these are not normal shoes. if you run roads, fire trails, paths or high use trails forget em. but if you run technical trails where footing matters, where lightness matters, where you might be taking them off and on and/or theyre going to get wet - these shoes are as good as it gets so far. theres not nearly enough cushioning for taking them on the road, but for picking your way thru rocks, scrambling, jungle, adventure races and mountains theres enough. i dont think many brands have tackled this genre seriously yet - precision shoes. ive worn the salomon range for years, doing 80+ miles a week in the mountains on committed trails, and tho i still love em, this is the shoe thats come closest to suiting that terrain. they feel really light even when wet and fit surgically, tho folks with wide feet may not like them. ive got a scrawny foot myself and can feel the taper. the degree of flex is very nice. stiffer than a salomon and part of the precision package. the uppers were ready straight from the box, but the shanks took another 2 decent runs to work in. the hi-tech lacing gizmo i like, tho it could do with further evolution. it flexs well with the motion of the foot in a way laces never could and the one-handedness and speed doing it up shows you how much energy you put into messing with laces, even those things salomon uses. the wiring could come another 3/4 inch down the foot tho i feel - to make this a truely awesome precision shoe. and i feel the north face idea of putting it on the heel is more efficient too, tho would suffer on serious rocky terrain. the grip on the wheel also could be chunkier. the sole is good, but is the weak point. it sheds mud and sand well which is vital for marginal trails, but i feel could be stickier and have a more climbing sensitive inner toe. that with the rigid shank would make this the ultimate mountain running sole. all in all, theyre the most evolved in their class - vasque know what theyre doing and have taken the idea seriously. i wont be getting them out for leisurly jogs or flat stuff, but for committed trails and up ravines im happy to finally have something that feels specific. and i will be waiting for the next generation.

This is my 5th pair of Vasque trail shoes and the Aether Tech is fast becoming my favorite. The lacing system is efficient at quickly and evenly pulling the shoe tight around the entire foot. I like that you can make final micro-adjustments with just click or two on the lacing wheel. The trails I run in Connecticut go from root strewn mud to very uneven rocky single track, and these shoes excel in the rough stuff where toe protection and a tough sole are key (the TPU rock plate is great). They also fit snugly enough to keep most debris out and they drain well. Earlier Vasque models seemed to wear poorly on the sides (mesh would give out), but recent models have addressed this nicely. I've tried other brands but keep coming back to Vasque because they get it done where it counts - on the rough trails.

i've used these shoes all summer & i've done a lot of hiking & a little trail running with them. been really impressed with the boa system - it provides a glove-like fit that can be micro-adjusted at any time with literally a quick turn of the hand.

this shoe is very light, very technical. on very rocky stuff, i can feel a lot through the sole. i guess that's the price you pay for the light weight.

my only knock on the shoe is with the achilles pull tab at back. mine are already pulling out & i fear they will completely tear away any day now.

still gotta go 5 stars. highly recommended

As advertised. My 2nd pair of Vasques. With 5 knee surgeries under my belt, balance and support are high priorities - and these fit the bill. The BOA system is SWEET and makes micro-adjustments a snap. Well worth the money.

We planned a 25 mile round trip that had an ascent from 5,800 to 14,025 through Shepard's Pass outside of Independence, CA to the top of Tyndall and back. I ordered these "go fasters" three weeks prior to the trip. I broke them in during my normal weekly workouts of stair drills and some paved running. Right away I loved the way that the Boa system worked. The BOA system which replaces traditional laces simplifies one's ability to adjust tightness of the boot based upon the immediate activity. I usually backpack with an additional pair of lightweight shoes, like Tom's shoes, to be more comfortable after several miles of trekking, however, the Aether Techs eliminated my need for that. When the BOA is fully extended, they fit like slippers. When it is tightened to mold to my unique foot, they felt comfortable but sturdy. I elected to tackle the trail with a 12 lb pack since we were doing an overnighter and the shoes performed extremely well in accommodating my frame plus the additional 7% load. The trail turned from dirt, small rocks and decomposed granite to a three hour boulder fest up the final incline. The Aether Techs allowed me to climb much faster than my normal boots and when it came to the last 200 feet of ascent where we had to use cracks for hand holds and foot holds, they were very good as climbing shoes. I did notice that the material on the side of the shoe and the foam cushion above the sole took quite a beating and the shoes look more aged than I thought they would as I have less than 50 miles on them, but the performance has remained exceptional and I would recommend this versatile footwear to any of my friends.

"the wiring could come another 3/4 inch down the foot" I too found just a little more room in the toe box than I was comfortable with, but it never produced any blisters, even after a 41 mile adventure race over 3 peaks. The Vasque footbed for such a technical shoe is inadequate, just replace it with your own and these shoes will prove to be the best technical trail runner you've ever worn.

I don't want to leave a really long review, but will just leave this link instead (and probably get slapped for spam!)
It explains more how the BOA lacing system was developed, and works.

http://www.vasque.com/technology/vasque-brand-technology-boa

I've been using these shoes for a few weeks now, and so far they're great. Lots of control on tougher more technical sections and comfortable enough on soft brush or jeep-track. The lace-up system is fantastic. After using Salomon's lacing system, its faster and less cumbersome. The fit is snug without being squashed, and overall its a very comfy ride.

Not the most comfortable on the road, but then, that's not why you're considering them is it!

I was a bit skeptical at first when I saw these but when I tried them on they felt really supportive. They are very light and breath really well. The boa lacing makes them nice and snug and won't loosen a bit. I like these way more than the North Face Plasma as they feel a lot more supportive. Vasque has yet to let me down!