Scott Kinabalu 3 Mid Gore-Tex walking boots | Tested and reviewed

A walking boot that you can both run and hike in? That’s what Scott is touting with its new Kinabalu 3 Mid Gore-Tex.

The boot is an evolution of the brand’s Kinabalu 3 trail running shoes, which we reviewed in 2024. After testing, we praised the shoe for being lightweight, wonderfully comfortable and offering a great ride.

Given more and more people are turning to trail running shoes for their hikes, this feels like a natural option for anyone who wants a lightweight hiking boot that adds the benefit of support over a shoe.

So how does it perform? Well, I’ve been using the Kinabalu 3 Mid GTX boot for the last few months, testing it on a range of terrain including dirt trails in an ancient forest, gravel and muddy paths on the Cotswold Way and on mixed rocky/dirt trails in the Brecon Beacons in Wales. Here’s what I thought…

Design and features

The Scott Kinabalu 3 Mid GTX is the boot version of the similarly named Kinabalu 3 trail running shoe, which was reviewed by my colleague James Forrest last year.

That shoe was given a full redesign for its third generation. The aim was to improve comfort, protection and run efficiency so you could enjoy yourself in multiple environments, from forest trails to smooth mountain paths.

In his review, James praised the shoe for its midsole cushioning and rocker shape, with the two things combining to deliver a product that felt agile and energetic. While the outsole offered decent traction, he noted it wasn’t the most aggressive.

You’ll find much of the same design here. That includes the own-brand outsole with multidirectional lugs, plus the same midsole and rocker.

Performance

So how did they perform? We’ll start with traction, which was largely decent. The outsole excels on a mix of rock (even when damp), gravel and hardpacked or dry dirt.

Given the 3.5mm lugs, there isn’t as much bite as you sometimes find in other more aggressive boots, so when the mud increases you can find yourself coming a little unstuck. There’s no substantial heel brake, either, so the latter can certainly be the case when descending sloppy hills or trails.

It’s also worth noting the absence of a climbing zone at the front so, while these boots feel sprightly and agile enough to do some scrambling, there’s not much provision for placing the toes onto footholds.

But then, that’s not really what these boots are designed for. They’re flexible and feel particularly lightweight (my UK11 came in at 429g per boot) considering the support on offer.

Waterproofing proved reliable and comes in the form of Gore-Tex’s Invisibile Fit membrane. The latter is bonded directly to the upper material to improve the fit and feel of the boot, while also reducing the amount of potential water absorption, thus reducing drying time, according to the brand.

They certainly didn’t feel saturated nor heavy after a stream crossing. The height of the waterproof lining, which comes up to the top of the tall tongue bellows, was also appreciated here.

Protection from the terrain is reasonable for a lightweight boot, too, with a toe bumper in play up front, though it is rather thin and malleable. The protection around the heel is decent.

Additional features I liked include the large heel tab, which helps pulling the boots on and off, plus the 'support cage', which is said to help you avoid rolling the ankle.

Comfort

Moving onto how these boots felt, there’s a considerable amount of cushioning around the ankle. This helps on unsteady ground, but it felt rather chunky and a little unwieldy when pressing tightly up against the ankle.

The Kinabalu 3 utilises Scott’s Kinetic Foam underfoot, which is designed to be both lightweight and responsive. According to the brand, it “returns 14% more energy than standard EVA, resulting in a plush but stable and more dynamic ride”.

You also get the same Evolved Rocker2 (ER2) platform that you’ll find in the running shoe. Though designed primarily for running, it works well here and the transition from heel strike to toe off feels natural and smooth.

It’s certainly well suited to moving quickly over terrain, but I wouldn’t really run for any sustained period of time in these boots because the mid cut seemed to impede me when doing so. Still, if you like to pick up the pace, these will be more well-suited than many other boots.

My main issue with the Kinabalu 3 Mid GTX is the trouble I found with achieving good foot lockdown. I struggled to get a secure fit that lasted the entirety of a hike and I experienced notable movement no matter how I laced up. It didn’t result in any blisters or hotspots, but it proved a minor annoyance.

Meanwhile, the boot’s ground feel proved well balanced, allowing confidence in foot placement without leaving you at the whim of sharp rocks.

A final word on fit... the Kinabalu's shoe width is classed as D, which is normal. As someone with low volume but wide splaying feet, this felt about right and I had no issues with the fit. I had no need to go up a size, either.

Price and competition

There’s tough competition in this sector. Scarpa’s Rush 2 Mid GTX (£190) is our current ‘best in test’ among the current crop of lightweight boots and comes in at just £5 less than the Scott Kinabalu 3 Mid GTX.

The Scarpa uses the same Gore-Tex lining and is a little heavier, but it also offers better traction on soft ground.

Another key competitor will be the Roclite Mid GTX from trail running stalwarts Inov8. It’s a fair whack cheaper, at £150, and its 6mm lugs also bite into the mud better than the Kinabalu’s outsole. But then, it falls down on ankle support.

The £195 price tag on the Kinabalu 3 Mid GTX is steep for a lightweight boot, but if its within your budget it has a lot to offer.

Admittedly, I’d like to see a bit more sustainability in play, though, as there’s no recycled materials on show here.

Verdict

The light weight, smooth ride and underfoot comfort are the highlights here, making for a great partner when moving fast over tracks and trails, but the Kinabalu 3 Mid GTX does have its limitations.

Get the fit right and steer clear of sloppy or deep mud, though, and you’ll have a great time.

About the author

Rob Slade is LFTO's deputy editor. Before joining the team in 2024, Rob had stints as content editor at 220 Triathlon magazine and editor at Adventure Travel magazine (now known as Wired for Adventure). His adventures have taken him to the summit of the UK's highest peaks via Norway, the Alps and New Zealand.