Superior boots - Vasque ST Elias FG GTX Hiking Shoes - Men's

My first pair of Vasque's and not my last. This is an extremely well-constructed boot that provides big load stability but doesn't bludgeon my feet on day hikes.
I found the boot to run VERY narrow and for the first time needed to go with a Wide size. Break in time was much less than I anticipated and, despite the weight, never feel like my feet are toast at the end of a long day. After 50 miles or so I felt the boot had formed to my foot. No heel slip or toe bang.
Ding for the terrible laces which broke early and couldn't find the originals anywhere online. I replaced them with Sof Sole Trim to Fit and have had no problems. These will need an occasional waterproofing but perform great in the snow and rain.
The Vibram soles offer deep lugs but they've worn down too quickly for my taste but I mainly hike in rocky terrain. The boot itself shows no sign of degradation. But at around 500 miles I'm thinking it might be time to get them resoled. That's an investment I'll make.
I know that the trend is to go for lighter boots/shoes for long trips but my preference has always been stability and underfoot comfort. The St. Elias delivers there in a big way.

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.