I was recently sent a pair of the Thunder III GTX Women’s Hiking Boots from La Sportiva to review for ActionHub. To be honest, I don’t get out on hiking trails nearly as much as I used to. During my childhood, I spent almost every summer at a camp in northern Michigan. Each day was filled with hiking the trails that wove around the lake our camp was settled on, kayaking the calm waters that were only occasionally disrupted by large waves from nearby boats, and stargazing from the wooden docks that sat slightly above the marsh.

Even in college I was able to continue with my passion for the outdoors. I lived in close enough proximity to a number of hiking trails and lakes to make frequent trips realistic. During the summer before my senior year, I opted to spend those months working in the mountain town of Breckenridge, Colorado in lieu of accepting an internship that would have no doubt furthered my career in journalism. The opportunity to explore the outdoors in Colorado was just too tempting. But then I graduated and began my current position at ActionHub, headquartered in metro Detroit. The city definitely has its perks, but getting to a place where hiking trails and lakes dominate the environment usually involves quite a trek.

Because I’m lucky to get out on only a handful of hikes each summer now, I put a lot of time into planning and ensuring I’m visiting the best spots. In preparation for two trips later this summer, I’ve started testing out the Thunder III GTX boots on low-key trails close to home. These shorter hikes serve to not only provide some much-needed silence, but also an opportunity to break in the new boots. On the two hikes I’ve worn them on so far, I’ve been impressed.

Specs:

• Weight: 18.62 oz / 528 g
• Last: Women’s Trango 2
• Upper: Nubuck Leather/ Cordura®/ Molded rubber heel reinforcement
• Lining: Gore-Tex® Performance Comfort
• Midsole: Dual-Density Trailon
• Insole: 4mm TrailFlex w/ half steel shank
• Sole: Vibram® River w/ Impact Brake System™
• Sizes: 36 – 43 (half sizes)
• Color: Grey/Purple

These mid-weight waterproof boots are ideal for moderate to rugged hiking with a light to moderate backpacking load, according to the product’s description. I was only carrying a small pack on both hikes, so I cannot comment on how they held up while supporting a full load. However, I plan to use them on a multi-day backpacking trip in northern Michigan later this summer and have a feeling they’ll be the perfect boot.

I have a narrower foot and found these boots fit pretty well, which is normally an issue I have with hiking boots. I didn’t find myself having to pull the laces as tight as they could go, just to ensure my foot didn’t move around. Compared to other hiking boots I’ve worn, these are pretty structured and don’t allow for a ton of movement, especially around the ankle. At the same time, this is a plus because of the protection it provides. I found that my foot felt very glued to the ground because of the Vibram sole—something that is missing from many hiking boots, as they make you feel like you’re almost teetering on the trail. This sole allowed me to be very sure-footed with each step, especially around rocks and while traveling uphill.

Because the boot fit my narrow foot well and also had great traction, it was obvious the fitted design was to thank. A lot of boots I’ve worn in the past are pretty bulky. I wouldn’t say this pair was much lighter than other boots, but they definitely are designed in an appealing way that doesn’t make you feel like you’re going to lose your balance every other step. Another big plus was they didn’t require much break-in time. I was only slightly uncomfortable at first, mainly because I didn’t wear a sock that was high enough. Other than the slight irritation around my ankle because of the sock issue, I didn’t get any blisters or pain.

Overall, this is the perfect boot for someone who has advanced from occasional day hiker to someone who now frequents the trails and enjoys backpacking.

Main image courtesy La Sportiva/Gallery images by Ariel Black