In the 10 years since I began hiking, I've owned 2 pairs of boots. The first were a pair of Hi Tec Altitude IVs which served me quite well. I still have them and wear them for putzing around the house or on the smaller hikes I take with my toddler. The second is a pair of Keen Detroit Mid Soft Toes - these are actually labelled "industrial" because they come in a steel toe (hence the soft toe reference) but they also come in WIDE which is a definite must for my fat feet. I have taken them on a half dozen trips so far and have performed wonderfully. And at $130 for the pair, the price was definitely right.

I've never tried anything along the Vasque line so I cannot compare - but I can say boots is a category I've never had to complain about.