All Terrain Compound Midsole with EVA Cushioning Pods TPU Shank
About This Item
DESIGN:
2.2 mm Waterproof Full Grain Leather Upper, Nappa Leather Collar
Lace-up with heel loop for easy off and on
No break-in period needed giving you all-day comfort on the first wear
Positive lock heel pocket
Weight: 2 lbs. 15 oz. (1320g)
IN-SHOE COMFORT:
Straight line SUMMIT last that has a classic hiking shape with a rockered toe ensuring the wearer does not have flat footing
Dual Density EVA footbed
A.T.C. (All Terrain Compound) Midsole with EVA Cushioning PodsTPU Shank combines the athletic feel of EVA with the durability of polyurethane to meet the performance demands of hiking
DURABILITY AND TRACTION:
GORE-TEX with Extended Comfort Technology gives you a waterproof barrier that is also breathable keeping you dry and comfortable
Vasque Exclusive Vibram® Frontier with XSTrek Compound delivers grip in wet conditions and better abrasion resistance for real-world durability
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
Offers a range of widths to address more foot shapes and sizes
My second pair. My first pair lasted 7 years. I use them hiking and hunting in cold weather. I bought my first pair in 2014 and still use them.
Flyfisher
Verified Purchase
3 years ago
Outstanding Quality & Durability!
I've worn various Vasque boots for over 40 years, but the latest generation of St. Elias FG GTX is the best yet for comfort, support, and stability. And the full-grain leather promises to be a welcome improvement over nubuck. Well done, Vasque!
JoeO
Verified Purchase
3 years ago
Durable Boot But Inside Of Tongue Bites Ankles
I have been wearing Spenco 3/4 length orthotics in my hiking boots for decades due to plantar fasciitis issues. I consequently need to buy my footwear in wide width to accommodate the orthotics. I discovered around the year 2000 that the Vasque Clarion was a good fit for me. My all-time favorite hiking boot was the nubuck leather Clarion II, a durable and comfortable boot that I bought repeatedly until 2012. At that time I began to experience irritation from the inner part of the lacing hooks and had to switch to another Vasque model. I bought my first pair of St. Elias boots in 2017, when the model was made of nubuck leather. I found that the boots aggravated my plantar fasciitis, and I had to modify my lacing pattern in response. I bought my first pair of St. Elias full grain leather boots in 2019. They were stiff and required an extensive break-in period; I wore them around the inside of my house for a full week before I could wear them outdoors. Vasque's claim of comfort out of the box that "skips the break-in period" is blatantly misleading. Once broken in, the boots proved to be very durable on varied terrain. And they did not aggravate my plantar fasciitis like the previous nubuck leather variation. I bought a pair of Vasque Talus boots at the same time which I used for walking on moderate terrain. While the Talus boots are very comfortable, I have recently gravitated to the St. Elias exclusively because I have come to appreciate the superior support of the St. Elias. To mitigate the stiffness of the St. Elias boots, I have been lacing the boots to one tier down from the top lacing position. I found that this lacing position provides better overall comfort. I took delivery of my third pair of St. Elias boots on 11/22/2022. These are full grain leather like my 2019 St. Elias boots, and required the same break-in period protocol. The only difference I found is that the 2022 boots irritate my ankles at the inboard tongue seams where the GORE-TEX liner is stitched to the inner tongue material. I covered each irritation point with a 1/8" thick piece of adhesive moleskin padding, which took the edge off the bite. For my last hike, I covered each irritation point with a small corn cushion, with the center opening of each corn cushion over the irritation point, and then covered each corn cushion with a 1/8" thick piece of adhesive moleskin padding. The addition of the corn cushions under the moleskin padding provided more comfort than the moleskin padding alone. I don't know yet whether further break-in will allow me to eliminate the corn cushion/moleskin padding devices, but it is not normal to be experiencing this type of irritation from a hiking boot.
TKhiker
Verified Purchase
3 years ago
So Far...so Good
I have hiked about 10 times in these boots...perhaps 70 miles in total. So far, the boots have performed well. They require some break in, but less than might be expected with a leather boot. Lacing system is quite good. They are comfortable and fit true-to-size. Vibram soles are good on trails....haven't used them on steep rock. The insoles are thin and inadequate and need to be replaced.
Cameron B
Verified Purchase
4 years ago
Good For Thee, But Not For Me
Meh. That’s the review.
Kidding…
I ultimately returned these after a few days of trying these out around the house. The toe box was plenty wide for my feet overall but somehow there was a hotspot on my 4th toes where the toe rand is sewn to the leather.
I wound up spending double on a much higher-end Italian boot on this site and I’m glad I did. These boots are fine if you only plan on packless, light hiking. They look good but weren’t for me.
Sandhill
Verified Purchase
4 years ago
Superb Comfort
I bought these about a month ago and have 42 miles of hiking on them. I have been surprised by the comfort right out of the box. I find them to be very stable on rough trails.
phil
Verified Purchase
4 years ago
Boots Made By The Gods.
Zeus would order Hephaestus to craft these boots for his personal used. These well-made boots are both comfortable and stylish. Your friends would want to get a pair of their own after seeing you in these and your enemy would kneel before you.
xtian79
Verified Purchase
4 years ago
Great Backpacking Boot But The Soles Need Work
I've been hiking in the Sierras in Vasque boots for a few decades and in general they're always great, comfortable, and provide excellent support if you're carrying a heavy pack. My last pair were the Vasque Eriksson GTX, and the St. Elias GTX are just as good except for the Vibram soles. This particular Vibram is really slippery on wet rock, so slippery that you feel like you're wearing greased Teflon on your feet. Also this Vibram seems to wear away quicker, and tiny bits of boot sole actually crumbled off on my last trip. The uppers are still great, super comfortable and well designed. Maybe Vasque could check with Vibram on this and get them to change the composition so it's more like the Eriksson GTX, or the Wasatch GTX etc., those soles were better, not as slippery and they lasted longer.
Verified Purchase
5 years ago
Tough Boot
I bought these about a month ago. They are doing the trick. Bird dog training is rough on boots and so far so good. They seem a little narrow for a wide but will break in with timely
Trail Chap
Verified Purchase
5 years ago
Comfortable Support
These boots were a little stiff but comfortable right out of the box. I wore them at work at my hospital for one week and they were completely broken in. Did a nine mile hike on the weekend; perfection!
VermontHikers
Verified Purchase
5 years ago
Comfortable Out Of The Box
Easily the most comfortable hiking boot I have ever owned. Immediately comfortable with no break-in period, and no blisters. Keeps my feet dry too.
PJ007
Verified Purchase
5 years ago
Returned Immediately
All the reviews said to order a 'wide,' but I took a chance on a regular and it was really tight. Also, the eyelets on the top dug into my shin unless I had the tongue positioned just right (which I discovered was mentioned in other reviews after I purchased).
Alex
Verified Purchase
5 years ago
Comfortable
Bought 1 month ago for my boyfriend who is an arborist; the boots broke in in a fee wears
Now they are comfortable and breathable
Dry feet all day even in FL!
Davew
Verified Purchase
5 years ago
Very Comfortable And Supportive
I always buy vasque st elias boots for hiking and backpacking and they have really stood up to rugged terrain. They give me the extra support i need to prevent an anklecroll etc.
Jamie
Verified Purchase
5 years ago
So Far So Good
I have gone on three short hikes and my new Vasques have performed well. They have kept my feet dry in very wet fields and are breaking in quite fast. Always love the way Vasques fit. I bought a 1/2 size bigger than normal and very glad I did. I heard they ran a bit small and that seems accurate.
