Zamberlan  Vioz Lux GTX RR Hiking Boots - Women's

August 2018, two weeks prior to my departure to self-guide the Alta Via 1, the soles of my beloved REI brand leather hiking boots delaminated - arghhhh. Ok, they had 10 years, many treks and a couple thousand miles on them but I LOVED them and was resisting the need for new ones (REI why oh why do you no longer make them?). After trying several other brands, I landed on these Zamberlins. I had time to complete only two day hikes prior to my trip departure. Like other reviewers have stated, the quality of these boots is fantastic and right out of the box the comfort was along the lines of my well worn-in delaminated pair. I got two minor hot spots, but no blisters. They have very stable soles and were great on the wet granite in the NH Whites. Two day hikes certainly isn’t a good gauge for how they would feel on a planned 9 straight days of hiking, but I didn’t really have a choice. Off I went hoping for the best. I can now say these boots are truly GREAT and yes…. I LOVE them too. Not one blister, comfortable to wear day in and day out, kept my feet totally dry in a full-day complete deluge, did not feel overly hot when temps were up, solid support for my twice-busted ankle. These are totally worth the $$$ and I expect I won’t be writing another review for new hiking boots for another 10 or so years.

I am new to hiking, a total novice but I know when a shoe hurts. This boot did not hurt my feet at all. I hiked Tehachapi mountain trail, 4.8 mi &1,994 elevation gain, with these boots right out of the box and was pleasantly surprised that I had zero foot discomfort. I wear size 9 shoes and purchased a 9.5 sized boot. The hiking boot is sturdy and well made, but it is heavy. I however, would put up with it being heavy for comfortable feet.

I was reluctant to even try these because I had already returned the Circe GTX, which didn’t provide enough ankle support, and the lacing, when pulled tight, puffed the top of the shoe. But the Vioz Lux GTX was love at first step! It was like walking on a cloud. A few weeks later, I climbed Mt. Fansipan (3143M), Indochina’s highest peak, in them without breaking them in. What was there to break in? These boots are so stiff and supportive that I wouldn’t be able to break them in by walking on the street any more than I can turn a ship by blowing on it. In other words, these boots need a real mountain to mold them to my feet, and they did just that over two days or arduous climbing. Conditions were wet and slippery and my trek was squeezed in between two tropical storms, the second of which we walked right into near the summit, but these boots stayed dry and kept me steady up and down very steep terrain, metal tube ladders and wooden climbing pegs. My feet were comfortable and happy during the entire trek. I love the rubber toe guard that kept most of the mud from reaching the leather. That said, these boots were surprisingly slippery when I walked through relatively flat rice fields in Sapa the next day. I fell three times on my bum while going down the short, sloping tiers that were muddy and slick, while those in sandals stayed upright. So go figure! I cleaned off the dirt each time with a garden hose and let these boots dry in the hot afternoon sun, and they’re as good as new again and ready for my next adventure. Having boots that can take maintenance like that is as good as it gets! Thank you, Zamberlan, and thank you, the wonderful shoe staff at the REI on Houston St, NYC!

I have been backpacking for decades and have worn many different pairs of hiking boots over rough terrain and no boots have ever performed as well as these Zambelan Viox boots. They had a short break in time (actually very comfortable out of the box), and I walked over 60 miles in the backcountry wilderness carrying a 50+lb back pack over 11 days and my feet never hurt, and I developed no blisters or hot spots. Amazingly, at the end of the day, I wasn't dying to take these boots off--that was a first. I walked through rain, streams and deep mud and my feet stayed dry--not even a little leak anywhere. My usual foot size is 7 and I got a size 8, which worked well with a pair of thick REI hiking socks.

It is hard to find a good all-leather waterproof rugged women's hiking boot. I hit the lotto with this one. The support and grip of the sole is amazing. I wore these boots for the first time during an eight mile trek over six hours, up and down steep terrain. They held my ankle firm and were exceptionally comfortable. While I sometimes feel rub-spots from hikers the day after a hike, with these, there was no residual hot spot. Nothing. While some reviewers said they bought a half or size bigger. I found them true to size with my somewhat thicker wool socks (my preferred hiking sock).

I have spent A LOT of money buying more inferior brands of hiking shoes to, "save money," always spending more when they don't work out. At one point in my life I dated a Mountaineerer who did BIG mountains around the world. He always told me that my "boots" were the most important investment I could make. I researched several expensive brands and the reviews on these were all very good. They are also designed by women for women. I have so far put about 20-30 miles on them without 1 blister or hot spot. Amazing! So, take a big gulp and jump in, you will not be disappointed.

This is my first pair of REAL hiking boots. Compared to Chakos, Altra Trail runners, Merrell boots, these are LAND ROVERS. They are soooo comfortable on the soles of the feet, and LAUGH at rocks and stones in the path. They just go right over them. I needed to break in the tongue, though, because I had shin-bang when I wore them in the city to work to break them in. My foot measures a 9, but my fourth toe is long, so I almost always prefer a 9.5. I bought a 9.5 in this boot, added a pair of $50 insoles (tell your REI salesperson "the green ones"), and was off!

I was so excited to receive these beautiful boots. I've had a hard time finding hiking boots that don't give me blisters... and these were not them. The boots are absolutely gorgeous and I was willing to make the investment for boots that would last for many years; and I think that these would. However, I tried everything to no avail. I had them for 11 months, so breaking them in was not the issue. I tried insoles, moleskin, different lacing, and sock liners. I found the boots to be very stiff and overall uncomfortable. I have never returned a used item, but am so grateful to REI's return policy. The search continues... trying AKU's.

I have had many pairs of hiking boots, but these boot are the best by far. They accommodate my wide toes. They were comfortable from the first time I tried them on and required absolutely no break-in. They are the only boot I have worn in recent history that do not cause my Morton's neuroma to flare up and cause pain going downhill on hikes.They are heavier than the boots I have previously hiked in, but I did an 8-hour hike in Montana this past month with no foot pain! The arch support comes in exactly the right place on my foot, and perhaps that results in keeping "Morton" from getting irritated. Even the shoelaces are of outstanding quality! I am about to buy a 2nd pair after I finish this review because a perfect fit like this in a hiking boot is so hard to find for feet like mine! Worth every penny!

These were a great investment in hiking boots. They are stylish yet incredibly durable. I feel like the best way to describe these shoes is they do the hiking for you. Ankle support was wonderful and my feet are dry thru rainy & snowy days. Only problem is if my socks are wet and I have to put them back on or they get wet inside it’s very tricky to take them off and on. It’s a bit slow to dry too but old newspaper do the trick in a day or two. Highly recommended for beginners to advance hikers. Not good for running as they are a bit heavy. Try them on at the store and test them out. I feel like any negative reviews here are because of improper sizing. I went a shoe size up because I like to wear big wool socks.