REASONS TO BUY
Very durable
Stable
Great foot protection
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Diminished breathability
This boot has been updated since our test period, and some features may have changed.
Vasque St. Elias FG GTX Review
A beefy boot that provides excellent structure and support for carrying heavy packs in rough terrain
A nubuck leather upper and Vibram Frontier outsole, with an EVA midsole and TPU shank in between. The St. Elias is a heavy hitter across the board.
Credit: Ross Robinson
By Ross Robinson ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ February 23, 2022
Contributions From: Ryan Huetter
RELATED: The Best Hiking Boots for Men
Our Verdict
The Vasque St. Elias FG GTX is exactly what you might picture if you hear the words hiking boot. It is a heavy-duty, rugged boot with a full-grain leather upper and has a sole that could walk across a bed of nails and probably not feel a thing. This boot is all about stability, foot protection, and waterproofness for hiking in tough conditions or carrying heavy loads. While it looks like an old-school classic, the St. Elias is built with modern materials. To see how these scored next to the rest of our lineup, see our men's hiking boot review.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Vasque St. Elias proved to be a worthy competitor, scoring well in most of our metrics. They were out-shadowed by several notable models that offered similar comfort and stability at a lower weight, but their durability and waterproofness make them well worth considering in your quest for the right hiking gear.
The St. Elias tackles rough trails with ease, providing great stability and durability.
Credit: Steven Mace
Comfort
The St. Elias is one of the top scorers in this metric. The comfort is derived from the amount of structural support under the foot that gives protection from long days on the trail. A molded rubber toe cap gives additional security from tripping over rocks and roots, and the dual-density EVA footbed is top quality.
The all-metal lacing hardware allows for easy and snug-fitting, and the upper 3 sets of lacing hooks allow for customizing the fit around the ankle, though it does not include a lace lock.
The lacing hooks are easy to use and allow for a secure fit around the ankle.
Credit: Steven Mace
Support
The Vasque St. Elias has an updated chassis that features a supportive and stable midsole platform called the ATC (All-Terrain Compound). We found it to be rigid while remaining comfortable and were especially impressed at how snug and secure our ankles felt when the collar, made from full-grain leather outer and padded inner fabrics, was laced up. Several other boots were taller, lighter, and provided a higher level of torsional rigidity, and thus scored higher than the St. Elias in this category.
The St. Elias can scramble up rocks thanks to its top-notch tread, and its tall ankle collar protects the foot when carrying heavy pack weight.
Credit: Steven Mace
Traction
The Vibram Frontier sole, with XSTrek rubber compound, performed better than most during our tests on dry trails, and the lower profile lug pattern gave excellent grip on rock slabs. The boot did well going up and down a scree slope and kept us from sliding out when traversing muddy passes. Its performance on wet rocks and while scrambling, though, wasn't as impressive. For this purpose, we were much more confident wearing other models.
The tread design on the St. Elias is good but is not deep enough to allow it to excel on mud or snow.
Credit: Steven Mace
Water Resistance
From the bottom of the sole to the lowest point of the tongue gussets, the St. Elias boots measured 6.2 inches, giving them a high margin for tromping through deep puddles and putting them close to the top of the pack in this metric. During our 5-minute submersion test, our feet remained dry, and we didn't have any issues with water leaking in through the seams. Thanks to a minimum number of seams, we expect the Vasque St. Elias to maintain its fine waterproofing longer.
We love the St. Elias for its simplicity, excellent stability, and proven durability.
Credit: Steven Mace
Weight
This product tipped the scales and was one of the heaviest boots in our review at 3.26 pounds. While there are certainly heavier boots in the market and from the past, we more often reached for a lighter pair. Those who seek outstanding durability, top-tier traction, and stability for big loads have several options to choose from in the mid-weight category.
The Vasque St. Elias keeps the water where it belongs in our submersion test.
Credit: Steven Mace
Durability
The St. Elias held up to our testing, and we found no major flaws in its construction. The quality full-grain leather is stitched with a minimal number of seams so that there is less issue with the upper falling apart, and the pieces are stitched with double seams throughout. The rubber toe bumper is molded to the outsole and stitched to the upper, giving it a more robust feel than other toe caps, which are simply glued in place.
Bustin' up a scree field ain't easy, but the St. Elias helped make it as manageable as possible.
Credit: Ross Robinson
Should You Buy the Vasque St. Elias FG GTX?
This is a quality boot made by a reputable manufacturer and is a great option for the hiker that wants stability, comfort, and performance. It is not lightweight by any means, but that heft makes it a more appropriate boot when the trails are rough and the loads are heavy.
What Other Hiking Boots Should You Consider?
If you do not need to extra burliness of a high-top boot, the Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof is a lighter and more affordable option. We also love the Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex and Hoka Kaha 2 GTX for their all-around performance and comfort.
—Ross Robinson and Ryan Huetter
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