Shoes that look better with age...

[Critical Observer]

I’m not a big authority on the subject either, but the gist here is that the workwear (inspired) lace-up shoes/boots are generally derby-style, while oxford is a distinctly more formal, dressier style of a shoe/boot. 

My Nick’s Manito high-arch ”oxfords” have arrived on the old continent and are currently in the stern yet righteous hands of the local customs authorities; I should have them by midweek, feeling anxious/nervous as ever about this blind-buy. 

[itsbenhere]

I've been looking for a pair of boondocker-esque boots for quite a while now and I'm happy to say I finally copped the perfect pair. I like them a lot more than viberg's boondocker, and about the same as the Real McCoy's N1 Field shoe, which is now sold-out and like twice the price...

Visvim Zermatt

 

[mlwdp]

For a minute, I thought those were Wesco Jobmasters in brown roughout.  They look similar.

Which reminds me, there's not enough Wesco on here.

[FreeCharlesManson]

i appreciate how those don't have the typical branded heel cup thing at the back

[edmond]

[mlwdp]

Finally, a Wesco.  

[Critical Observer]

On ‎14‎/‎04‎/‎2018 at 4:47 PM, Critical Observer said:

My Nick’s Manito high-arch ”oxfords” have arrived on the old continent and are currently in the stern yet righteous hands of the local customs authorities; I should have them by midweek, feeling anxious/nervous as ever about this blind-buy. 

 

[mlwdp]

Is that a double midsole?  Very rare to see Nick's on here, obviously due to the wait times from them.

[shredwin_206]

Picked these up today. Look forward to beating them up and working them hard. 

Whites SmokeJumper Boot

[mlwdp]

@ecsong187Get ready for the infamous "White Bite" with your Smokejumpers.  Are you using them for work?  They look like stock.  There's a few wildland firefighter boards that suggest a few ways to break them in as well.

[shredwin_206]

They are stock. I’ll be using them for working commercial construction. I need a tough durable boot to hold up to the work I do. 

[mpukas]

break-in can be brutal 

[mlwdp]

35 minutes ago, mpukas said:

break-in can be brutal 

I mentioned this on the White's thread on styleforum and some of them acted like it was a walk in the park lol.  

[shredwin_206]

Wore them a few hours today. Not too bad so far, but will definitely take a while to get used to the arch. 

My feet were definitely starting to get sore already. 

[tod]

Motorcycle damage to my White's heels:

oops, couldn't get photo to load...

Edited April 25, 2018 by tod

[tod]

[mlwdp]

8 hours ago, tod said:

 

Bounty Hunters or SJ?  

Edited April 26, 2018 by mlwdp

[edmond]

the heel looks a little low?

[tod]

16 hours ago, mlwdp said:

Bounty Hunters or SJ?  

Bounty Hunters.

[tod]

3 hours ago, edmond said:

the heel looks a little low?

It's White's standard lowered block heel. About 1.25" rather than 1.5".

[mlwdp]

Viberg is doing weird high fashion shit.

[Foxy2]

not too bad - but it's probably a good thing that they don't have my size...

[Iron Horse]

They're actually getting worse. We're now all dumber for having even seen that image.

[itsbenhere]

If you like that high fashion style they're not too bad...

[dudewuttheheck]

It's times like these where I am so proud to have written an article talking about how far Viberg has fallen... they keep proving my point.

[Broark]

I don't know if it's really fair to talk about "how far Viberg has fallen" just because you don't stylistically agree with what they make at this moment.
It's not like they changed their construction methods, started buying shitty leather or shipped their production methods overseas.
Hell, I don't like those boots and I'd never buy a pair that looks like that myself, but they are still well made and the company still makes a classic work boot here and there.
Just because you don't agree with the direction and some of the shoes that they make doesn't mean they've suddenly fallen to a B-rate shoemaker.
I agree that I don't like a lot of of the stuff they have been doing lately, but you can only sell so many big 'ol work boots to heritage guys. I think Brett is just trying to angle for a different market on the side. It's not like they're exclusively making high fashion shoes and have completely forgotten their heritage.
Just my opinion. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[MJF9]

The Viberg heritage boots are still quality based on comparing my recent pair and my pair from 5 years ago. I'd prefer if they avoided the sidelines but it doesn't diminish the boots from what I have seen. Certainly hoping Viberg keeps keeping on as a heritage brand.

[Maynard Friedman]

^^ Some good points made well Broark. 

[mpukas]

I agree w/ @Broark just because Viberg is diversifying by making product for other markets doesn't in any way mean they've "fallen". They are still one of the leading - and original - makers of heritage/work/military boots. The number of guys into heritage work wear is prolly far smaller that the fashion crowd, and if they can bring their same level of quality in designs that appeal to the constantly changes tastes of the fashion world, then good for them as a company. I'm not at all interested in the fashion crap, but because they make that stuff doesn't deter me from wanting to someday own a pair of their heritage boots. 

It also contributes to keeping them alive and well as a business, and still make the products that appeal to this crowd. A similar comparison is Redwing. Although they're also one of the original heritage footwear makers, today RW's bread-n-butter is real work boots for real work, all of which no one here would ever be caught dead wearing in a fit pic of fancy raw denim. They're Heritage line is really just a fashion brand, and only is able to exist because of the real work boot market. 

[mlwdp]

Whites has "dabbled" in the high fashion world but still centered around their logging/dress boot models.  I've seen them work with Chrome Hearts and Cluct every once and a while.  I don't know if you can count their rare take on chukkas which may or may not go into mass production based on the Whites thread on styleforum.

Wesco, however, hasn't really unless you count their collaboration with Neighborhood.

And Nick's hasn't done any changes to their collection (except the Robert boot) other than that Special order moc toe workboot about 3 years ago.  Now that was short lived!

Edited April 30, 2018 by mlwdp