Aku showed me a Pilgrim variant that hasn’t received much attention outside of Europe.
The Pilgrim TSC is offered in versions with and without a GORE-TEX lining. 
Features include reinforcement for fast-roping as well as padding at the ankle.
The sole is the Vibram Curcuma which is anti-static as well as heat and POL resistant. Additionally, the sole is puncture resistant. It’s also about 20 grams lighter per pair than the Pilgrim DS.
Offered in sizes 7-13.5.
I love my Aku’s.
Really like my Selvatica Mid Gtx‘s. So much so that I’ve actually got two pairs/in both colour-ways. After a year’s steady use, both pairs are holding up admirably and…very comfortably so. Cheers Aku. Keep up the great work!
P.S and yes Eric, I did read about/see them here, first! Cheers to you too.
The Pilgrim DS boots are the business. Leave it to the Italians to make comfortable, sturdy, AND stylish boots.
How is Aku sizing? Brands are all over the place with their sizing these days. I consider myself a 9, 9.5 and have worn 9.5 Salomon Quest 4D’s for over a decade, which being made by a Chicom-owned company like Salomon, I would like to shitcan and get something made in EU or North America.
I wear 10.5 in Solomon and ordered 10.5 in Aku and they fit similar.
They’re great boots, but their last isn’t right for my feet. I bought a pair of Pilgrims in size 47.5 for my American size 13 feet (the label in the boot says both sizes, as well as UK size 12.5). They were just too narrow. The boots that fit me best are the old Merrell Sawtooth size 13; I finally tracked down a NOS pair of those on eBay to replace the ones that fell apart after a year in Afghanistan and hiking in a bunch of national parks.
It was risky for me with my slightly weird feet to buy a pair of expensive boots via mail order, without getting a chance to try them on. I’m hoping to convince my 24 year old to take them off my hands, but he prefers hiking in low boots, and just doesn’t want them. Maybe I’ll ebay them myself.