Men's Vasque Sundowner Classic GTX 07142 (10 M U.S. in Burgundy)

What a shame. I bought a pair of these in 1989, and when I realized how great they were- I went right out and bought a second pair. (When you find a good pair of hiking boots you should do that. By the time you need another they don't make them any more.) I can't say enough about the two pairs of Vasque Sundowners I have owned since that time. BUT,.....

Flash forward 18 years, and one of my pairs finally wore out, and I am down to just one. (What a bargain- 18 years of good service. And trust me, my hiking boots get some serious punishment in the backcountry.) So I wanted to get two more pairs, and wondered if by some chance they still made them.

Turns out they do. Sorta. In the photos these *look* just like my trusty Vasques. But I am sad to hear they have moved production from Italy to CHINA. And we know what that means. I didn't really even have to read the other reviews to know what had happened.


So many of the brands that I used to swear by have sold out to cheap Asian labor and manufacturing in countries that have no labor or environmental laws. Sorry to hear that such a fine company as Vasque has sold out too.

I too would be happy to pay DOUBLE or even TRIPLE to get boots that are of such high quality as my Italian- made Vasques. I will not buy the shoddy Chinese versions. Pass. NFW.

When you are alone in the wilderness hours and hours from your car, you can't fool around. Can't take chances.


Don't buy these boots. If you could get the ones they used to make in Italy- I would tell you to buy two like I did.

I have had a pair of Vasque sundowners and they were the best pair of boots I have ever owned. They were comfortable, sure footed and durable through miles of hikes and rough weather. It seemed time to at last replace them with a new pair of boots. I am obviously a loyal customer, so I went to buy a new pair of Vasques. Very sadly, the move to China manufacturing has resulted in a cheaper shoe. The quality is not as good, the shoe does not break in as well and the durability is no where near what it was. This is not China bashing. I have tons of products made in China that are great. The reality is that it is rooted in greed on Vasque's management. They could cheapen up the build steps and materials and expertise right in Italy, the move to China was to also get cheaper labor. Other companies outsource to China and maintain good build quality, but not in this case. Normally I would not care at all, as this seems the recent trend of events, but in this case the old Italian made Vasque's were real works of art, so Shame on Vasque management for allowing this to happen. VP Product Management take note and start offering a Vasque Standard (current model) and a Vasque Premium for 2X the money made in Italy like it used to be.

I take no pleasure in this review. I just received (March 2007) my 3rd pair of Vasque Sundowners. I'd used up my GTX Sundowners (4th pair of Vasque boots) that I've had for about 3 years. This is the first pair that squeaks. I like good shoes, and I like taking care of them. I had always been proud to wear Vasque, but the quality of these is just not that great. The leather is thinner, and is dimpling, so they even look cheaper. It's a shame, I wish Red Wing (another brand I`ve enjoyed in the past) had not acquired Vasque. It is the end of a great tradition.

I had a pair of Sundowners about eight years ago, and wore then every day for the next four-and-a-half years. After wearing through several insoles and a number of laces, the stitching on the heel finally started to give out. For the next several years, I tried boots from a number of other manufacturers, but none have lasted more than a single year, and none were quite as comfortable for extended wear.

I switched back to the Sundowner Classic this fall. While production of these boots has moved from Italy to China since my last pair, the build quality seems equivalent. The only minor difference is that the leather seems to scuff/scratch a bit easier; hopefully this will not impact their long-term performance. Highly recommended.

I've had my sundowners for 2 years, after a week they were broken in and have felt better than any tennis shoe i've ever worn. They are simply put, the best shoe/boot you can get.