User Review: Vasque Sundowner GTX

Vasque Sundowner GTX
Above: The current Sundowner GTX, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed May 26, 2009 by Kirk Mcquest

Rating:
Break-in Period: several months of light hikes before the big one
Weight: I'm about 170 lbs, my pack is around 40 lbs.

WORST...BOOT...EVER. These damn boots should be taken off the market NOW. I can't believe they are still on the market.

A few years ago I had the misfortune of buying a set of Sundowners. They look great and feel comfortable initially out of the box. After hard hiking however, their fatal design flaw becomes obvious. There is some rough stitching along the heel of the boot, at the Achilles tendon area. Over time, the friction from this stitching can cause agony and serious damage to the wearer.

After my hike I had to big red lumps on the backs of my heels, a serious condition that can often only be remedied by surgery. Those boots sent me to the foot doctor and actually had me discussing the option of surgery after one extended hike. I had to stay off the trail for a couple of YEARS before my feet returned to more or less 'normal'.

When I called Vasque to inform them of the flaw in their boot, I received a defensive and indifferent attitude from their 'customer service'. I wasn't looking for anything from them (certainly not another pair of their boots), but they wouldn't even take the boots back!

I ended up throwing the boots in the garbage, where they belong. I will never purchase another product that is even remotely related to the 'Vasque' company. I now enjoy pain free hiking (finally) with other, higher quality footwear.

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Where to Buy

Buy Online We found the Sundowner GTX at 5 online stores:

Store

Product Description

Price

Backcountry.com 2 purchase options:	Sundowner GTX Backpacking Boot - Men's	$125.97	Buy Now
Backcountry.com 2 purchase options:	Sundowner GTX Backpacking Boot - Women's	$125.97	Buy Now