Sure, I like to wear pretty, sleek-looking shoes now and then, like these Cushe Groove ones. But when I’m traveling I am far more concerned about how well my travel footwear will hold up after full day of walking. That may not make my kind popular in Italy, but my feet are happier as a result.
A while back I reviewed the Vasque Breeze Low shoes with Gore-tex. The past few months I’ve been tromping around Mexico in these Vasque Mantra shoes, which come in versions for men, women, and kids. I like the look of these a bit better and they’re also more supple. They’re still clearly not going to be welcome in a fancy restaurant though: these are serious shoes for serious travelers and cross trainers.
The Mantra didn’t become Vasque’s best-selling model for nothing. These are rugged, comfortable, well-made shoes that work for conquering the summit or navigating rustic villages. They’ve got a tough Vibram sole and uppers that are a mix of Nubuck leather and breathable mesh. They come in medium and wide versions (Yea!) and the women’s version weighs in at a pound and a half for the pair—not bad. For the men it’s 1 pound, 13 ounces.
There are subtle touches that make these shoes a pleasure for traveling. The tongue has thick cushioning and I like the little loop on the bottom for slipping them on—plus it could also be used to hang them from a pack or to dry. Every place where the laces meet the shoes is made of leather, adding stability and strength.
If you notice vastly different prices when shopping though, it’s mainly due to one factor: like many other Vasque models they come with Gore-tex, or without. The former has GTX in the model name and is more water resistant. In general they range from around $80 to $120, with the kids’ versions well under $50. In general the Mantra is one of the better values on the rack.
I’ve been wearing these hard for several months now, through all kinds of surface conditions and weather. They’re holding up extremely well and would probably be close to “good as new” if they weren’t so dirty. I’ve been especially impressed with how well the sole has held up, with almost no deterioration in the tread, even though I’ve walked about a hundred miles on cobblestones, concrete pavement, and stone stairs.
Get the scoop on Gore-tex and Gore-less versions for men, women, and kids at the manufacturer’s site: Vasque Mantra crossover shoes.
Men’s Vasque Mantra Gore-Tex XCR Cross-Training Shoes at REI
Women’s Vasque Mantra Cross-Training Shoes at REI
Get the Men’s version, the Kid’s version or Women’s version at Backcountry.com
