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Vasque Ion Mid GTX
boots – Owner Review
December
13, 2007
Personal Biographical
Information
Name: Diana Landry
Age: 24
Gender:
Female
Height: 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Weight: 135 lb (61.2 kg)
Email
address: tabbycat1264@yahoo.com
Location: South Bend, Indiana,
USA
Backpacking background: I started backpacking about four years
ago, so my reviews are from somewhat of a beginner's standpoint. I
take approximately 10 trips per year, and I have recently begun
converting to ultralight gear. My base weight fluctuates between 9
(4.08 kg) and 12 lbs (5.44 kg), depending on the trip and weather
conditions. I spend a good deal of time playing with my gear, so I
have used it well beyond what my trip's use would amount
to.
Product Information
Manufacturer:
Vasque
Year of manufacture: 2006
Manufacturer's website:
http://www.vasque.com
Listed
weight:1 lb 12 oz (764.5 g) pair, size 7
Weight as delivered: 2
lbs 5 oz (1049.88 g) pair, size 9.5
Size: 9.5 women's US
Width:
Regular
Color: blue/gray
MSRP: $125 US
Product
description
The Vasque Ion GTX XCR boots are described by
the manufacturer as multisport footwear, which makes it something of
a cross between a trail runner and a hiking boot. The upper is made
of Nubuck leather and fabric Airmesh. The Ion is high enough to
provide some ankle support, but light and flexible enough to feel
more like a running shoe than a boot. The gusseted tongue is padded,
but not puffy, and the tops of the boots are lightly padded as well.
The Ions include thin, round nylon laces. The Gore-Tex XCR membrane
is designed to keep water out, but still allow water vapor (sweat) to
escape. A Stealth rubber outsole provides traction.
Field information
I
have used the Ions on 7 multi-day backpacking trips as well as
multiple dayhikes and dog walking excursions. Temperatures have
ranged from 85 F (29 C) down to 10 F (-12 C), and weather has ranged
from sunny, to rain, to snow and ice. No matter the temperatures, I
wear Wigwam merino wool hiking socks or SmartWool hiking socks. I
have logged at least 150 miles (93.2 km) in these boots.
Product
Review
On my first hike, I used the Ions pretty much right
out of the box. I had worn them around the house to make sure they
fit, but I hadn't worn them for an extended amount of time. The trip
was to Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area in Michigan's Manistee
National Forest. I was surprised at how comfortable the Ions were,
and I did not develop any blisters or hot spots. I did have to lace
them rather tightly to keep my foot from slipping. I have a wide
forefoot and a narrow heel, and I have a hard time finding mid-height
boots that fit me properly. I also noticed that the included insoles
didn't seem to have much arch support. Compared to the stock insoles
in the other boots I've tried on, the insoles seemed somewhat flat. I
have since picked up a pair of Superfeet green insoles, which have
helped with the extra volume and given more arch support.
I
have found the Ions to be waterproof, but due to the mesh sides it
sometimes feels as though water has entered the boot. When I put my
foot into a stream, I can feel the coolness of the water around my
foot. It is a very odd feeling, and I was worried at first that water
was seeping through the Gore-Tex XCR liner. After several
experiments, however, I've satisfied myself that no water was leaking
into the boot.
The Ions breathe much better than my first
boots, which were Nubuck leather with a Gore-Tex membrane. The
Airmesh in the sides really seems to help sweat escape, and my feet
are much less damp at the end of the day. The downside is that they
are nowhere near as warm in the winter as an all-leather boot. I wore
the Ions on a winter backpacking trip and several winter hiking trips
where the temperatures were below 32 F (0 C), and even while moving I
found it hard to keep my feet warm. For cold-weather hiking and
backpacking, I still prefer my old boots, even though they're much
heavier.
The Stealth rubber sole provides good grip on most
surfaces. I experienced some slipping on wet, algae-covered rocks,
but I'm not sure any sole material would have done better. The Ions
are flexible enough for my feet to be comfortable walking all day,
and allow me to feel like I'm walking and not stomping. They're still
stiff enough to keep my foot from feeling every rock and branch I
walk on.
The soles also self-clean decently well. I had some
problems on the muddy trails of southern Indiana, but I didn't
accumulate near as much mud and leaves as I did in my old
Vibram-soled boots the year before.
The only big drawback to
these boots is that the included laces do not stay tied unless I
double-knot them. The laces are very long, so there is plenty to work
with. I haven't had any problems with them coming untied once I've
double-knotted them.
Pros
minimal break-in
period
breathable yet waterproof
flexible sole
Cons
slippery
laces
don't retain heat when used in winter
Summary
All-in-all,
I like the Ions very much. They are comfortable, supportive boots,
and I wear them on all of my 3-season trips.
Read more reviews of Vasque gear
Read more gear reviews by Diana Landry
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