User Review: Vasque Sundowner

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

Reviewed February 24, 2004 by Charlie

Rating:
Materials: leather and goretex
Use: all kinds of hiking and trekking, hunting

I have owned two pairs of these boots over the last 10 years. The first pair was made in Italy, the second in China.

The Italian boots did not require ANY break in and I wore them trekking on Europe when they were brand shiny new. They were incredible boots.

I purchased the second pair because I loved the first ones so much. I wanted to have a backup when the original pair died.

The second pair looked the same from the outside, but when I put them on, the fit was horrible. I put them back in the closet and kept wearing the original pair. When my first pair had to be semi-retired (not failed or damaged or broken, just very worn looking and the soles had worn down), I took out the second pair and started to break them in.

This second pair (made in china) took several months of uncomfortable (painful at times) use to break in so they were comfortable. I'd say it took a good year of use before they were enjoyable to wear.

If I could guarantee that every pair fit as well as the first ones I had, I'd never buy another model of boot. Unfortunatley, my next boots will not be sundowners due to this bad experience with the chinese made boots.