Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

Great lightweight hiker. Comfortable right out of the box. No break-in time required. I have slopped through mud and stream crossings and have stayed bone dry every time. They are remarkably breathable. Not one blister yet in these shoes. They are lightweight but yet durable. The lugs provide adequate traction for root and rock filled pathways and technical rock scrambles. They provide moderate ankle support. If you have weak ankles then these may not be for you. I'm not sure about durability in the long run because I have only used these for one season so far but they seem solid and so far I and my feet love them. I have carried 25 lbs. over up to 10 miles comfortably in them.

Edited by wamyteipen on 08/09/2007 18:36:19 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

I bought theses shoes for a day hike of Mt. Whitney. They performed very well. Good traction on wet rock and scree. I also used them for a 5 day backpacking trip of Whitney through the back country. I had a 50 lb. pack and didn't have any problems. Crossed streams and stayed dry.

Rating: 5 / 5

These boots were great right out of the box. I've gone on four, fifteen plus mile trips in them and have yet to get any blisters. My feet are always dry and are barely sore at the end of a long hike. They provide plenty of protection as long as you tread somewhat carefully and they don't seem to weigh me down throughout the day. I would recommend these to anyone looking for a great mid-weight hiking boot.

Rating: 4 / 5

I use the low-cut GTX version, perpetually on clearance at STP. Vasques tend to fit me well, and these are no exception. I find the shoe runs slightly narrow, but not enough to make wearing them an issue for me. Cushioning and stability is great. By way of low-cut hikers they're pretty light, but certainly can't compare them to trail runners.

My one issue is that I have found the upper and the sole to be lacking in durability. Probably comes with the territory of lighter materials and mesh panels but I'd still perfer a Vibram sole to give me a bit more service. Overall though, they've lasted me a good long while already so no real complaints.

Rating: 4 / 5

These boots really are a breeze on your feet. Unlike another reviewer, I found these boots to have terrific ankle support. However, the deal-killer for me is the relatively narrow toe box. Full disclosure: I have a left foot that is almost impossible to fit. The toes of that foot splay to the outside. Unfortunately, even after sending my left boot to be stretched by a cobbler,these boots (a wide) pinch the outside. My right foot fits perfectly however and gives a five star rating! If you have normal feet, this should not be a problem.

Finally: these boots have excellent traction. They also have a much more flexible sole than say Asolos. I didn't notice this in store but it immediately became apparent to me on the street and on trail. This last is a good or bad thing depending on your perspective. I'm sure that it helps keep the weight down on these boots.

I'm trying one last stretch at a cobbler to make an otherwise great lightweight boot with fantastic ankle support and good comfort work for me. If only these boots had a wider toe box
!