My Vasque Newbrier boots are made from seemles2.6mm waterproof Nubuck leather, with a Goretex lining. Though these boots are no longer offered by Vasque, I was able to find a new pair tucked away and forgotten in the store and, as a result, I got a very good price. The Nubuck leather is strong and protective, but soft enough that these boots do not require a long period to break-in. They are available in narrower widths and my boots fit me perfectly, when wearing my fitted wool hiking socks. They are perfect for my uses, which are light hiking, backpacking (average 50lb. load), and canoe camping. They offer excellent ankle support, very good traction on many varied types of terrain/surface, and the Goretex keeps my feet dry from external moisture. When these boots wear out, I intend to buy a pair of Vasque Sundowners (which are the newer version of the Newbrier boot). The $175 total price paid was in Canadian dollars (March 2003). An awesome deal!

Customer Service

These boots are very durable and, so far, I have not required and customer support services from Vasque.

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I have owned several pairs of Vasque boots and have been verry pleased with the fit ( i wear the wider width with inserts in the left boot) and the comfort. They are very waterproof. I have walked through water almost up to the top of the boot and they kept my feet nice and dry. As long as they continue to make a quality product, I will keep on buying them when they wear out.

Customer Service

If you buy Vasque boots, go to a dealer who will take the time to fit you properly. It will make a huge difference in your comfort and fit.

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Used these on the AT in Virginia and liked them a lot. I originally didn't consider them because of the price but the Sundowner has such a great reputation. They are lighter than many boots, comfortable and easy to break in. They seem to be pretty waterproof but I haven't submerged them yet. They work best with SuperFeet inserts (I use the blue ones). The toe box tends to rub a little toward the end of the day on the sides of my little toes (the ones that went "weee weee weee" all the way home).

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Previously owned a pair of Merrell GoreTex from '94 (Blazers, I think). Good boots but heavier than the Newbrier

I have had these boots for about a year and a half. They have been used in varied terrain (mountainous, desert, and canyoneering). The leather and stitching has held up well. There are no signs of cracking or deteriorization. The soles are starting to wear. I will probably need to have them re-soled some time next winter. These boots are available in narrow widths, which for me was a real plus. Ankle support is adequate under loads up to about 50lbs. I personally would like a bit more padding in the tongue and ankle areas.

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Asolo poor sole durability

Technica leather began cracking after 6 months

this review is actually for the Escape, a non-gore tex version of the newbrier. basically the same boot - newbuck, same sole, etc. to be honest, i'm not sure that gore-tex is really that important. i've treated them with nikwax, and my feet have NEVER gotten wet as long as i don't get in water over the tops. i've used them in snow, rain, rocks, hot, dry, playground basketball in italy & montana, and even had to run 1km with a 50lb pack to catch a train in munich. i teach school in them every day, wear them to church, fishing, phish shows, and just about anything else except for running and training for marathons. in short - super boots, esp. for the $90 i paid. after 5 years the heel stitching is wearing out, but that can be fixed. i'm moving to kenya in august so they'll get a shot at kili and the masai mara too.

Customer Service

customer service was good, they said they'd be happy to restitch the heels, but encouraged me to get a local cobbler to do it. they suggested it'd be cheaper than shipping them and would work fine. they were right!

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asolo rogue, vasque superhikers (just got 'em - the old ones are too ugly for teaching in now)

I purchased my Newbriers for $185 from a small gear shop in S. Florida (Folks down here don't know much about hiking, so I was pretty much on my own. I hiked in the boots non-stop from May to August, 1997 as a Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico -- about 250 - 300 miles altogether, I think. The terrain varied from scree and talus slopes to muddy trails that could have been mistaken for streams. These boots definitely had some good qualities: The Gore-Tex liners NEVER leaked, I never once got a blister, and the soft Nubuck leather hardly required any break-in period. The Vasque insoles, however, are totally worthless. I highly recommend dumping them in the trash and slipping in a pair of SuperFeet or other custom footbed. Also, these boots are definitely not meant for 3+ months of heavy hiking (35-50 pound packs). By the end of the summer the leather was severely cracked and had lost much of its support (yes, I did waterproof them several times w/ Nickwax), This is a common theme I have noticed with Vasque boots, as a pair of Sundowners I used in 1998 had similar problems with the leather losing its stiffness.

Customer Service

When I tried to return the now-floppy footwear to Vasque, they sent them right back to me saying I had not waterproofed them properly. I suppose this means I didn't use THEIR waterproofing stuff. Lesson learned, I guess.

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Vasque Sundowner II GTX

I've had two pairs of this boot. I lost the first pair. OUCH! I immidiately bought another pair because they are my favorite shoes. I wear them when I hike and they also look good with nicer clothes. My feet have never gotten wet in these boots. The soles are great, mud seems to slide right off of them. Any time a step on a large rock or boulder, I don't have to worry about slipping because the soles are like glue on rocks. I love these boots.

The newbrier is a great boot, built on the exact same design as the sundowner. The only problem is the fact that it is made of newbuck. This type of leather is very soft, and requires almost no break in time. It is also very hard to waterproof and thus does not last as long. One way around this is to take seam sealant (the glue-like stuff) and paint a thick layer all over the toe and other wear areas of the boot. It looks weird, but makes them last longer. Overall this is a good boot, but not one with an overly long life expectancy.

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i've had these boots for nearly 4 years. they have been great. i have taken them on many backpacking trips in the sierras and the coast and numerous day hikes. they have been submerged in snow and salt water. i have walked miles of beach as a local park aide. the leather is a little cracked but what else could i expect. it doesn't hinder performance. very comfortable from the start. great boot but a little pricey.

Customer Service

never had to deal with them.

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first pair of real hiking boots