AKU Rock DFS II GTX Review — The Approach Shoe We Reach For First
Owned and worn for two years across France, Portugal, Spain and Germany
Don’t waste money on gear you don’t need. Check out our full 2026 breakdown of the essentials for every new climber.
View the 2026 Starter Pack →| Weight | 398 g per shoe (men’s) · 380 g per shoe (women’s) — around 796 g the pair. AKU’s US site lists 406 g; we’ve used the European figure, which three retailers agree on. |
|---|---|
| Upper | 1.6mm suede leather + microfiber + AIR8000® mesh, rubber rand for climbing-zone protection |
| Midsole | Double-density EVA + PU, asymmetric construction (AKU Elica Natural Stride System) |
| Outsole & Rubber | Vibram Approcciosa, Megagrip compound, dedicated climbing zone |
| Climbing Zone | Yes — Megagrip toe zone plus Dual Fit System speed-lacing to the toe for a precise, climbing-shoe-style pull through the forefoot |
| Drop / Stack | Not published by AKU |
| Waterproofing | GORE-TEX membrane (AKU’s EU and US sites name different sub-lines, so we’ve stayed generic) |
| Resole-able | No — AKU states this sole unit isn’t designed to be resoled |
| Sizing | Runs large — size down half a size from your usual AKU fit |
| Best For | Approach · scrambling · via ferrata · everyday · travel · van life |
Full view — the Rock DFS II GTX after two years of wear
Our Score
Five approach shoes reviewed and scored
One shoe’s rarely the whole story. See the Rock DFS II GTX ranked against four rivals — all-round, long approach, wet weather and value — and find your perfect match.
Read the approach shoes guide →In This Review
Where to Buy the AKU Rock DFS II GTX
Support your local climbing shop first. If it’s out of stock, these three retailers ship across Europe:
Trek-Expert
UK shipping
£138.92£171.22
verified 2 Sept 2026 — check live price
Check price at Trek-Expert →Alpinetrek
UK / EU shipping
£175.46£194.95
verified 2 Sept 2026 — check live price
Check price at Alpinetrek →Bergfreunde
Germany-based, EU shipping
€179.96€199.95
verified 2 Sept 2026 — check live price
Check price at Bergfreunde →Prices shown are approximate — tap through for current pricing and stock.
Why This Shoe Matters for Van Life Climbers
AKU, an Italian outdoor brand, doesn’t get anywhere near the attention that La Sportiva or Scarpa get in approach-shoe conversations. The Rock DFS II GTX is the shoe that changed our mind about that — two years in, worn across France, Portugal, Spain and Germany, it’s the pair we still reach for first, and it’s our top pick in this comparison.
One Naming Trap Before You Buy
AKU currently sells the plain Rock DFS GTX (no “II”) alongside this shoe at both Alpinetrek and Bergfreunde — two different, both-current products, not an old-versus-new situation. There’s also a Rock DFS Mid GTX (a taller boot, a different shoe entirely) and a Rocket DFS GTX (a completely different AKU shoe built for fast hiking rather than climbing). All three share enough of the name that it’s an easy click to get wrong — double-check you’re looking at “Rock DFS II GTX” specifically.
Build & Materials
How It’s Made
The upper combines 1.6mm suede leather with microfiber and AIR8000® mesh, plus a rubber rand that wraps the front of the shoe for climbing-zone protection. Underneath, AKU pairs a double-density EVA and PU midsole — what they call the Elica Natural Stride System — with a Vibram Approcciosa outsole in the Megagrip compound. The GORE-TEX membrane has kept our feet properly dry through a full day of autumn rain in the Harz without a hint of moisture getting in.
Fit & Feel Over Time
The suede upper breaks in over the first few outings and settles into a personalised fit. One pair developed a minor lace issue early on, which the retailer replaced without any fuss — the only fault we’ve had across two years of near-daily use.
Fit & Sizing
Runs Large
AKU’s own sizing guidance says to order half a size smaller than your usual AKU fit, and that’s matched our experience — we went half a size down from our normal size, and it’s been the right call for two years running. Buy your usual size and expect it to feel roomy, especially through the midfoot.
Width & Volume
The last suits medium-width, average-volume feet best. It’s not the shoe for very wide or very narrow feet — if either extreme describes you, the wider Scarpa Rapid XT or the narrower, more precise La Sportiva TX4 Evo elsewhere in this comparison are worth trying instead
Grip & Climbing Performance
On Rock
The Vibram Megagrip sole is the foundation of everything this shoe does well. On dry limestone in Spain it’s predictably excellent — sticky and precise enough on small footholds that we’ve walked to the base of 6a routes without swapping into climbing shoes. It holds its own on wet rock too, which is rarer for a shoe built this comfortably for all-day walking.
Climbing Zone & Lacing
The Dual Fit System gives you normal lacing for the approach and a speed-lace pull-through to the toe for a tighter, climbing-shoe-style fit once the terrain gets technical. It’s a genuinely useful distinction, not just a marketing name.
