TREKKING
Product 2019
Woman, Man
The product looks a little flashy but looks attractive regarding its technical features. But only testing can deliver the verdict. The favorable weather conditions at the beginning of summer proved perfect for the test. One of the first surprises was the great lightness of the product (520g per shoe in 38 2/3.).
The design is original, very enveloping like a one-piece shaped sock. The upper part is made of comfortable foam material, lacing up on one side to free up space to make them easier to put them on. The latter is however a bit rigid for those with a large instep but it has improved with use. The good points are the maximum waterproofness, precision and foot envelopment comfort. The lacing adjustment extends right up to the toes. This provides safety and performance when climbing.
The upper is adjusted using hooks and you can block the lace, so you can separate the tightening adjustment of both parts of the shoe while still maintaining the heel. The boot may not be wider but our testers’ feet slipped in smoothly and without any problems.
Mammut Taiss Light GTX Mid W were successful on varied mountain terrain and doing mountaineering activities. The Vibram® sole is remarkable, the reflective design of the crampons ensures a very satisfactory grip when it’s dry, on grassy terrain or in the mud, which evacuates well. There is good grip on the rocky parts.
The front notched section is precisely sized. Along with the precision of the envelopment and lacing, the set-up performs well in rock climbing as soon as you get used to the sole’s rigidity. The flexible upper gives freedom to the ankle yet still giving support. The sole’s rigidity, associated with a low coating around the shoe and covering the big toe, favors lateral support in steep terrains or in snow.
You can also attach semi-automatic crampons thanks to the notch at the back of the sole and all works well on ice.
The waterproofness is in part due to its design, a low covering that goes all around the base along with the materials used is all very satisfactory. Its impermeability did not fail in all the uses we put the Mammut Taiss Light Mid GTX W through.
Walking on trails, the firmness of the sole is tempered by a balanced asymmetry and a design that ensures a natural and smooth stride. The Alpine hiker will find them reliable and comfortable. It is true that the tests carried out at the end of June and early July were in very hot conditions and didn’t really allow us to check if our feet could get cold. At no time in the conditions we encountered, hiking at altitude, combining approaches and snowy passages, easy rock climbing, the slightest problem and they proved to be perfect (cosmic Chamonix ridges, Bans en Oisans route). The high altitude, snowy mountaineering routes, and the cold, will limit their usage. It would be necessary to use gaiters in the event of thick snow.
The design and materials used suggest that there is good durability, but as with all light materials …. we could not say that repeated descents in famous scree slopes wouldn’t upset them a little. In fact, we don’t want to damage them!
With these Taiss Light Mid GTX W mountaineering shoes, Mammut succeeds in designing a beautiful, carefully conceived, technical, very light footwear and precise fitting product, without sacrificing comfort. For everyone to enjoy their particular mountain practice and to affront the terrain encountered.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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