Select recommendations from experts who use this product

I have owned this boot for about ten years. It is the most comfortable boot I have ever put my feet into! These boots are heavy duty enough to support a heavy backpack load, but comfortable enough to wear around town. The rocker sole actually propels you forward as you stride, making a pace eating stride a breeze. The lugs offer superb traction in both directions on steep inclines. I have used the boots for backpacking, day hikes, hunting, and everyday wear. After ten years, they still keep my feet dry and are as comfortable as ever. Worth every penny!

A great all-around hiker

I bought a pair of these when my old Merrills wore out because I was concerned with Merrills' current QC issues. Fit was stiff at first, these boots definitely need a break-in period. My feet are right on the border of needed wide sizes and the toe box was just a teeny bit narrow for me - but not so much that they wouldn't break-in to be great. Since they broke in I've used them primarily in Blue Ridge / Shenandoah rocky mountain terrain but have taken them out west to Grand Canyon / Zion / Moab. They've done great in all situations. They are sturdy, but not too heavy. They grip well, and their waterproofing works well. My only complaint is the finish doesn't hold up well to rocky / rock scrambling terrain and gets a worn look easily. This is superficial only - it does not affect the water proofing or integrity at all.

Solid Boots

I work in the natural resource management field, which means that on any given day I could be driving a tractor or hiking through the woods off trail. After dealing with subpar boots (that would only last a year tops), I decided to shell out the cash for these. Initially I thought I had made a huge mistake, as I was dealing with really bad rubbing on the heel, but after changing how I tied the boots it fixed the problem. They aren't lying when they say the rockers in the boots propel you forward...the difference between these and my old boots was incredible. I have had them for 3 years of daily wear now and I am finally having to replace them as the leather developed a crack right by the ball of the foot. That's probably my fault as I didn't clean the mud off as much as I should have. Even so, they are STILL waterproof. Definitely going to be sticking with this company for the foreseeable future!

Best boots I have “Ever” worn and Love them absolutely!!

I am flat, footed, and have worn custom orthotics for the majority of my life. I am 40 years old and for as long as I can remember I have struggled to find shoes that would support my lack of arch and work well with my inserts. Additionally, I’ve spent 20 years in the US Navy as an engineer, and have worn heavy steel toed boots for most of those 20 years. My feet have taken quite a beating over the years until I have come across Zamberlin as a brand friend of my head bought a pair and they express how wonderful they feel and comfortable they are and this lead me to try them out for myself. Although they are very pricey, in the end, the old saying is true “You get what you pay for!” This past August, my friend, and I went to Zion National Park in Utah. We hiked all around the park, however, most notably was the very strenuous, yet rewarding hike up to “Angels Landing” while wearing these boots! And they were amazing. Snow on the ground and people, falling and slipping all around us, while these boots did really well to keep us firmly planted on the ground or snow. At one point we did use removable spikes over the boot, and it fit well, leaving, no damage to the shoe or the soles of any kind!! I would recommend these for anyone that has challenges with their feet regarding comfort, or just anyone looking for a comfortable hiking boot to wear!

Best full leather upper boot on the market

The Zamberlin Vos, GTX has performed flawlessly over the last eight years. The Vibram soul and the cortex liner provides a dry, comfortable grip, and even the moss Iest of river rocks. Despite the intimidating look of the time it would take to break these boots in they were comfortable right out of the box. Although I wouldn’t suggest hiking with them straight out of the box, it took just three day hikes to comfortably break them in prior to using them on a 10 day backpacking trip. I use them with gators, so the upper 2/3 of the boot remain less worn and dirty. Then, if I did not wear the gators, and even after eight years, I’m still using the same laces. I’ve recommended these boots to many people. They are true to size, so no need to add that half a size for insurance.

Excellent Boots

I am a huge Zamberlan fan... This is the second pair of these boots I have purchased. The first pair probably have well over 1000 miles on them. I wore them from hunting Bighorn sheep in Colorado to chasing hogs around the Texas Hill Country, and everywhere between. They are stiff when you first get them, but after they have been worn just a little bit, they are the most comfortable hunting boot I have ever worn. They are worth every penny of the price paid for them, and I recommend them to anyone that asks me about hunting boots.

I prefer boots that will stand the test of time rather than boots that are ultralight but fall apart after a season. I’m a wildlife biologist and spend most of my time in the field, and I’m on my second pair of Zamberlans since 2019 - the first pair lasted me 4 years, which blew my previous pairs of Keens, Merrells, etc. out of the water. These are resoleable, and while it’s somewhat expensive to resole them, if the uppers are fine, it’s way cheaper than a new pair of boots, and it also means you’re putting less material in a landfill. Win-win.

