Repairing Gortex lined Vasque boots
donald.w.sayegh
I bought a pair of Gortex lined Vasque Skywalker boots a couple of years
ago and they've served me well. I now also have a pair of heavier duty
Fabiano Trionics. Still the Vasques are great for day hikes and such and
I would like to continue to use them. The only problem is that some of
the stitching between the nylon and suade portions is coming undone.
The company that makes the Vasques is Redwing of same town in Minn. I
called their 800 number and was put in touch with their service department.
When I told the kind gentleman of my problem he told me I would be better
off taking the boots to my local repair shop. I had already done that.
Fernando, the best cobbler I know, told me that he would have to stitch
all the way through. I told Fernando that this would negate the function
of the Gortex lining. He agreed and said that it was too expensive to
take the whole shoe apart and stitch the outer layers separately. Well,
wouldn't you know that this is exactly what the serviceman at Redwing told me
too. The Redwing guy said that the composite boots are not made to last more
than a couple of years of regular use.
Now folks I don't use these boots all that often. The soles are still in fine
shape. So does anyone have any experience in this? It looks like my only
option is to have Fernando stitch them. But then how do I waterproof them?
They are half suade and half nylon. Any recommendations would be
appreciated.
Don Sayegh
att!mtdcb!dws
Karl Anderson
(donald.w.sayegh) writes:
|>
|> I bought a pair of Gortex lined Vasque Skywalker boots a couple
|>
I just bought a pair of Skywalkers for about $145, and you say Redwing
claims they're not meant to last more than a couple of years of
regular use? Does this seem acceptable to anyone in netland? Would
you buy these boots, or any other from this manufacturer again, knowing
this?
--
Karl A. Anderson | Internet: ka...@forest.gsfc.nasa.gov
NASA/GSFC code 923 (STX) | voice: (301) 286-3815
Greenbelt, MD 20771 | #include "std_disclaimer"
Kenneth Cline
>
>I just bought a pair of Skywalkers for about $145, and you say Redwing
>claims they're not meant to last more than a couple of years of
>regular use? Does this seem acceptable to anyone in netland? Would
>you buy these boots, or any other from this manufacturer again, knowing
>this?
Presumably, these are leather and nylon hybrid boots (with Gortex
liners). If this is the case, then given moderate use, the seams
joining the leather and nylon will probably go within a few years.
They can be resewn, at the expense of a few holes in the Gortex, which
is really no big deal. This is the reason I recommended all leather
hiking boots when someone asked for suggestions recently (plus the
fact that you don't save much weight or money anyway - except on the
running shoe style boots which won't last as long as either).
Ken
donald.w.sayegh
> In article <1991Apr11....@cbnewsj.att.com>, dw...@cbnewsj.att.com
> (donald.w.sayegh) writes:
> |>
> |> is coming undone...The Redwing guy said that the composite boots
> |> are not made to last more than a couple of years of regular use.
> |>
>
> I just bought a pair of Skywalkers for about $145, and you say Redwing
> claims they're not meant to last more than a couple of years of
> regular use? Does this seem acceptable to anyone in netland? Would
> you buy these boots, or any other from this manufacturer again, knowing
> this?
>
trek and for a couple dozen weekend backpack trips as well as any day of
inclement weather. They've been very comfortable and have kept me dry in
moderate rain. They've performed well but I would like them to have lasted
a bit longer (especially because I cannot repair them to nearly their original
quality.
Don Sayegh
att!mtdcb!dws
Ken Lee
|> claims they're not meant to last more than a couple of years of
|> regular use? Does this seem acceptable to anyone in netland?
I'm not familiar with this model, but I would say that, in general,
boots with glued soles are designed to be disposable. The sole
typically wears out first. If it's glued on, there is no way to repair
it.
Boots with welted soles, on the other hand, are made to be resoled many
times, so the uppers are much more durable.
--
Ken Lee
DEC Western Software Laboratory, Palo Alto, Calif.
Internet: kl...@wsl.dec.com
uucp: uunet!decwrl!klee
donald.w.sayegh
> In article <1991Apr1...@quercus.gsfc.nasa.gov>, ka...@quercus.gsfc.nasa.gov (Karl Anderson) writes:
> |> I just bought a pair of Skywalkers for about $145, and you say Redwing
>
> boots with glued soles are designed to be disposable. The sole
> typically wears out first. If it's glued on, there is no way to repair
> it.
>
> Boots with welted soles, on the other hand, are made to be resoled many
> times, so the uppers are much more durable.
