We review lots of double-duty travel shoes on this blog that can take you from airport to sightseeing to dinner, but there are times you need something really meant for hiking. There are also times that hiking is going to be messy. If you want to be ready for that without lugging around big high-top boots, these Breeze Low hiking shoes from Vasque are a good bet, especially if you spring for the waterproof ones with Gore-tex.

I took these on a recent trip when I was going to be biking and doing lots of walking in mid-March in Missouri—a dicey time for weather. Sure enough I hit a few drizzles and slogged through a fair bit of mud. All the while my feet stayed warm and toasty. Then when the sun came out and it got warmer the sweat escaped fine (in conjunction with my Swiftwick socks) and the heat didn’t build up.

I’d heard good things about Vasque and admired their array of styles at the Outdoor Retailers Show in January when I was there, but this is the first time I’ve had them on my feet. The styling is not anything revolutionary, but I did like the little loops on the heel for pulling them on and the Vibram sole had just the right amount of give. Vasque also employs a proprietary spine technology meant to increase cushioning and stability on varied terrain. It’s pretty technical, but here are the details. Men’s Journal gave them a hiking shoe of the year award.

At close to a pound apiece, these aren’t the lightest hiking shoes around, but they also feel a lot sturdier and more substantial than some others I tried on at the outdoor show. My only problem with them is that they’re a little narrow for my wider feet and there’s not much give in the construction. They do make wide versions though for some models, including this one (for men’s sizes 8-13). I would recommend getting a pair that fits perfectly from the get-go as not much is going to change in the breaking in process. With sturdiness comes inflexibility.

There’s also a women’s version of this hiking shoe, with similar features but a few ounces lighter. Each version only comes in a single color choice and lists for $129. The VST version without Gore-tex is $15-$20 less depending on the retailer.

Vasque Breeze Low VST GTX Hiking Shoe – Men’s at Backcountry.com.

Vasque Breeze Low VST GTX Hiking Shoe – Women’s

See the whole line of hiking, multisport, and trail running shoes at Vasque.com