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Reviews > Footwear > Winter Boots > Vasque WT GTX Breeze Boots > Test Report by Brian HartmanVASQUE BREEZE WT GTX BOOTS CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT TESTER INFORMATION
I have been backpacking for over 20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and most recently in Western USA. In addition to backpacking I enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and being outdoors in general. I would describe myself as a mid weight backpacker. I use fairly light weight equipment and gear but still like to bring more than the bare essentials with me while on the trail. INITIAL REPORT PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: Vasque The WT boots have nubuck leather uppers and a Gore-Tex liner that allows water vapor to escape from inside the boots without letting water in. They also have 200g of 3M Thinsulate insulation, a dual density EVA footbed, an ATC midsole with EVA cushioning pods, a TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane) shank, and a Vibram outsole that features contact grip with Megagrip compound. Finally, they have an Arc Tempo Last which is a tapered toe box with more vertical toe room for those with high arches. The Vasque Breeze are made in Vietnam. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS The WT boots arrived in a brown cardboard shoe box that had Vasque's logo on the top and sides. My first impressions were positive. The boots felt substantial and they exuded quality. They look modern and sophisticated. I also like the color choice, which consists of dark chocolate colored leather, with black soles, toe kick and heel guard. When not backpacking in them, I think I could easily pull off wearing them around town with blue jeans. They're not lightweight, but they're not heavy either, especially considering they're insulated. And the fact that they're mid-cut and waterproof should come in handy for stream crossings and when hiking through snow.
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS Two
small hang tags were attached to the boots, one from Gore-Tex and
other from Vibram. Unfortunately, no care instructions came with
the boots and I was unable to find anything on the manufacturer's
website. Consequently, here are some general recommendations I
follow regarding care of leather boots. TRYING THEM OUT The
Breeze WT boots came pre-laced up to the lace locks, so all I had to do
was finish lacing them and tie them. When putting them on they
initially felt tight so I grabbed a thinner pair of socks and that
seemed to help. They provided great support while I walked
around the house and they didn't slip at all. I did
notice the top of the boots digging in slightly below my shins but
they're not broken in so hopefully that goes away. For reference
I ordered size 10.5 wide and normally wear size 10 shoes. SUMMARY So
far, I really like the WT boots. They're well constructed
with top quality workmanship. They have lots of great features
including Nubuck leather uppers, Gore-Tex lining, Thinsulate
insulation, and Vibram outsole. They feel stable when walking and
I like their mid-cut design that comes above my ankles for added
protection. I'm anxious to put some miles on these boots during
the next few months and test their capabilities. FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD The
Breeze WTs performed well in all five of my test categories during the
past two months of Field Testing. Below are the results of my tests for
comfort and fit, warmth, traction, waterproofness, and durability: Comfort and Fit: These boots fit well. I ordered size 10.5W and had plenty of room in the toe box and no heel slip or rubbing against my ankles. They broke in quickly after only a few miles of hiking, and I didn't get any blisters (or hot spots) or experience any discomfort while wearing them. Thanks to their smooth interior lining the Breeze WTs were easy to put on each morning and they came off easily at night. Once tied, the laces stayed snug throughout the day. The footbed provided decent arch support so I didn't have to wear orthotics and the midsole and shank were firm enough to give me a stable base while hiking, so I felt comfortable carrying my 35 lb (16 kg) pack throughout the day. The WTs are relatively lightweight for insulated, waterproof boots so even after hiking on and off trail for hours I never felt fatigued. They fit well and flexed just enough that I had no trouble climbing steep terrain or traversing side hills. Overall, they were supportive while still being comfortable to wear. At the end of my trips, they were easy to clean off, and then I simply let them dry out in my basement before putting them away.Warmth: I wore lightweight merino wool socks with the WTs and together they kept my feet nice and toasty. Never did my feet feel cold or clammy. Traction: The Breeze WTs provided great traction on snow and slush, and although not perfect on ice, they didn't slip nearly as much as my trail running shoes. The boots were surefooted and the lugs never lost their grip regardless of where I stepped. I also never worried about rolling an ankle since the WTs provided excellent ankle support on uneven ground. While hiking off trail in the Charles Deam Wilderness the Vibram lugs ate up the rough ground and allowed me to climb over downed trees, cross creeks, and walk over wet slippery rocks without concern. Once again kudos to Vibram, and their Megagrip Compound, for a wonderful pair of outsoles. Waterproofness: The insides of the WTs stayed completely dry on the trail thanks to their Gore-Tex lining. No water got in through the membrane and none seemed to penetrate the leather or stitched seams. The Gore-Tex lining also did a great job of letting moisture escape as my feet never got wet or felt clammy while hiking. Durability: The WTs have proven to be well constructed and durable. All the seams, both stitched and glued, are as tight as new with no signs of peeling. The toe and heel caps have minor scratches and there are a few minor scuffs on the leather consistent with trail wear, but given the abuse these boots have been through they are in remarkably good condition. The boot laces and eyelets have worked great and the laces have yet to come untied even though I regularly trample through briars.