A new contender for favorite boots?

These are my first pair of Zamberlan backpacking boots and I’m liking them so far. They are fairly stiff, supportive, comfortable and seemed to be very well built. Having worked in the outdoor industry for decades I’ve tried boots from Pivetta, Vasque, Lowa, Asolo, Merrell, Garmont and others. I recently took these boots on a 7 day backcountry trip into the Canadian wilderness and they kept my feet completely dry and easily helped support the weight of my pack. I do feel a strange bit of tightness in my right heel but I’m hoping a few more miles will further break them in. The sizing of Zamberlan boots is different than other brands I’ve used. I’m a long time fan of Garmont boots and I wear a US 10/43 Euro as sized in that brand. With the Zamberlan boots I wear a US 9.5/44 in their sizing. Time will tell how durable these boots will be and I look forward to putting these through further tests during future trips.

Great hiking boot with traditional one-piece upper and re-soleable

These boots are made with one-piece leather uppers which will be more durable longterm than many other uppers made with multiple panels and lots of extra stitching. Additionally, Zamberlan has designed these to be able to be re-soled which means as long as you take care of the uppers, these boots could last you potentially for more than a decade or even longer. That's great value for the money! Additionally, they were comfortable immediately and required no painful break-in period. These are the best hiking boots I've owned, hands-down!

Great Boots

These boots are awesome. I’m currently using them as duty boots for my job as a paramedic. I was looking for something sturdy, supportive and most of all comfortable and I found it all with these. I intend to use these for hiking/backpacking, hunting etc but haven’t taken them out yet. As far as a duty boot these greatly surpass any boots that I have worn at work for the past 20 years. There was minimal break in and I am comfortable wearing them for a 24+ hour shift. The waterproofing is great not just for water but for keeping whatever fluids they come in contact with (you can use your imagination) out. Looking forward to having these boots for a long time.

Second pair

I bought my first pair 5 years ago. They still don’t leak. The leather is not cracking or separating. I do apply leather protection when I can. They are the toughest boots I’ve worn. The soles grip on any surface, except slimy logs, and when side hilling, they cut into the hillside. This gives me great confidence in their ability to keep me climbing. I primarily use the Vioz for hunting and hiking. Ankle support is great. I do use better insoles. I suggest you do this for any high impact footwear. Since I bought these, 4 other guys in my camp hunt with the same style. We all ditched Kenetreks. We all got tired of soft soles and leaky boots. If you’re in a tree stand, get what ever you want. If you’re ascending steep hillsides and want stability knowing these won’t fail you 12 miles into a 30 mile round trip hunt. Then Zam’s should be your go to. They do great in snow, too!

Great boot with a little work.

I have been wearing the boots for 11 months now. These are my hunting , hiking, technical rescue boots. These boots have been great! They have stayed waterproof this whole time, I did treat them with snoseal this winter. They have been in fresh water and in salt water and cleaned afterwards. Hiking wise they have provided good ankle support. The insoles are not great and lack any real cushion. They can give me blisters on my heel if I do not wear thick enough socks, so keep that in mind as well. These are going to be my go to boot for my week long moose hunt. I let a coworker wear them on a technical rope rescue on a mountain and he loved them so much he is looking at buying some.

Best Hiking/Backpacking boots I've ever had

As a woman with large feet, I am stuck buying men's boots, which are often uncomfortable for me. I found these boots at an REI before starting my first hiking guide job. Three summers of hiking through literal bogs and near daily rain in the backcountry of Alaska later, these boots were still fully waterproof despite a few cracks. The soles are incredibly durable. The fit has been the most comfortable I've ever experienced. They are a little on the heavy side, but it is so worth it for the incredible durability. Could not recommend more.

Consistent and dependable

Just bought the 2nd pair of Viox GTXs and they are as expected. I like the firm support of leather uppers, combined with the Vibram soles for hiking on uneven terrain. Zero break-in period means I can hit the ground without worrying about blisters. The curved soles make for easy push off, especially when my feet are tired. Heavier than manmade uppers, but I never worry if they'll hold up in wet conditions. They are solid and dependable on rocky surfaces, which I encounter daily at work as a forester. I also like the option of buying men's boots since they are wider than the women's. I needed the extra width after having foot surgery last year, and didn't want to have to find a new pair of favorite boots. These are my go-to and highly recommended. Thanks Zamberlin!

