Vasque Breeze LT NTX Review

Hiking footwear are a kind of private gear purchases that requires some trial and error. Understanding how a shoe suits and performs before you purchase can enhance your odds of success. Vasque has not too long ago launched a sustainable and utterly waterproof mountain climbing shoe that’s light-weight but maintains assist and sturdiness.

• Weight: 1 pound 5 ounces
• Drop: 6mm
• Nature-Tex 50 p.c post-consumer recycled waterproof membranes
• Anatomical high-rebound footbed
• Vibram Ground Control LiteBase with Megagrip Compound outsole
• Mesh higher is made from suede and 70 p.c post-consumer recycled supplies

Vibram Ground Control LiteBase Sole
Right out of the field, the Vasque Breeze LT NTX are stiff. A agency sole and ankle collar offers the wearer with confidence in every step on rocky, moist, or uneven terrain. However, whereas this sturdiness offers assist, it doesn’t permit lots of give if in case you have wider ft or they have a tendency to swell. There is a break in interval with these footwear. I might suggest sporting them round for a pair days earlier than taking an extended hike.

Nature-Tex
The waterproof know-how is named Nature-Tex, using 50 p.c recycled supplies. It is among the most waterproof footwear I’ve ever worn with no leakage, even across the laces whereas submerged. I stood in a creek as deep as I might go with out permitting water to move over the ankle for a couple of minutes and my ft stayed utterly dry. Puddles, mild rain, tiny creeks, and moist grass shouldn’t pose an issue for the Breeze. Keeping your socks dry is at all times a pleasant perk when mountain climbing in barely moist circumstances.

Recycled Mesh Upper
While this shoe is agency and waterproof, it’s additionally breathable and light-weight sufficient for a fast tempo in various temperatures. The Breeze’s outer mesh can be made from 70 p.c post-consumer recycled supplies making them a greater sustainable shoe choice. 

Testing the Vasque Breeze LT NTX In the Field

I took the Breeze footwear out for 2, 8-mile hikes with 2,000 and three,000 vertical ft of elevation after sporting them round city for a pair days to interrupt them in. On the primary hike I used to be happy with the energy and mobility of the shoe and impressed by how effectively it saved out the weather. I seen the again of the shoe moved fairly a bit however I didn’t really feel any discomfort. However, on the second hike with extra elevation and a few scrambling, by the point I summited, I had a big blister on the again of every heel. Movement is what causes blisters so a cosy match with the correct quantity of flexibility is good when deciding on mountain climbing footwear. That’s why I’d at all times suggest making an attempt on just a few completely different pairs. The Breeze is a well-built shoe with stable options; they only didn’t match my ft effectively.

The Vibram Ground Control LiteBase outsole is extraordinarily sturdy and grippy. Rigid bottoms and thick lugs mean you can sort out rocks and inclines powerfully with stability and sureness. The anatomical high-rebound footbed is designed to curve towards the pure rise and fall of the underside of your foot. It suits snugly and the agency contours are glorious at shock absorption, maintaining your foot and ankles safe. It’s not probably the most plush or snug insole however it does take up shock and match the underside of my foot effectively.

The anatomic construct continues within the minimize of the shoe’s opening. The again of the opening is slender to safe the thinner again of your heel, although this triggered me concern as my heel was something however safe, leading to blisters. This design may work for some individuals, but when it doesn’t match precisely proper, you may find yourself like me with an especially inflexible ankle collar shifting towards your heel. The tongue can be stiff however I believed it offered a superb monaker for foot place and a few delicate assist with out inflicting irritation.

What the Vasque Breeze LT NTX Did Best

With a slender, cosy match, this low-drop shoe is nice for hikers unwilling to sacrifice stability for much less weight. The stiff fashion and uncompromising sole give the hiker management and confidence whereas nonetheless providing a lightweight and breathable really feel because of the mesh and skinny suede higher. The waterproofing is top-notch when you plan on mountain climbing rain or shine.

While mountain climbing I felt protected and safe within the Breeze LT NTX. The footwear solely weigh 1 pound and 5 ounces, however they’re designed to be sturdy and face up to the weather. These will definitely final a very long time with correct care. If you favor a mountain climbing shoe that hugs each a part of your foot, the Breeze is good.

What the Vasque Breeze LT NTX Did Worst

Personal desire is king in relation to one of the best mountain climbing footwear, and I felt constrained within the Breeze. While the Breeze is slender all through, the tight house to your heel to suit triggered an actual drawback by stiffly and aggressively rubbing the again of my foot. The backs moved up and down consistently on my heel. The slender backs of the shoe trapped my heel in a vice grip and with no flexibility, merely rubbed my heel uncooked. I attempted to repair the problem with a lace lock (utilizing the second eyelet in your shoe to tighten the laces and lock your heel into place) however it didn’t clear up the issue. This makes me assume that though these footwear have been the proper measurement, they’re designed for a simple tempo and thinner ft. The Breeze didn’t accommodate my bouncing stride and intensely common sized ft.

Final Thoughts

While match performs an enormous function in any shoe you selected, these are finest for reasonable mountain climbing and never as effectively fitted to scrambling on ridgelines the place your foot strikes at extra aggressive angles. Women with slender ft or hikers intent on a secure however light-weight three-season shoe will get probably the most out of the Breeze LT NTX. I like a wider footbox that permits my toes to splay, however these are superb mountain climbing footwear for these searching for elevated assist and breathability with out feeling such as you’re swimming in clown footwear.