Vasque Breeze Iii Low Gtx Hiking Shoes - Mens Review

Vasque's Breeze lineup runs the gamut from the trail runner-inspired LT to the more robust, backpacking-ready AT. We put the latter kicking through its paces and establish that it'south noticeably less sprightly and nimble than many of its modern competitors. However, with a sturdy leather upper, proven Gore-Tex liner, and tacky Vibram outsole, it'due south withal a high-quality boot at a not bad price. Beneath we outline our experiences with the Breeze AT. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our commodity on the best hiking boots.

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Table of Contents

• Condolement
• Weight
• Traction
• Stability and Back up
• Waterproofing and Breathability
• Build Quality and Durability
• Fit and Sizing
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

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Performance

Condolement

I've spent a lot of fourth dimension in lighter and fairly flexible boots and shoes lately, so putting on the Vasque Breeze AT Mid GTX felt like a throwback. It's fairly stiff out of the box, and I constitute it took a few hikes and nearly 20 miles to experience properly broken in. Simply once I got through the initial break-in menstruation, the boot was pretty darn comfy: it's sturdy, holds your feet nicely, and has aplenty padding and protection underfoot for rough trails and hauling a full load (I carried upward to 35 pounds and didn't bargain with much foot soreness).

The midsole is a real highlight of the boot, with a groovy combination of cushioning from the EVA foam and enough firmness and support for technical terrain. The padding effectually the ankles and lining can't friction match the premium feel of my Salomon Quest 4D 3, but it's not far off (underfoot, it's quite similar), and the Breeze undercuts the Salomon in price by a substantial $twoscore. All in all, if you prioritize a sturdy and protective build, the Breeze AT accomplishes but that at a great toll indicate.

Weight

On my scale, the Breeze AT Mid GTX clocked in at 2 pounds 10.vii ounces for a men's size ix (just under its listed weight of 2 lbs. 11 oz.). This puts it solidly in the midweight category, splitting pop competitors like the Salomon Quest 4D three GTX (ii lbs. 13.8 oz.) and Lowa Renegade GTX Mid (ii lbs. 7 oz.), which offering similar levels of back up, cushioning, and condolement (although the Vasque comes upward a little brusque in the latter 2). Some other notable competitors I've tested come up in closer to 2 pounds or under—including the Salomon Ten Ultra three Mid GTX and OUTward Mid GTX (both 1 lb. 15.seven oz.)—and the added weight was immediately noticeable on the trail. Notwithstanding, I adapted to it quickly and the Vasque only felt slightly more sluggish than those lighter alternatives. If you're planning to cover serious mileage and desire a nimble shoe, there are certainly meliorate options bachelor. Merely if you value comfort, stability, and a rock-solid feel, the Breeze AT'due south weight is perfectly reasonable.

Traction

For traction, Vasque has turned to industry veteran Vibram and their first-class Megagrip compound. This rubber is found on a number of our favorite arroyo shoes, trail runners, and hikers, and it's proven to be a nice friction match for the Breeze too. Throughout testing, the boot has gripped very well on rock, and—combined with the excellent stability—has inspired confidence hiking through talus fields and while scrambling. If we were to nitpick, the lug blueprint isn't our favorite. Specifically, the broad contour doesn't have the same amount of seize with teeth when climbing and descending over softer surfaces similar dirt and mud as you get with something like the Quest 4D 3 and Lowa Renegade, which feature smaller lugs. But otherwise, it's some other instance of Vasque delivering a lot of bang for your buck: the tread and all-around performance easily outdo similarly priced competitors, including the $180 Oboz Bridger Mid.

Stability and Support

If yous're opting for a modernistic, not-full-leather boot that's more than 2.five pounds, you're probable wanting solid stability, and Vasque delivers here. In fact, in many means, the Breeze AT looks and feels like a pared-downwards mountaineering boot. TPU shanks add sturdiness and moderate stiffness, which I especially appreciated on extended climbs as my heel didn't flex and dip every bit much equally it would in a softer boot. Additionally, the neckband sits comfortably in a higher place the ankle, and information technology's congenital-up enough to offer a solid concur and enough of lateral support for technical trails and hauling a loaded backpacking pack. To be sure, the Breeze AT is overkill for many people and uses, but it nevertheless is noticeably planted on the trail, and its upright stance and overall solid feel are very confidence-inspiring.

