Vasque Aether Tech SS Trail-Running Shoes - Men's

Comments about Vasque Aether Tech SS Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

Great for hiking and around town. Hiked 4 days straight in and couldnt wait to put them back on.

Comments about Vasque Aether Tech SS Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

I am now on the fence about these. On the one hand, they are -- bar none -- the most comfortable shoes I have had the pleasure of wearing, on trail or off. The Boa lacing is a real winner, too.

On the other hand, now that I've had a chance to hike/run with them a bit, I'm not convinced about durability.

I've not been too rough on these; I only used them "heavily" for about 2 weeks, during which I probably put about 10,000 feet elevation change and 33 miles distance on them on dry, mostly rock and dirt trails.

As far as performance, they are and were absolute champs. I could run where I didn't dare run before, for fear of slipping. I felt fresh and exhilarated after hiking/running trails that had utterly destroyed me before. I have never felt more sure and confident about my footing than I have in these shoes.

They started to show some staining on the uppers from wicked away foot sweat (and subsequent glomming on of dust and dirt), but who cares... they can be washed.

I was even able to overlook how the "welded thermoplastic urethane (TPU) overlays" started to peel away from the shell because of the adhesive... after three days of use.

But then I picked them up this morning to go out for my daily hike, and I see that the outer fabric on the uppers has started to shred away from the seam on one shoe. After closer inspection, some of the other seams look like they're starting to go, and some look like they're actually cracking, which is just bizarre.

The underlying fabric looks fine; just the upper green fabric is going, and I have no idea what effect this has on the integrity of the shoe.

So, today I went back in to REI and exchanged them for a new pair, along with a pair of light hikers. I'm going to put the new pairs through the paces to see if this was just a fluke; if it is, it's a real shame. This shoe's performance is extraordinarily good, but if it can't even stand up to two weeks of moderate use, it's not a smart buy.

I would still recommend this shoe, with the above caveat which I'll be testing shortly. I'm really hoping the shoe that was disintegrating was just a lemon, but I can already see the "welded thermoplastic urethane (TPU) overlays" on the new pair are kind of floppy on the edges. Not a good sign.

Comments about Vasque Aether Tech SS Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

I loved this shoe at first. My feet ran so well in them. Performance was great. They were agile and fast. But then I started experiencing problems. The cushioning wore out quickly in which my feet started getting sore on hard surfaces (such as hard trails) and long runs, the nylon uppers were ripping along the seams, and then after stepping on a small rock, I suffered injury to one of my metatarsal bones. Overall, I would rate this shoe as very poor for quality and durability. The soles were so soft and cushioning so weak that these are not compatible for trail running (maybe okay for grass and sand). One bright note, the BOA lacing system is the best. It was always reliable. The front location is a better location compared to the North Face versions. Sorry to give a negative review, but I really regret wearing this shoe and hope to save prospective buyers from injury. This shoe absolutely did not deserve an award and I am doubtful of Outside magazine's rating credibility.

Comments about Vasque Aether Tech SS Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

I bought three pairs of these shoes this past year, which speaks to both how much I love them for light hiking and also to how quickly they wear down. All-in-all they're well worth it, especially if you can find them in your size at the current[$] price. Very comfortable, great fit, good traction, i like the Boa system (although it's not totally fault free), and the shoes look great.If you like Vasques and are looking for something more durable/waterproof I just purchased the Mantra GTX and I'm very happy with those so far.

Comments about Vasque Aether Tech SS Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

I run mostly off road and in adverse conditions. This is by far the best shoe for me. I live in colorado springs and run tons of hills, the shoes love to climb and do not slip on steep inclines or declines. They need little or no breaking in and run great out of the box.
The only con is they wear fast. I have run in my current pair a little to long and am starting to feel it in my knees. "that is my fault" I do not mind buying these shoes more often than other less comfortable shoes. I just purchased my 3rd pair. If you are on the fence give these a try.

Comments about Vasque Aether Tech SS Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

These work great for the flat footed, wider than the Salomon trail runners!

