Vasque Releases Minimalist St Elias Boot for Maximal Trail Time

So how does it hike? Well, and straight out of the box. I found the leather upper to break-in almost immediately, and as we’ve had a particularly rainy spring so far here in New York—roughly six inches has fallen in the past month alone—I’ve been especially thankful for the boot’s GORE-TEX waterproof membrane. Whether walking the dog during torrential downpours or crossing streams and trudging up and down muddy trails, my feet remained dry and comfortable, shielded from the elements without sacrificing breathability. This seems an appropriate time to shout out the Vibram MegaGrip outsole again, and mention the sturdy leather collar, both of which kept me rubber side down on a number of rocky, uneven trails. Upstate you can’t take your eyes off the trail for a minute without risking a twisted ankle, so the high-top style was well-tested and well-appreciated.

Weight wise, the St. Elias has always been a boot for traditional hikers, sorry UL fans. So don’t expect this update to be the lightest boot on the shelf either. That said, Vasque designers did shave off a couple ounces compared to previous iterations. And of course, like a Mystery Ranch backpack, the heft inherent in a Vasque boot means serious durability, stability, and comfort.

Source: https://fieldmag.herokuapp.com/articles/vasque-st-elias-boot-review