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.
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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.
Aku Italia
Among major league footwear manufacturers in Europe, Aku isn't perhaps the most known out there, but certainly one of the hardest hitters. Where can we even start?
Aku Italia is a family business that was originally founded in the '70s and got its current name in 1985. The hometown is Montebelluna in northern Italy, near the beautiful Mediterranean shores and vineyards but also close to the Alps and the heart of Europe.
The company has such an approach to quality, that it might as well be German or Swiss. The design involves 3D modeling and other current technologies harnessed to make a better product, and as the workers are skilled shoemakers with a refined manual touch, it wouldn't make sense to have them work on inferior pieces; the leather, rubber, and other selected top-grade materials can be traced all the way to the source by Aku.
Almost as a byproduct of this attitude to make the best possible boots, the sourcing and manufacturing processes became more sustainable environmentally. Once this was realized by the head of Aku, they put a magnifying glass on this aspect of their operations as well. Aku Italia takes great measures to reduce its carbon footprint and plant trees to compensate for the emissions they cannot avoid. Also, leather tanning and other processes are developed to involve less harmful chemicals.
So with a pair of these boots on, your feet and conscience are as clear as the blue sky, promise! The Danish, British, and Swiss armed forces buy Aku boots, and they don't accept poor pieces of gear. (Well maybe the Brits sometimes do.)
The name, what's up with that? Aku-Aku is some sort of a devilish deity in the Rapa Nui mythology. They can be friendly as well, just treat them right.
Recommendations
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Reviews
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12 ratings
Timo P. 13.10.2020 Verified purchase
Valtteri M. 23.01.2021 ⚠ Unverified purchase
Itselläni koko vastasi hyvin sitä mitä yleensäkin itse käytän, eli 43 oli se tuttu 43 koko myös näissä, sukkavara on hyvin istuvassa jalkineessä lähes olematon mutta se ei tässä kengässä haittaa. Kengän varsi ja erityisesti pohja on juuri sopivan jäykkä miellyttävään kävelyyn. Vertailukohtana kokeilin myös saman valmistajan Pilgrim GTX -jalkinetta joka oli joka suuntaan niin jäykkä että tuntui enemmän hiihtomonolta, asia jota en kaipaa kengältä. Pidän myös Selvatican ulkonäöstä, kuten mainittu aiemmin, malli ei ole liian taktinen ja sopii hyvin myös siistimpään pukeutumiseen esimerkiksi farkkujen kanssa.
Huonoina puolina nauhat saisivat olla hieman järeämmät, joskin ovat pysyneet tyydyttävästi kiiinni. Suurin miinus näiden käytössä on kuitenkin henkilökohtaisesti se että lähes ensimmäisellä kävelykerralla oikea jalkine alkoi hiertämään nilkkaa todella ikävästi. Vaikka olen antanut kengälle aikaa käyttämällä sitä maltillisesti ja tilanne onkin parantunut, ei materiaali kuitenkaan muovaudu samalla tavalla kuin vuorettomassa nahkajalkineessa. Olen tullut lopputulokseen että tämä kuitenkin johtuu ennen kaikkea omasta fysiikasta eikä niinkään kengästä eikä siitä voi rangaista tuotetta liikaa ja kaikenkaikkiaan olen vielä ainakin käyttöajan alkupäässä tyytyväinen ostokseeni.
Susanna L. 18.05.2021 Verified purchase
Jussi M. 08.12.2021 Verified purchase
Görkem Y. 27.01.2022 ⚠ Unverified purchase
Anonymous customer 14.06.2022 Verified purchase
nopeaan kiiruhtamiseen. Taipuminen aiheuttaa kipua varpaisiin. Kumi tuntuu kiiruhtavan
pohjasta tiehen vielä nopeammin kuin Salomonin lenkkitossuista. Ei tainnut voittaa
tämäkään arpa. Kait noilla joku toimistotaistelija kävelee kerran viikossa toimistolle ja
takaisin yhden vuoden ajan.
Aki H. 20.06.2022 Verified purchase
Karhunkierros selätetty näillä ilman mitään jalkoihin liityviä kipuja tai rakkoja!
(82km)
Adam M. 23.01.2023 Verified purchase
These are incredibly narrow boots. Unless you specifically need a more narrow than usual shoe width, these will be uncomfortable. The toe cap is also quite pointed. Think dress shoe like. You need to size up or your outside toes will be pressed uncomfortably on the inside of the toe.
Initially they seemed thin but "ok". After two days the material had "settled" and my foot pushed out over the sole. This caused the issue of pinch points as the shoe flexed while walking pressing into my feet. Varusteleka was contacted via email but would not accept an exchange due to the fact that they "weren't new" anymore.
They're well made and waterproof. That's the positive aspects.
Highly suggest trying these on first. If you purchase online do NOT remove the tag or go outside with them. At least then you can return them.
Ville T. 15.05.2023 Verified purchase
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