Comments about Vasque Aether Tech SS Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

I’m an avid disc golfer living on Michigan’s West-coast. I play an average of four-rounds a week throughout our spring, summer and fall seasons (less in Winter). I put over 150-miles a year on my shoes over just about every-type of terrain you can imagine. In the past, I’ve relied primarily on “water-proof” hiking-type shoes/boots from Merrill and Patagonia in my golfing, and they’ve been great partners. But experience has taught me that “water-proof” is folly and a shoe that dries fast is preferable to one that resists water, then soaks and STAYS wet ALL day. So for this season, I changed my priorities regarding water-resistance, but I still needed a shoe that nailed the essentials. For me this means first and foremost, stable and reliable traction over a wide variety of terrain. With all-day comfort, support and durability my other priorities. I’ve put 10+ rounds on my Aether Tech’s now, and I’m totally over-the-Moon with their performance. Coming from the shoes described above, I wasn’t prepared for what a shoe like the Vasque Aether Tech SS (AT) could, and would do for my golf game. Allow me to count the ways…Traction; The Merrill’s and Patagonia’s I’ve previously used have had pretty-aggressive treads and have served me well, but the AT’s level of grip is simply astounding. Their grip on grass, rocks, downed trees and branches, clay (dry and wet) and packed-dirt is in a totally different league from everything I’ve experienced in the past. Support; I’ve used ¾ hiking type shoes/boots primarily for the support they give me in the ankle-area. But the AT’s glove-like grip on the foot is something I’ve never experienced before. And they give me outstanding foot-feel, allowing me to place my feet with confidence and authority. I’ve not rolled an ankle yet, not even a close-call. And that’s a first for me when using a low-top shoe. Light-weight; In the past, I felt that weight was a necessary-evil to get the support, protection and grip I needed. The AT’s have blown .50cal holes in that theory. Their lightness has brought an entirely new level of deft foot-work and grace to my tee-shots and jump-putts without sacrificing the above in the process. And I feel much fresher after a full-day of golfing. Lacing System; The Boa system is nothing short of a quantum-leap in lacing effectiveness, consistency, convenience and on-the-fly adjustability. Beyond the above, I feel the Boa system is responsible in large-part to the outstanding fit described above. I let a golfing buddy use my AT’s for a couple “holes” the other day. Forcing me to use the conventional lacing on his new Merrill’s. The difference for both of us was profound. He wanted to toss his Merrill’s in the garbage on the way out of the park, and I came away even more impressed with the Boa system. Another buddy has a new pair of Salomon’s best, and seeing how they are poised as direct competition, we swapped for an entire round. The Salomon is a nice shoe, but we agreed that the AT’s ate its lunch in every aspect of performance. Salomon uses a similar lace (coated wire) but without the Boa mechanism and it isn’t nearly as elegant or effective. The Salomon lacing dangles unless dressed, it doesn’t allow the fine adjustment of tightness and it’s simply not as effective as a support “system” like Boa. Comfort; Without a doubt, the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn. Period. And not just athletic shoes. Any shoe! My AT’s glove-like fit, light-weight, breathability and moisture wicking properties make them feel like a comfy pair of wool-socks. Seriously! Durability; I can’t really speak of long-term durability, but after approx. 30miles of golfing on the terrain cited above, my AT’s show little to no wear. Appearance; If such things matter to you, the AT’S look is soo trick that you had better be prepared to explain to whoever sees them just what they are, A LOT. They get a lot of attention. As you might have gathered by now, I LOVE my Vasque AT’s. In my mind, they are nothing short of a Paradigm-shift in a multi-terrain, multi-use athletic shoe. My highest recommendation. ~ peace, J

Comments about Vasque Aether Tech SS Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

This was the last in a long series of shoe experiments of mine, with a pretty specific list of requirements:
- Lightweight
- Quick-drying or waterproof
- Well-ventilated
- Comfortable fit
- Durable
- Good-looking

And this shoe appears to fit all of them. I haven't used them enough to speak to the durability, but everything else is aces. They fit like gloves, and they just eat up the road/trail. Foot stability leaves something to be desired, but they're low-profile, so that's to be expected.


I only have two minor problems with this shoe.

First, the lacing system is fast, convenient, and effective... but it seems a little gimmicky. Every time I ratchet my laces down I feel like I'm a 12-year-old with my first pair of Reebok Pumps.

That's right. I'm old.

Second, if the laces snap or wear while out in the field, there's basically nothing for it; these shoes become full-foot slippers for the rest of your trip.

Comments about Vasque Aether Tech SS Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

It was down to this vs. one of the popular Salomon trail running shoes. The salesman said Vasque shoes are on the narrow side but I thought this pair felt roomier than the Salomon. Plus this one was lighter, so I returned the Salomon. On the trail, this shoe felt light and comfortable, with no apparent break-in required, yet made walking on the many rocks and pebbles of a nearby park comfortable. Do not know about durability yet, or how well it does running.