User Review: Vasque Pingora

Vasque Pingora
Above: The current Pingora, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed September 24, 2006 by STW

Rating:
Materials: leather, sticky rubber
Use: hikes, scrambles
Break-in Period: more than a sneaker, less than a boot
Weight: just over a pound?
Price Paid: $89

I've owned a bunch of approach shoes over the years from a number of companies, but these have become my favorites. FiveTen stealth rubber is the best. And these have it. I've always had problems with FiveTen shoes both in terms of fit and quality. My Pingoras fit me perfectly, and they are built to last.

They are a bit beefier than some approach shoes. These are geared more towards hiking and climbing than trail running. You wouldn't really want to try to do any real running in these. But they climb really well for a sneaker, and they hold up well on long hikes with a pack full of climbing hardware. They have full leather uppers and do not breathe as well as some nylon mesh shoes, but these will hold up much longer and they protect your feet a lot better.