Zamberlan Vioz GT Hiking Boots - Men's

Comments about Zamberlan Vioz GT Hiking Boots - Men's:

It is very difficult to provide a meaningful review of hiking boots. No two people are likely to experience the same "fit" in a hiking boot, even if their feet are the same approximate length and width. There is an almost infinite variety in the shape and structure of our feet -- the shape of the arch and heel, length of toes, etc. -- all of which dramatically affect a boot's comfort and fit. Moreover, differences in gait and stance, to say nothing of terrain and intended use, all conspire against broad generalizations. My own assessment of the Zamberlan Vioz GT is therefore, of necessity, highly subjective and personal, other than my observations about its construction and materials.

I purchased these boots to replace a very old pair of traditional "waffle stompers," which had taken me over hundreds of trail miles and were re-soled several times. I tend to reserve my hiking boots for hiking (they are my most important back country tool, not fashion wear), and wear them on long day hikes, and on overnight treks, ranging from 2 days to 2 weeks, in a variety of trail and weather conditions throughout the year. Since I live in Minnesota, and do most of my hiking in the upper mid-west, I am more concerned that my boots be water proof, or highly water resistant, and am less concerned about their performance in extremely hot or arid conditions. I am not likely to hike at low elevations in Arizona during the summer, for example.

My experience with the Vioz GT has been entirely satisfactory, wonderful in fact, and I would strongly recommend these boots to any whose feet fit comfortably.

The materials used in the Vioz GT, and the overall quality of construction, are exceptionally good. The uppers have only two seams -- one at the heel, and one around the tongue gusset. The absence of seems, quite apart from the Gortex lining, gives these boots excellent water resistance with normal leather treatment. To date, they have kept my feet dry even when trails have turned to rivers.

The sole is manufactured by Vibram, but uses a slightly softer rubber than found on the old-style, traditional Vibram product. I have generally found it to provide excellent traction in most conditions, and on bare rock (granite boulders, for example), both when wet or dry.

The lugs that form the leading edge of the heel come to an aggressive point. This provides excellent grip on loose soil when descending on steep trails, and help to prevent the boot from sliding forward. (See photo below) I did not really appreciate this feature (or notice it, for that matter) until hiking a difficult bluff trail in southeastern Minnesota. The sole also has a nice, stiff arch and easily supports my weight with a pack, when hiking over rocks and uneven terrain. Unlike lighter boots, the soles of my feet did not feel the sharp edge of rocks through the sole. Those who have packed over rough, rocky terrain will understand how a soft sole can turn your feet into mush after six hours.

The soles have a "rocker design," which means they are built on an arc, and intended to facilitate walking by rolling forward with each step. This is noticeable when the boot is placed on a flat surface. (See photo below) The heel is slightly elevated where it makes contact, and the arc tends to break upward at the ball of the foot. When these boots are new they seem to almost propel you forward with each step. They have lost none of their support, or shape, over many miles, and still launch me down the trail.

Because these boots are lined with Goretex, they can be hot in the summer, although I have found them comfortable even on warm days. For those who will not be hiking in wet conditions, or are more likely to be in a hot climate, a cooler boot may be more to their taste, although I would wear this boot in almost any wilderness environment.

This boot fits my foot exceptionally well, and (for me) it is the most comfortable hiking boot I have ever worn. It is heavier than some other, light trail boots, but then again it is designed as a back packing boot and intended to provide support for those with a pack. Although it serves this purpose admirably, I also find it an excellent boot for day hikes.

Finally, a few have noted that this boot may be difficult to lace. This is because the hooks are smaller than those used on an Asolo or Sportiva, for example. I consider this to be a trivial point. I find it to lace easily and securely.

If this boot fits... wear it.

Comments about Zamberlan Vioz GT Hiking Boots - Men's:

I bought these boots about four months ago and have been wearing them everyday since. I experienced a little longer break in time than I expected, but I have never gotten a blister in these boots. It just takes a while to get the leather to be flexible. I have hiked several times in these boots and they have been extremely comfortable, lightweight, supportive, and have great traction on rocks, and roots. I just did a 12 mile hike up a rugged 6000' mountain in Western North Carolina, and the boots performed flawlessly.The salesman talked me into buying Superfeet insoles to put in them and I finally got smart and threw the insoles in the garbage. The boots are much more comfortable without them. I liked the boots so much my wife got a pair also. Although I haven't had them very long, they seem to be pretty durable so far. Great Boot for anyone!

Comments about Zamberlan Vioz GT Hiking Boots - Men's:

I am a 50+ urban dweller from Houston. I purchased these boots 6 weeks ago with the intent to use them exclusively for hiking/backpacking on my trips to Colorado.

In preparation for a hiking trip, I began wearing the boots three to four days a week anywhere from 10 to 12 hours a day just to make sure there were no break-in or fit issues. To date, I have found these boots to be extraordinally comfortable with plenty of room in the toe box even after having worn them all day.

The VIOZ has a what I can only describe as an easy and comfortable heel to toe motion when walking. After having spent the day hiking in the VIOZ, I noticed there was much less stress on my knees and ankles than in my Merrell Continuums that I use as my "go to" hiking shoe. I now find myself reaching the VIOZ as my boot of choice when taking extended walks or hikes.

The quality, construction and workmanship of the boot is outstanding. The VIOZ could easily be used as an everday field boot. I have no doubt these boots will perform to my expectations when I hit the Colorado Trail this summer.

I will follow-up and report on the VIOZ's performance on the Colorado Trail.

Service and delivery comments:

Excellent Service from the REI sales staff.

