The hiking boot features new characteristics that build upon the preceding St. Elias shoe.
Hiking footwear brand Vasque has announced that the St. Elias XT will be released Aug. 27. The new style is described as “the bigger, warmer, burlier, more-robust version of the recently-released St. Elias.”
With the XT in the name referring to “extra terrain,” Vasque describes the $220 shoe as including “all the best features of the St. Elias – virtually zero break-in period, incredible traction, and comfort right out of the box,” in addition to several new characteristics.
These new characteristics include thicker leather and a rubber rand; a PU midsole and powerplate to enhance stability and durability; a Vibram Megagrip rubber outsole with 90-degree traction; and an extended padded heel collar keeping out dirt and helping with stability on uneven ground. The ankle-length boot is designed in a brown and black colorway. The original St. Elias is offered in a brown color called clay, and a second option is referred to as desert taupe.
Additional shoes offered by Vasque include the Talus WT NTX, a boot designed for the cold; and the Coldspark Ultradry, a winter boot crafted for cold weather activities. Vasque has also ventured into the light hike realm to cater to consumers who don’t want a conventional heavier hiking boot. The Here shoe, a part of the Re:connect Collection, was released in 2023; with a futuristic style, it’s designed to be a versatile shoe that can be worn in a variety of outdoor settings.
Amy Pasque, director of product design at Vasque, discussed the new line. “Amid the pandemic, we saw a significant shift in how the general population thought about the outdoors,” Peck said. “This specific consumer is looking for a high-quality shoe that gives them the support and performance they need for their local parks and trails, but also could easily transition to walking their dog around the block – an everyday outdoor shoe.”
