Customer Reviews Vasque Sundowner GTX

I almost hate to leave a good review because I don't want anyone else to know about these boots. If the company stays loyal to me and keeps the same quality boot I've had in the past, I'll recommend them. These boots are perfect. I kid you not. They're ugly, but for serious hikers, looks is the last thing one's interested in. Yes. They're waterproof. Yes. They are very stable if tied correctly. Yes, they can be used for light-med. backpacking. Leave the mega heavy & stiff boot for heavy backing straight up. When my first pair of these started falling apart after 4 years, I took them to my shoe repair man. They lasted another 4 hikes. I almost cried. To get to the point of these boots... They are the best traction boots I've ever owned. Hiking is my business (Search//Rescue). I need a very stable, comfortable (after breaking in with the right socks), rugged just over the ankle boot (snakes!). I will wear these boots until they fall apart and then take them to my shoe shop. Then I'll take the 2nd pair out of my closet that I interchanged with the others. Then I'll come back to Zappos and buy another pair. The only thing I would improve is the material of the bottom of the sole. There is nothing better than a Vibram sole for long-lasting, non-cracking wear. The only thing is that I can't find a boot with this traction with a Vibram sole. Hey you 2 companies! Get together! Don't change this boot though. It's saved me from a handful of snake bites and a few times of falling. I wear two pair of socks and one pair are Warner's. No cotton.

Just got these shoes to replace a pair I’ve had for 10yrs. Nothing was wrong with the old ones, except that my dog chewed the leather around the ankles and tongue. Turns out with the new ones I wouldn’t have had that problem since the leather tongue and ankle pads have been replaced with cheesy vinyl! The side-length attached leather tongue (which is essential for keeping the boot dry) has been replaced by fake leather. ***IMPORTANT - fake leather cannot be snow-sealed with waxes or silicon, defeating the purpose of having single-piece construction on a hiking boot. Also, I got a 7M, like my old ones, but it was too big in the new one. I held them side by side and in fact the new boot is larger as if it has been re-sized sometime in the past ten years. Vasque shouldn’t have messed with a good thing. I’d pay $50 more to have the functional leather tongue back. As it is I’m going to have to find a new brand.

I bought these to replace a very similar pair of Vasques that I bought just over 20 years ago. They lasted that long despite the fact that I stopped taking good care of them after year 2, and they retained decent waterproofing despite that, too. Once these boots break in (I took my fourth, light dayhike in them today and they are now becoming pretty comfortable), they are as comfortable and easy to wear as sneakers - yet they retain sturdiness and support. They are roomy, but not to their detriment. I waver among size 8, 8W, or 8 1/2, depending on the shoe and size 8 in these fits me very well, with enough room for the bridge of my foot to spread out for good balance. You really can't go wrong with these boots. If they last half as well as my previous Vasques, they'll still be worth every penny.

These are a great boots. This is my fourth pair in 20 years. I literally wear them out.They are water proof,but you must take care of the leather.They used to be sold with a bottle of silicone/leather care with a dauber. You can get it at any outdoor shop or shoe store. To make them last you need to keep them treated if you use them hard.They are a very sturdy but light weight hiker and work boot and fit in the stirrup of a western saddle safely.They clean up well and look good with jeans.This pair of boots feel larger than the other boots I have had, and I wonder about the up sizing of everything lately.

On my second pair... I love these boots. I got my first pair almost *20* years ago when I started hiking the Mohave Desert. Since then they were used constantly around world--Australia's red desert, Africa's Serengeti, Russia's Taiga forests, Great Britain’s moors. They hug the rock, they take a beating, and they don't loose their shape. Never had any foot or ankle injuries as long as I wore them. Finally in a flash flood in Australia, they succumbed and the soles detached. I left them in the parking lot of the hotel and maybe they've made a nice shelter for some wombats. In the meantime I think it says alot that when I went to replace them, I found that Vasque's still manufactures the exact same boots (20 years later-and at the same price!) with no discernable changes from my old boots. That's how perfect they were in the first place. The only thing you need to know is that you MUST, MUST break them in first. Wear them a couple hours a day for normal walking for at least 2 weeks before attempting a long hike. Once they're broken in, happy trails, although you might want to avoid prolonged wading through flood waters :)

Loved my old Vasque Sundowners that say right on the boot: Made in Italy. New ones: Made in Viet Nam. The sole is different. The leather is a far cry from the beautiful Italian leather they used to make them with. These are $50 boots with $200 price tag. Keep on moving.

