Vasque Breeze LT GTX

Our take Alpine scrambling calls for a light boot and good traction, and the Breeze LT offers both. Vibram LiteBase technology reduces the thickness of the boot’s Vibram Megagrip outsole, cutting ounces and resulting in improved ground feel, despite a still-cushy, 24mm- to 18mm-thick midsole. It kept our tester nimble during a day of volunteering for a search-and-rescue mission on Washington’s Vesper Peak. “I scampered over hard slabs, up talus, and across off-trail routes and always felt confident in my footing,” she says.

The details The Breeze’s synthetic upper breathed well on a 12-hour day with 75°F temps in the North Cascades and shed debris easily, but a sharp rock scraped away part of the boot’s protective PU overlay (the damage hasn’t spread, though). Note: The Breeze’s low-volume toe box is good for precise foot placements, but check fit. A non-waterproof, low-cut version will be available in the fall.

Trail cred “Thanks to the midcut ankle and plush midsole , the Breeze gave me the same support under a 40-pound pack as burlier boots but at a fraction of the weight,” one tester says.