During my 4 day backpacking trip to Yosemite, I wore the Vasque Scree Low hiking shoes everyday. New for Spring 2011, the Scree collection is packed with Vasque technology to bring you out of the box comfort and stability over any trail conditions you might encounter.
The Vasque Scree hiking shoes use Stealth Rubber on the outsoles, the same sticky rubber used in Five Ten climbing shoes. The non-marking rubber is great for scrambling or navigating rough trails where you spend a large amount of time on either wet or dry rock.
To reach the summit of Mt. Watkins, we had to scramble up and down steep granite slabs. Never once did I feel like I was going to slip. The Stealth Rubber extends to the front of the roomy toe box for added protection, which also enabled me to use the hiking shoes for a little bit of bouldering.
Every Vasque women's shoe is constructed on top of a women's specific last. With a narrower heel pocket, added support in the instep, flex zone adjustment and higher arches, the hiking shoes have a more exact and comfortable fit. I wore my Vasque Scree right out of the box and had no problems with blisters, hot spots, bruised toes, or pain of any kind.
The breathable mesh and leather upper ensures you feet stay comfortable in warm temperatures, perfect for those sweltering 90 degrees days in Yosemite. If you are planning to hike in early season or fall, you might consider getting the UltraDry waterproof version. After a day of hiking through heavy, wet snow, my hiking shoes and feet were pretty wet. Not a problem as the shoes dried quickly, but something to think about if you are going to regularly encounter wet conditions.
At 1 lb. 10 oz., the Vasque Scree are durable light hikers and offered plenty of support and comfort on my multi-day backpacking trip carrying a heavy pack. I personally like to hike and backpack in either trail runners or light hiking shoes. For those of you who prefer a little more ankle support, try the mid version or use the low version for day hikes.
Bottom Line: The Vasque Scree are comfortable, out of the box hiking shoes that will carry you safely over a variety of terrain, including steep snow hills, forrest trails, granite slab and even log river crossings. With the Stealth Rubber outsoles, these hiking shoes will take you places other boots simply can't.
The Vasque Scree hiking shoes come in both a men's and women's version, low and mid, waterproof and non-waterproof. The Vasque Scree retail for $120-$145.