Mountain-Ready
Can’t decide if the day calls for scramble or ramble? Vasque’s Equalizer is ready for either. There’s just enough cushioning for long slogs on the trail, but its lasting board makes the Equalizer’s midsole extra stiff and helps it excel on rocky moraine. The outsole is molded from one of Vibram’s stickiest rubbers, and the low-profile lugs are designed specifically for maximum traction on rock. With its reinforced toe box, tough synthetic-and-leather upper, and torsionally stiff construction, the Equalizer is the shoe you want if technical fourteeners are on your summer agenda. Our one reservation: Testers had mixed opinions of the unique dual-closure lacing system. Yes, it’s fast and offers cradle-like support. But it’s also a bit dorky and cumbersome. 16 oz; vasque.com