Pros

• Feels Like a Custom Fit
• Excellent Traction
• Superior Ventilation

Cons

• Narrow need to Buy 1/2 Size Bigger or get them wide

When it comes to hiking boots you need a boot that has been designed and equipped with just the features you need.  It takes a boot that makes hiking a breeze.  It takes a Vasque Men’s Breeze GTX Hiking Boot to be exact

Cons

Some wearers have reported this boots run a size too small but buying them one size bigger usually takes care of this problem. However, the boots have been reported to be a little narrow so if you have wider feet than most people you might want to get a wider size rather than longer.

Also, the stitching around the upper lace hook has been reported to give out if you wear them constantly in extreme terrain such as scree fields. But most boots would have this problem in those conditions.

Pros

The Vasque Breeze GTX Hiking Boot uniquely stretches to give you what feels like a custom form fitting feel. These boots are comfortable even without an extensive break in period and no blister problems have been reported. With a Vibram Contex outsole and dual-density EVA insole they provide excellent grip in all conditions even in light snow.

The waterproof Nubuck leather upper with airmesh nylon fabric and Gortex XCR membrane will keep you dry during stream crossings and cool with minimum sweating even in summer desert conditions. The upper also grips your ankles comfortably to provide you with excellent ankle support on firm and unstable surfaces.

Wrap Up

At 2 lb 9 oz in a size 9 these boots are not the lightest out there but are packed with features you can’t do without.

In conclusion if you want a boot that is extremely comfortable and requires no break in period, the Men’s Vasque Breeze GTX Hiking Boot simply breezes right by the competition.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Waterproof
• Durable

Cons

• No Ankle Support

The Mindbender GTX is a new trail running shoe from Vasque. Right now there is limited availability and most vendors are not carrying it not even the mighty REI. But we found it for you. There are no user reviews at this time for the Mens edition of this shoe. In fact right now you can’t find the womens Mindbender GTX either.

However, one of Vasque’s very own athletes, Krissy Moehl, tested out this trail running shoe last summer at the Western States Endurance challenge. This is what she had to say about the Vasque Mindbender GTX:

“When Vasque product manager Brian Hall first sent me a pair of the Mindbenders, I was pretty excited to be wear-testing a new shoe,” Moehl says. “And once I slipped them on my feet and went for an 18-mile road-trail run (right out of the box), I knew they were the shoes I would be wearing for the Western States Endurance Race. In looking for a shoe to wear for a 100-miler, my goal is to feel confident that I can put the shoe on at the start of the race and not think about it or my feet for the entire event. The Mindbender was perfect and totally fit the bill.” ~ Krissy Moehl

Krissy ran for 100 miles through some of the most extreme terrain in the Western United States including rocky terrain, stream crossings and snow fields even through 100 degree temperatures. A lesser trail running shoe would have melted right off her feet.

Here is another cool quote from her, “With my quads being completely shot after the event, it was nice to not have to tend to my feet.”

The shoe is built on Vasque’s Perpetuum last which will fit a wide variety of foot shapes and sizes. A new feature Vasque adopted for this trail running shoe is the Gore-Tex conformable technology, an “inner bootie” made of Goretex fabric that conforms directly to your foot shape, adding water protection to the shoe.

The toe box was made extra wide on this trail running shoe to accommodate an expanding foot throughout the miles. There are even more features packed into the shoe to include a synthetic nubuck and airmesh nylon upper, removable dual density EVA insole and a nylon half shank.

Even with all these great features and the seamless durable construction this trail running shoe weighs in at only 11.5 ounces in a mens size 9 and just 9.9 ounces in a women’s size 7. This is a great trail running shoe for the lightweight or long distance hiker and day hikers.

It is sure to be a very popular running shoe and be hard to find for some time to come. If you are gearing up for the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail or Appalachian Trail get this perfect trail running shoe for hiking today.

The Leadville Trail 100 is an 100 mile trail run held in Leadville, Colorado in the middle of the Colorado Rockies.

He wears a Boa Technology prototype shoe and the new Vasque endurance shoe, the Mindbender, during the race.

Vasque Hiking Boots are just as good as their trail running shoes.

Read the full Article at blog.vasque.com

Other Race Links

• Racing the Arizona Trail in 7 days « Diary of Scott Morris – The Arizona Trail has always been an obsession of mine. Whether riding, hiking, building or planning it, it seems to often be on my mind. In Spring 2005 I rode the length of the Arizona Trail (from Mexico to Utah) with my friend Lee Blackwell.

Vasque has a full line of trail running shoes, mountain climbing boots, Vasque hiking boots and crossover shoes. Many of Vasque’s shoes and hiking boots incorporate Vibram soles and Gortex fabric to keep your feet dry and on the trail. Recently they have been playing around with the BOA technology, a new advanced lacing system that makes hiking boots and shoes fit like they were made custom for your feet.

Their VST- Vasque Spine Technology provides you with shock absorption and stability when you need it the most. VST reduces heel impact and helps maintain a high level of cushioning throughout the life of Vasque hiking boots. They also carry many wide sizes in their most popular lines for those with broad feet. Vasque uses space-age gels, premium foot leather plus they place a high value on fit and comfort.

Vasque is also a big supporter of trail races and sponsors trail races throughout the United States. You can find Vasque being worn by many of the top trail runners and alpinists. The Vasque Sundowner GTX hiking boot just turned 25 years old and the line is still going strong. The Sundowner’s longevity is quite impressive for a hiking boot in this day and age. Vasque hiking boots are great boots and you should consider them when shopping for new boots.