Customer Reviews Vasque Sundowner GTX

I am was in the military and consider myself knowledgeable on what makes good boots. I also purchased a pair of these boots 15 years ago and used them for hiking (mud, sand, rivers, rocks, etc.) and while tending bar during college (long hours standing). These boots will last a long time. You will need to replace shoelaces before you replace anything else. Once broken in they are very comfortable. That comfort level increases exponentially when you add your favorite insoles. They are waterproof and warm with great traction. They weather extremely well which (in my opinion) increases their look You will need to break them in and that will not be an overnight process. The more you wear them the better they fit. They are also solid boots with Gore-Tex lining so air will not necessarily move freely around your feet. The leather is sturdy but it will scuff. This will not effect the performance of the boot only the appearance. Finally, you might get a couple of hot spots during the break-in period. Over time (years) shoelaces will need to be replaced and you might need to add oil to the shoelace rings. If the boots do "give out" it will be the sole wearing down or coming loose. The arch support is minimal. If you need additional/non-standard arch support you might have to add an insert.

I've had these shoes for about a year now, and so far, so good. It took a while to break them in though... for the first few months they pinched my toes at the point where the shoe bends while walking. The laces are weirdly slippery too, so they come untied if you don't double knot them, but that's easily replaced. They also show scuffs pretty easily, but again, not a big deal. I needed to put in some gel inserts to make them comfortable enough though. They are quite waterproof, and surprisingly warm. I don't need to double up on socks in the winter anymore with these. Too warm for 100+ days in summer though.

I've been a Vasque fan for many years, especially the Sundowner in it's various incarnations. This is probably my 4th pair of Sundowners, I keep buying because they are one of the most comfortable boots I've ever owned. They hold up under pretty harsh hiking conditions and still let me wear them with my office attire. Highly recommended.

Great boots, I thought by some of the reviews that the boots would need a lot of time to break in, but I was wrong. They feel comfortable out the box on first hike.

I recently purchased my second pair of Sundowners. The first pair only lasted for twenty years! These boots are by far the most comfortable, durable, well-built shoes that I've ever owned. Aside from being a great hiking boot, these boots also double as great work boots. I'm on my feet all day at work walking on concrete. These boots provide the stability and comfort that I need. However, I do replace the removable footbeds with an orthopedic insert that provides better arch support. The new pair were a little stiff right out of the box, but after a couple of days of wear, I found them to be as comfortable as my old pair. Whether I'm at work, working in the yard, hiking, camping, or shoveling snow, I know these boots are going to keep my feet warm, dry and comfortable. I would recommend these boots to everyone.

I SO wanted to buy a pair of these but when they arrived from Zappos they were too tight width-wise even though I had ordered the E Wide size. The two pair of Keen shoes I have in E Wide size are perfect. These Vasque were just too tight so I sent them back with much sadness.

These are very nice old school hiking boots. You might need to try a couple of sizes to get the right fit with your weight of socks. Not a really heavy pack boot but great for lighter packs and shorter hikes.

Damn shame redesigned! Former design the perfect boot! Now I have to find a new boot. Took the former sundowner to 17,000 feet.

True to size. You need to break them in, but should last for years.

This boot was said to be a classic Italian Hiking Boot. Though it was said to change the manufacturers, it is a great hiking boot with the solid leather design and gore-text water resistant/proofing. The only issue I have with the boot it while I was wearing them around for a week to break them in, the soft leather easily scuffed on a concrete step. It would need extra care, polish, and protection for it to last a long time looking new.

The classic, old-fashioned and improvable backpacking boot. They apparently use cheaper leather now than they used to, but short of going all out to, say, here: http://www.limmerboot.com/# or here: http://www.geigerschuhe.de/ you're really not going to find better these days in terms of comfort and durability. Great freaking boot.

Got these shoes for a backpacking trip. Put them on the first time and realized they would take weeks to break in to the point of comfort. They were just way too clumsy right out of the box. Plus, I wear size 13 and quite frankly the shoe looks a lot better in the smaller sizes. I went and got some Lowa Renegades instead-- really happy with them (minimal break in).

