PeterParker

viberg service boot in icy mocha chromexcel. had to sell some other shit, but it was worth iiiiiiit

Does Viberg's service boot have a celastic toe? The low toe profile looks like most boots without a celastic toe...

I think I'm finally admitting to myself that chromexcel is all it's chalked up to be. Wish my White's were natural CXL (damn you hollowsleather for posting those photos).

1 year 8 months

3 hand washes

Sorry for delay with updates. Busy moving to the other side of the world and starting school. Jeans are back to daily wear now. Here's hoping for a strong finish to the contest!

1 year 8 months

Family portrait

Break in has been butter with the CXL leather. The arch took some getting used to, but other than that, very comfortable and very well made boots.

My experiences with CXL are that it is very supple and comfortable from the start. It is also not a particularly thick leather, so break in time is minimal.

On the other hand, the Distressed Smooth leather was quite thick and rigid. My ankles were aching the first week; it didn't help that one of the speedhooks protruded quite a bit, digging into my ankles. Solved that problem with a hammer and a punch.

And while the Obenauf's experiment didn't produce desirable cosmetic results, it worked wonders for the comfort of the boots. That and they repel water quite nicely now.

I have adjusted to the arch and indeed they are very comfortable. I still can't believe I didn't get my feet into a pair of White's sooner.

Those are White's? They look a little sleeker to me than normal, but it could be the angle (or it could just be me). The pants are great, too.

Beauty of the semidress last: they can look really slick in a Semidress with a close trim and leather sole, or rather rugged in a Bounty Hunter with a Vibram sole. For me, they fill the void of a robust work boot when Alden shell boots are too dressy, while still looking pretty classy.

anyone with white's use an insole for comfort?

after standing on concrete all day, my feet definitely feel it. even with the vibram composition sole and an anti-fatigue mat it's still pretty savage. not that i could fit much of an insole in my boots anyway, the fit doesn't really allow for one.

well, damn.

i suppose the intensity of the darkening from obenauf's depends on how dry the leather is to start. i've seen that chromexcel, which is pretty well oiled, darkens only a little. the distressed smoothed leather was fairly dry. the colour now looks more like white's "brown smooth" leather or brown chromexcel. wish i could bring back the lighter brown somehow.

i employed the brush-on method (using melted obenauf's), so it was a fairly generous coat.

i probably should have used a neutral cream (which i had!) instead to preserve the original colour of the leather.

on the plus side, they're pretty waterproof now.

concerned about the leather on my white's being too dry, i hastily treated them with obenauf's lp. i forgot about the darkening effect on the colour and went the full deal. now my boots are dark brown.

will the leather lighten up over time as the oils are drawn back out of the leather?

On the topic of White's, here are some Bounty Hunters I ordered:

the distressed smooth leather was a little darker than i expected it to be, but i'm not bothered by it. it does feel like it could use some conditioning as it's rather dry out of the box.

i'm miffed about the eyelet/speedhook configuration. for some reason, mine were made with 5 eyelets and 2 speedhooks instead of the more common 4 eyelets and 3 speedhooks (on a 6" bounty hunter). The fifth eyelet is far less convenient than a speedhook since the laces need to be further undone to take off the boot.

the more i think about it, the more disappointed i am with them...

i ordered my white's through baker's 9 weeks ago and they just shipped. at the time i ordered, i was quoted a turnaround of 6-8 weeks, so it does look like they are getting busier these days. makes sense since it's forest fire season.

i think 4-5 weeks is white's default turnaround (i.e. when they aren't backed up), so don't be disappointed if it's another 5 weeks until you see your boots.

layne, I would be interested to hear a comparison review, specifically on the comfort of the bounty hunters versus the vibergs after you've put some time in them.

obviously the bounty hunters are built more like a heavy duty work boot (the semidress would probably be more comparable to the viberg service boots), but viberg has a great heritage of making work boots too.

who doesn't have viberg lust?

sure it's twice the price of white's, but goddamn i'd love to have a pair. it's a shame they're made so close to where i live but still so expensive.

i proceeded to purchase some obenauf's lp immediately after watching that video.

So certain colours of CXL are horsehide?

The naming of Horween's colours is terribly confusing; every shoe company seems to have different colours, or at least different names for the same colour.