Incredible boot/Lack luster durability

I've been through three pair of these boots. They're an excellent boot other than their rubber soles. I get about a year out each pair (~400 trail miles and five day a week use) and they've all ended up in the same condition: Full pieces of tread missing, the toe rubber needing to be constantly reglued to the leather but the leather boot itself remaining in perfectly usable condition. If Zamberlan could improve their rubber soles to match the quaility of their uppers I would never buy another boot. Ive moved on to the Vioz Lux to see if the toe rubber separation issue is mitigated. If i have the same issue I will be switching brands.

Solid boots

I bought these boots for trail work this summer. While breaking them in, I've appreciated how stable and comfortable I feel in these boots. Also, they look good. I've never gotten compliments on my boots before. One slight drawback is their weight. I suppose weight is an unavoidable characteristic of this caliber of boot, but it is still worth noting. Compared to the Merrells I've used on backpacking trips, these boots feel like bricks on my feet. However, I'll probably adjust as the summer season progresses.

Exchanged for the Lux

I ordered these boots instead of the upgraded Lux model because they came in wide. When I tried them on I was surprised that they were actually a bit too wide. Without hesitation I sent them back and ordered the Lux version. I just finished hiking the Blood Mountain loop off the AT and was glad to have the extra protection of the rubber rand on the toe. The boulders would have shredded the non Lux boots. The glove leather lining in the collar is also a nice touch. If you don’t have a super wide foot I would recommend looking at the Vioz Lux over these.

Fantastic boots!

I am hard on boots, with most pairs lasting less than a year. The Vioz GTX, with almost daily wear, have lasted almost three years, and still counting. They are comfortable and durable! When paired with wool socks my feet have stayed dry and mostly warm in cold, wet weather. I’ll definitely get another pair when they come back in stock!

The boot I've been waiting for.

I've had these boots for 2 years now, and I've never been happier with a boot. I've done my time in a multitude of other hiking boots, but none have held up like these. The Berkshires, The White Mountains, Devil's Tower, The PNW, Denali, the Yukon, and even Urban MOUT sites. From hardcore tactical use to casual walks with the Dog they've given me zero reason to regret my purchase. The *only* qualm I have is the massive length of the laces. 72" is a little excessive. I swapped them out for 54" ones.

Great, rugged boot!

I have gone through 3 pairs of these over the past 15 years. I'm a wildlife biologist and spend my days mostly off trail hiking through mud, brambles, rock-lined creeks, you name it. I've definitely put these boots to the test and they hold up great. Prior to these, I had to replace boots every 2 years, but the Zamberlan's last me 5-6 years which speaks to their quality and durability. The rocker is an added bonus for long days in the field. You can't go wrong with these boots!

Best boot I’ve ever owned

This is hands down the best backpacking boot I’ve ever owned and I’ve been backpacking for over 40 years. Every time I put my feet back into these boots I’m thankful all over again that I bought them 8-9 years ago. They are still supportive, sturdy, grippy, waterproof, and perfect after hundreds of miles. Take care of them and they will take care of you for years and miles! I clean them up and condition them (gore-tex safe of course) at least annually and they still look nearly new.

Loving the Zamberlans

This is my second pair of Zamberlan boots. I have two other guys I work with now using Zamberlan’s for there outdoor adventures.They are blacker in color than I thought from the picture. I Think there sizing is consistent for me making the fit just what I wanted. With the size I always get. I just wished ExpertVoice had Zamberlan care products available for us to use on there boots to keep them around longer

Amazing Boot

Wore my pair on a Mt. Whitney hike. Everything I read was true. The boots literally enveloped my feet in comfort. I “broke” them in but i reality they were perfect from the get go. The boot’s rocker moves you forward without effort and sole is super grippy on wet surfaces. Others in my group had blisters and hot spots…not me! I purchased the same size I wear in running shoes. I have and average width with a narrow heel. I tried a pair of Lowa’s before these. They felt “flat” in comparison.

Amazing

I wore these boots every day for 3 years hiking in the Sierra Madre. I have used them just hiking and with very heavy packs. They are now about 8 years old and still going strong! I love these boots. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a great pair of boots that will never let you down.

Very nice Boot

I rate this boot 4/5 stars because they are super high quality, rugged, waterproof and they look great. Have worn them everyday for two months now. However, the toe box of the boot is narrow and I followed the sizing guidance exactly. I ended up purchasing a 44.5/10 US instead of an 11 US which is my normal size as per the guidance provided on the Zamberlan website. The length is accurate but the toe box is narrow and I get hot spots on the insides of my big toes.