Owner Review 1996 Vasque Sundowner Mid-Weight Backpacking Boots

Review Date: 04/24/2006

 

 

Tester Info:

 

 

Name:              Jeremy Spencer

Age:                 23

Gender:            Male

Height:              5’11” (180 cm)

Weight: 195 lbs (88 kg)

Email:               BackPacker     at   jbspencer   dot    com

Location:          Baton Rouge, Louisiana

 

Backpacking Background:

 

I’ve been an avid backpacker for almost a decade, jumpstarting my ‘career’ by living for a full year at a primitive campsite in Tennessee. When I moved back to my hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I continued to stay outdoors by being an active Boy Scout – cumulating in my achievement of Eagle Scout rank. I’ve been on numerous weeklong treks and more weekend excursions than I can count – over 500 nights. I travel throughout the South on a fairly regular basis – mainly over flat terrain and a subtropical climate. I am a mid-weight backpacker; my average weight is around 25-30 lbs. I currently work as a professional outdoors outfitter in addition to going to college.

 

Product Information:

 

Manufacturer:               Vasque

Year of purchase:         1997

Manufacturer URL:       http://www.vasque.com

Product Category:        Mid-Weight Backpacker

Boot size tested:           13 US (47.5 EUR)

Boot color tested:         Burgundy

Boot weight (at time of testing): 3.5 lbs (1.59 kg)

 

The uppers’ exterior consists of 2.4mm Waterproof Smoothout Leather, in this case with 3-Bar Knit Nylon lining and a Gore-Tex membrane. The insole is ‘Bimodal 2’. The outsole is by Skywalk. The footbed is Vasque’s Volume Fit System. The collar of these boots is very well constructed, having a slightly higher, well-padded design to them.

 

Field Information:

Locations:

 

·        Hills and forests of Middle Tennessee, with temperatures ranging from 89 F (31 C) in the summer to 27 F (-3 C) during the snowy winters. Annual rainfall is 50” (127 cm). Annual snowfall is 11” (28 cm). Average elevation is around 814 feet (248 m).

·         Subtropical climate of Louisiana, with the average temperature during summer being 82 F (28 C), and 52 F (11 C) in the winter. Summers are extremely humid. Annual rainfall is 77” (196 cm). Average elevation is around 19 feet (6 m).

 

Performance:

 

These boots have served their purpose well for nearly a decade. They were originally purchased (new) in 1997, and the boots themselves were made in Italy during 1996. They have been worn very hard ever since. Their purchase was made in Baton Rouge in anticipation for a move to an outdoors facility in Bucksnort, Tennessee. As the camp was completely outdoors, the minimum amount of hiking done per day was between 8 and 10 miles (13-16 km). There was no maximum, but 30 mile (48 km) trips were a frequent occurrence.

 

The Sundowners are not very well-ventilated boot. They are thin enough to give some breathability but the construction is such that my foot is left without as much air as a leather/fabric boot would give. The thinness of the leather coupled with the lack of ventilation is definitely a con when considering it for wintertime use in a cold environment. The boots have very minimal padding on the uppers – the only exception being the collar. When backpacking in snow, care must be given to wearing insulating layers such as SmartWool socks. The leather allows the cold to pass fairly easily, and with a thin pair of socks on it poses a problem within a few miles. Although the leather is thin, it’s definitely tough. There have been many instances that my boots should have been punctured but somehow the stick or rock couldn’t make its way through the material.

 

Backpacking in warmer climates with the Sundowners is very enjoyable. In ‘normal’ climates that fall in the average comfort range of the temperature scale, these boots perform at their best. I noticed that after extended periods of hiking the sock worn is generally wet, but the moisture is minimal and it isn’t enough to cause blisters. Speaking of blisters, these boots broke themselves in almost immediately after being taken out of the box. After 3 days of hiking around in them they fit perfectly and caused me to actually forget I was wearing them at times. Terrain in Tennessee is rocky, and walking over unforgiving mountains and embankments gave me an appreciation for how sturdy the ankle support is on these boots. The padded collar almost completely eliminated any chance my ankle had of rolling.

 

The outsole of these boots is made by Skywalk. They are extremely tough, and have lasted through grueling trials for over 1000 miles (1610 km). They only now need to be replaced due to the heel area wearing away thanks to overpronation. The Skywalk sole is stiff, and doesn’t absorb impacts very well. Lacing the boots up is a breeze, though the supplied lace is extremely long – I had to wrap it around the back of the boot on each end of the string once before tying the knot. A shorter lace will solve this problem, but why such a long one was put in there in the first place is beyond my understanding. The foot bed, while comfortable, isn’t as nice as a pair of premium insoles such as those made by SuperFeet. There’s a tab of leather on the back of the boots to pick them up after getting them dirty, but a loop would have made more sense instead. The tabs are small enough so that I had difficulty keeping both of them in my hand at the same time while carrying the boots.

 

That after 10 years these boots are still usable is truly amazing. Good construction is one thing, but to have a boot that still has tread (admittedly not much) left after this many miles and minimal physical distress after so much hard use is astounding. However, there are a few problems with the boot. I noticed after 3-4 years that cracks had started developing in the sewn-on-top portion of the outsole that attaches the main outsole to the part with the grommets used for holding the shoelace in place. Specifically, they appeared right at the top of the toe box where I normally lift my toes in anticipation of the next step – between the first and second set of D-rings (if counting from the toe of the shoe to the ankle). Also, the boots have lost their waterproofness to a degree. I believe that the leak is due to the sole taking so much abuse through the years. With any luck, the process of having them resoled, as well as multiple waterproofing applications should eliminate the seepage of water into the boot.

 

Summary:

 

The Vasque Sundowners have rightly earned the name “Classics”. Their nearly one-piece leather construction makes them perfect for serious backpacking and/or off-trail fun. While not suitable for extreme cold weather, they are great moderate-temperature boots that will last a lifetime with good care.