Vasque’s New St. Elias Is a Minimalist Boot Made for Maximal Trail Time

The best outdoor gear pulls double duty. It works as well in the city as on the trail—it's functional and aesthetically pleasing. And of course, durable and sustainable, too. While the all-new Vasque St. Elias hiking boot is certainly more at home deep in the backcountry than on Houston Street, the modern hiker checks all the other boxes when it comes to form and function. Released to much fanfare on 9 April 2024, I’ve been testing an early edition of the boot here in New York for the past month or so, and between hurricane rainstorms in the city and early spring hikes in the Catskills, I’ve put it through the paces in a range of environments. The verdict? This overhauled hiker is a welcome update to the Minnesota-based brand’s longstanding St. Elias model. Read on for why and what makes it so.

First and foremost, let’s address the look, because you’re kidding yourself if you claim to pick gear on performance merit alone (though the St. Elias holds up to that test, too). Available in three minimalist colorways in a full-grain and nubuck leather upper, the 2024 St. Elias builds upon both previous iterations of the heavy duty hiking boot and other heritage Vasque styles like the Sundowner. A diamond embossed tonal patch on the fully integrated tongue doubles down on the old-school design nod, while the sturdy Vibram Megagrip outsole (exclusive to Vasque) firmly roots the boot in the modern world of performance outdoor footwear.

So how does it hike? Well, and straight out of the box. I found the leather upper to break-in almost immediately, and as we’ve had a particularly rainy spring so far here in New York—roughly six inches has fallen in the past month alone—I’ve been especially thankful for the boot’s GORE-TEX waterproof membrane. Whether walking the dog during torrential downpours or crossing streams and trudging up and down muddy trails, my feet remained dry and comfortable, shielded from the elements without sacrificing breathability. This seems an appropriate time to shout out the Vibram MegaGrip outsole again, and mention the sturdy leather collar, both of which kept me rubber side down on a number of rocky, uneven trails. Upstate you can’t take your eyes off the trail for a minute without risking a twisted ankle, so the high-top style was well-tested and well-appreciated.

Weight wise, the St. Elias has always been a boot for traditional hikers, sorry UL fans. So don’t expect this update to be the lightest boot on the shelf either. That said, Vasque designers did shave off a couple ounces compared to previous iterations. And of course, like a Mystery Ranch backpack, the heft inherent in a Vasque boot means serious durability, stability, and comfort.

Behind the scenes, the Vasque St. Elias boasts a strong sustainability angle too—bio-based sources are employed in varying amounts throughout the boot, from the collar and tongue foams to the toe box and heel counter as well as the midsole and insole. Even the laces are made with 80% recycled content. Nice to see the legacy brand reducing its environmental impact without compromising performance or design.

I’ve been testing the “desert taupe” colorway, pictured atop the article, which is easy to style with a range of casual and performance clothing. The natural “clay” is a showstopper, too, while the blacked-out option gives serious James Bond vibes. All three are available now in men’s and women’s sizing from Vasque and Vasque dealers (aka good old outdoor shops around North America) for $230.

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