I’ve finally found a pair of hiking shoes to replace my favorite Vasque Catalyst shoes which are excellent but the soles are getting very worn and they aren’t so great in mud.

 

 

Up to this point my Vasque Catalyst Low shoes have been my favorite backpacking/hiking and I think the only shoe to come close to their comfort and support was probably my Salomon Exit Mid boots.  I wore my Vasque Catalyst Low shoes on many backpack trips and that includes a 93 mile trip around Mt. Rainier on the Wonderland Trail.  The shoes are in phenomenal shape at this point with one exception, the soles are starting to show some serious wear.  This is not surprising since the soles are made by Stealth who is well-known for making some of the stickiest outsoles out there.  Although, they are intended more for scrambling than logging mile after mile and therefore aren’t quite as long wearing as a hard Vibram sole..  I’ve had incredible luck with them up until now but because of the worn soles I had major traction issues with them on a recent trip to Max Patch, North Carolina where a lot of the hiking was in snow.  And the fact that the lugs weren’t very deep to begin with didn’t give much room for them to wear.

I have tried a few other hiking shoes to try and replicate the same level of comfort, support and durability but kept missing the mark.  So it finally dawned on me that maybe it wasn’t a coincidence that they were Vasque and maybe I should stick with Vasque.  So I decided to give the Vasque Scree a try on and I went to REI and tried them on as a preliminary move.  As soon as I put them on I knew I had to have them so I went ahead and made the purchase.  They are a good combination of thick leather and nylon.  The leather is in the right place to provide good support and protection and the nylon is located in the areas where support isn’t needed as much and it works great.  They have a good thick Vibram sole too so I knew that once I committed to them they should be with me for awhile.  I wore them around on walks and short hikes to get a feel for them and see if they would need further breaking in or if they were ready for a long trip.  I decided they were ready so I just needed a trip to take them on and see how they work.

Then a hike with some friends on the Appalachian Trail finally presented itself and I decided to try them out!

They performed flawlessly on the hike…just enough support and not too much weight.  They have a few things in common with the Catalyst like the stout supportive leather and solid overall feel that make them feel right.  But what I think works really good for me is the soft rear collar because this allows me to flex my foot when I’m hiking up a hill instead of rubbing on my heel.  Regardless of what it is that makes these shoes work I’m really liking them at this point and can’t wait to pound many miles on them.

 

The one and only nitpick I have about these shoes is the inferior shoestrings.  They are very soft and don’t give the impression that they will be around for a while so I immediately changed them out with a really nice pair of Kevlar reinforced shoestrings that look as though they are made for these shoes.

7/12/15 – I’ve worn these shoes on several hikes totaling around 200 miles so far and they barely show any wear.  These are extremely durable shoes that are very comfortable, supportive and waterproof.  I’d say the only downfall so far is the sole – not that I’ve had any problem with them but the treads are shallow and I wonder how much traction they will get when they get some wear on them.  Only time will tell.

10/10/15 – I got some more mileage in on these shoes at Angel Falls overlook hike in the Big South Fork National Recreation Area and they worked pretty well regarding support.  My biggest complaint at this point is the underfoot protection is not nearly as good as , say my Merrell Moab Ventilators and even with my Superfeet Green insoles in them the soles of my feet take a pounding.  This is definitely a pair of shoes that should be worn with socks that have thicker padding.  Either way, great shoes!

 

 

DETAILS

• Nubuck leather and nylon mesh uppers are durable and flexible to protect and support your feet on the trail
• Breathable, waterproof UltraDry membranes block water from getting in but let sweat out, keeping you comfortable throughout your hike
• Gusseted, padded tongues keep out trail debris and relieve pressure from lacing across insteps
• Nylon mesh linings quickly wick moisture away from feet to help keep them comfortable and dry
• Lightweight EVA midsoles absorb shock, provide cushioning and return energy back to feet for superb comfort
• Thermoplastic urethane shanks are embedded into the midsoles to enhance stability and support underfoot
• Vasque Scree 2.0 Low UltraDry hiking shoes feature Vibram® rubber outsoles to ensure durable traction

 

Imported.

SPECS

Specification	Description
Best use	Hiking
Footwear height	Ankle
Footwear closure	Lace-up
Waterproof	Yes
Upper	Nubuck leather/nylon mesh
Lining	UltraDry waterproof breathable membrane/nylon
Midsole	EVA
Support	Thermoplastic urethane shank
Outsole	Vibram rubber
Average footwear weight (pair)	2 lbs. 4 oz.
Gender	Men’s