The Santalum "tan" looks an awful lot like the "rust" on Wolverine's 1000 mile boots. Does that mean those are horsehide as well?

just about 8 months for me too and no delivery confirmation from bakers. did the foot trace too, but still getting nervous about sizing.

i meant weeks. the first 6 weeks went quickly, but now i'm getting jumpy.

sorry, wasn't trying to fuss over semantics. just anxiously awaiting my white's to arrive. did you specify leather laces on your order? i assumed they would come with leather as all the pairs i have seen are with leather laces.

sounds like you've been fed too much raw denim propaganda from hypebeast.

i try to wear my slimmer, more flattering jeans now because some day i'm going to get fat.

just wear the jeans and wear them hard.

also, roy should refuse you to buy another pair for comparing his jeans to "mall jeans".

so those are 8" bounty hunters, or smoke jumpers? bh are on semidress last, which your boots appear to be.

when did you order yours, and was it direct from white's or through bakers?

just about 8 months for me too and no delivery confirmation from bakers. did the foot trace too, but still getting nervous about sizing.

i've never understood the fascination with denime denim. the contest produced some amazing pairs, but i find there is nothing particularly captivating about the denim.

is the change of ownership through the company's history what makes them valuable? why isn't there any appraisal of the age of warehouse, fullcount, flat head, etc.? surely those companies had eras when they produced their best product.

i'm always amazed by kiya's confidence in recommending sizes based on "i wear size x in brand a, what size do i need in brand b?".

to be sure, i would

1. grab a tape measure and your unbranded jeans.
   
2. measure them following these instructions: http://www.selfedge.com/_measurements.php
   
3. look at self edge's bsp size/measurement chart
   
4. buy one size up from the size with the same waist measurement as your unbranded jeans (to account for shrinkage after soaking)
   

these instructions are assuming your unbranded jeans fit you comfortably. if they are too big or too small, then compensate for sizing accordingly.

why be concerned about a collab that was such a limited run? not hating at all, I've only seen people complaining about this run and not many complimenting it. I would really like to know why this is so bad.

N&F focuses on affordable "entry level" raw denim available in modern cuts. Their denim is sourced from all over the place, and I do not believe the denim they use is milled specifically for them. Rather than producing a flagship denim, they are constantly pumping out funky fabrics. Construction is sturdy but lacks the meticulous attention to detail found on most repro brands. In case it is not apparent, these pracitices are all counter to Flat Head's production.

I've never been a fan of collaborations, but some do provide interesting possibilities (i.e. an exclusive denim, new cut, upgraded hardware/appointments). The N&F collab was straight up a Flat Head jean in a N&F cut. Nothing new or exciting there.

Like I said, there were no compromises in Flat Head's production as a result of the collab (that I am aware of), so I am not disturbed by it.

it's always risky engaging a stranger in a conversation about their pants. i'll notice most people wearing raw denim but it will take something pretty amazing before i'll initiate a conversation, and even then it will start with "nice jeans". usually it's easy to tell who's been wearing naked and famous on weekends for two months, and who's been wearing flat head for a year. twice i've chatted to customers (i also work in retail), but on both occasions they've been keen to discuss denim.

i usually guess what denim it is; first time was lvc but they were sugar cane 1947's, which looked bangin. the second time i noticed the trademark denim and vintage fit. all i had to say was "warehouse, right?" and a nod of mutual respect was reciprocated.

spend long enough on a hobby and you can distinguish fellow hobbyists.

flat head has earned its reputation with its attention to detail and quality. outsourcing production goes against the company's idealogy and appeal.

also, the branding of so many of these japanese brands is so subtle that brand recognition is of minor significance. Remember johnny depp's wardrobe of mister freedom, travis barker's iron heart ombre shirt, and j crew flirting with warehouse? I think your precious japanese denim brands are more resilient to hollywood influence than you give them credit for.

i would be more concerned about flat head's involvement with lesser brands, like naked and famous but again i don't think it has an adverse effect on flat head's products.

remember when it was cool that zack de la rocha wore flat head?

We don't take photos of celebrities that shop at our stores.

What? No secret pervcams in the changing rooms?!

secret pervcams only in effect for regular customers.

also, peterparker wears flat head, so why shouldn't andrew garfield?

who gives a fuck who wears flat head or any other brand glorified on superdenim?

as if a hollywood celebrity has any less of a right to wearing japanese reproduction workwear than some dude working a desk job. heaven forbid that someone famous has discerning taste for quality made garments.

repped snake for having another pair of the 15th 1001xx's. are they that good that you needed two pairs?