The name Vasque drums up images of heavy, durable hiking and backpacking boots for the worst weather conditions. The company certainly has those boots in their 2011 lineup, but at the Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market, they’re continuing their focus on trail ready shoes, everything from their traditional hiking/backpacking styles to trail runners.
The Vasque Transistor FS are their top-of-the-line runners. They use a new patent pending FootSync Fit System that the company says connects the runner to the ground in a more seamless way without sacrificing cushioning. They are made from synthetic leather and airmesh nylon uppers and with a Flux Foam Strobel Board in the footbed. On a side note, the 2010 winner of the Leadville 100, Duncan Callahan, wore these shoes during the race.
The Vasque Scree UD is a hiking shoe that is notable because Vasque is using Stealth Rubber on the sole. It’s the same rubber used by 5.10 on their climbing shoes, so of course these soles will be able to take hikers to places that normal shoes can’t. They are available with UltraDry technology that makes the boots totally waterproof.
Above is a closer look at the Stealth Rubber outsole.
And for the boot that Vasque is known for, a burly backpacking boot that is downright bombproof. The Bitterroot GTX is a classic, all leather boot with massive lugged soles and Gore-Tex liners.
For more from Vasque, visit www.vasque.com
Vasques are great boots, and at a good price point. You can’t go wrong with them.
The new toe cap on the Transistor looks like a great improvement. Any other notable changes to the 2011 Transistor?
According to the Vasque rep, the Transistors are unique because they have what’s called the Foot Sync System. It’s a new foot bed that morphs to the shape of a runner’s foot without sacrificing cushioning. It’s made from new Poron foam that takes the impression of the foot, but never packs down over time like standard cushioning.
The toe cap on the Transistor is actually just a different color and they used a less shiny mesh on the new ones. They did adjust the volume so that it has less volume in the toe box.