Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Vasque Ranger GTX Boots > Owner Review by Brigid Shaw

Biography:
Name: Brigid Shaw
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Height: 5’ 10" (1.8 m)
Weight: 145 lb (66 kg)
Email address: surel3@yahoo.com
City, State: Bethesda, MD
Backpacking Background: I’m fairly new to the backpacking scene, although I have done my share of camping and day hikes. Although lightweight gear is nice, as a recent college graduate my top priority is cheap gear that works. I usually keep my pack under 25 lb (11 kg) not including food and water.

Product information:
Manufacturer: Vasque
Year of manufacture: 2003
http://www.vasque.com/
Listed weight: Men’s size 9 = 2 lb 12 oz (1.25 kg)
Weight as delivered: Men’s size 7.5 = 2 lb 8 oz (1.13 kg)
MSRP: n/a - no longer made

Product description:
The Ranger boot is an ankle-high hiking boot made by Vasque. It comes in two styles – with Gore-Tex (the one I have) and without. The boot is made of 2 mm waterproof split leather and cross weave nylon fabric and the lining is nylon. The boot features a gusseted tongue to keep the water out and padded tongue and collar for happy ankles. The soles are proprietary, so the boots are not resoleable.

I originally bought this product as a rain/snow boot when I moved to Connecticut for college, but as I started hiking more I have also used these boots for their intended purpose. It took only a few times wearing these boots to break them in, and they have fit well since.

Field Information:
These boots functioned admirably as rain and snow boots. The Gore-tex and the gusseted tongue together make them completely waterproof – unless precipitation manages to sneak in around the ankle. The outers, while not waterproof, are water resistant and only take a few hours to dry. I have never noticed odor problems while they dry out. I have worn them in this capacity in torrential spring showers with temperatures around 65 F/18 C as well as in the winter snow with temperatures down to 15 F/-10 C. These boots also provide good traction on icy sidewalks.

At the other extreme, I used these boots while hiking and camping for three weeks near Mt. Trumbull, Arizona. It was the middle of the summer, and the temperatures reached 90 F/26 C and elevations around 8000 ft/2500 m to 11000 ft/3350 m. I hiked about 100 miles (161 km) total in terrain that was alternately muddy, dusty, sandy, rocky, and full of cacti. The high ankles on the boots prevented me from twisting my ankle a few times, and with these and a thick pair of pants I had no fear walking through (and sometimes stepping on) pointy flora.

These also have surprisingly good traction on rock, useful for bouldering adventures. I have used them on both wet and dry rock, and they perform admirably. Soil and mud are also not a problem for traction. However, I have been less satisfied with their traction on gravel and gritty trails.

Summary:
The Ranger GTX is an excellent hiking boot that lives up to its waterproof marketing. It is both useful and durable. After three years, the only visible wear (besides dirt) is on the laces, which have shed their outer layers. The soles show little to no wear, and all of the stitching is holding up fabulously. They are quite comfortable, with plenty of padding. The structure of the boots is rather stiff, which makes for good ankle support and protects the toes from bumps or pointy rocks.

Although I have never gotten blisters from these boots, on days with a lot of downhill hiking I have often felt like I was going to get blisters on my heels and in front of my insteps from sliding a bit in the boots. I do not have particularly small feet. This is minimized with thick socks (such as SmartWool) and tight lacing. Good hiking socks such as SmartWool also help keep my feet dry in these boots. They do not breathe particularly well, and the few times I have worn cotton sports socks with these boots I have found my socks and feet sweaty when I take them off. I have high arches and have found that these boots do not provide good arch support for me, but I have yet to try inserts.

Pros:
-waterproof
-durable
-good ankle support

Cons:
-not very breathable
-poor arch support

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Reviews > Footwear > Boots > Vasque Ranger GTX Boots > Owner Review by Brigid Shaw