Vasque Skywalk Review

"My Vasque boots were my first purchase out of boot camp in \'95 after my mom did several safaris in Africa in a pair, and I still wear them at least once or twice a week. I have taken them everywhere from Afganistan to Iraq, to California deserts to Thailand jungles. I have circumnavigated the globe twice.

Too bad you cant buy them anymore!

any idea on a replacement?"

"AS ANOTHER REVIEWER HAS WRITTEN, THE
SKYWALK IS NOT ALL IT IS CRACKED UP TO BE. IT IS
LIGHTWEIGHT AND BREAKS IN QUICKLY, BUT THE
TOES LEAK LIKE HELL. I PERSONALLY AM SENDING
MINE BACK TO REDWING, THE MAKERS OF VASQUE
BOOTS TO SEE IF I AM ABLE TO GET STORE CREDIT
TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF THEIR SUNDOWNER
FULL ONE PIECE LEATHER BOOT I BELIEVE THAT
VASQUE DOES MAKE QUALITY PRODUCTS, BUT THIS
WAS AN ERROR ON MY PART TO SHY AWAY FROM A
FULL LEATHER BOOT AND GO WITH THE CHEAPER
LIGHTWEIGHT VERSION. ONCE AGAIN THE ADAGE
HOLDS TRUE, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. IF YOU
HAVE THE OPTION, GO WITH THE ONE PIECE UPPER
LEATHER ON YOUR PURCHASES"

"This was my first pair of real hiking boots, so they always will have
a sentimental place with me. They are really easy to break in and
once broken in they feel great. I didn't get any blisters so
something must have been working. The one bad thing about them
was the seams on the toes seemed to leak. That is the price for
wearing boots that aren't one piece. Overall they are a great boot
and can be used for day hikes on up."

"Unlike what two other observers of these boots have listed, my
Skywalk II's have been the best boots I've ever owned. I
purchased my first pair at REI nine years ago and NEVER had a
problem. Even when my toe parts seperated from the boot(after
several thousand miles of hiking and climbing in the Arizona
deserts and mountains) they never once leaked. On top of that; I
sent them back to Vasque to be repaired and they sent me back a
NEW pair at NO COST to me. The boots should have nothing to
do with them leaking; unless the Gore-Tex bootie has been torn by
a stick, etc... Mine were punctured with cactus several times and
never leaked. They do cause you to sweat because of the
Gore-Tex bootie. I love mine and would never trade them!"

"I really like my Skywalks. On my first outing with them I managed to get lost (no fault of the boots!) and ended up hiking 9 miles. I hadn't even worn them to the mailbox before this adventure. The good news is that at the end of a very long day (12:30pm - 7:30pm) I didn't have a single blister or even a raw spot! My ankles were quite tired, but I was amazed at how fortunate I was that the boots fit so well right out of the box...mail order I might add! I've had them several years now and have always been extremely pleased with them. Two weeks ago I was Logging and ended up standing in mud/water 2" deep for several hours that day & to date mine have never leaked. To me, their a quality made product and based on my experience so far I don't hesitate to reccommend them to others. However, I weigh about 160# and day hike, whereas I've read stories of 240# guys w/60# packs who've sent the skywalks to an early demise."

"I love my Skywalks! I have hiked probably less than 100 miles in them so far, but have had zero problems. I didn't really want Gore-tex, but thanks to El Nino, it has really been useful. Several times I was sure I was in for some squishy travel, but all was dry. I have never had full leather boots, and am kinda curious, but it would be a hard decision to switch from my Skywalks, so far."

"i just got back from a 49 mile three day hike in the smoky moutains with my skywalk's and i thank god for them. much of the hike around 12 miles was along a creek where i had to cross and recross several times. no water, no pain, no problem. my danner sporting friends however had a different story to tell. both encountered blisters."

"My only complaint about the Skywalks is that when I went to buy a new pair after 10 years I couldn't find them. I absolutely loved the pair I had for 10 years. They were comfortable, lightweight and a joy to hike in. I ended up buying some REI brand boots which are similar but they are heavier than the skywalk and thus less enjoyable."

"I thought this was a comfortable boot and was functional for back/day hiking - even for someone 220# with a heavy pack. Problem was, one of the boots leaked like a sieve right from the get, and the other leaked slightly. I was dissapointed in this factor, but thought they were comfortable."

