Product · Scarpa
Scarpa Kailash Trek GTX: high top, Vibram Biometric
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The Kailash Trek GTX gives walkers a high-top cut without the bulk of a full leather trekking boot. Amazon lists a suede and nylon upper, a PFAS-free Gore-Tex Standard ePE lining, a Vibram Biometric sole with XS Trek rubber and an item weight of 585 g. For people who want ankle coverage on long days but find heavy leather boots tiring, it is one of the more interesting choices in our ankle-support guide.
- Listed cut
- High top
- Upper
- Suede and nylon
- Membrane
- Gore-Tex Standard ePE
- Outsole
- Vibram Biometric / XS Trek
In its favour
- Listed as a high-top boot, so the cuff sits well above the ankle bones.
- A Vibram Biometric sole in XS Trek compound is named for grip on mixed hill ground.
- Gore-Tex Standard ePE is stated and described as PFAS free.
Good to know
- The listed weight of 585 g does not say whether it is per boot, so compare with care.
- Suede and nylon uppers need proofing to keep shedding water in long rain.
Our take
Specs that matter
The membrane is the newer ePE version of Gore-Tex, which the listing notes is free of PFAS. It performs the same basic job of keeping water out while letting some vapour escape. The upper combines suede with nylon panels, so it will breathe more than an all-leather boot.
Vibram Biometric refers to a sole shape Scarpa uses on several trekking models, paired here with XS Trek rubber. The insole is named Comfort Flex Plus. The shoe height map says high top while the shaft field says ankle, so expect a cuff that sits above the ankle bone rather than up the calf.
On the hill
A lighter high-top suits fast multi-day walks on maintained paths, such as the West Highland Way or Coast to Coast, where you want protection from turned ankles and wet grass but do not need a stiff boot for kicking steps.
Suede and nylon need gentle care. Brush off dried mud, wash with clean water, and use a proofing spray suited to mixed fabrics rather than a heavy wax.
Kailash Trek GTX versus the Tibet Evo GTX and Trango TRK GTX
The Lowa Tibet Evo GTX is calf-height leather, built for heavy loads, and much weightier. Choose it for pathless terrain with a big pack. The Kailash Trek GTX is the lighter, more breathable route.
La Sportiva's Trango TRK GTX has a leather upper and an ankle-high cut. It falls between the two in feel. People who want leather's durability will lean towards it, while the Kailash suits those who prize lower weight.
Who should skip it
Walkers who regularly go off path in Scottish winter or carry heavy expedition loads may find a mixed suede and nylon upper less supportive than a leather boot. The listing gives spring and summer as its season, which fits a three-season walking boot.
Verdict
Buy the Kailash Trek GTX if you want a high-top Gore-Tex boot with a named Vibram sole at a listed 585 g for long walks on paths. Choose the Lowa Tibet Evo GTX for heavy loads off path, or the La Sportiva Trango TRK GTX if you would rather have a leather upper.
Compared with alternatives in: Best walking boots with ankle support, Scarpa walking boots compared
Amazon listing title: Scarpa Men's Kailash Trek GTX High Rise Hiking Boots