Vasque Hiking Boots

[Chip]

i have the sundowner mx2's and really like them though i have incurred a problem

the gore tex layer now hangs loose like a sock inside the boot, most likely due to the putting in and taking out of my orthotics( which hasnt happend with my lowa klondike light hikers).

i called vasque to no avail and tent & trails wasnt helpfull either.since then i have had soggy foot problems in wet & snowy conditions despite repeated treatments with nikwax.

anyone else have this problem or are anomylous gear malfunctions my specialty?

The same thing happens to me and my Danners. I still use Sno-Seal on my leather boots, regardless of gortex. I bake the boots at 150 degrees for about 5 minutes, apply sno-seal, re-bake and re-apply. No problems.

My first real hiking boots were Vasque Whitney II's bought around 1973 at the original EMS in Ardsley.
I applied sno-seal in this manner religiously, looked into having the boots re-soled once or twice, I'd probably still be wearing them except they finally developed a mold infestation after a prolonged storage in a damp basement.

 

[Toe Cozy]

I think it took me about 20 miles of hiking and regular daily work/town wear for the first month to break them in. Just a guess, though.

 

[DougPaul]

I have used Nikwax, but my all time favorite is plain old Mink Oil.

Mink Oil is frequently disrecommended because it softens leather too much. I also vaguely remember a comment somewhere that it causes leather to retain water and rot.

Have never used it on boots myself--Sno-Seal works adequately for me.

Doug