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Vasque Talus UltraDry

rated 4 of 5 stars
photo: Vasque Talus UltraDry hiking boot

Great boot for backpacking or day hiking. Comfortable and roomy fit, especially for those with problem feet. The closest I've found to a perfect boot.

Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Excellent traction
  • Sturdy build
  • Excellent value

I have had a history of foot problems, which makes finding a great boot tricky. I am an extreme overpronater... no arch in the right foot and almost no arch in the left... long toes... narrow heels... and sizable bunions on both feet. I especially have difficulty finding a boot with a big enough toebox that my toes don't get hammered on steep downhills.

When it came time to get new boots, I tried on a couple dozen pair of different brands and styles. I kept coming back to the Vasque Talus UD.

After eight months of day hikes and backpack trips, I have to say that I am very happy with them. I have thrashed through the mountains in winter and summer... wet and dry conditions. The fit is great, despite all of the quirks of my feet. Plenty of room in the toebox on the downhill.

The Vibram sole has excellent stability and traction on dry and wet. The proprietary Ultra-dry keeps the feet dry through splashy creek crossing and muddy trails. And the boot stays comfortable on high mileage days.

I seemed to need a bit of break-in time. There was a spot on my right bunion which rubbed for a while (blisters prevented by using Leukotape), but that seems to have disappeared.

The old school nubuck leather construction is sturdy, and after eight months, they are still in solid shape, and I think I'll get several years of use from them.

All in all, this seems to be the closest thing to a perfect boot for me. Highly recommended, if you need lots of room up front, and want a classic styled mid leather boot.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $150

Great midweight, leather, hiker. Solid, supportive sole, mid height great compromise between low top and full high top boot. Vibram sole.

Pros

  • Solid sole
  • Leather construction
  • Waterproof

Cons

  • Longer break-in period

I wear between a 9 and 10 men's depending on the shoe and what activity I'm doing.  The associate in the store said that these run small.  I walked around in the store for about an hour in the 9.5 men's and tried the size 9 on just for comparison.  The size 9 fit great.  

These are a stiffer boot, so they have a very supportive sole and an upper that requires a little more break-in period compared to most hikers. The cuff is cut away in the back and has a synthetic section at the top which is very flexible, so it doesn't dig in to the ankle, but also offers much less support than if the leather went all the way to the top. This is a mid height boot, and not a full height boot.

If you ever wore the old Vasque Sundowners (before they changed the design and moved production overseas), these fit very similar to them.

They seem fairly breathable for a (mostly) all leather boot, and they keep water out without any issues.

Construction seems solid on these boots.

I love the soles on these. They have great traction and are solid and supportive enough to not beat my feet up when hiking on rocky terrain.

I'm hoping the smaller than usual size won't come back to bite me when I get a chance to try them out backpacking.

Been wearing them for about 2 months.  I'll try to post a followup after a bunch more miles in them.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $150

Great mid height boot. Comfortable right out of the box. These boots are great for moderate hikes with light loads.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Waterproof
  • Good looks and comfortable to wear

Cons

  • Could use a tougher material around the toe. Cuts and scrapes easily.

I live here in Utah and have used these in Moab and the mountains. They had great grip on the rocks and slippery stone in Moab. They were breathable enough for day hikes in the summer.

I have walked through streams and they kept my feet dry. They're not a tall boot so you just have to be careful. They have a sturdy sole, but on rocky trails you start to feel the rocks after too long. Could use a stiffer sole, but they're more comfortable the way they are.

Had about 9 months now and have no issues except cuts and scrapes on toe to box, which could be prevented with a different material, but they are still holding up well.

Source: bought it new

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Specs

Men's
Price Historic Range: $74.98-$164.99
Reviewers Paid: $150.00
Women's
Price Historic Range: $74.98-$164.99
Product Details from Vasque »