Vasque Breeze Low

Review: Vasque Breeze Low (Non-Gore-Tex upper); 2009 model

I desired a lightweight low hiking shoe for desert/hot type climate, highly ventilated, high grip type rubber sole with an aggressive knobby tread pattern.

I avoided all Gore-Tex models since they tend to retain body heat a bit.

After visiting numerous stores (Campmor, Dicks, Sport Authority, REI, ad nauseum), trying dozens and dozens of shoes, only ONE met my needs.

The Vasque Breeze Low is a godsend! You can actually put your hand inside and slightly blow on the upper and you can easily feel your breath go right through the upper mesh. Ahhhhh ....real comfort in hot weather!

After hiking miles and miles in the southern Utah Escalante desert of rock, rubble and sand. I later went online and bought another pair of these shoes to put aside for a later date.

I also tried their boot version at the Campmor store and was impressed, but being higher up the ankle, I thought it wouldn't let my foot breathe as much. Now I might take another look at them.

As an addition, since I have "flat feet", I have tried numerous inserts and all have little use. But when I tried the "As-Seen-On-TV" Walk-Fit orthotics inserts....the difference was so remarkable that I bought many more of these inserts, one for every shoe. My hiking distance quad-triple before any leg/foot pain occurred. Wow!

I was pretty disappointed with these shoes. I'll admit I used them hard, but still would expect them to hold up better than they did for the price I paid. The sole started to separate from the toe after only two months, and water soaked right through the "Gore-tex" the first time I got them wet.

Pretty heavy as well. If you're going with this much weight on your foot, you may as well have high-tops.