Vasque Breeze III GTX

Field Notes: We took these Vasque women’s hiking boots to Arches National Park. The eight-mile loop around Devil’s Garden provided varying terrain to test them out: red dirt, slick rock, steep trails and sandy washes—these boots tackled them all with confidence.

Pros: The toe and heel ventilation and breathable upper were great for desert hiking. Tester’s feet never overheated. Vasque claims out-of-the-box comfort, and we purposefully didn’t put these boots on until the morning of an all-day hiking adventure. At the end of the day after miles and hours, there was no foot fatigue or soreness.

Cons: Being lightweight and breathable, they are not insulated and wouldn’t be a great choice for hiking on ice or snow unless paired with warmer socks. Consider a half size larger if that is the case.

Favorite Feature: Vibram Megagrip and Vasque Vibram Contact Grip. This boot’s outsole has serious traction that performed exceptionally on slick rock and would perform equally well over technical scrambles and rocky trails.

Tester Quote: “The grip on these boots is amazing! I ran up and down slick rock without an ounce of worry. And steep places where other people where hunkering down to one foot to slide, I walked straight down. And straight out the box they were comfortable running around all day.”

Bottom Line: These boots can handle most conditions. We would happily take them on casual dirty trails, multi-day backpacking trips, or to the top of a peak. Neither comfort nor performance were sacrificed with these Vasque high top hiking boots.

Key Attribute: Performance

Best For: Day hikes, overnight backpacking, mixed trails and especially rocky condition