If you take full advantage of today’s ultralight gear, your footwear should keep pace. Enter the new Breeze 2.0 from Vasque, the hiking boot for men and women designed to give you stellar support, solid traction, and superb breathability so you can bag peaks, hike up rugged terrain, and comfortably descend steep trails.
Overview…
When it comes to the current trend of ‘fast and light’ hiking boots, Vasque was well ahead of the curve. In 2004, the original Breeze hiking boot was introduced and immediately went to work at winning over the hearts and feet of outdoor enthusiasts by offering a light, breathable and athletically-inspired option for the trail.
Nearly a decade later, the Vasque design team has introduced a remastered version of the original Breeze. Without straying from the formula that made the original Breeze a top seller, Vasque reconfigured the boot to be lighter, tougher, and more breathable. The result is the Breeze 2.0, a lightweight hiking boot that may just secure Vasque’s spot at the top of the category for another decade.
On Performance & Design…
From the Sierra Nevada to Molas Pass in Colorado, our test team sang the praises of the Breeze 2.0 for a virtually instant break-in period and being tough enough to tackle technical terrain, while providing a level of comfort that you’d normally expect to get from a trail runner.
When it comes to comfort, we can all admit that there are shorter mileage outings where you’d normally bypass your burly hiking boots for some lightweight sneaks. Even on those fast and light days, our team slipped into the Breeze 2.0 and, by the time they reached the end of their driveway, had already forgotten they were wearing a full featured boot.
In large part that level of comfort stems from dual-density EVA footbeds and molded EVA midsoles that absorb shock, provide cushioning and return energy back to feet. Add in synthetic Airmesh that improves air circulation and Vasque has given you the gift of a boot that keeps you comfortable from your first step on the trail, to your last step into the local mountain tavern for some post trail celebration time.
For the days you to toss a pack on your back and point yourself toward something steep, you’ll be rewarded with ample grip from the burly Vibram Contact® outsole. This tread offers the perfect blend of flexibility, traction and support so you can dig into loose terrain, burn through the miles on the flats or scramble to the base of a vertical face with ease.
With less weight on your feet (1.8lbs for a size 11) you’ll be ascending the trail quicker which means you’ll need more stability and support. The Breeze 2.0 provides said stability and support in spades with an Arc Tempo last that offers a more athletic fit for better agility and faster movement over technical ground.
Just because you have a summer of hiking trips planned, doesn’t mean Mother Nature is going to cooperate. For those traipsing through wet climates, or just looking for a boot that can go from summer trail exploring to winter snowshoe adventuring, the GTX version of this boot is ready for the foulest of weather. Just beneath the upper lies a Gore-Tex waterproof breathable membrane that kept our testers feet bone-dry on wet trails, snowshoe outings and torrential storms, all the while allowing moisture to escape from within.
Notes from the Field…
Vasque provided our team two pairs of the Breeze 2.0, one in a standard width and one in a wide fit. While the standard sizing offered a spot on fit, the wide version of the boot still provided a tight fit, and cut narrow across the toe-box. Every foot is different, and as such, every fit experience unique. However we would be remiss if we failed to point out that for our wide footed reviewer, the wide version of Breeze 2.0 provided a tighter toebox than some of the other standard fit hiking boots.
Bottom Line….
What do you want from your hiking boot? Lightweight and nimble performance? Comfortable fit with maximum breathability? Serious support and durability for the days toss a pack on your back and point yourself toward something steep? The Vasque Breeze 2.0 hits every point on your wish-list.
*Gumption Gear Review received the item featured in this review from Vasque at no cost and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The item featured was provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.