Review: Zamberlan Rolle EVO GTX Boots

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Key information

Price (at time of writing): R4899
Weight: 785g per boot. 1570g per pair (size 11).
Uppers: Perwanger® leather
Women’s version: Yes

Intro

At first glance, one is immediately aware of the attention to detail that went into the design and production of this boot. From the eye-catching little Italian flag to the absolute precision of the stitching and glue-work – handmade, Italian craftsmanship.

Construction

The majority of the upper is made from a single piece of 2mm thick Hydrobloc® treated Perwanger® leather. Incorporating synthetic materials only where it adds to the boot’s performance and comfort, the Rolle strikes a perfect balance between tried and tested leather boot construction for strength and durability, and modern technology for comfort and performance.

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Fit

The Rolle comes in a men’s and women’s fit. It accommodates a medium-width, high volume foot, but should also fit narrower feet well. It has an accentuated heel cup, which allows your heel to “float”, reducing the chance of friction blisters.

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Comfort

I found this boot comfortable straight out of the box, which is unusual for a leather boot, with comfort increasing over a period of about two weeks of fairly regular use.

Zamberlan has nailed it with the Rolle’s polyurethane midsole. It is stiff enough to distribute weight evenly when carrying a heavy pack, but flexible enough to avoid hot spots on the high-pressure areas under one’s foot.

The ankle collar is cut lower in the back to reduce pressure on the achilles when walking downhill. The Rolle also has Zamberlan’s FLEX-SYSTEM®, which is essentially a cut-out over the ankle area, allowing easier ankle flexion.

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Support & stability

Another positive result of the Rolle’s midsole and overall construction is its excellent support and stability. Often, with stiffer leather boots, there is a feeling of seesawing over uneven terrain, as if you’re walking on planks. Not so with the Rolle. There is enough stiffness and support underfoot to remove pressure from sharp objects, but enough flex to give you good feedback of the terrain and provide a reassuring “planted” feeling.

Water resistance

In addition to the tried and tested GORE-TEX Performance Comfort lining, the Perwanger® leather is treated with Hydrobloc®, which further reduces the chance of any water being absorbed, ensuring dry feet in even the worst downpours. The Hydrobloc® treatment will eventually wear off but it can be reapplied.

Traction

For the Rolle, Zamberlan has gone with the Vibram® Curcuma soles, made with Vibram’s MONT compound, which is tested at high altitudes to assure that the rubber maintains performance at extremely low temperatures – bring on winter hikes in the Drakensberg! The MONT compound is firmer for maximum support and durability, without sacrificing grip – I was pleasantly surprised at just how grippy these soles are over rocky terrain.

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Durability

With the combination of high quality Perwanger® leather, the perfectly welded toe-cap, Vibram® Curcuma soles and brilliant Italian craftsmanship, the Rolle’s promise to deliver many years and many kilometres of hiking. I’ve done a fair amount of hiking in my pair, which included about 45km of rough, technical terrain, and there are only a few light scuff marks on the leather and a medium amount of wear on the front and rear edges of the soles where pressure is highest on ascents and descents.

*Long term update*
Since originally reviewing these boots, I have walked over 500kms in them, which included a full traverse of the Cederberg range and three years of off-trail guiding on the epic Rim of Africa mountain traverse. I can say without a doubt that these are super durable and remain comfortable. Well worth the money!

The midsole is made from polyurethane which provides the necessary cushioning without flattening over time, like EVA does.

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Weight

At 785g per boot (Size: UK 11), these boots aren’t the lightest, but they are very well balanced, avoiding that pendulum feeling one gets from boots with disproportionately heavy soles.

Best applications

It’s hard to specify a best application for these boots, because they are such good all-rounders. From a quick walk up your local hill, to big days out in the mountains with no trail, to multi-day hikes in spring, summer, autumn and winter, the Rolle’s are well suited for almost all South African environments and conditions.

Some people might find the boots too warm in hot summer conditions, but that is the case with any boot with a water-resistant lining.

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Value

At R4899, these boots are not cheap. Handmade Italian leather boots from a brand with an amazing reputation does come at a premium, but when you consider that they can be resoled, which should give you at least twice as much use out of them, the price becomes quite reasonable.

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Conclusion

The Zamberlan Rolle EVO GTX boots are stylish, well made, reliable, comfortable and will provide many years of use. They come with a hefty price tag, but deliver on every Rand spent – well worth the money for any serious hiker.

These boots were provided by Traverse Outdoor Gear and can be purchased from Drifters.

About Arno van der Heever 54 Articles
Co-founder of Hiking South Africa, Arno loves the outdoors and finds joy in sharing it with others. He is a qualified mountain guide, a keen rock climber and has a "thing" for technical footwear and backpacks.

3 Comments

  1. Hi, you mention the boot can be resoled, which seems great in theory but who would actually do this? Would it need to be sent back to Italy? That would negate the benefits.

  2. Valid point, thanks Alex. A decent local cobbler that stocks Vibram soles would be able to resole the boots, so no need to send to Italy.

    That being said, I’ve done 500km in my pair, of which 80% has been very rough off-trail walking on rough sandstone with a 25kg backpack and they look like they could do another 500km, by which time I’ll probably want to replace the boot entirely. Great quality boots!

  3. Goodday, could anybody please advise where I can buy this boot in a size UK 11 or 12 in Cape Town.

    I’ve been to Drifters, they don’t have.

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