AKU Selvatica Tactical Mid GTX

Aku Selvatica Mids are waterproof multi-terrain shoes with better breathability than many non-membrane shoes you may have tried. The shoe combines light weight with good support for the feet. Seams on the outside are welded flat for a snag-free exterior.

Breathable, walkable, grippy

The key points of the Selvatica are the Air 8000, Elica Natural Stride System, and Vibram Megagrip technologies. Buzzwords aside, here's what they mean:

Air 8000

The number means 8000 grams of vapor permeability per one square meter in 24 hours, which is up to 11 times more than ordinary footwear with a waterproof membrane. This has been achieved with hydrophobic materials throughout the top: the materials don't get soaked which would lead to loss of breathability. Instead, they transfer the moisture to the outer surfaces and away from the shoe. Also, the glue between laminated layers is web-like instead of an even layer that would block the functionality.

TL;DR - these shoes are much more breathable than other waterproof shoes you've tried.

Elica Natural Stride System

The Elica NSS construction is based on varying thicknesses of the midsoles to account for the natural inclination of the heel and forefoot. The upper midsole is softer for cushioning and the lower midsole is firm for support. When landing on the heel, the outer side has thicker cushioning and thinner support layers. When pushing forward, the sides are reversed and the ball of the foot is on the softer area. This improves weight distribution and the economy of movement. The outsole follows the same principle: the heel is inclined and enlarged for landing and the ball of the foot has an aggressive thread on the inner side.

TL;DR - these shoes avoid pressure points to keep your feet happier while saving energy to keep you walking longer.

Vibram Megagrip

This is a special compound developed for dry and wet surfaces. The outsole has been developed with a focus on real-life conditions and feedback rather than artificial lab contraptions. The result is a stable all-around grip well worth the reputation of industry-leading Vibram.

TL;DR - more traction than others.

Size info

Manufactured according to UK sizes, to which they are true. The last is fairly wide and the toes have a generous allowance. If you want a tighter fit, consider half a size smaller. Pro tip: if you already own Salomon Forces series footwear, these seem very close to their sizes in our experience.

The correct conversion to US standard sizes is to add one, I.E. UK 8 is the same as US 9. (The mfg labels on the box may refer to a different standard, please look at the UK sizes only.) If you know your European shoe size or foot length in millimeters, look at the chart below for better conversions.

Correct conversion chart

Materials and construction

• Upper: Air 8000 / welded PU film
• Upper protection: Rubber
• Lining: Gore-Tex Extended Comfort
• Outsole: Vibram Selvatica Megagrip
• Midsole: Injected EVA
• Lasting board (stiffness): 2 mm polypropylene + microporous EVA (flexible)
• Footbed: CF Ortholite, Soft
• Weight: 0.91 kg / 2.0 lbs (size EU 42 / US 9, pair)

Made in Vietnam.

Care and warranty

We recommend that you read our shoe and bootcare article. In a perfect world, you'd let your boots dry for 24 hours with the insoles and laces removed after using them. Your footwear will last longer and work better if you alternate between pairs. Obviously, don't take this too literally and use common sense applied to your situation.

Clean dirt off the boot with lukewarm water and a brush. Avoid aggressive detergents, at most go for some mild detergent. Dry at room temperature.

Before the boot is fully dry, impregnate with a spray-on protector and/or treat them with care creme on a moist sponge. The treatment soaks into the fibers of the material, making it water and dirt repellent. Contrary to intuitive thought, this doesn't make the footwear less breathable: wet and dirty materials are the poorly breathing ones.

Aku footwear has a 24-month warranty for material and workmanship. It goes without saying that we at Varusteleka don't let customers down; in this case, the manufacturer is also part of the chain that keeps you going.