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- Vasque Breeze III GTX hiking boots boast out-of-box comfort, which is unusual for hiking boots, which typically require a "break-in" period complete with painful blisters.
- According to my own testing, the hype is well deserved.
- Not only were the boots moderately priced at $180, but they were extremely comfortable (without any break-in time at all), breathable, lightweight, waterproof, and offered great traction.
Recently, I took a pair of hiking boots that I’d never worn before on an 8-hour hike through the White Mountains in New Hampshire. When I told other people this, they all looked at me with a sympathetic (and sometimes disapproving) grimace — and there’s a reason for that. It’s generally assumed that, like most shoes, hiking boots must be "broken in" before they’re comfortable, otherwise you’ll end up with a mess of blisters and a miserable 15-mile hike.
I’d read that they could be worn immediately on the trail, and in a mix of convenience and curiosity I ended up putting the Vasque Breeze III GTX hiking boots straight to the test. I was visiting friends for the weekend and hadn’t had time to break them in, but the trail was uneven enough to necessitate more traction than what my Adidas could afford. To make matters worse, all I had with me were ankle socks — leaving a few inches of exposed skin very vulnerable to more friction, chafing, and blisters than normal, even with broken-in shoes.
The short story is that I came out of an 8-hour hike wearing shoes right out of the box without a blister. I had some tender irritation on my right ankle bone, but that was due to the poor socks rather than the boots themselves. This is very noteworthy.
If the unanimous grimaces don’t tell you that’s unusual, then their 4.8 rating and best-selling status on REI is another indication of how well they perform — since that’s almost entirely what you care about in outdoor gear, where comfort and functionality are the only things that matter.
The boots I chose, (the Breeze III GTX), are the updated version of the cult-favorite Breeze boots, and they’ve got the same emphasis on breathability, traction, and "out-of-the-box comfort."
After a lot of research on which shoes to grab for the hiking season, I decided upon the Vasque brand for their well-earned reputation. From there, I chose the Breeze III for all the details above, the high volume of positive reviews, competitive pricing, and its ankle height — which is better for day hikes or short backpacking trips with light loads, since they flex easily but offer less support and durability than higher boots. Hiking shoes also work well for day hikes, but in terms of looks, I prefer the mid-cut shoes.
The Breeze III GTX model has leather uppers with mesh panels for support, breathability, and strength. They’re waterproof thanks to Gore-Tex Extended Comfort Membranes so you don’t have to hike off-trail to miss a stream or spend 15 minutes trying to arrange stones into steps, and Vibram Contact Crip outsoles with Megagrip rubber compound makes them stickier than ever, so you can keep control in all weather conditions. Dual-density midsoles with EVA cushion pods make them comfortable for all-day wear, and the head and toe ventilation ports keep airflow moving along the footbed so you don’t overheat either. They also feel very lightweight.
Other buyers had similarly positive experiences, writing:
1. I took these out of the box and broke these in on a 43 mile hike. I repeat: BROKE THEM IN ON A 43 MILE HIKE. Review? Not one blister. Not even one. Super breathable, true to size, super sleek and Goretex. These are my new #1 Vasques. I'm in love.
2. After years of being uncomfortable in cheap hiking shoes that I bought cheaply off of Amazon, I finally decided to invest in a decent pair. I tried on everything under $200 at the REI store and these were the best. They're very supportive, with a solid heel and toe box. Excellent traction.
3. I bought these boots for my hike to Kilimanjaro. I went to the REI store and I honestly tried more than nine different pair of boots... I tried from the most expensive to less expensive boots, and these were by far the most comfortable.
When friends ask me for hiking boot recommendations, these are the ones I tell them to get. I haven’t experienced the men’s pair myself, but from reviews it appears they’ve shared similar success. For both men and women, reviews continuously mentioned the fact that there was no break-in time needed and zero blisters formed.
While they were true to size for me, some shoppers mentioned they found the shoes more narrow than expected. If you’re concerned, most of the same reviewers had luck with a half size to one size up. And if you think you might need a wider size, they’re sold with that option.
At $180, they’re about the average price you’d expect to pay for quality hiking shoes (most ranging from $130 all the way into $300). It’s not a cheap investment, and you don’t want to ruin a hike with pain or spend the next few days in discomfort, which is why so many people do their due diligence before committing to a pair. After extensive research of my own, I’m very glad I ended up with these.
If you’re looking for a great new pair of mid-cut hiking boots, you might want to check out Vasque’s Breeze III GTX shoes. They’re waterproof, extremely comfortable, have great traction, and are very breathable. Plus, you can wear them right out of the box — without any blisters.
Vasque Women's Breeze III Mid GTX Hiking Boots, $180 (also available on Amazon and Zappos)
Vasque Men's Breeze III Mid GTX Hiking Boots, $180 (also available on Amazon and Zappos)
Mara Leighton Senior Digital Culture Reporter Mara Leighton is a senior digital culture reporter. If you want to get in touch, please send an email to mleighton@businessinsider.com, or send a DM on twitter to @maraleighton. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
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