SUMMARY Vasque
did a wonderful job with the Breeze WT GTX boots. They were warm
and comfortable, provided excellent traction in slippery conditions,
and offered great support while carrying a heavy pack. In addition, the
Gore-Tex membrane did a fantastic job of keeping my feet dry in rain,
slush, and snow. Vasque has once again hit a home run. These are
most certainly a great pair of boots that live up to the
company's reputation of excellence. LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD The Breeze WTs performed wonderfully during Long Term Testing. They continued to fit well, were comfort to wear and warm in single digit temperatures, and they proved to be very durable. The weather was cold on my first dayhike of the test period with the thermometer registering 6 F ( (-14 C). Five inches (12.7 cm) of snow had fallen the previous night and I woke up early so as to make the first footprints on the trail. The sun hadn't risen yet so I brought a headlamp with me but never turned it on. I hiked approximately 6 mi (10 km) at a brisk pace to keep my legs and upper body warm. My feet however were toasty warm thanks to the Breeze WTs. Traction in the snow was excellent and the two loops I made on the trail went by quickly. On my trip to the Hoosier National Forest later in February the Breeze WTs once again provided great traction, especially when going off trail for a few miles, up several steep inclines and along the side of steep bank on my way back to camp. I collected several armfuls of firewood during the day and then lit a fire around sunset while waiting for dinner to cook. I felt chilled after the sun went down so was glad to have the fire for warmth. I spent the following day hiking around the lake and hanging out at camp.On
my trip to Brown County the Breeze WTs were comfortable to wear
and did a good job supporting my low arches. Looking back on this
trip I did a lot of uphill and downhill climbing but my
feet never felt fatigued as can sometimes happen when wearing
heavy boots. I also didn't experience any hot spots or blisters
while wearing these boots. At end of each day I brought them in
my tent and set them next to the door before retiring for the night.
SUMMARY The Breeze WT boots performed fantastically during the last two months of testing. They were easy to lace up, supportive, and comfortable to wear. They were also durable and provided excellent traction in all kinds of weather conditions. This concludes my Long Term Test Report and this Test Series. I would like to thank Vasque and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test these boots. Read more reviews of Vasque gear Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman Reviews > Footwear > Winter Boots > Vasque WT GTX Breeze Boots > Test Report by Brian Hartman | ||||||||||||||||||
The
Breeze WT's have Nubuck leather and air mesh uppers that offer
durability and breathability as well as a lightweight feel. The
midsole is made with a compound that Vasque calls ATC (All Terrain
Compound). It supposedly provides support and cushioning when
traversing slick and uneven terrain. Vasque also included 200g of
Thinsulate insulation to ensure the insides of the boots stay warm
despite what's going on outside. After testing I'll
report how well the boots cushion my feet and if they keep me
warm. Temperatures have been in the low 40s F (5.6 C) the last
few weeks but they'll drop again after Thanksgiving, when I expect
we'll see start to see below freezing weather. That will be the
true test.
During
Long Term Testing I wore the WT boots on two backpacking trips and
twelve day hikes, totaling approximately 45 mi (72 km). Weather
conditions varied from sunny and breezy, to snow, sleet, and rain.
Temperatures during testing ranged from 6 to 37 F (-14 to 3 C).
During Long Term Testing I wore
the Breeze WTs for nine days and approximately 34 mi (54.7 km).
This included two backpacking trips and four day hikes in a
variety of weather conditions. Temperatures during testing ranged from 6 to 67 F (-14 to 19 C). 