Patagonia Vagabond Waterproof

These get half a star for being comfortable (around the house).

I bought these boots because I had been having trouble with a pair of Scarpas that were made in eastern Europe and because I already had some Patagonia casual shoes, which are great (Scarpa recently upgraded the boot exactly where I complained: the heel fit).

BUT these boots have one of the worst soles I have ever used. The fact that the lugs stick out on both sides, causing them to catch on the odd sharp rock and sometimes (when the trail narrows on a ledge) on each other, should tell you that they are made to look good, not work on the hill.

Yet, that is not the worst of it, for they offer absolutely no reliable grip in the wet. There seems be something wrong with the 'eco-rubber', for it will grip a few times on rocky paths, then saturate with water or slime, and suddenly fail catastrophically when you think they are working. So the grip in the wet isn't just bad but unpredictable, lulling the user into a false sense of security on dangerous ground. I have had two potentially serious falls wearing these boots in the last few months.

For the rest of the boot, I have more bad news. The laces on both boots started to self-destruct (I think they are made from old shopping bags) on about the third day. The insole is so flexible and soft (I think this is made from old kitchen sponges) that it is very hard to fit back in after drying, and it offers very little grip for the sock, being too smooth on top.

The lacing system is terrible: the two top hooks are very close together and just strangle the bridge of your foot and the boot overall never feels snug on the descent. Relatedly, there is little arch support (though the boots have a nice wide toe-box). The rubber rand has started to come away after fifty days.

I'm almost sorry to have to give such a negative review but honesty and safety demand it. I wonder why Patagonia have to 'grow' their business in the way they appear to be doing; there are already plenty of good boot manufacturers out there.

I acknowledge that there may be 'eco-points' to be scored by entering the market with their so-called mountain boots, but I also suspect that very little research has accompanied the development of their outdoor footwear range. As well, Vibram should be ashamed to attach their prestigious yellow label to such an 'eco-crap' and dangerous form of rubber.

Not for the mountain.