Van Life Considerations
One Shoe for Everything
These aren’t just approach shoes for us — they’re the everyday shoe, the supermarket shoe, and the shoe that goes on the moment climbing shoes come off. We wear them for city visits, light mountain biking and general hiking as much as for approaches, and after two years of that kind of daily rotation the build quality still shows in how they feel underfoot.
Wet and Dry Without Swapping Pairs
Living out of a van across UK-style rain and Mediterranean heat in the same season means you can’t carry a shoe for every condition. The GORE-TEX membrane is the reason this one covers both — dry feet in the Harz in autumn, and still comfortable, if warmer, on hot Spanish approaches in summer.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Vibram Megagrip performs excellently on wet and dry rock
- GORE-TEX genuinely keeps feet dry through prolonged rain
- Suede + AIR8000 upper develops a personalised fit and has held up to two years of near-daily use
- Dual Fit System speed-lacing gives real climbing-zone precision
- Doubles comfortably as an everyday, travel and van-life shoe
Cons
- Not resoleable — once the Megagrip wears out, the shoe’s finished
- Runs large — budget for sizing down half a size
- GORE-TEX trades away some breathability in summer heat
- Pricier than rivals like the Scarpa Crux GTX in this comparison
- Minor lace fault on one pair early on (resolved by the retailer)
How It Compares
AKU Rock DFS II GTX vs La Sportiva TX4 Evo
The category benchmark versus the shoe we actually wear. The TX4 Evo is built to be lighter and more climbing-precise; the AKU’s GORE-TEX membrane and slightly roomier medium last make it the more forgiving, all-weather choice for daily van-life wear.
See the TX4 Evo in our comparison →AKU Rock DFS II GTX vs Scarpa Rapid XT
Waterproof versus breathable. The Rapid XT trades a GORE-TEX membrane for a genuinely wider toebox and better airflow on long, hot approaches; the AKU keeps its GORE-TEX for the kind of wet Northern-European weather the Rapid XT can’t handle.
Read our Scarpa Rapid XT review →AKU Rock DFS II GTX vs Salewa Wildfire 2 GTX
Two GORE-TEX shoes built for wet rock. The Wildfire’s climbing-shoe-style lacing edges it out for pure technical precision on scrambles; the AKU has proven the more comfortable, lower-maintenance shoe to live in day after day, in our experience.
See the Wildfire 2 GTX in our comparison →AKU Rock DFS II GTX vs Scarpa Crux GTX
A broadly similar spec sheet at a different price point. The Crux GTX pairs Megagrip and GORE-TEX for noticeably less money; the AKU is the pricier pick that’s earned that extra cost back over two full years of daily use, in our case.
See the Crux GTX in our comparison →AKU Rock DFS II GTX Review: Final Verdict
After two years and four countries, the AKU Rock DFS II GTX is still the shoe we reach for first — not because it’s the lightest or the most technical option in this comparison, but because it’s the one that’s never let us down, wet or dry, on rock or off it.
The strengths: Vibram Megagrip that grips confidently on wet and dry rock, a GORE-TEX membrane that’s kept our feet properly dry through genuine autumn rain, and a build that’s absorbed two years of near-daily van-life use with one minor, quickly-resolved fault. The honest trade-offs: it isn’t resoleable, it runs large enough that sizing down half a size matters, and it costs more than the Scarpa Crux GTX for a broadly similar spec sheet.
If you want one shoe that covers wet and dry conditions across a European climbing season and you’re willing to pay for it, this is our top pick in this comparison. If budget is the deciding factor, the Crux GTX gets you close for less.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AKU Rock DFS II GTX true to size?
No — it runs large. AKU’s own sizing guidance recommends ordering half a size smaller than your usual AKU size, and that’s matched our experience too after two years of wear: we went half a size down and it’s been the right fit throughout.
What’s the difference between the Rock DFS GTX and the Rock DFS II GTX?
They’re two different, currently-available AKU shoes, not an old-versus-new situation — both the original Rock DFS GTX and the updated Rock DFS II GTX are sold side by side at Alpinetrek and Bergfreunde. Check the exact name before buying; it’s an easy shoe to click the wrong version of.
Is the AKU Rock DFS II GTX the same as the Rock DFS Mid GTX or the Rocket DFS GTX?
No. The Rock DFS Mid GTX is a taller boot version, and the Rocket DFS GTX is a different AKU shoe built for fast hiking rather than climbing. All three share a very similar name but are distinct products.
Is the AKU Rock DFS II GTX waterproof?
Yes — it uses a GORE-TEX membrane, and after two years of use, including a full day of autumn rain in Germany’s Harz region, it has kept our feet properly dry with no water getting in.
Can you resole the AKU Rock DFS II GTX?
No. AKU states the shoe isn’t designed to be resoled, so once the Vibram Megagrip outsole wears smooth, the shoe reaches the end of its useful life.
Is the AKU Rock DFS II GTX good for everyday wear, not just climbing?
Yes — we wear ours for city visits, light mountain biking and general hiking as much as for climbing approaches, and after two years of that kind of daily rotation the build has held up well, aside from one early lace fault that the retailer replaced without issue.
Not sure it’s the right shoe?
See the Rock DFS II GTX scored against four rivals — all-round, long approach, wet weather and value — in our full 2026 comparison.
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