#needshoesforultramiles. Yeah, we do. We need shoes that are going to last us a bit more than 300 miles. For most trail runners who run any kind of miles, 300 miles is something we're running in 3-4 weeks (or less). I really thought that my shoes should have gotten a bit more life out of them. Given the way we as consumers connect with companies these days, I felt a tweet was appropriate. 1.) To show La Sportiva what happened to the product. 2.) To show my displeasure in their premature failure. What I got in return irked me a bit..
On July 30th, while hiking Long's Peak, I wore my newest and latest pair of La Sportiva Raptors. I know, exactly, the mile these shoes were on! 75.6 miles in on the shoes.. and they once again ripped clear across the top of the toe-box.
So no La Sportiva.. it's not time for me to pick up a new pair. That time has come and gone three times now and three times I've been disappointed with what I consider to be a sub-par product. I've switched to Vasque.. you lost me as a customer. But why did you lose me as a customer? Was it the shoes or the tweet? Both?
I would guess it was both but more the 3 x failures. We don't have such a wide variety of brands here in South Africa and as it is we don't have La Sportiva and also not Vasque. I hope you get many happy miles from the new brand.
ReplyDeleteJust curious, did you give their customer service a call as well and they shot you down in regards to a replacement? I tweeted Merrell about a pair of my brother-in-laws boots blowing out and they didn't even respond, but he called them and they sent him a new pair.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I've been running in Vasque shoes for many years now - at least 10 since they first came out and got a good review on the cover of Outside magazine. I'm on my third pair with a 4th new pair still in the box waiting. I still use my first two pair for hiking and sometimes running if a pair is wet. I had to mark the shoes with black magic marker so I could tell them apart they are all in that good of shape. You should get a long life out of them.
ReplyDeleteSame thing happened to my Saucony Xodus 3's on Green Mt. Luckily was able to sew the mesh together and have been able to run many more miles with them.
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