Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX Hiking Boot Review
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On test, we have the Tecnica Plasma Mid S GORE-TEX Hiking Boots which slot into their ‘hiking’ line. That is to say, they’re not necessarily classified as a ‘trekking’ boot, although in my opinion, they can sub into that category if necessary as they have the chops to do so. Nor are they considered an ‘approach’ shoe, but again, they’re so comfy that they can also do double duty there. Are these the Goldilocks of outdoor adventure footwear? Read on…
Tecnica is a brand that isn’t quite as well known in the U.S. as some of the other major players, (think Merrell, Salomon, Lowa, La Sportiva, Asolo, etc.), which is a shame as they stack up mightily against those brands.
You may have run across the Tecnica name if you’re familiar with the winter sports world as they swing a bit of a bigger bat in that space with their well-known ski and boot lines.
That being said, Tecnica makes some of the finest footwear for the outdoor adventure crowd and should be on your shortlist when you’re up for your next pair of kicks.
Back in 1930, Oreste Zanatta founded a small shop focused on working boots production, that became official in 1960 as the Calzaturificio Tecnica SpA. Over the following ten years, Tecnica expanded its business and created the first Moon Boot. In 1985 Tecnica entered the outdoor footwear market. So yeah, Tecnica knows its way around the foot as a premier Italian footwear manufacturer.
Humble beginnings back in the 1930’s
Test Conditions
Tested on trails along Colorado’s Front Range as well as around town in the Denver area. Hikes were as short as 60 minutes and as long as 4 hours. The weather was, for the most part, warm and sunny, with one outing reaching into the mid-90s.
Specs
- Weight: Approx. 1 lb. 14 oz – size 12 US
- Material: Synthetic polyamide fabric with TPU laminated reinforcement
- Best Use: Hiking, light backpacking, approach
- Favorite Attributes: Lightweight, GORE-TEX lining, Supreme comfort
Design & Aesthetics
(8.5 out of 10 (this is wildly subjective))
Tecnica footwear generally leans more toward the technical (fitting name) side of the footwear design aesthetic. The Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX doesn’t deviate from this core value.
Out of the box, the Plasma looks like a we-mean-business piece of footwear. The reinforced toecap, dual-density EVA plus TPU shank midsole, overlapping collar design, and chunky Vibram Megagrip outsole all say “I’d rather be on the trail than at the pub”. If you’re looking for a light hiker that can pull double duty as a light trail dog AND brewhouse beater these might not be for you. If that’s the case, maybe the Danner Mountain 600 or the Sorel Madson might be more up your alley.
Comfort & Fit of the Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX
(10 out of 10)
Upon first wear test, comfort was the first thing I noticed about the Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX. Right out of the box, the Plasma’s impressed me with how nicely they cradled my foot and ankle. That’s not always the case with hiking boots as they can sometimes require a bit of breaking in before they’re ready to hit a multi-hour hike.
One of my favorite attributes of the Plasma is the flexible, wraparound overlapping collar. So many times in the past with hiking boots I’ve struggled with getting the tongue/collar area to lay flat against my angle without creating hot spots. Not the case with the Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX. My ankle felt like it was getting a gentle hug from an old friend right outta the gate. Awesome!
Loving the wraparound collar that adds protection from stones and twigs, but also oodles of comfort
The synthetic polyamide fabric upper is flexible enough and the boot is flexible enough in general that there’s little need to sweat an extended break-in period. My only issue in testing was developing a bit of a hot spot on the top of my toes in the first two trips out as the fabric decided where it wanted to break considering my unique foot gait. As you’d guess, that issue remedied itself over the course of the test period.
Flexible but supportive right out of the box
The insole that ships with the Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX isn’t your basic throw-away variety either. Tecnica specs the Plasma with their in-house C-A-S (custom adaptive shape) insole that, as you might’ve guessed by the name, allows for a bit of customization, (more on that below). That being said, the Plasma is what I’d consider a low-to-medium type cushioned boot. I prefer a bit more cush so I swapped them for a pair of SOLE Active Thick footbeds. This change, however, does hinder just a bit of the customization…
Although I wasn’t able to test this out on my own with the Plasma’s, Tecnica has designed them to be a part of their custom-fit line of footwear. That means you can go through a custom fitting process, (only available at select locations (several REI stores are noted as Tecnica custom fit locations as well as plenty of local shops), as it requires a specific piece of Tecnica equipment to go through the fitting process. The process itself takes 15 to 20 minutes as Tecnica’s custom fit machine heats the inside and outside of the shoe to 180 degrees, you slip your feet into the shoes and then into a large bag that inflates around them. After a few minutes, you have fully customized hiking shoes. The customization process affects the footbed, arch, instep, and ankle areas of the boot to your own personal dimensions. Pretty sweet!
