Vasque Men's M Breeze at Mid GTX Goretex Backpacking Boot

Because I make my money on my feet, I am extremely picky about shoes. I keep buying Vasque because they are the best overall brand for my line of work (FedEx Ground delivery.)These are my go-to for Winter. They're really waterproof & the fully gusseted tongue keeps my feet dry even when I have to step out into a 4" deep PNW puddle. They provide great ankle stability and the megagrip sole keeps me steady on wet pavement, wet metal, wet wood, even wet sealed concrete. Only wet granite tile has given me trouble and I dare you to find me a shoe that can handle that.The midsole has just enough cushion, but is rigid enough to keep a firm footing. They're much lighter than traditional work boots, which is a huge help when you're constantly pressed for time, and the uppers are insulated enough to keep your toes warm while remaining breathable enough to not get hot and soggy when the going gets sweaty (shout out to all you 3rd floor apartment dwellers who think it's cute to order 140 lb mattresses.)It does take quite a few miles to break in the area around the ball of the foot to where it has enough flex to handle running up stairs, and they aren't as comfy at the Breeze Lt Gtx I wear during Summer, but then again, running isn't exactly advisable when it's icy and slick. They also aren't suited for people with wide feet, but I love them for my narrow onesThey don't last as long as I would like for the full price, but are well worth it when they go on sale. You might feel differently, since my usage is much harder and prolonged than most people who would buy these.

I ordered an 11 Wide based on reviewers’ comments. I never wore a Wide before, and these fit perfectly.The first day these were stiff, but they quickly became my most comfortable shoes. I have been wearing them for 5 months and have started hiking more often in the last two months. The trails here are a mix of flat and wide, steep and stony, and rocks. They keep me safe on all these surfaces, and dry when I step in a stream.Now about the lacing. There are three metal eyelets on each side above the ankle. The bottom one is different from the top two. The top two are more open so the lace has room to slide and adjust. The bottom one is very tight, and the lace does not fit in all the way. This has to be on purpose, so I guess it is meant to lock the lace into position just above the leather lace loops that guide the laces over the top of the foot. That would sort of divide the lacing into two sections - a lower section across the foot with leather loops, and an upper section above the ankle. The photos in the product description show the lace being run diagonally from the top leather loop to this bottom metal eyelet.I do it differently. I treat this eyelet as a strain relief. I run straight up from the top leather loop to the bottom metal eyelet before starting the criss-crossing. This takes some pressure off the top leather loop - maybe it’s not needed but I feel better about putting the strain on the metal instead of the leather. (At the top I have enough lace so I can run it entirely around the top of the boot and tie it off in the front in a knot. That way I know it is not coming undone no matter how rough a hike I take.)I will get another pair of these if I can, if I ever wear these out.

Just got these, so too early to really say how they will hold up long-term. I have owned three other pairs of Vasque boots previously though (purchased in 2006, 2015 - both waterproof backpacking boots and 2018 - a lighter version that breaths better and is lighter for easy hiking) and had really good experiences with fit, comfort and durability on all of them. I did buy a similar model as well this year that I had to return due to pinching on my right foot (which is just slightly wider and shorter than my left). This current pair in the exact same size seems to fit better so far, although I still think it feels a bit more snug laterally than the others I have owned. Hopefully it lives up to my expectation after wearing their previous products. As these are fairly stiff (to provide good support) they do take a while to break in, so I probably won't do any serious hiking with them until next year.

I bought the women's versionJust love them.

This is my third pair of Vasque boots. I've been very happy with my previous pairs -- they were relatively light, and mostly waterproof, and very comfortable. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't get the exact same model as I had before, but the model I picked seems pretty close. Some of the reviews I read made me a bit nervous, about the new model being narrower, but this new pair seems to be just right.I do a lot of backpack trips, and wear the boots out in about three or four years. For my old pair, that I'm replacing, I've worn the rubber right on through on one side, and the tread is getting pretty smooth, so it was time for a new pair. The new ones are a little stiff, but daily walks seem to be getting them broken in pretty well, just in time for me to start using them in earnest.

The first time I wore the shoes while lacing them up it was difficult to get the lace into one of the holders. When removing the lace it broke. See picture. Color is listed as brown olive. Picture on the site looks brown. Actual shoe is more olive brown in the sun. Both of these may be a deal killer for some and result in a return request. I am actually pleased with the fit/comfort of the shoes. Not only do I have narrow feet but I also require arch supports. My arch supports fit properly in these shoes. Width is proper.So why the one star review. To hopefully get Amazon's attention to correct the review link. To hopefully get Amazon's attention to the defective lacing. At one time there used to be a "contact seller" link. Several instances where that would be nice. We don't always want a return/refund.