The Great Outdoors – August 2019

comparative review Gear

NOTES:Weight

is for a pair, size

as specified, from

my digital scales

The Great OutdoorsAugust 2019 83

RECOMMENDED

Lightweight boots

Asolo

Falcon GV ML

£175 842g (size 4)

flex, support, low weight, lacing, comfort,

construction, grip

nothing

Uppers: water-resistant suede (1.6mm-

1.8mm), nylon, Gore-Tex lining

Mid/outsole: Asolo Vibram Redster (Megagrip

outsole, dual-density EVA rubber midsole)

Sizes: 3.5-9 (men 6.5-12.5)

asolo.com

I love the Falcon for its versatility. Part of the

attraction is that I can drive in it, and then hike,

which isn’t as common as you’d think. Some boots

feel too chunky, have splayed soles or heel ledges

too pronounced to feel safe on the pedals. Falcon’s

uppers, built solidly in layers of suede and high-

tenacity nylon, feel supportive, with a natural flex.

There is good lateral stability, on a par with bigger

boots from Meindl and Scarpa. A small rubber toe

bumper is reinforced with suede and the heel has

a vertical suede strip. Lacing is smooth and really

easy to adjust, with rounded laces running through

metal eyelets, a recessed ankle loop and one hook.

The sewn-in tongue is padded for comfort over the

foot, with more across the front of the ankle. As

usual, the footbed was a joke but the volume was

correct to size so I switched in an Orthosole with

no problem. The sole unit is a cracker: moderately

deep, curved lugs with a positive, squared-off

heel that gripped well in virtually all conditions.

Fit is classic Italian: normal volume, secure heel,

slightly tapered forefoot. This has become my go-to

boot for low-level and/or warm-weather hiking,

everyday use and travelling. Unlike in some of the

test boots, my feet never felt tired or particularly

overheated; mostly I was simply unaware of them,

which is a big positive. For hard days with a heavy

load I’d choose a slightly bigger boot but for faster,

lighter missions Falcon is the business.

bulk, combined with the rubber rand around

the lower section. Another is the soft, smooth

flex paired with good lateral support (handy on

rocks). But a big part is the lacing, which starts

over the toes and runs through fabric loops to

a closed metal eyelet, part of Meindl’s Variofix

lacing system. This involves metal struts that

secure the heel into the rear of the boot, making

for an accurate fit. Lacing continues up the

ankle, through two hooks, with a central hook

to prevent the laces slipping up the tongue. The

tongue, too, is crucial to this boot’s comfort. It

has enough padding, without overt bulk: simple,

but effective. The fabric cuff dips at the back to

avoid pressure on the Achilles tendons (which

is a danger with high, heavy boots). The sole

unit is a visible concession to the ‘lightweight’

sector, with plenty of lug depth and a squared-

off heel block. As with most boots, the footbed

was useless, providing absolutely no underfoot

support; so I switched it out for a decent one.

I never thought I’d find a boot to equal La

Sportiva’s Trango Trek GTX (tested 2017), but

Tonale (100g lighter) ranks alongside it as the

best three-season ‘big’ boot I’ve ever worn.

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