Waterproofing and Breathability

While some sub-$200 boots like the aforementioned Oboz Bridger plow to in-house waterproofing to cut costs, the Breeze uses a proven Gore-Tex liner. From a waterproofing perspective, the boot has done everything I've wanted it to, including treatment many creek crossings, ankle-high mud, and even some light snow. The tongue separates from the upper mid-way upwards the ankle, and so you won't want to submerge it in anything deeper, just that should be sufficient for most hikers and backpackers.

Breathability, however, has been predictably pretty disappointing. Gore-Tex liners trap heat, and the kick's substantial leather upper makes it run even warmer. Vasque has incorporated cutouts with exposed mesh betwixt sections of leather, although it's hard to tell how much this helps. I found that fifty-fifty when wearing lightweight merino socks, my feet grew swampy quickly in temperatures in the mid 60s Fahrenheit. And unfortunately, Vasque doesn't offer a non-waterproof version in either the mid-top boot or depression-top variation of the Breeze AT.

Foot and Talocrural joint Protection

As I touched on above, the Vasque Breeze AT is reminiscent of a mountaineering kick in many ways, and this is specially noticeable with its protection. For starters, a generous rubber toe cap completely shrouds the front of the shoe. Further, at that place'due south ample protection underfoot from sharp rocks, and thick nubuck leather covers most of the feet and finer isolates them from trail debris. Finally, the padding around the collar has helped keep my ankles prophylactic when squeezing between rocks. All in all, you actually couldn't ask for better all-effectually coverage.

Build Quality and Durability

In short, build quality is a bit of a mixed bag with the Vasque Breeze AT GTX. On one hand, you become premium touches typically constitute on more expensive offerings, including the Vibram Megagrip safety, Gore-Tex waterproofing, and excellent stability and support. Further, the upper has a high-finish look and feel with a mix of nubuck leather and high-quality mesh.

That said, the Cakewalk AT's lacing organization is i of the well-nigh frustrating I've used to date. In theory, information technology's a great set-upward with three sets of locking hooks towards the superlative. Just the metal on these hooks feels flimsy, and the hooks themselves aren't properly sized to fit the laces. Every time I lace up the shoes, at least one of the hooks doesn't hold and the laces popular out. In addition, I have concerns about the hooks staying in place over fourth dimension, which was an result that cropped upward with a prior generation of Vasque's St. Elias boot. To be fair, nothing has failed thus far, only the system is a notable downside of the boot and one of the few signs of toll-cutting.

Fit and Sizing

To cutting straight to the chase, Vasque nailed the fit on the Cakewalk AT Mid GTX. I take fairly average-width feet with slightly narrow heels and ordered my regular men'south size 9. In use, I found the kick to be sufficiently snug in the heel to keep your feet locked in but plenty broad and roomy in the toe box for all-day comfort (something you don't go with Salmon'due south narrower Quest). And once you become the lacing organization locked in place (covered above), information technology stays in identify and I oasis't had any bug with loosening. Information technology's also easy to suit the fit to tighten or loosen around the midfoot and ankle should you need to tailor tension on the trail.

Other Versions of the Vasque Breeze

We put the men'southward Breeze AT GTX through its paces for this review, and Vasque makes the kicking in a women's-specific version for the aforementioned cost. Compared to the men'south model, the women's Breeze AT Mid GTX features an identical design but clocks in lighter at ii pounds 4 ounces and is sold in slightly dissimilar colorways. If yous don't need the ankle-pinnacle protection of the mid model, Vasque too makes the Breeze AT in a low-summit variation for $160 (ii lbs. 4 oz. for the men's shoe). And to round out the Breeze collection, Vasque offers the lighter Breeze LT in mid and low versions. However, its trail runner-like build sacrifices durability, and information technology's hardly recognizable when worn aslope the AT.

What We Similar

• Stable, supportive, and protective. In fact, the Breeze AT is in many ways reminiscent of a trimmed-down mountaineering boot.
• Premium features similar a Gore-Tex liner, Vibram outsole, and nubuck leather upper at a reasonable $190.
• Great accommodating fit: the kicking is sufficiently snug in the heel but wide enough at the toe box for all-24-hour interval comfort.