"My Skywalks are nearly brand new and leak like a frozen water main. I am disappointed as I find them very comfortable. They are not made anymore. I purchased mine thru a Cabelas close-out last year. I have owned 2 pairs of Sundowner over the years; no problems with 'em."

"For what it's worth, my skywalks are close to 20 years old and have just now begun to show their age and leak. Mine were made in Italy. Believe me they were well used and abused over the years. Seems to me I paid around $150 for them new - worth every penny. It's a shame they don't still make them as I'd probably buy two pair to last me the rest of my life!"

"I have an older pair made in Italy that I bought used.I wore these elk hunting last year and we went in 7 miles with #80 backpack's for a 11 day hunt.I never once had any problem's with my feet!They came through with flying color's.All my friend's had a tuff go of it.I did wear a qaulity wicking sock and smart wool sock's."

"FANTASTIC BOOT !!!!!!!!!!!

I still wear my original pair I purchased in the late 80's. I have been having a hard time finding more to buy. These boots are worth their weight in gold and I would pay any price to keep this manufacturer making this amazing boot in the exact method, using the exact materials and maker (Italy). The only downfall of this boot is that the laces don't last as long as the boot.

This (for me) is the PERFECT shoe for my feet. I have back and knee problems and have wore these 26+ hours on concrete at my job and not one complaint. I couldn't have worked that amount of time if it wasn't for the Vasque Skywalk boot."

"I bought a pair of Skywalks back in 1984, I gathered from the sales staff that they were "new", and the guy I spoke with loved his pair. These were a navy/dark tan pair with a Vibram sole (still made in Italy, at the time). They were the finest, most durable and confortable pair of shoes/boots I have ever worn, all kinds of room plus superb support. And an incredibly durable sole, with god enough edging for rock. I wore them down to the stitching, they eventually were beyond the repair or resole stage, and the newer ones just aren't/weren't made as well, and didn't look as nice, either, so I finally had to say "Adios" to my old friends in late 2003. I'm still grieving, especially since I can't find them anymore, I gather Vasque gave up a good thing (Duh!)."

"these boots r the best ever made!!! I live in rural humboldt-WET-county.. AND worked for years in a traffic capacity..these shoes have never let me down-ANDtheylook nice/a skirt!!! I completely wore out 2 pair and in 02 learned they don't make em anymore!!! :( got a chessy pair of iawas? in the same price range...they didn't last one year!! Now I troll ebay in my spare time in search of a womens 9/mens 7.....OLD STYLE...I DID score some after market remake which looks amazing like the origina, smae name too... BUT NOT up to the quality...NO SUPPORT. I crave my Italian Skywalks....I'd buy 3..."

"The best boots I have ever owned!!! I spent two years walking across the USA with an 85 to 120 lb. backpack and never had a failure, emphasize never. Temperatures ranged from 115 degrees in Coulee City Wash. to -65 degrees in Montana. The boots never let me down! I went through 5 pair in 2000 miles and owned a total of 9 pair. The leather insoles were absolutely bullet proof. I tried replacement insoles and they lasted two...two miles. I had to have my leather insoles mailed back to me. I tried Danners full leather boots and they were too D... hot!!! Plus the soles wore out in less than 100 miles, which for me was five days of walking. What a let down.. and a pricey lesson.
My first pair, bought in "84" cost 86 dollars. My last pair bought in the middle 90's cost nearly 200 dollars. In ten years the price increase was over 100 dollars. I had to stop buying them because of the extremely high price. The company priced themselves out of a market..too bad. The first ones made in Italy were the best in comfort and durability. Through the years changes were made to include, different sole patterns, different density rubber,softer on the heels to lessen the impact and harder on the ball to increase durability(this also made the boots slippery on rocks), and attempts were made to stop the leakage at the toe/foot flexpoint (material fatigue). The boots usually started leaking there after a year of hard use. For me, it was because my little toe usually wore through the goretex liner. As well the toe/heel grips(used for steep climbing and descending) were changed to lessen the environmental impact. Hiker safety took second place on this change. Think about that when you are sliding down an avalanche chute. At least I did not tear up the grass!!! The best boots were the first several pairs, after that the "improvements" lessened the quality and function...but they looked good downtown!

My first five pair were used to walk across the USA (on and off highway) and they performed flawlessly for that use. The last four pair were used for mountain backpacking and the "improvements" seriously effected their function.

I wish they still made the original boots (early 80's models) in a reasonable price. I'd be the first to buy them. I could tell you more, but I will quit here."