Customer Reviews Vasque Sundowner GTX

Great boots - I am new at hiking and was advised to purchase this brand boot by some experienced hikers. I purchased a 1/2 size smaller than I usually wear and they fit perfectly. These boots are so easy to take on and off. I used them the first time this past weekend and I had no problems, no blisters, just a little stiff around the ankles but am assured by my friends that this will loosen up with wear. One of my hiking friends was wearing a pair of Vasque he has had for 13 yrs!! He won't wear anything else I am very happy with my purchase and would recommend them to anyone...even with my inexperience

Happy with my purchase - These shoes are very comfortable. I have a foot somewhere between medium and wide, so I ordered the medium and it fits me very well. Shoes offer good support but I don't feel like my ankle is bound-up. I am not a hard-core hiker, so I cannot speak about that type of performance. But I am very happy with these shoes.

I've been wearing this boot for over five years and it still looks brand new! The boot has been exposed to all types of weather in Alaska and the quality is unbeatable. Actually, I wanted to order a pair in black, but sadly it only comes in burgundy!

Great show - Sturdy, yet very comfortable shoes. My feet were kept extremely warm but not sweaty. Highly recommend to others. Unless I simply cannot find what I want, I plan on always ordering from Zappos. Best customer service over any other store, by far. Thanks, Zappos.

Pleased with order - I am very satisfied with my purchase. The boots are very comfortable. The wide size seems to be between a C and D. They seem very well made, but time will tell how well they hold up.

Best everyday hiking boot - This hiking boot is great for everyday use as well as trail use.

A serious backpacking boot - This boot is exactly what I expected it to be: stiff. This is a boot for hiking mountain trails with 40 pounds of equipment on your back. They definitely need breaking in before wearing them for a long period, but I wore mine right out of the box on an overnight camping trip with my daughter's brownie troop. We did a 30 minute hike at night and a 2 hour hike the next day - I had no blisters and only a little soreness. They are sized to be worn with heavy socks, as backpackers do. I am a solid size 9, and I wore mine with a thin, wicking sock liner and heavy cotton ragg socks. Fit was snug but not over-tight. My husband has had a pair of these for almost 15 years, and with regular leather care they have remained absolutely waterproof.

Look & Feel as good as the day I bought them! I bought these boots about 17 years ago. I use them constantly throughout the fall & winter months in Maryland. They've proved to be an outstanding value, then look and fell great; I can wear them all day long. I've been conscientious about cring for them and give them a coat of mink oil and a good buffing once a month-- they still look new. The Vasque is an excellent product.

The best boot I have ever owned! I had just spent 5 months in a cast for 2 broken bones in my left foot and I went straight from a cam walker into these boots and found them to be the most comfortable boots I've ever owned. Great fit and support. Break in time was minimal. I have a wide foot and they were perfect in the width. I absolutely LOVE these boots.

Best boots ever! I bought these several years ago, and wore them everyday. Though a little heavy for hiking, I loved them just the same. Super comfortable, super ankle support, super grip. Highly recommend.

Couldn't be happier - I have never ordered shoes on line before but was finding it difficult to find a good pair of hiking boots in my area. I read some reviews and this shoe was high on the list. I love it. The shoe runs a little big so I ordered the size I normally wear in tennis shoes and it fit great with my thicker hiking socks. I had no trouble breaking them in at all. I will certainly buy another pair after this one has seen its last day.

Great boot! This is my second pair of Vasque's boots... I came back for a second pair, so that in and of itself is a solid recommendation. I did have an issue if the boot was leaking, but they tell me that I am feeling "coldness' not wetness, but it seem to be better after being waterproofed. Still highly pleased with the overall performance of the boot.

Great Looking Boot- These classic leather hikers look great. I ordered these boots for my wife because her old pair of Vasque boots (different model) weren't waterproof anymore. All the reviews said these boots are totally waterproof and so far that has proven true. She's worn them 3 times so far for 2-3 hour hikes. She says they feel like they will need a little more breaking in but she thinks they will be fine after she wears them a few more times. Initially, I ordered her a similar model but they came in the wrong size (the box said 10.5 but inside were 11's). I contacted Zappos, got a quick response, they apologized, gave me a credit, and corrected the problem immediately. I will definitely order other products from Zappos. Zappos customer service is awesome.

KILIMANJARO BOOT - I trained for 11 mos, and climbed KILIMANJARO (19,430ft) in these boots in 1994. Little to no break-in period. By far the best boot out there. However, they altered the front and rear bumper panels which no longer exist in newer model. Withstood 5 different climate zones in Africa. Comfort was key and it definitely gave me the support I needed on the different terrain. I still have them as I wear them daily in my studio when I paint. The Italians got it going on!

