It’s not exactly breaking news that Vasque makes killer outdoor footwear. The real news came at the 2013 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, where I was informed that one of their more popular hiking boots, the Wasatch, was to be discontinued. I was crestfallen; no, I never owned a pair, but I wanted to. Numerous friends had extolled their virtues, and now I would never get to know for myself! The kindly Vasque reps told me to calm down, because they had scores of footwear that were just as capable. “Prove it” was my challenge, and I’m happy to say they stepped up. This summer, I’ve been wearing the St. Elias GTX boots for backpacking excursions, and have been extra attentive to their performance.
The St. Elias GTX is the lightest boot in Vasque’s backpacking lineup. Coming in at 3 lbs. 1 oz. is pretty impressive for a boot that is built this rugged. The uppers are 2.3mm waterproof Nubuck leather with a Gore-Tex membrane. The Vibram Frontier outsoles are a Vasque exclusive and feature XSTrek Compound, which cuts down on the amount of rubber used and keep the boots light and grippy. Compression molded EVA midsoles and a mid foot stabilizer compliment the outside materials, and are designed to keep you hiking for miles. Okay, enough tech jargon, let’s hit the trail!
I wanted to work the St. Elias GTX boots out hard, so I took them where boots go to die: The Uinta Mountains of Utah. Anyone who hikes the Uintas knows that there are a plethora of rocks, streams, marshes, and mountains to beat your feet into oblivion on. I did just that. The first thing I noticed is that these boots required very little break in time. Vasque claims “out of the box comfort”, but that could just be fancy marketing-speak. Nope. I literally took these from the box to the trail without any blisters or foot pain.
Early season hiking means plenty of mud, and on a June trip to Shingle Creek I gave the St. Elias GTX a good dose. I schlepped a 30 lb. pack over dusty trails and mucky bogs. After ditching the pack, it was time to bushwhack, and I meandered through streams and mud with no ill effects. My feet stayed dry, and the Nubuck leather held up to a hefty beating. During another trip, I summited rocky Mount Watson with these boots, and was very pleased with the level of ankle support. Bouldering is tricky business, and the boots bailed me out on more than one misstep. Their stability was also quite impressive. When I got them home, all I had to do was clean the muck off the uppers and they were ready to go on the next outing.
After almost a full summer of abuse, I have noticed very little wear and tear on the St. Elias GTX boots. I really have to nitpick to find a complaint about these bad boys, but here it is: after several miles on the trail the tongues need adjusting. They tend to slip towards the outside of the boots, and despite any number of tie-jobs, they always required readjusting. If that’s as bad as it gets, I can live with it.
Traditional backpacking-specific boots can often be a load; the St. Elias GTX are anything but. Despite a lightweight build, I found them to be plenty capable under a heavy cargo, and when the pack is off these boots like to play. Mud and water couldn’t wreck them, and I have a feeling I’ll be wearing them for many years to come. Sure, they might not be named after a Utah mountain range, but I’ve made my peace with it, and give the St. Elias GTX a big thumbs up.
The Good: Lighweight yet bomber backpacking boots that rip through mud and water without fail.
The Bad: Tongues need frequent adjusting when backpacking.
The Verdict: The St. Elias GTX can take a ton of abuse without breaking down. If you need backpacking boots without all the bulk, give these a serious look.
What concerns me are the Vibram outsoles. I see a lot of complaints online about their performance on wet surfaces. Can you compare them with brands better known for their traction e.g. with Contagrip from Salomon?