Let me start by saying that I used to LOVE these boots. When I say LOVE, I mean LOVE. At one point I had 4 new pairs stored in my closet, because I love these so much, and I was worried that Vasque might stop carrying them. I've probably worn 6 pairs over 10 years. The most important thing is that the OLD boots fit my wide feet beautifully, with no break in period, and the smooth leather surface and goretex inside truly kept my feet dry under every kind of wet condition. They were amazing! The only problems were that the leather would get scraped up over time, and eventually it would crack where the leather bends at the joining of the foot and the toes. In other words, they don't last forever, which is to be expected. Recently, I read that these boots are no longer made in Italy, and that the fit had changed. I've also come down to my last pair of boots. I hoped that what I'd read about the fit being different wasn't true. It was. I can fit my feet into the boots (7.5 W), but I can't move the balls of my feet or my toes at all. They were painful to try on. They still look beautiful, but I just can't wear them. I just about wanted to cry, to be honest. So, on the slim chance that somebody from Vasque reads this, please, please, please go back to the fit that you used to have! Give your loyal customers back their wide shoes with beautiful leather and goretex to keep water out! Go back to making the great, beautiful, wonderful boots you used to make! Since I found out that I can no longer wear these boots, I've bought and tried about 4 pairs of other boots on-line, and I still haven't found a leather boot with the support, comfort and width of my OLD Vasque sundowners. I wish now that I'd bought 10 pairs when they were still good.

I compared 4 different hiking boots and this one was roomiest for my wide feet and bunion. I ordered the Sundowners in 7D (wide) and they were roomier than the other 3 boots that were med. width but half size larger at 7.5. Only the Asolo TPS 535V came close in width at the toe box. A previous reviewer claimed the tongue was not leather. As far as I can tell, the tongue, which is continuous with the collar, is a nice, soft leather. Yes, they are made in China. So were the Keens. The Hi-Tec was made in southeast Asia and the Asolo was made in Romania. Did a couple short hikes so far and did not get any pressure or friction injuries.

Stiff - This shoe is still stiff enough to be slightly uncomfortable after several wearings.

I was hoping to replace a pair of 17-year old Sundowners which I love but are looking very worn. They were recommended to me at the time because they were made in Italy and were more narrow than other boots. These new Sundowners (made in China) might look like the old ones but they are very wide with a really big toe box.

Very stiff boot. My first hiking book was a Vasque and they used to rub my heels raw. I'm afraid this will do that also so back it goes.

I started wearing Vasque Sundowner boots (probably 6 pairs total) as my only hiking (and gardening, snowshoeing, etc.) boot over the past 20 plus years and have noticed a decline in quality. With the exception of having to use some moleskin on the rear right heel to compensate for a difference in foot size, they have been comfortable and the only pair of hiking boots I have been able to wear. I bought this last pair July 2010 and made the mistake of not trying them on in the house, assuming they would fit the same as always before. Unfortunately, when I started wearing them outside, I immediately noticed that they felt larger and the soles are more banana shaped rather than straight. The right boot digs into my inner arch as if it was not sewn properly onto the sole. It is too late to return them so I decided to use them for around town when I do not have to walk very far. It breaks my heart because I already know that it will be extremely difficult to find another comfortable boot. I need a wide width, straight last, and fairly flat sole with a supportive shank. It has always been a great all-round boot for in town and on the trail and has no competitors for style. But, since I cannot wear it comfortably any more, I have to rate it low.

The legend disappoints - These boots manage to be stiff without being supportive. They inhibit ankle pointing and flexion to the point where they're useless on aggressive steeps, but will still allow your ankles to roll laterally. After a year of serious mountaineering in my Sundowners, I get heel blisters almost every time I hike more than two hours. I thought it was a break-in issue, but maybe it's my feet. Maybe it's these boots.

Too tough to break in - When I got the boot, I tried it on immediately, and although it fit, I've never felt anything more uncomfortable. I'm not a backpacker, but rather just a hiker, so maybe for backpacking, you would need this kind of stiffness--I don't know. They didn't work out for me, so I returned them. The grip is good and they fit relatively narrow, which is good for most women and for me, but the ankle was too stiff as was the rest of the boot. Plus, I don't think they're very good-looking in person.

These boots appear to have been excellently crafted using quality materials. The boots are sturdy and initially felt too big, but felt just right with a pair of thick boot socks. I wore them on a short 1.5 mile hike to start breaking them in and noticed that the boot rubs my right inside ankle bone. I am hoping that this decreases as the boots become fully broken in. The boots are comfortable and supportive.

Great shoe. It is sturdy and comfortable and as good-looking as a hiking boot can get. However, it is not burgundy; it is brown, just like in the picture. I almost didn't buy it because I didn't want a burgundy shoe. It does run a bit long. I bought a 10D and I usually wear a 10.5D. It is roomy enough to wear with thick socks.

Second pair I've owned. Will never get any other hiking boot -- these are the best! First pair lasted over 20 years and I finally wore them out. An amazing boot.I'd give 10 stars (below) if that was an option.

I just received my new boots and yes, they feel larger (longer) than the old ones I bought a million years ago -- but for me that's a good thing, as my old ones were a teeny bit short in the toes. I am, by the way, an absolutely standard Size 8. So far, so good. And love the neutral burgundy color.

I just received my new boots and yes, they feel larger (longer) than the old ones I bought a million years ago -- but for me that's a good thing, as my old ones were a teeny bit short in the toes. I am, by the way, an absolutely standard Size 8. So far, so good. and love the neutral burgundy color.

I love these boots. I bought my first pair 12 years ago. I just bought my second pair. They are great for any weather condition. I wore these portaging and fell in a few times. However my feet were always dry.

Wonderful hiking boots. I have owned a pair of these since 1990 and have been very happy with them. They truly are water-proof and were my after-ski boots for 10 years. Comfy, good support.