incredible patina variations.. im really surprised you don't like the super fine white double row stitching Viberg is known for.. I think that's one of the best and most characterized features.. I won't buy a Viberg that doesn't have it.. it really demonstrates their attention to detail imo.. im always impressed by how many stitches they can pull off., done flawlessly at that.. thanks
That patina is to die for, I'm hoping my Crockett and Jones Coniston rough out suede looks like this with more wear which is why I've refrained from rewaxing them. Even though C & J recommend it, it then darkens them again
Honestly I'm in the minority who thinks Viberg is at it's highest level right now. Look at service boots they made 10 years ago and they look like rough drafts compared to today. Pointy toed 2030 CXL on dainite with huge clunky welt stitching like Nicks. They've added all kinds of cool leathers on multiple lasts and soles. Leather toe puffs, tighter stitching, improved last shapes, the best patterns of any company, the best holdfast construction technique. Does anybody believe Parhurst's patterns look good or proportional compared to Viberg? It's trendy to hate on Viberg, but they are better than ever imo. Alden is the same for me, trendy to hate on, but still better fitting, looking, feeling and way more iconic than Grant Stone. The price hikes have turned people's previous enthusiasm into hate, and most people are hyping up the new cheaper brands, mostly made overseas, that aren't in the same league as Viberg and Alden. Parkurst, Grant Stone and all the other newer brands are very good boots, but let's not pretend they're as good as the OG classic bootmakers. As long as I'm dropping hot takes, White's is the best PNW bootmaker by far. They nailed their proportions, fits, leathers, welt construction and heel to toe ratio better than anyone, and all the other PNW makers, most of whom branched off from White's, are making slightly less comfortable copies under different names. Viberg is White's only equal imo.
Looking at the quality difference between my Oak Street N1 and my Viberg 2040 service boot… Viberg has fallen, or everyone else is catching up! Viberg stopped including Venetian shoe cream, the new box is absolutely appalling, and their price just keeps increasing! Yes their boots are wonderfully crafted, but they aren’t miles ahead of everyone else like they once were.
I actually hate the look of the stitchdown stitches on Viberg boots. For me, Nick's has the best looking stitches. I think the higher SPI is a weaker construction too, at some point they're getting close enough to almost create a perforated edge effect.
Yeah, I agree. On stitchdown boots that have a more reasonable SPI. You can get 2-3 resoles when using a rapid stitcher before the vamp leather is shot. I wonder how many you could do on a Viberg without hand stitching the sole to hit the original holes. I would guess less than that. I’m sure someone has done it.
Somewhere around 1200 yeah. The more cost effective solution to getting what I wanted would have probably just been getting something else entirely. But I’m not smart, so here we are.
I don’t plan on doing much of anything to it. If you did, I would just treat it like any other suede or even rewax the thing if you were being really serious.
Can’t argue with that. I love Vibergs because if you can get past all the pretentious foppery that surrounds them at their core they’re a solid boot. In terms of materials used and overall build quality they’re one of the best makers doing boots at scale.