When it comes to footwear, our preferences are all over the place. We can’t deny being drawn to the maximalist movement happening in the trail running and sneaker world, but we’re still suckers for a classic too. When an old school design gets a modern remake, now that’s the sweet spot. And so it goes with the new waterproof Clarion ’88 GTX hiking boot from Minnesota-based Vasque, out today on a special limited-edition rerelease.
Based on a boot of the same name originally available in the late 1980s, the new Gore-Tex iteration comes on the heels of the silhouette’s 2018 reintroduction, only this time we see a waterproof update complete with three exclusive, period-specific colorways hand picked from the pages of vintage catalogs—a rather perfect light grey and teal for the women, an equally solid grey and dark blue for the men, and the ever-classic all-gray for both.
With a massive GORE label, rad throwback Vasque iconography, and sizable Vibram outsoles, the high-top, sneaker style boot sports a distinctly vintage vibe with contemporary construction improvements to make each pair more durable, more comfortable, and much lighter weight.
Available exclusively from Vasque directly in nearly identical Vibram-soled men’s and women’s models, the Clarion ’88 GTX ($160) is a shining example of a brand reaching into the archives with both reverence and an eye for practicality—this puppy will easily pull double duty in the city and on the trail, and isn’t just another carbon copy reissue.
You love to see it.
