Vasque Women's Sundowner Waterproof Hiking Boots - Lightweight & Durable for Outdoor Adventures, Trail Walking & Backpacking

I had a pair of these in the 1980s while living in Boulder Colorado. Being a poor college student at that time, I had 3 pairs of shoes - the Vasques, Birkenstock sandles, Saucony running shoes. I still recall fondly the day I decided to go ahead and buy the Vasques. I had tried them on and walked around in the store for a week before I bought them. They had a pricetag of $99.00. That was A LOT of money to lay down for a pair of boots for a broke 20 year old college student at that time. Anyway, I worked extra shifts at the restaurant, saved my pennies; and bought them. I wore those Vasques almost everyday in the fall and winter. I also wore them to climb the many Fourteeners I scaled throughout Colorado. While these 2018 Sundowners aren't the same quality Italian Leather as the ones I wore for 15 years until they were almost shreds, so far, they're remeniscent in many ways. First, they're a bit stiff and squeaky. However, not uncomfortably stiff. They give my ankles and feet support and some lift. I feel like I did in my youth wearing them - light, bouncy, like I can scale any mountain I come across. If they're anything like that first pair, I'm guessing they'll mold to my foot over time and become the boot I'll wear into my old age.