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Here is my Prabos AMPATO GTX hiking shoes review.
For the last 6 months I have been wearing these shoes everywhere, from rain forests of Malaysia, volcanoes in Bali and Java to mountains of Norway. I wouldn’t call any of these places as extreme, but there have been all kind of conditions and terrains. Rain. Snow. Mud. Volcanic sand. Rocks. I have been using them to walk around the cities and drive a scooter — I always wear proper shoes when driving a scooter, and would recommend you to do the same. Trust me, you don’t want to fall wearing flip flops.
And so far I’m very satisfied.
Let’s go more into details!
Table of Contents
Prabos AMPATO GTX: Technical Details
Prabos AMPATO GTX are made for year-round light hiking and urban walking.
These shoes are lightweight, waterproof and comfortable.
At around 0.9 – 1.1 lbs / 400 – 500 g (each) these shoes feel light on your feet.
These Prabos shoes are made of quality leather. They look sturdy and they feel the same. Thanks to GORE-TEX membrane and lining they are waterproof.
And thanks to VIBRAM CURCUMA soles – you don’t slip.
About Prabos
Prabos is a Czech footwear manufacturer founded in 1860.
The company specializes in the manufacture of comfortable and safe footwear for even the most demanding conditions. That means that their shoes are being used by everyone from security forces to adventurous travelers.
6 months ago I hadn’t heard of this company. They contacted us to ask if we would be interested to test their footwear. After checking that it’s a reputable company doing this thing since 1860, we said yes. I looked through their offer and choose the one pair of shoes that fit my travel style the best.
Prabos AMPATO GTX Hiking Shoes Review
1. They Are Lightweight
The weight was one of the most important things to me.
I don’t like heavy shoes. Not for the kind of things I’m usually doing.
If you like me, mostly use your hiking shoes for day hikes and sightseeing, Prabos AMPATO GTX is a great choice. Or you can go even lighter, and choose some trail running shoes. But you definitely don’t need heavy hiking boots. Unless, of course, you know that that’s how you feel the best.
At around 0.9 – 1.1 lbs / 400 – 500 g (each) they aren’t super light travel shoes.
But if you take into account how sturdy they are, then they are light.
And I love it.
If you go very light, you can even put them in your carry on backpack. They are rather small. But that’s if you have space for them. I do have sometimes. Use a shoe bag to protect your other belongings.
I put mine first in a shoe bag.
2. They Are Very Stable
This is something you can’t read online. You have to try it yourself.
You have to try the shoes on different surfaces.
And so I did.
Now I know that these shoes provide a very good traction on different kind of surfaces, on everything from wet rocks and muddy trails to volcanic sand. Making overall hiking and travel experience much more pleasant.
I do like to go off the trail. I like to find new paths. Quite often that means that I end up in situations where I’m on all four pushing myself up somewhere, because… it should be possible to get there this way. Often it is possible to go this way. Sometimes it isn’t.
Good gear can help you in these kind of situations.
3. They Are Waterproof
Wet shoes sucks.
If it’s cold and your feet are wet it’s even worse.
Thanks to quality leather and GORE-TEX membrane in these shoes your feet stay dry and warm.
Hiking in Norway during a rain? Not a problem. Crossing small streams? Not a problem. Being used to trail running shoes and sandals, it was a completely new experience to me go hiking during the rain and come back with dry feet.
What does it mean in tropical climate? Does it mean more sweating as well? For some 3 weeks straight I was wearing these shoes both in Bali and Malaysia, and I didn’t experience more sweating. Truth to be told, my feet doesn’t sweat too much in any environment or shoes. At the same time I can tell you that it didn’t get worse.
I felt the same as comfortable in these shoes in Norway as I felt in Bali and Malaysia.
In Norway it was around 41 F / +5 C, in Bali and Malaysia – 86 FB / + 30 C.
4. They Are Comfortable
At first I wasn’t sure about it.
They seemed too sturdy. But less than a week in my test I went to Norway, where I did some 30 kilometers of hiking – Trolltunga Hike. I did feel very comfortable and safe during the hike. In the following weeks, while wearing these shoes in Indonesia and in totally different climate it got only better.
I have used them both barefoot and wearing hiking socks.
Is There Something I Don’t Like?
Not really.
They look good. They feel good. And they are light.
Of course, I can say that I would like them to be even lighter. Then I would wear them even more in all the tropical places I’m spending so much time in. Now sometimes I opt for my sandals instead.
Disclosure: Although the shoes were sponsored by Prabos, my opinions shared are my own.
Book Your Trip Like a PRO
1. Book Your Flight. Find cheap flights using Kiwi.com, Momondo.com. Or subscribe to Dollar Flight Club, if you don’t want to be searching for the flights yourself. Kiwi currently is my first choice.
2. Book Your Accommodation. Booking.com, Agoda.com and Airbnb. I use Booking and Agoda at least a dozen times a year, and Airbnb – when looking for a long-term stay. My best tip is to ALWAYS compare the price. Sometimes the same hotel is cheaper on Booking.com, other times – on Agoda. Always compare the price!
3. Buy Your Travel Insurance. Ekta and SafetyWings are two companies I can recommend. Ekta offers some extra benefits, that will be important for those doing some higher risk activities (make sure to choose the right plan!), while SafetyWings is better for digital nomads. SafetyWings is also very affordable.
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