Asolo Fugitive GTX Review

Analysis and Test Results

The Asolo Fugitive GTX has the look of a sturdy hiking boot and, whilst the sole is certainly rigid, the upper is more flexible and allows more foot and ankle mobility than you might first expect. Some hikers love this combo, and if you research these boots, you’ll often see the combo of the rigid sole and flexible upper called out as a key advantage of this product.

However, others will see this as a disadvantage and will wish the upper offered more rigidity and support. Looking beyond the subjective matter of their fit, these boots offer tough build, great water resistance and a decent weight so, if their fit suits you, they are a great option for backcountry and more technical hiking.

Performance Comparison

Traction

The Fugitive GTX boots feature an in-house sole unit from Asolo. It features a deep thread pattern and offers a good level of grip and a sure footing over a range of different surfaces. Coupled with this, the more rigid feel of the soles gives better comfort and allows you to move more assuredly over more technical terrain.

Breathability

Outwardly, these boots are not very well ventilated. The thick suede and nylon used in the upper section prioritizes water resistance and insulation over absolute breathability – that makes sense given that these boots are clearly designed for handling mixed weather. However, this is not to say that they are not breathable. The boots feature a Gore-Tex membrane that allows some air circulation, and, in use, our reviewer’s feet did not get overly sweaty and uncomfortable in these boots. Remember too that your choice of socks can make a big difference to how hot and sweaty your feet feel on a hike and socks made from a naturally moisture wicking material like Merino Wool are a great choice to keep you comfortable.

Ankle Support

The Asolo Fugitive GTX is a mid-high boot. It offers good ankle support, but it’s worth bearing in mind that the upper section of these boots is not as rigid as their design might suggest. As we’ve mentioned before, this is seen by many as a positive point for these boots.

However, it does mean that they do not offer as much ankle support as you might expect. If you’re after a pair of boots for more technical hiking, or if you regularly carry heavy backpacks, then you may find that a boot with a more rigid upper that offers better ankle support is more appropriate for your needs

Arch Support

These boots have a flat footbed, so they don’t really offer any arch support. We think this will be a non-issue to most buyers but, if you feel you’d benefit from better arch support, then the insoles these boots are provided with can easily be swapped out for something more heavily shaped.

Fit

The Asolo Fugitive GTX is offered in sizes from US 6.5/UK 6/EU 39.5 to US 14/UK 13.5/EU 49. It’s available in both standard and wide fit and the sizing is generally considered true.

Materials

The Asolo Fugitive GTX makes extensive use of thick suede leather in its upper – Asolo claim thickness between 1.6mm and 1.8mm for this material – with the rest is made of synthetics. With high density nylon being used in the upper section. These are all tough and durable materials, so they make perfect sense in a rugged hiking boot like this.

Appearance

The Asolo Fugitive has the look of a modern hiking boot, but this model has also been around for a long time and the looks and materials used are no longer cutting edge. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as the design is tested and known to be reliably tough. We don’t think these are bad looking boots, and we like that Asolo has made a feature of the contrasting material textures in the boot’s upper section.

At the time of writing, the boots are offered in two color ways – both are fairly similar, with the difference being that one has red accents and the other has more muted grey accents. These boots are apparently popular with military service personnel, so the more muted ‘tactical’ color option makes sense. 

Durability

This is one area where the Asolo Fugitive GTX shines. The thick suede leather and nylon fabric used in the boot’s upper section are both widely regarded as tough, durable materials. The boots appear to be very well made with double stitching on many of the seams and solid lacing hardware.

But there’s a lot more: These boots are designed to be resoled so when the sole does eventually wear down or start to separate, they can have the sole unit fully replaced. This used to be something you’d take for granted with hiking boots, but as hiking footwear has taken more design and manufacturing cues from trainers and fashion footwear, it’s a feature you see less frequently.

Resoling costs far less than the cost of new boots and often includes a substantial refurbishment of the boots too. With resoling/refurbishment, the life of these boots could easily stretch to decades. Asolo offer resoling themselves and it’s also available from some specialized cobblers and outdoors stores. 

Sustainability

We’ve mentioned in the durability section above that these boots are designed to be resoled. Straight away that’s a great positive step for their sustainability! Our experience is that the soles on hiking boots often wear down or fail whilst the upper is still in generally good condition, so being able to replace the sole is a great and economical way to prolong the life of the product.

Beyond this, Asolo are committed to ensuring their leather is responsibly sourced and require Leather Working Group or Oeko Tek certification form their suppliers. They are also committed to worker welfare and reducing their carbon footprint as a business.

Water Resistance

This is another area where the Asolo Fugitive GTX does very well. The thick, durable materials in the boot’s upper section are backed with a Gore-Tex membrane which, coupled with high gusseting on the boot’s tongue provide excellent water resistance. You can expect your feet to stay dry not just in heavy rain, but also when crossing shallow steams and boggy terrain.

Weight

Weighing in at 1386g/3lb 1oz for a pair, these are heavy boots next to some of the others we have assessed. However, relative to other heavy duty hiking boots, this weight is quite respectable, and we think that many potential buyers will find this to be an acceptable trade-off for the durability and rigidity that comes with these boots.

Insoles

The Asolo Fugitive GTX come with a fairly generic set of padded insoles. These will likely be just left in place by most buyers, but, if you want to adjust the fit of your boots or add extra arch support, then swapping out the insoles is a great and relatively inexpensive way to achieve just this.

Break-in Period

These boots have a minimal breaking-in period – which is somewhat surprising given their rigid soles. The flexible upper section surely helps here. We don’t think that any footwear is completely without a break-in period, but if you have memories of older style hiking boots that took several days to break in, then you’re going to be very pleasantly surprised by these.

Lacing System

These boots use regular laces. These are actually a very versatile way of customizing the fit of your boots and you can use the laces to adjust tension around. different parts of your foot. You can also experiment with different lacing patterns to further refine the fit. 

Toe Protection

The Asolo Fugitive GTX has a reinforced toe section comprising thicker material used around the toe covered with a rubber rand. This gives excellent toe protection – similar to what you’d get in heavier-duty b-rated mountaineering boots. It’s still possible to damage your toes if you kick into something very hard, or trip badly, but the toe protection these boots offer is a cut above most regular hiking boots.

Conclusion

These boots are probably overkill for hikers who stay on more groomed trails and limit their excursions to better weather. However, if you regularly encounter bad weather on your hikes, like to venture onto more technical terrain or often carry heavier packs, then a more robust pair of boots like these Asolos makes a lot of sense.

These boots offer an interesting combo of a stiff sole with a relatively flexible upper section and in this sense, they act as a sort of bridge between lighter, more flexible walking boots and heavier, more rigid mountaineering boots. Some will love this combo, but others would certainly be happier with either an all-over more flexible or more rigid boot.

If these boots are right for you, then they offer a very compelling set of features beyond their fit: they are tough, water resistant and come in at a reasonable weight for what they offer. With this in mind, we think these boots are well-worth considering.