>
I guess that this might be true because the soles on my boots are still fine
but the uppers need stitching.
Don Sayegh
att!mtdcb!dws
Kenneth Cline
>>
>For what it's worth. I bought my Skywalkers in 1988, used them on a Himalayan
>trek and for a couple dozen weekend backpack trips as well as any day of
>inclement weather. They've been very comfortable and have kept me dry in
>moderate rain. They've performed well but I would like them to have lasted
>a bit longer (especially because I cannot repair them to nearly their original
>quality.
Well, I talked to a Vasque rep at our local outdoor store yesterday,
and he tells me the problems with the original Skywalkers have been
corrected in the Skywalker IIs. In particular, he hasn't seen returns
due to the seams on the side wearing out, due to an increase in the
amount of leather used. He also said that they have a generous
repair policy, and try to please customers even when they are not
necessarily at fault.
Ken
Al Knoll
to seal the holes. It'll work just fine..
Al (sometimes holeyer than thou)
Wayne Gisel
> As long as we are on the subject of Gore-Tex lined Vasque boots, does
> anybody have comments, positive or negative, on the Vasque Sundowner
> boots? They are Gore-Tex lined, but also full-leather top (kind of
> Maroon colored). It seems like they would be about the driest boots
> around, very necessary for hiking here in the Northwest.
I have been using these. I like the boots very much. However, I have
had several pairs of Gore-Tex lined boots and have come to the conclusion
that Gore-Tex in a boot is a waste. With the stresses placed on a boot,
the waterproof membrane is just not strong enough and stitching holes get
enlarged.
Also, Gore-Tex only keeps its waterproof characteristics if it is clean
and does not have pressure applied to it. With boots in a rain, there is
no way the boot will stay clean and there will be pressure applied in
certain spots.
So, in my opinion, ignore the fact that that a boot does or does not have
Gore-Tex. Base your decision on whatever other criteria you have, and
plan on using a sealer to achieve the waterproofness.
wayne gisel
way...@fc.hp.com
Charles H. Hemstreet IV
>Ken
For what it's worth, I bought my vasque skywalk's last year and
actually got a great deal on a shoe that didn't fit ($80). After
realizing that that I was _convinced_ of their comfort, I tried to
take them back to the Eagle's Nest where I bought them. "No Way!"
They said. No returns, no exchanges (new policy, know what your
buying!)
Someone told me that the Redwing dealer had helped them, so I went to
Redwing. I called them up and told them my situation. They said to
come on in. They even made arrangements to stay an extra 20 minutes
after they closed because I wouldn't be able to make it in before
then... even after I had practically begged them not to inconvenience
themselves. Talk about a dealer bending over backwords! I brought
the boots to them, they replaced them with boots that REALLY fit
(Brand New Skywalk II's with metal rings instead of the plastic ones I
had just turned in), and even gave me a receipt for them in case I
needed to bring them back for repair.
It seems that my skywalk II's would be invincible to a certain degree.
I sure hope they last longer than two years, and if they don't, I know
someone that will help me keep my boots in good shape. Hope your
redwing dealer is as good as mine!
Charles
--
!===========================================================================!
! Charles H. Hemstreet IV ! internet: hems...@greyrock.MSO.ColoState.Edu !
! Colorado State University ! Computer Consultant !
!===========================================================================!
Hal Miles (HFM)
>
>I bought a pair of Gortex lined Vasque Skywalker boots a couple of years
>ago and they've served me well. I now also have a pair of heavier duty
>Fabiano Trionics. Still the Vasques are great for day hikes and such and
>I would like to continue to use them. The only problem is that some of
>the stitching between the nylon and suade portions is coming undone.
>
dealer chose to glue the leather to the nylon to avoid stitching the Gortex
liner. I later replaced them with the all leather Vasque Sundowner to avoid
this problem.
Hal....@hub.dsg.ti.com
--
Hal Miles Texas Instruments, Inc. 512-250-7908
Internet Hal....@hub.dsg.ti.com
TI MSG HFM
Ron Gould
Skywalker, very comfortable. After a couple of years of moderate use
the stitching was wasted. I've seen several Skywalker's that have had
their stitches wear out. I saw that the Skywalker II had realized the
design problem of the Skywalker by changing the design a bit, but after
~30 miles in my new Skywalker II's the stitching was already starting to
go in the same area as the Skywalker. At $120+ for a pair of shoes I
expect more.
The trip that did in my Skywalker IIs also did in a pair of Bobbie's
boots.... we got our money back.
Ron Gould