terrain, or powering through technical scrambles. If your hikes include everything from Utah slickrock to soggy alpine blowdowns, this shoe is built to handle it all.
My review is independent of the supplier and reflects my own opinions. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at no additional cost to you.
