Vasque Aether Tech

By Bob Wade- Owner Ute Mountaineer

The Aether Tech is billed as a light weight trainer and race day shoe. I think that is a perfect characterization. At 12 ounces it is lightweight, enough to be noticeable underfoot. It is soft enough to protect a light to medium weight runner on a daily basis. For a bigger runner or a runner with a very unstable foot I’d say it is for fast-paced training or racing.

This past weekend I raced in the Golden Leaf Half Marathon, a run connecting Snowmass and Aspen via mountain trails. I was happy to have the quicker, lighter shoe on my feet, but in the end it was the Boa lacing system that made the difference. Several times during the race I passed runners retying their shoes. I had no concerns about my shoes loosening up with the Boa system. In fact, I gave my shoes a quick crank for the big downhill at the end, so that I didn’t end up with my toes curled up at the end of my shoes. That allowed me to run the rolling terrain with a slightly more comfortable tension around my feet. I liked having the option.

The Golden Leaf trail is very rocky and I am always concerned about forefoot protection when running it. Despite the light weight, my feet were fine at the end of the race. I’d give them an A on forefoot protection. The outsole is more than adequately aggressive. The chevrons in the middle forefoot stand up a bit higher than those of the Blur. That caused a few stumbles as I got used to them but they really proved themselves on tough down hills.

Aesthetics are always up for grabs. I didn’t think they were as good looking in the showroom as the other Vasque models. A little dirt and mud has taken that concern away. I like the shoe, a lot.

Cheers,
Bob

Bob Wade, the illustrious owner of The Ute Mountaineer, can be found tele skiing, climbing, surfing, or reading. He loves his hooded sweatshirt, quick afternoon runs up Hunter Creek, and footwear (“call me Imelda”). Bob is looking forward to connecting some of the 10th Mountain Division Huts in a way he hasn’t done before.

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