La Sportiva Men's Ganda Guide Boot

I was seeking a pair of shoes for normal wear and paragliding in Arizona. These are not waterproof so that makes them a little cooler to wear in the desert heat. They also don't have the quick laces that can snag on paraglider lines. It is very hard to find boots without those. The laces on this boot allow a high degree of adjustability with more ankle support than low tops offer. They are very comfortable and well made. I am very pleased with them. Highly recommended.

TooSmall need to retirn

This was my second purchase of these boots. I bought the first pair and used them as hiking and approach shoes around the country and the world including a trek in Nepal and up to camp 2 on Ama Dablam (the soles worked great sticking to the granite) . These would be five star rated except that the holes for the laces on the first pair ripped open, and the loop on the back of the boot ripped out.That said these are built like rock shoes and are not as sturdy as other boots. Despite this problem I bought another pair and look forward to many miles and adventures in them. Botts that last forever have nowhere near as sticky soles.

Well built but small fit

Ganda Guides feel great--flexible for both hiking and climbing on boulders in the canyons of New Mexico. Shoes look great too! Highly recommended--great grip! My use is limited to hiking and bouldering, and these shoes provide exactly what I've been looking for!

These boots are beautifuly constructed and remarkably comfortable. If you want something to look cool in, but you don't climb, these are an expensive but solid choice. If you hike, but you don't climb, they are a poor choice. The La Sportiva "Guide Boot" concept it to provide a crossover that can be both walked and climbed in. If you have ever tried to walk anywhere in climbing shoes you will know why this is interesting. Ganda Guides not pure climbing shoes but they provide excellent sensitivity and stick for rock climbing up to the low 5's. (Really. This is not climber understatement, I'm 60 years old) The lacing extends to the toe to allow precise adjustment and the asymetrical shape works well on technical rock. They walk reasonably well, I've done a twenty mile (round trip) approach in them, but my feet did take a battering. There are some problems. They are not gortex, so if you step in water, your feet will be wet. A bigger problem is that the sides of the tongue (which extends all the way to the toe) are not sealed, or stitched to the shoe. If you walk on a sandy trail, or a loose talus/sand slope, the boots fill with sand through the tongue. And I mean fill. I have a pair. They were expensive. I have no regrets.