Gear Review ~ Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots

Vasque are makers of high quality, highly functional footwear for mountaineering, hiking, backpacking, trail running, and just all around outdoor adventure.   I recently tested out a pair of women’s Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX hiking boots.

“For the first time, running shoe technology was utilized to supercharge a true hiking boot.  Light, cool, and athletically-inclined”… did you know that Vasque actually pioneered this hybrid style of hiking boot?  Here’s what I thought of how the Breeze 2.0 GTX fit and performed.

Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots

I’ve definitely noticed Vasque when shopping for hiking boots in the past, but at the time I felt they were a little out of my price range.  Well, three pairs of (still spendy) hiking boots later, I finally got a chance to try out some these signature women’s Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX… and I realized I should have just invested in this one fantastic boot in the first place.

The first version of the “Breeze” came about in 2004, with the BREEZE XCR.  With this innovative design, Vasque was continuing to push hiking footwear in an athletic direction.  “Running shoe inspired sole construction reduces weight, making the Breeze ridiculously agile.  One of the first boots on the market to meet Gore standards for breathability, allowing the use of GORE-TEX® XCR.”

Since that time, they have continued to reconfigure the Breeze to be lighter, tougher, and more breathable than the original.

I took them out of the box, and instantly noticed the substantial and impressive sole and tread.  Although this gives them the appearance of having some heft to them, my first impression once I tried them on is how incredibly light they are.  The sole is made of  Vibram® rubber compounds – designed to deliver superior grip, traction and durability.

You want your hiking boots to be substantial and give you sufficient foot and ankle support, but don’t want to weigh your feet down unnecessarily, adding to how quickly you will potentially tire on the trail.  The Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX offers an excellent balance in this area.   Beefy in support, yet you don’t have to sacrifice in agility.

In fact, after my first trail in my Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX’s it hit me afterwards that my feet had become an afterthought during our hike.  The boots were so comfortable, and helped me navigate the terrain we ran into so effortlessly, that I didn’t even notice them.  Which I think is ideal in a hiking boot.

After cinching and lacing them up once at the onset, I have found that I do not have to mess with re-tying the laces again.  The laces stay tightly tied.  This should be a given with all hiking boots, but it’s not.  So that’s another thumbs up, in my book.

Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX ~ Sizing & Gore-Tex

A word about sizing.  You can get the women’s Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX in either regular width or wide.  Vasque feels strongly about offering this option, to make sure you receive an optimal fit.

I will warn you that the regular width seems a bit narrow to me, which is fine… since you have a wider sizing option to chose from.  My foot is actually narrow, and I rarely purchase wide width shoes/boots.  But I am starting to have bunions (which I hate admitting, it sounds like something a little old lady has) and that joint bone sticks out at the widest part of my foot.  The regulars squeezed that portion of my foot too tightly.  Once I switched to the wide width, they worked like a dream.

Other than that, I think length wise these boots run very true to size.

The difference between the Vasque Breeze 2.0 and Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX is that the latter have Gore-Tex, so will keep your feet dry during any stream crossings or wet foliage you encounter.   Any time you have Gore-Tex in your boot, you sacrifice a tiny bit in temperature regulation (keeping your feet cool), but it’s typically worth it and a very nice thing to have.  It’s so dry here that I haven’t tested out the water proof aspect of the Vasque Breeze.

However, I did get to chat with an REI Salesgirl (an avid hiker) about these boots, and she was very enthusiastic in relaying to me that Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX hiking boots are her favorite pair she owns.  They were her choice on a recent 6 day backpacking trip, which included hiking a “14er” (mountain over 14,000 feet in altitude).  She said they crossed multiple streams during that trek, and her feet stayed completely dry.

Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots ~ Where to Find Them

You can find women’s Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots either directly on Vasque’s site, at your local REI store (ours is small, yet this appears to be a style they carry in stock – a nice option to be able to try them on), or at other online outdoor retailers.

I strongly recommend Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX as a high quality, super agile, and very comfortable hiking boot that will deliver performance for hundreds of miles of hiking adventures.  I dearly love these boots!

Happy trails.  🙂

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I received a pair of Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots at no cost, for the purposes of performing this gear review.  All opinions are my own.