Back in the 80's when the Sundowner was made in Italy they were the perfect boot, perfect fit. They still maintain a great style and look but somewhere down the road of manufactures sizing things changed. I probably should have made better judgment toward the other reviewers comments. Half size too small and medium too narrow. I have a five year old pair of Vasque Wasatch GTX size 9 medium with a lot of trail miles and they're a perfect fit. Perhaps made in another country?

These boots squeak. They are loud. I had a pair before that didn't make a noise. These make me sound like the piano lady in 16 Candles (showing my age). I've worn them a bunch of times already, hoping they would break in and stop squeaking. No luck. Sadly, because I've been wearing them on the trail, I doubt that I'll be able to return them. Love the boot, hate the squeak.

Why did they stop making the B width? I gave mind to my son and thought I could replace them. No such luck. I thought they were great shoes.

US Size 12W has a specified width of 4 3/8", removable liner measures 3 7/8", interior width possibly reaches 4", but remains 3/8" narrow. This wide last does not fit US customers. My left foot is just fine, a 5 star boot if the out of box fit is right.

Absolutely a horrendous boot to break in. I can't give them any stars yet because they hurt so much to wear. They're a good looking boot, and when and if they ever break in I think they'll be OK. They're made of stiff saddle leather, and should wear like iron on the trails. Right now after two weeks of trying to walk pain free in them, I have to say I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

Excellent boots, but... I've never worn wide shoes in my life, but these were FAR too narrow in the toe box.

I have had three pairs of Sundowners over the last 25 years. I just received my new pair of the redesigned model. I have worn 10½EE in all pairs. I ordered the same size, and they felt a full size smaller than before. The quality of workmanship has seemed to go up since all the negative posts on the other shoes. I am going to give them another go in the a bigger size.

Since the style # changed on the Sundowners, the fit has changed. Unlike the pair of Sundowners I wore for 10+ years, this version cuts into my ankles and the tops of my feet. Also, the priced for the exact same boot is much less on Amazon, compared to presently on Zappos.

I wanted these boots to work. They are a nice, clean style, something I could wear in my suit on the long winter walks through the elements on my daily commute. But I could see after wearing them around the house for a few hours that they wouldn't work for me. The boot has a seam in the upper portion that crosses my interior ankle bone, causing pain. The leather is thick and unyielding and I figured it would take many years before they were comfortable, if then. A friend had recommended these and when I told him of my problem, he said he encountered the same thing. He solved it by fashioning a thick piece of foam to protect his ankle bone. He wears it along with the boot. I think the right solution is to make a better boot. I'll try another brand. Zappos' shipping and return policies make this an easy fix.

It is with a heavy heart that I say Vasque Sundowners are no longer what I expect. This has been my exclusive boot for about 16 years, and I am now shopping for another brand. I keep one "nice" pair for casual/dress wear, and another for working in the garage, yard, etc. There is a rotation every year and a half or so. The first China manufactured pair I purchased had the sole split across the bottom rendering them useless as they are no longer waterproof. Prior to this I would wear them until the treads of the sole were completely worn and I had no traction in the snow. Unfortunate that even Vasque could not escape the perils of Chinese manufacturing.

For 20 years, my old Vasque Sundowners were shoes that I loved. I wanted to replace them with the same thing. But these new Sundowners jab into your Achilles tendon at the top, whenever you take a big step, with nearly zero padding or "give" around the top. I would never get used to hiking in these.

These were a letdown. I had a pair of the classic Sundowners which were amazing. These seemed well built but I had issues with the eyelets near the top digging into my ankles. To the point where it was actually painful, regardless of how I laced the boots, wore extra socks, etc. It's almost as if the tongue wasn't cut wide enough to provide padding against the eyelets. Expensive boots that I ended up having to sell.

I will preface the review by saying I am a UPS driver and am hard on boots. I was a little disappointed in the boot. It looked nice, felt nice and was very comfortable out of the box. However, the boot leaked at 3 months of hard winter in Montana. The soles had to be replaced after a 2 years (boots only worn in winter months). Realistically I only received 3 months of waterproof boots and 6 months of wear and tear before the soles had to be replaced. At this cost I expect more out of a boot.