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 “Extreme 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.
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Amy Peck, 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.”
