Flame GTX

Performance and Comfort

The Aso-brake sounds gimicky and all it really amounts to is a reverse facing spur of hard rubber in the middle of the sole. It's also one of my favorite features of the boots. It works incredibly well when descending loose, steep slopes, but doesn't interfere with scree skiing or hang up on anything and it's completely unnoticable when ascending.

These boots felt great out of the box and only felt better after I broke them in. The lacing system provides a snug fit and is easy to cinch down, even with freezing fingers on a cold morning. There are plenty of lacing and tying options as well, so if you're like me and you like to lock your laces tighter for the descent, then these will work great for you. 

The waterproofing and the scree gussets have worked great for me as well. I've never been a person to trust Gore-Tex® liners for waterproofing, but I've been able to wade through streams and creeks with no problems at all.

For the support and protection these provide, they have been extremely comfortable. I'm a 6'3" guy around 190 pounds and I usually carry between 25 and 40 pounds in my pack for anything over two days. I wear merino wool hiking socks with wicking liners underneath and I haven't had any problems with hot spots or blisters. I have a fairly wide foot with a medium volume toe and I have trouble finding a good fit in boots-- these are perfect. I did replace the insoles with Superfeet insoles, which also keeps my feet from slipping much, especially on the descent. They also provide a lot of stability, but don't hinder movement of the foot.

For durability, I can't say I've found better boots. For me, these have been bombproof. I wanted a pair that was full-grain leather and didn't trust synthetics, but the fit sold me on the boots. After a number of challenging peaks on tough terrain (that I've destroyed two other pairs of boots on) these are still going strong. They are extremely resistant to abrasion over the entire upper and the Gore-Tex® liners are still holding strong after almost 3 years of hard use. 

Other reviewers of these boots have commented on the sole wearing out too fast. While my soles have almost worn out, I can't say I wouldn't expect any sole to wear out after the amount of climbing with a heavy pack, scree skiing, and overall mile that I've put these through. The good news is that Asolo will resole them for you. The only thing I don't like about the sole is that the harder parts of the it tend to lose a bit of traction on rock in the cold.

Summary

These boots have proven themselves to be reliable, durable, and comfortable in difficult, steep terrain as well as comfortable under a load for backpacking. If they are a good fit, then I would recommend giving them a shot. I plan to repeat this purchase when mine finally give out.

I love these boots. I often stop in the middle of streams to take pictures, with my feet submerged, and have not gotten a single drop of water in them. They have fantastic grip on smooth granite, and they fit really well too. I use them for backpacking and scrambling, with loads between 15 and 40 lbs, on day hikes and multi-day hikes. I love these shoes!