Vasque Clarion GTX Review

"I've been wearing Vasque Clarion GTX boots for over ten years, getting a new pair every 2-3 years. I've worn them on multi-week bacpacking trips, day hiking and everything in between. I wear them whenever I'm not working. They are the best shoes (not just boots) I've ever worn. They're pretty good for rock climbing, too."

"I bought 2 pair in 1997 because the salesman gave me a deal. I have worn one of the two pair almost every day for six years and I love these boots. I do a lot of hiking in Nothern Nevada including in snow, rock, sand, mud, trails, and pavement. I put a load of between 190 and 220 pounds in them - no heavy packs, just photo gear usually. These are my everyday shoes and the best $250 I ever spent. I neglected to treat them, so I am buying new boots (leather is damaged on both pair, and soles are worn out). The Gortex has done a great job of keeping my feet dry until recently - I actually wore a hole in the Gortex on one of the boots from climbing on rocks. I'll treat the new boots regularly and expect to re-sole them a couple of times in the next 10 years or so."

"I bought this pair of boots in 1996. I'm a bit fussy about my feet, as I have wide feet and no arches to speak of. The boots have performed admirably under tough conditions. They've been through more mud, rain, and snow than I can recall. I've used them for dayhiking, backpacking (under 40+ pounds of gear), and the occasional portage. After about eight years I am finally retiring them, as they're starting to break down a bit and don't support my feet enough for heavy-duty endeavors. I will likely get another pair of Vasques, as these have done well and managed to fit my freakishly flat,wide feet (no mean effort: women's 8.5, double-E width!)."

"a company I worked for before i joined the marine corps, let us pick out a pair of boots for a christmas gift. I picked the clarion gtx by vasque back then and have been wearing that same pair every day since. they were the best pair of boots I've ever worn and their durability has stood my testing since christmas of 1998. they fit my feet like a glove and I liken their comfort as that of a nice pair of broken in tennis shoes. the only bad thing was that back then gortex was more expensive their for my boots were expensive. but I figure if every pair of vasque's last as long as this pair has, it is well worth the money. now that the prices have come down it's even a better deal"

"I bought these boots in 1998 several months before a trip to Philmont scout ranch in new mexico. I wasn't terribly fond of the looks, overly clunky and the sole and arch just looked too bulky, but they were reasonably comfortable. They broke in fairly quickly, but not as much as I'd have liked. Even after 7 years and countless miles they never quite got to that "old broken in boot" feeling. The rubber cap on the two started to peel away not more than a year or 2 after I got the boots but never really got too bad. I just recently retired them when the soles finally rotted off and I've just bought new Asolo's which so far feel far superior. Although I was never wowed by them I can't really say anything too bad about a pair of boots that last me 7 years of hard use everywhere from the snowbound mountains of northern New England to the desert of Texas and New Mexico."

"Bought a pair in 1997 for $150. Took quite awhile to get them broken in and feeling comfortable. The sole on one peeled off during a trip to Alaska. Had them re-soled for $70 and they've been great ever since."

"These boots are more comfortable than anything I have ever worn (once they are broken in). Really good for wide footed people.

I really don't have a con except that one shoestring has shed it's outer layer after a year of almost daily wear."

"A good boot, but my feet got wet while hiking through wet underbrush and through some marshy tundra. I thought the gore tex was supposed to prevent that! When wet, they are HEAVY and stretch out. These are pretty new, with about 50 miles on them. I had two "hot" spots while wearing on a 15 mile hike yesterday. One is spot is gone after working the cuff of the boot with my hands (making it less stiff). The other is from a seam that lands on my left outside ankle and had to apply moleskin. They are great for stability and scrambling over rocks with a 40# pack on though. You'll never feel the sharp rocks through the bulletproof sole. I wish they had protection for the toes against scuffing and cutting on rocks in the trail. Not perfect, but does a perfect boot exist?? I'm counting on them to get me over the Chilkoot trail in a couple weeks."