Hiking, climbing, caving, these boots take the punishment and keep coming back for more.
First pair lasted five years with two resoleings. Svaed my toes for a lawn mower hungry for human blood. Second pair still going strong. I wear them all winter during the rainy season and put them up for summer. When fall rolls around again I pull them out, and tie 'em on. They feel like I never took them off.

I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in these boots. It took two pair, which is very good in comparison to some other boots. It can be expected that you should get about 1000 miles out of these boots. Best fitting boots I have ever worn.

Customer Service

I got the second pair for less than half price, after my first pair was falling apart with 1000 miles already on them. I just thought I would try, and they were very cooperative.

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going on 6 years. probably the most widely used/recomended boot out there. works well in bike toe clips also.

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I have had these since I got them on clearance for $80!!! I should have gotten a second pair! Drat! The most comfortable boots I have ever worn- Even in Florida heat and humidity they are very comfy. Have had them for almost 4 years and they are still waterproof. Good support - Metal fixtures tend to corrode a bit but are still sound. Wish the sole was a bit less slippery on wet rock but not too bad.

Customer Service

No exp

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Various crappy boots Merrell - OK- not my foot form...

These are probably the most widely used and recommended backpack boots on the market. Judging from the reviews below, the overall ratings from most people are great. I only saw three bad experiences. My experience is short so far, but they seem to be what I expected from them. I needed a good mid weight ""true"" backpack boot that would last me for years. I don't weigh a lot (medium/thin build) and don't expect to put these boots through torture. However, I am rough with a lot of equipment and some shoes I own get worn down quickly, so I believe that my experiences with these Sundowners would be good. They are heavily constructed and not overly expensive for their quality. The uppers have been scratched to heck by me already and the soles don't seem as good as in the older versions. The tongue and collar has been improved for comfort but we'll see if they hold up as well. The fit of these boots are fairly wide. I own the narrow version and still need extra thick insoles to take up the extra room.

Customer Service

These seem to be the boots that most others are judged by or against.

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Merrell, L.L. Bean, Nike, Hi-tec

I actully didn't like these boots. While they are very durable and waterproof as advertised I found them to be uncomfortable in the toe box, something inside really rubbed my big toes bad. The soles also were very slippery on ice and hardpack snow. Wish i liked them better, especially for the 170 I paid a few years back.

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I have had my Sundowners for four years now and I am very satisfied with them. They are very sturdy and durable and can take a beating on any trail. They keep my feet dry but can get quite warm in the summer. I use them each summer when I go to Colorado.

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I got my Sundowners back in about '89 or '90. Paid $164 for them at REI, and boy was I nervous about paying that much for a pair of boots. Turns out it was about the best money I've ever spent on footwear. I'll admit I've taken very good care of these Italian-made beauties, and they've held up remarkably well. This is a legendary hiking boot, and for good reasons. The one-piece burgundy leather uppers are just the ticket, once you break them in (the tongue and bellows will squeak at first, which is normal). After break-in, the Sundowners mold to your feet, like a good leather shoe should. They provide the perfect balance of grip, support and protection for me. And after almost ten years, still no leaks through the Gore-Tex bootie, either. They've changed the sole since I got mine, but I understand the grip is even better these days. Mine were a bit narrow for my wide feet, but Vasque now has more sizes and widths. If you find a size that fits, buy them. Other boots will come and go, but Sundowners have yet to see a resilient challenger.

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Merrell Wilderness, Asolo AFX 530, Raichle Spirit

I bought by Boots abou tfour years ago.. i was very impressed at first but became dissapointed more recently...I go on day hikes once a week from april to august.. about once a month on 2 nite backpacking trips and about twice a year climbing forteeners... the first 2 years were great. the last year my gortex bootie started leaking and in the forth year my left sole came completly off on the way down frome Longs Peak.. mabey i am a little harder than most on footware.. i sent them back to vasque for repair and they sent them back to me to throw away.. so i guess that the vasque is not a good boot for me.. i just bought a pair of the Danner Mountail Light II's. i will let you know what i think next fall! Happy hiking!

Customer Service

Not very helpfull (i did not want a free replacement i just wanted them fixed) i was willing to pay.. they offered no help in fixing or replacing.. not even a 5% discount on a new pair. so overall bad experence

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SkyWalks, Clairion,

The Sundowners have been the greatest boot I've ever owned--better than the Vasque Skywalks, IMHO. I bought these boots for about $140 at REI's annual sale in 1996. Since that time, I've spent several 4-month stints in the forests of Belize, hiking and working in extremely difficult terrain. The Sundowners provide great traction and have never leaked--the Gore-Tex bootie is holding up well, even when these things are being worn every other day. This is in stark contrast to several of my colleagues' Asolos, which blew out after less than one month's time in identical conditions. The Vasque is one sturdy boot. Vasque is also one of the few companies that recognizes that human feet come in a variety of widths, so those of you with narrow or wide feet should look into the B and E widths availble in this model. I will be looking to replace the sole after this spring's field season, but otherwise I can't recommend these boots enough.

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Vasque Clarion I, Vasque Skywalk II