Really Good Shoe: sturdy, long lasting - This is my second pair of Sundowner's. They take a while to break in, but once they do they are very comfortable. The rigid sole is great for backpacking. They tend to be a bit hard on the inner sole, so wearing an extra padded insole is also a good idea. Also, Because they are leather, they tend to stretch, so it might not be a bad idea to buy them snug, as long as they fit.

I ordered these boots because I wanted something slightly more rugged than my lightweight Ahnus and something that would perform well in wet weather. I really love the look of these boots, especially with the red laces. But oh my god were they a beast to break in! The first few hikes I did in them I had horrible painful blisters on one heel. I was so sad because they are on the pricey side. I even avoided wearing them for a while. Not to be defeated, I wore them a few more times on shorter hikes with thick socks and they started to loosen up. I can wear them on long hikes now, but still feel like they are a little stiff. Hopefully that's just a sign that they'll last a long time. They keep my feet dry and have good ankle support, but are heavy and hot... good for cold weather hiking, but I'll keep my Ahnus for the summer.

Still maybe the best out there - Until they were left in a cabin in the smoky mtns., I had been wearing a pair of sundowners for about 12 to 14 years over all types of terrain and never really had a complaint. These were to the best of my knowledge the old Italian model. The soles were outstanding and I often found myself making a step or a leap and they always stuck to the rock. Sometimes I must admit I was amazed when I didn't slip. When they disappeared, I bought myself a pair of Vasque Wasatch, just for a change I guess. They fit just fine, but early on I found myself flat on my bottom when they slipped out from under me twice. Once routinely walking down some wooden steps. Maybe the soles weren't "seasoned' but I have been wary ever since and they do seem to slip around on wet surfaces more than the sundowner. I bought the Sundowners for my daughter in preparation for a big trip later on and we headed to the foothills to hike and break them in. We went on a rainy weekend, she had no problems with instability (unlike her dad who slipped around in the Wasatch like he was on roller skates) and no problems with fit or break in. The only thing I would complain about is the leather on the toe shows quite a bit of wear that I never experienced in more than 10 years with my original pair. Might just be her carelessness, I don't know. So, daughter loved the retro styling, happy with the fit, great unparalleled sole, with questionable leather quality, that superficially looks no different than my old pair. A pretty good shoe for the money. I will buy another pair when my Wasatch wears out.

Just starting out - I just bought this pair and am breaking them in for the first time. So far the size is just right for a nice thick sock without being so tight. The look is nice and I have gotten compliments on the style. They are stiff but I am breaking them in, going to colder country for the Holidays and wanted something to have for an all around all weather boot. Do some hiking and will see how they do. So far they feel pretty good.

They were not comfortable around the ankle. And not as attractive in real life. Returning them.

It saddens me to write this review. These boots replaced my first pair of Sundowners which I owned for 10 years. The first pair was made in Italy and deserved the highest rating in all categories. However, now these boots are made in China and are effectively unwearable. The top lace hooks on both boots are secured by rivets that dig into my shins. So one star for overall and comfort.

No longer wearing vasque boots - The original Vasque Sundowners from Italy can't be beat. However the Chinese made version are: very stiff, run 1/2 size big (10m order 9.5m), top of tongue ends are rolled under and sewn instead of being flat and sewn like the originals. Leather quality from China is nowhere near that from Italy. If you have worn Vasque for 20 years like I have, the new ones ARE NOT the same comfort and quality. I'm looking for another boot manufacturer at the moment.

I’ve owned 3 pairs of these in my lifetime...years of pure joy. I love this boot! Awesome for backpacking, day hikes, gardening or everyday wear. They stay dry up to the brim. They’re a classic. I’ll wear them a couple hours each day until broken in. Other brand names with soft fabric always get kinks in the wrong places. These do not! Bury me in my Sundowner GTX.

I gave these boots 5 stars all the way across because I think they'll be great once they break in. I've been wearing them every day for 4 days and there are still very painful spots on both feet up near where the top of the boot hits the ankles. How long does it take to break these Sundowners in? Has anyone else had a painful and uncomfortable break in period?

I love these boots. They are my every day shoes, rugged enough for hiking and outside work, and dressy enough for office time. I'm on my third pair. I still have my first pair, purchased 19 years ago and resoled one time. The quality in my opinion has declined only in durability of the sole.

Classic, hard-core, old-school hiking boot. They have excellent traction, sturdy, and great support. I've hiked with these all over New England, and particularly the Northern Presidentials in the White Mountains. I bought a second pair 2 years after the first, only because I decided I prefer to have a full size extra room, since I always wear thick wool socks plus liners. These boots will always be my cooler-weather rugged boots. (My warm-weather boots are also Vasque.)