Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

This is my go-to shoe for all of my longer unsupported/no resupply treks where I absolutely cannot have a shoe fail en route.

I've worn through about six pair of Vitesse now, all of them had more than 800 miles on them.

I love the stability of the shoe, it's an exceptional trail shoe with good cushioning. It's a fair shoe for sidehilling off trail, especially on grassy slopes.

For dry slickrock, talus, scree, trails, gravel: 5.0

For wet rock, tundra, mud: 4.5

For steep soft ground: 3.5

Because of its phenomenal durability:weight ratio and trail stability/cushioning, I have to give it a 5.0 overall, but tread that's just a tad too shallow would only make me dock it half a point.

Rating: 5 / 5

I agree with Ryan in that these are one of the better kicks I have ever owned. While they do not have the amount of cushion of my Montrail Conti Divides, I never find that to be a problem. I have pretty much turned this into my "goto" shoe for everything (4 season daily runs to backpacking). The sock-like design makes them very comfortable almost immediately and I have never had an issue with blistering. My only issue tends to be getting my gaiters to work. The sole is pretty much flat, so I had to cut some small lines in the sole to thread the bungee through. Considering these shoes have been in the Montrail lineup since the late 90’s with few design changes, obviously it has something going for it.

Rating: 5 / 5

I would concur with the previous two ratings. My one complaint is also the shallowness of the entire sole. Their is no raised area in the arch area of the shoe. So while this may lend itself to better traction over all, the gaiter cord wrapping under the sole is always exposed to rock underfoot and quickly frays.So, 4.5. Fix that problem and it's a 5.0

Rating: 5 / 5

I agee with Stephen - the sole structure makes it hard to use a gaiter with under strap, there is no arch to protect wear.
I've been a "boot man" for 30 years. Changing my footwear was the hardest decision I made when going light. The Inov8 terrocs were my first choice, but I always got rubbing on the top outside of the right shoe?? I then bought the Vitesse. These are really fabulous. Highly recommended for summer NZ tramping, but trying to shift the Kiwi mind-set out of the traditional leather boot is like pulling teeth out of chickens!

Rating: 5 / 5

These grip better than my Vasque Sundowners (while weighing in about a third of those too.)

I'd like a shoe like this that would be also waterproof. Friends and relatives have footwear by Saloman that's Gore-Tex, and they tromp through muck with aplomb.

I think these weigh half as much as those too - which is amazing - especially taking into account the idea that "1 lb on your feet = 8 lb on your back"

Still looking for that magic combination between lightweight shoes and boots.

Rating: 4 / 5

On my first pair, the coating wore off the toe top. The grey just pealed off leaving a white fabric. Also, the rubber on the front side separated from the side of the shoe. I repaired it with Shoe Goo and it still holds. These shoes are so comfortable, I just cannot throw them away. (around 500 miles) On my second pair, the sides chaffe my foot just below the ankle. After a few days they will cause blisering, if I'm not careful. The fabric appears to be rougher than my first pair. Also, the mesh has torn through on both shoes. Nevertheless, the soles are still good and I rarely slip in them. Also I just dicovered that if I pull on both the loop in the front and in the back, they go on very easily. Now I know what that loop in the front is for! As much as I like the Vitesse, I have switched to the Merrill Ventilator for longer hikes even though they are heavier.

Rating: 5 / 5

These feel like slippers. No kidding. What a ride.

Hiked the kalalau trail in Kauai, an 11 mile hike that is probably 90 percent up or down. Felt great.

I got two or three bad sore spots from sand wearing holes in my feet from some amphibious shoes on a four mile day hike in and out of water the next day. I wrapped my sore spots in second skin, and hiked the 11 miles back out the next day. Still no discomfort.

So, with fresh or beat up feet these did very well.

Rating: 5 / 5

Bought originally in ~2003 as a light backpacking shoe, these ended up great for trail running. The majority of my trail running covers a lot of rock on the AT in the vicinity of Lehigh Gap - the Montrail traction is awesome on rock. The Vitesse also was a great shoe for backpacking 70 miles in New Mexico as a cooler, alternate to my Lowe boots.

Still serviceable (fixed the toe protection on both shoes last year with some Dow silicone cement), I'm hoping my incoming replacement, Mountain Masochist GTX Men's Trail, are even better.

Edited by wsmery on 06/25/2011 10:43:48 MDT.