Project Sekong 2014: Good boots are essential. I’m taking back an earlier recommendation.

Years ago I a gave a strong recommendation to these boots, Sundowners by Vasque. The brand is now owned by Red Wing Shoes a Minnesota company but the boots have been outsourced to China and the quality has dropped. I'm on my third pair and each has been worse than the previous. Recommendation reversed!
A few years ago I posted a blog touting my favorite boot: “Sundowners” by Vasque. (Once a “boot of the year” selection at a highly respected hiking magazine). Today, I’m rescinding my past recommendation and warning people: these are not your father’s Sundowners. They’re not even your older brother’s Sundowners. Red Wing Shoes, the current owner of Vasque, has permitted the ruin of a legendary boot.
I ordered my new Sundowners in the same size and width as my previous two pairs, with confidence since the previous boots, right out of the box, had felt a perfect match. And, I had already purchased new socks identical to those worn during previous projects. (My dogs and my old Sundowners were besties for over fifteen years!)
I was baffled when the new boots arrived and were clearly a mismatch for my feet. I had to return them and ask the company to rush me a replacement pair a half size larger. The replacements cost me over ten dollars in shipping and arrived too close to my departure to permit proper breaking in. Furthermore, side-by-side comparison of the new boots with the old revealed a variety of changes in both material and construction. The quality of the leather has dropped, the rubber toe shield is gone and the overall stitching is inferior.
I put the shame on Red Wing Shoes who apparently bought a legendary name, cut the quality, and hope to enjoy good profit margins until they’ve milked their cash cow dry. I hope the public quickly catches on that the sun has indeed set on the Sundowners.