What We Don't

• Heavier and noticeably less nimble than many modern designs.
• Laces tend to come undone from the flimsy metal hooks.
• Gore-Tex liner and substantial upper don't allow much airflow.
• Wide lugs don't grip especially well on softer surfaces like dirt and mud.

Comparing Tabular array

Kick	Price	Category	Weight	Waterproof	Upper
Vasque Breeze AT GTX	$190	Midweight	2 lbs. 11 oz.	Aye (Gore-Tex)	Leather / mesh
Oboz Bridger Mid	$180	Light/mid	ii lbs. 6 oz.	Yes (B-Dry)	Nubuck leather
Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX	$230	Midweight	ii lbs. thirteen.eight oz.	Yes (Gore-Tex)	Leather / mesh
Lowa Renegade GTX Mid	$240	Midweight	ii lbs. vii oz.	Yes (Gore-Tex)	Nubuck leather
Asolo Falcon GV	$240	Light/midweight	2 lbs. 2.six oz.	Yeah (Gore-Tex)	Suede / polyester
Vasque St. Elias GTX	$200	Midweight	2 lbs. 15 oz.	Yep (Gore-Tex)	Nubuck leather

The Contest

Vasque'south Breeze AT Mid GTX is a sturdy, supportive leather hiking boot congenital to handle the rigors of backpacking over variable terrain. In this category, Oboz's Bridger Mid has similar intentions. The Bridger is comparably strong out of the box but sits lower on the leg, which results in less protection and stability. It likewise foregoes the premium Vibram outsole and Gore-Tex liner of the Cakewalk (it swaps the latter for an in-business firm B-Dry out membrane, which is less breathable). That said, the Oboz is considerably lighter at ii pounds 6 ounces per pair and comes with a high-quality and highly supportive insole that results in a custom fit right out of the box. It's a shut call between the 2, and a final determination volition likely come downwardly to how yous prioritize weight and features.

Stepping up in cost and overall quality is Salomon's Quest 4D 3 GTX. This long-time favorite costs some other $40 but has a far superior lacing organisation, a more able-bodied stance that makes information technology feel faster on the trail despite a heavier weight (2 lbs. xiii.eight oz.), and similar levels of comfort and support. The one downside with the Salomon is its relatively narrow fit (compared to the regular fit of the Breeze), but otherwise nosotros think information technology'south worth the added investment.

Another popular (admitting pricier) culling is Lowa's Renegade GTX Mid. The Renegade is a bit lighter (2 lbs. seven oz.) and sits slightly lower on the ankle but is as suited for heavy loads and crude trails with ample stability and protection. Comfort between the ii is also comparable, and both boots accept some concerns about long-term durability—namely, the lacing system for the Vasque and separation betwixt the toe rubber and leather upper on the Lowa. We do prefer the traction design on the Renegade and found information technology to be a little more breathable, which gives it the edge for us, simply the Cakewalk isn't far behind while saving you a substantial $50.

Like the Bridger, Asolo'due south Falcon GV is another design that falls betwixt our light- and midweight categories. Checking in at 2 pounds 2.half dozen ounces per pair, the Asolo weighs around eight ounces less than the Breeze and offers less support merely is plenty capable for off-trail adventures and hiking over rough, rocky terrain. In testing the Falcon, its lack of stability was pretty apparent compared to the designs mentioned above, merely when laced up tight, information technology even so performed well under a heavy load and over variable terrain in Patagonia. All in all, given its lighter build and comparable all-around operation, we give the border to the Asolo over the Breeze in our hiking boot round-up.

A last kicking to consider comes from within Vasque's ain lineup: the St. Elias GTX. For another $ten, you get excellent comfort from a similar midsole design as the Breeze, a premium-looking leather upper, and superior bite from upgraded, smaller lugs. Weight also goes upward most 4 ounces for the pair. Both are solid and planted on the trail and nice matches for big backpacking adventures. The St. Elias has similar lacing hardware, although nosotros haven't establish it to be every bit frustrating to secure. In deciding between the 2, information technology'll likely come up downwardly to preferences on build: the all-leather upper may be worth the weight penalty for some, while the Breeze gets yous similar overall functioning at a slight discount.

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Source: https://www.switchbacktravel.com/reviews/vasque-breeze-at-mid-gtx

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