Comments about Zamberlan Vioz GT Hiking Boots - Men's:

The quality of the boot is second to none.They were very comfortable out of the box.I got them a half a size larger than what I normally wear.Wore them to work for two weeks and then hiked Mt. Katahdin for three days.I had no blisters or hot spots,extremely comfortable,and dry.I have been on three other hikes and have had no problems.Awesome boots.

Comments about Zamberlan Vioz GT Hiking Boots - Men's:

I tried over 10 different hiking boots in my quest to find the "right one" and I ended up going with the Zamberlan Vioz GT. These boots are extremely comfortable, well made, have an aggressive sole and are great for a heavy or light pack. I've been breaking them in for the past two weeks and it doesn't feel like I even needed to. I will be going to the "Lost Coast" in California in two weeks and I am looking forward to wearing them. They fall in the class of a heavier hiking boot, but I know they will last and give me the support I need.

The moral of the story is; you need to try lots of boots. What works for me may not work for you and it's all about comfort and what you plan to use them for.

I HIGHLY recommend these boots

PS – I have been wearing them in hot weather and my feet are not too hot.

Comments about Zamberlan Vioz GT Hiking Boots - Men's:

I bought these just over a month ago to replace a trusty old pair of Raichle Kootenay's which I got in Calgary during a trip up there, previously my favorite boots.

There was only one REI store in Southern California that I could find relatively close that actually had a pair in stock. It was well worth the drive.

The Vioz has a similar heel-to-toe transition that is just exceptional. The Vioz kinda looks similar too (charcoal/black color w/ traditional look) but beefier all around, with more support and much better traction while being very comfortable.

I did wear these a few weeks to walk the dog, mow the lawn, etc, before going on hikes but am not convinced this was actually needed. Longest hikes to date are in the 12-15 mile range and so far, so great.

My feet are such that the toe box is normal width but heels are narrow, and w/ these I do that "trick" with the top two lace eyelets where you don't criss-cross the laces but rather bring them straight up from one to the last and they cinch up fine, nice and tight to hold the heel while giving me appropriate fit in the toe box.

Awesome boot for finicky feet.

Comments about Zamberlan Vioz GT Hiking Boots - Men's:

Great Comfort . Light .. I just completed a 60 miler with 50 + lbs .. @ 1/4 cross country ( including some serious boulder hopping) and ... they were GREAT !

Unbelievable traction / grip !!!!!!! Perhaps ( almost ) too good in that I was border line " over confident !

Comments about Zamberlan Vioz GT Hiking Boots - Men's:

I bought these boots at the REI in Albuquerque, NM last year during my thru-hike of the CDT. The boots/trail shoes I had started the trail wearing just weren't cutting it after about 150 miles or so....I had to make a change and boy am I glad I did. The Vioz GT are by far the best backpacking boot I've ever worn! They were extremely comfortable from day one, required no real break in and I worn them the rest of the way to Canada. I figure I put about 2,700 miles on them last year through some to the toughest and nastiness terrain any boots could be put through. In fact, I liked these boots so much I bought a second pair and had them sent to my parents. My plans were once the current pair wore out, I'd have my parents send the replacement pair. Good plan but it didn't quite work out. By the time I was finally able to convince myself the current boots had been worn for way too long and needed to be replaced, I was only about 150 miles from finishing and by then too late for my parents to send me the replacement boots...so I just kept on going. As you can see from the picture, the boots were pretty well past their prime.
I just can't say enough good things about these boots...they were simply awesome.

Comments about Zamberlan Vioz GT Hiking Boots - Men's:

I walk a lot, mostly on concrete and asphalt in city environments, carrying 40-60 lbs. of photo equipment. I need to wear good hiking boots for adequate support and stability. My previous pair of Raichle boots wore out, and the internal foam began to lose its resiliency. They were extremely comfortable and durable, but unfortunately they aren't available any more.

The Zamberlan boots are beautifully made, no question about it. When I first put them on, my feet slid into them slightly snugly width-wise and they felt good. But after a few hundred paces on a carpeted floor, I began to notice a serious problem. The length felt just right, BUT...

The toe box tapers to a "point" too quickly at the big toe, which causes both of mine to rub with every step. This would undoubtedly result in blisters. Also, there isn't quite enough vertical space for toe movement. My toes felt "trapped". I wouldn't expect breaking-in to alleviate these problems, because the leather is very thick and stiff. A larger size would have required wearing thick socks, which are especially uncomfortable in Phoenix's hot weather, and wool makes my skin itch. (I'm using Wigwam Cool-Lite Hiker Pro socks.)

Secondly, the Vibram outsole has too few "nubs" along the length. This causes a slight rocking motion and "perforated" or "pebbly" feeling as my weight rolls forward. There's also a bit of uncertainty on steps. It might be great for rough terrain, but it's not so good for city sidewalks, streets, curbs and stairwells.

I have a few other very minor quibbles: the laces are a little too thin when you want to pull them tight (and they're a little too long), there's an insufficient gap in the leather hinge cutaway at the inside ankle for flexibility (the upper and lower segments press against each other on the trailing step), and for my taste there are too many accent colors on the Vibram outsole (yellow, red, and light gray) which make them less acceptable for business wear.

All in all, it's a fine product, but it falls short of filling my needs.

Service and delivery comments:

Great efficient and helpful service, as usual with REI.

Comments about Zamberlan Vioz GT Hiking Boots - Men's:

Due to their reputation, I have wanted a pair of Zamberlan hiking boots for some time now. Still, I did lots of research and looked at various other brands before finally deciding on the Vioz GT. I have worn these on three separate backpacking trips in to the High Sierras, and so far I can say that these are the most comfortable hiking boots I have ever owned. I have not experienced discomfort in one single area of my feet either during or after hiking. Being black, the boots do tend to show marks, but if these boots end up being as durable as they are comfortable, I could not possibly be more happier and impressed with this product!