The Vasque Blur won Outside Magazine’s Trail Runner of the Year award in 2006. The design of the shoe has not changed and neither have the endorsements. I’ve found this to be a solid performing, comfortable and affordable all-round trail shoe. I use the term “trail shoe” because I wear it more for just trail running. It’s great for day hikes, overnight backpacking trips and for just kicking around.

The Blur fits true to size. I got a size 12 and my foot size is an 11.5. I get a half-size larger than my foot size so my toes don’t slam the front of the shoe when I’m going downhill. These shoes gave me that half-size of room.

TRACTION

As you can see, plenty of beefy treads to keep you on the trail.

TOE

The reinforced toe piece keeps you from stubbing your toes and from getting injured when you accidentally kick loose rocks.

HEEL

The heel is a more elevated that you standard running shoe, and it’s much stiffer. This helps provide support for your ankles on the descent.

Vasque offers the Blur XCR that is the Gore-Tex version of this shoe. I treated mine with a water repellent and I haven’t had any problems. If you’re planning to wear these on an extended journey or in a wet environment it would be worth upgrading to the Gore-Tex model.

PROS
I was looking for a shoe that mixed the features of a running shoe and a day hiking shoe. The Vasque Blur is the answer. You get the stiffness and support of a hiking shoe, with the weight of a running shoe. The soles provide great traction at any speed and on any surface. I’ve worn these with a 30 pound backpack on steep and loose terrain. No slipping and no twisted ankles.

CONS
This shoe is for those of us who have a narrow foot. I’ve found that the Salomon brand has a similar fit. If you have a wide foot, I would try on a pair first to see how they fit. Also the lacing system is a bit tight. It’s great if you want to cinch down the shoe for a steep and loose descent, but if you’re wearing them around camp, they don’t slip on and off very easily.

The sole of the Blur is a bit stiff, and doesn’t follow the contour of the surface very well. You feel the sole of shoe more than the trail surface. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if you just stepped on a rock or a tree root or something else. If you’re a serious trail runner, you may not like the “feel” the shoe gives you.

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