Lastly, on comfort, I’d call the Plasma’s a mid-volume type of boot. The size 12 fit me as expected, with a slightly closer fit than something like a Danner or Merrell boot. The toe box is average in size, so if you have a wide foot you might want to consider this.
Boot in a tree, Because why not?!
Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX Features
(8.5 out of 10)
Just a walk in the woods
Weight
Weighing in at just about 1 lb. 14 oz. in a size 12, the Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX is a lightweight. That lower weight is immediately noticeable once you strap them on as they feel more like an athletic shoe than a hiking boot. That being said, don’t confuse ‘lightweight’ with being ‘incapable’. The Plasma has the chops to get the job done without weighing you down.
I would, however, probably cap my pack weight to around 30 lbs. with the Plasma as much more than that and the boot can start to become a bit overwhelmed.
If you’re looking for something a bit beefier for heavier loads or more intense terrain, Tecnica offers the Forge which shares many traits with the Plasma, but in a slightly meatier form.
Weather-proofness of the Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX
GORE-TEX liner keeps the weather out
GORE-TEX…what more do I need to say? If you’ve worn GORE-TEX footwear in the past, you know what to expect…it’ll do its job to keep moisture out, but if the temps get up above 70 degrees or so, you might find moisture having a harder time getting out. I’m willing to sacrifice a little sweaty feet syndrome for the assurance of being able to wade through a stream without getting soaked. Tecnica does offer a non-GORE-TEX version if that’s more your flavor.
Stability
I’d consider the Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX to provide ample protection and support over average terrain. Being a mid-height boot, ankle support is on tap, but not to the level of the Forge or other boots with a higher ankle shaft.
The stiffness is surprising on such a lightweight boot, but not so much that it feels like a trekker. No problem breaking the toe, but stiff enough to keep your foot tracking as it should. The TPU shank helps in this regard.
I wore the Plasma with a 24 lb. pack and had zero issue with it feeling like it was out of its depth. However, I probably wouldn’t venture much further north of 30 lbs. as I’d expect the boot to start to complain at that point.
Grip/Traction of the Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX
The Vibram Megagrip outsole
For my money, traction was probably the weakest link in the Plasma chain. The individual crescent and round-shaped lugs appear to pass the grippy eye test, but on the trail, I was keenly aware of foot placement on loose or slippery surfaces. Descending a very dry, washed-out trail in the Colorado heat, I noticed a decent amount of foot slide upon each footfall. It’s not to say they felt like wearing dress shoes on a hockey rink, but the slight slip was on my mind as I picked my way down.
Grip as on hand when scaling dry rock, but not so much on loose surfaces
A stickier outsole would be appreciated on the Plasma as it has all the other ingredients of a well-rounded workhorse boot.
Protection & Durability
Rubberized toecap adds tons of protection
For a lightweight boot, loads of protection are on tap with the Tecnica Plasma Mid S.
The beefy toecap made of a thick, durable rubber extends well around both sides of the boot providing a nice guard against rocks and scrapes.
The heel is encased in another sort of rubber thermoplastic laminate that extends up into the ankle area and that same material is used along the inside arch area of the boot as well. This just adds a bit more punch to an already impressive suite of protective measures.
Reinforced heel adds more protection
Not that I’d expect it after a month or so or wearing, but there’s been zero delamination as can happen with footwear subjected to tough terrain. The rubber toecap and thermoplastic inserts are showing little signs of wear other than the typical scrapes.
The outsole is holding up well so far, but considering the shallower nature of some of the lugs, particularly in the forefoot area, I’m wondering how long they’ll last.
The thin, round style laces are another area of concern. I’m not a fan of this kind of lace as it just doesn’t instill much confidence that they’ll hold up over time and abuse. To be fair, they’re hanging tough, but we’ll have to see where that goes. Not a big deal as swapping them out is an easy fix.
Thin laces aren’t my jam, but the wraparound collar is
Summary of the Tecnica Plasma Mid S GTX: (9.25 out of 10)
A lightweight, durable, technical hiking boot that isn’t afraid to venture off the beaten path and tackle trails above its pay grade, doing so with buckets of comfort thrown in.
The Tecnica Plasma Mid S GORE-TEX Hiking Boot is a capable lightweight boot that can punch well above its weight class. Factor in the gobs of comfort with Tecnica’s CAS custom fit system, durable protective elements, zero break-in period, and ability to carry a medium-weight load and you might just have that Goldilocks moment.
Specs/MSRP
Available in 2 colorways (Black or Gray), men’s and women’s sizes ranging from 6.5 to 13.5, and even a low-cut hiking shoe version, the Tecnica Plasma Mid S retails for $200 (although it can be had for much less online). See them at: https://www.sunandski.com
