Zamberlan  1996 Vioz Lux GTX RR Hiking Boots - Women's

I took these babies on their maiden voyage yesterday and I’m very happy with this purchase! I felt a little guilty spending the money on them, especially since I only recently got into hiking but I prefer to invest money on good quality products up-front that will last a long time rather than having to replace cheaper stuff every couple years. These are absolutely beautiful from a purely aesthetic stand point but they also feel amazing. I wore them on a fairly easy 5 mile hike, right out of the box, just to test them out and start to break them in. I fully expected to have to switch them out after a couple miles and I even brought a back up pair just in case these ended up hurting halfway through, but I didn’t need them. These didn’t hurt my feet whatsoever (at least not in the 5 miles I hiked.)They’re fairly rigid but I personally don’t mind and I’m sure they will relax with wear. They feel very supportive and the grip is outstanding. I didn’t feel any slippage while walking over gravelly terrain or down hill. The rocking outsole really feels like it’s propelling you forward. Overall I’m thrilled with these and I highly recommend, definitely worth the money! I wear a size 7.5 normally and that is the size I ordered in these and they fit perfectly. I have a narrow foot and I found the width of these to be perfect. I obviously can’t speak to the longevity of these just yet but I will update my review after wearing them more. However, I feel confident these will stand the test of time. I also can’t speak to their function in extreme weather as I live in California and the weather here is very mild. Also, I ordered these from REI online and they arrived so fast!

I love these boots so much I now have 3 pairs. The only thing I don't like as much is that one pair doesn't have the rubber toe on the top. This is only an issue in regards to scuffing and doesn't impact performance. People remark on the weight of the boot often preferring light weight hiking boots. These boots honestly make it feel like the boots are doing all the work. The way the boot propels you forward is amazing. The wider toe box without any seams to rub on the forefoot is very comfortable right out of the box. For myself no break in was required. My podiatrist strongly endorsed these for my capsulitis because of the stiff sole, rocker bottom and wide toe box. I wear these 99% of the time even when not hiking. The ankle support and lacing system offers incredible support. The deep lugs offer great traction up and down steep terrain. As with any shoe, smooth wet rocks are still something to proceed with caution on. With proper care I see these shoes lasting me a lifetime. I wipe them down with a moist rag to remove grit/dirt and they are good to go. While the insert they come with is fine, I replaced mine with SOLE inserts for added comfort. I found they ran true to size and I went up 1/2 size to accommodate inserts and a thicker wool sock. There are multiple different ways to lace up your boots to tweak any fit issues. While they are on the pricy side, comfort and foot health are worth the extra cost. My oldest pair is going on 5 years with absolutely no signs of wearing down in any area. If you are on the fence about buying these boots I would say bite the bullet. I've had 4 friends try on my boots and then went and bought their own. Nothing speaks louder than that. Ensuring the correct size will make all the difference as with any shoe. Waterproof without a doubt. I've walked in streams without any water getting in. I wear them snowshoeing and they keep my feet warm but are not hot in summer months. I purchased the Viox GTX version in all 3 pairs.