Customer Reviews Vasque Sundowner GTX

I owned Vasque shoes in the past, and was looking to get a pair of good quality waterproof hiking boots. After reading recommendations online, I decided to go after a pair of Sundowners. They broke in easily, were a good fit and looked great. Unfortunately, the leather on one of the boots actually acted like a sponge, and absorbed more water than it repelled. I later heard that the problems followed the Sundowner after Vasque moved the manufacturing of the boot from Italy to China. So, here I am...looking for something to replace these boots after about a year. I can tell you that they will not be replaced with another pair of Vasque.

I'm very disappointing after wearing for about two weeks I started to to get pain on both sides of my feet. I added another insole made by Spenco I did get some comfort but at the end of the day the boots was making me feel fatigue. Also the height doesn't feel like 6" I wasn't getting proper support around my ankles. I'm 6 feet tall about 280pounds maybe these boots aren't for me. I'm in my boots from 7am sometimes until 12midnight 6 days a week

Yet again Zappos fails me. These are advertised as wide E, and lo and behold, just like the ten other "Wide" shoes Zappos has sent me over the past year, they are too narrow. Not a little, but foot binding, torture device narrow. I am so discouraged that Zappos sells shoes as wide and they come thru as narrow. I think the next time I am tempted to order from Zappos, I will have my wife poke me in the eye with a sharp stick so I come to my senses. If you have even slightly wide feet, look elsewhere

Both shoes of this pair leak badly when placed in water 1.5 inches below the lowest opening (paper towels inside were sopping wet). Total failure of GTX waterproof membranes. They also pick up a pound of water when wet (excluding water that leaks inside).

New Sundowners lack quality. The ratings are high probably because the boots are still very new to the customers. At one time they were fantastic. My first two pairs lasted 18 years, enduring all types of terrain. The next two pairs I bought fell apart within one year. The soles split. I too had the "biting of the ankle," but that's temporary during the breaking-in phase of the leather. Zappos rocks and their service is great, but these new Sundowners suck. If you're buying Vasque, make sure the sole is vibram or another of high quality. I went with skarpa this time around, they're doing okay but I have not worn them long enough to provide a review.

Having read the reviews I decided to try a pair. These are decent shoes at best. They are in no way the same shoes that I purchased in 2000. Skywalk is no longer even on the sole. The uppers are no longer leather and turn a almost white shade when scuffed. These boots are still comfortable and have not fallen apart but the quality is not there. I read the reviews, took a chance and wasted the money, "the shoe that built the brand" to me has ruined the brand.