How to Choose Hiking Boots

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Heavy on features yet lighter weight than traditional leather hikers, Vasque Talus XT GTX Mid women's GORE-TEX hiking boots keep feet dry and comfortable on tough terrain and in unpredictable weather.
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View all Vasque Women's Day Hiking BootsBest Use | Hiking |
---|---|
Footwear Height | Over-the-ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Waterproof | Yes |
Type of Waterproofing | GORE-TEX with Performance Comfort Technology |
Upper | 2 mm waterproof leather/abrasion-resistant mesh/rubber toe and heel bumper |
Midsole | Molded polyurethane |
Outsole | Vasque-exclusive Vibram Mega Nuasi with Megagrip compound |
Weight (Pair) | 2 lbs. 5 oz. |
Gender | Women's |
6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. Women's | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 12 |
U.S. Men's | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 |
UK | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 |
EU | 36 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 |
Foot Length (in.) | 9.1 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 10 | 10.2 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 10.8 | 11 | 11.2 |
Measurements are stated in inches.
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Listen, first off - Ann at Tacoma REI is amazing if you need to talk hiking shoes and other products. Secondly I have foot swelling issues and am hella out of shape. I haven’t been hiking in a couple of years. These shoes are like clouds. Sturdy, waterproof, lightweight, comfortable, and I dare say - cute even! I navigated a variety of terrains and was able to confidently navigate rocks, logs, and trails. My feet don’t hate me, I got tons of support. They might be high on price point, but these are the business.
I wanted to love these because I have the identical version in low hiking shoes that I bought in the spring. They fit well and are very good (despite the fact that they squeak dreadfully). I have a wide foot and narrow heel, and need a stiff boot. I figured all that would change is added ankle support. Unfortunately, the stitching on the tongue presses into my ankle and is very uncomfortable. It’s like there are two bumps on the tongue that are solid little balls of stitching- they may as well be BBs. If I went for a hike with these I’d have major bruising. The width is great, lots of room in the toe box. I love how they rock when you walk. Swing and a miss for Vasque.
I’m a huge fan of Vasque boots and was looking for a boot that offered more stability over rocky terrain. After hiking for five days in the high desert, cliffs, and mountains of New Mexico, I was lamenting the decision to travel without my Vasque GTX boots. Why? I found the Talus XT to be annoyingly stiff without forgiveness. The grip on uneven terrain was disappointing, although the waterproof quality was satisfactory. At the end of each day, my feet were sore which was not something that I experience with my other Vasque boots. Sadly, I will be taking advantage of REI’s amazing return policy.
I ordered these online two months ago and had high hopes based on reviews of other Vasque boots. Besides some slight rubbing on the ankle, the boots were comfortable from the start, but I noticed right away that they run big. I wear a size 9 In my Keen boots, so I ordered a 9 in these, but even with thicker socks, my toes did slide and hit the front of the boot from time to time going downhill. I decided to tighten the laces and push on through. After my very first hike (about 11 miles) I noticed the tread crumbling a bit. We were on a month long trip, so I continued to wear them hiking in the mountains in Colorado and the desert in Utah, but once I got home, I realized the tread had worn far too much after only having them for 2 months. I returned them yesterday and the woman at REI told me they’ve been seeing this happen a lot recently to the tread on boots across different brands and that it’s the heat that’s melting and crumbling the rubber tread. We are training for Half Dome in September and Whitney in October, and I didn’t feel comfortable using these boots on more technical hikes. Best to break in another pair before then.
I previously owned Vasque Breeze boots and loved them. After taking these on a few backpacking trips trying to break them in, I finally returned them. Other reviews are correct, they just hurt your feet in the wrong places. Not enough cushion in the heel and ball-portion of the boot. Very stiff. Huge blisters even after using them for about 20 miles.
Bought these online in a 10.5 (half size up from regular shoe size) about three months ago. My last mid-weight hikers were Vasque and those served me well for several years until Morten’s Neuroma put me in Altras.❤️ I didn’t see a good all-season Altra boot so I went with these. First trip out on snow, these performed okay but my feet got sore quickly. Since then, it’s only gotten worse. Blisters on the way up and pinched ankles + crammed toes on the way down. They’re also hot and run big. I can’t figure these boots out so I’m going to try to return them before donating them.
It was finally time for me to retire my previous Vasque Breeze boots that lasted me numerous years and many miles. I initially purchased the newest version of the Breeze but found them to be too uncomfortable, even after attempting to break them in on a 9 mile trail. They were too tall, leaving me with bruises on my shins and just below my calves. For my second pair, I tried another brand but my feet were dying just after 3 miles. The Vasque Talus were my third attempt. They felt like my original Vasque Breeze boots. They sit at just the right height while still giving plenty of ankle protection. Broke them in on a 20 mile backpacking trip. Yes, they run a bit warm but they are sturdy, incredibly waterproof (I walked through a few inches of water a few times), and they look so good too! Hoping these last me just as long as my original Vasques, if not longer.
I loved the Vasque Breeze boots but felt they didn't hold up as long as I'd like so I tried these. The quality looks great but they are quite heavy and they hurt my feet. I've tried several different insoles but they aren't helping. My heels ache after an hour or so. I have a couple other brands of hiking boots and shoes, Danner and Solomon, and they don't hurt my feet so I do think it's these boots. They look awesome but that's not what I bought them for.
I had a pair of Vasques previously and loved them so much I wore them out. I bought these as a replacement. I tried them out on a few hikes but ended up having to return them. The ankle is too high and stiff and the shoes hurt my feet. The only plus is that my feet stayed dry.
I'm a career ranger, so I put my boots through the wringer every summer season. I bought a pair of these back in 2021 after a coworker recommended them for wider feet, and I've been really impressed with how they wore in. They lasted at least 700 miles of rugged alpine trails over two summer seasons. Condition the leather and you'll get longer use out of them, but for the price they definitely were worth the buy