Gorgeous leather with an incredibly rich hue and depth of color.
Onderhoud LCV02 Monkey Boot in Badalassi Carlo Oliva Minerva Overdyed BlackBy ericawjc • April 5, 2024"Breaking in was tough on the instep and the rolled edges chafed my calves a bit, however, being a monkey boot the instep issue was gone within a few days of wear. The edges took a little longer to ease up but I found the leather to be more pliable than other veg-tans I own.
I brushed these every second day or after a day of heavy wear and have conditioned them once after a particularly wet slog through the drains.
I had expected these to age into a green-brown but they have evolved into shades of burgundy which was unexpected but a pleasant surprise, as the depth of color is absolutely gorgeous. I am unsure if this is because of the exposure to elements within drains or the red sands of the Australian Desert, but the green stitching certainly makes this a unique-looking pair in my collection...."Read the full review
Tough but Elegant
John Lofgren Donkey Puncher Boots in Badalassi Carlo Cognac MinervaBy shakincheese • April 5, 2024"It’s held up very well I will certainly not win but they will last and look good for quite a while...."Read the full review
A hard crash course in my first long time wear of a heritage " work" boot, and im not going back
Grant Stone Brass Boot in Badalassi Carlo Saddle Tan MinervaBy SKopp • April 2, 2024"The leather scratches, gouges, and cuts easily. Early on it bothered me but know it's just character. It started extremely stiff, really digging into my ankles but now i dont even think about it. Soft and supple. In terms of care i brushed them on Fridays. Early on i conditioned them in only the hot spots to try and soften them up, which worked great. Whenever i dumped large amounts of paint on them i wiped them down with lacquer thinner. I also did a more thorough cleaning shortly before picture days. Ive tried a few different conditioners. Bick 4 (ok), venetian shoe cream (my favorite), and smiths leather balm (i liked this one too especially as added protection in winter months) and brush brush brush. Even thought my 2 year old daughter to brush her and my boots. After a few months ive really loved how darker and more red the leather has become. The little speckles of paint and primer used to bother me but not anymore...."Read the full review
My Everyday Boots
Grant Stone Nora Boot in Badalassi Carlo Saddle Tan MinervaBy specgirl8 • April 5, 2024"The Badalassi Carlo Saddle Tan Minerva is a very thick, sturdy leather that has been tough to break in. The first couple of months my boots were very stiff and uncomfortable around my ankles. That same thickness makes my boots very supportive, however.
Once a month I use Renovateur to condition them and I brush them with a horsehair brush. At the end of February I hand-massaged Pecard’s Antique Leather Dressing into my boots and that really made them more pliable.
My boots started out a honey tan color and have worn to a molten caramel. They are just beautiful with the creases and folds molding to the shape of my foot.
I tell people my boots fit me like a well-made pair of ice skates that hug my feet...."Read the full review
From Mountains to Mosh Pits
Briselblack The Stride Side Zip Boots in Badalassi Carlo Cognac MinervaBy heathenist • April 6, 2024"The leather darkened pretty significantly after the first month, but in a way that I really like. In the first month they were much closer to a natural leather in color, but with more and more wear, some of the orange undertones started to come through. It has also broken in very nicely in my opinion, I love how it has molded around my heel and ankle. The roughout is extremely resilient...."Read the full review
Smart lil’ Cookie
Grant Stone Edward Boot in Badalassi Carlo Natural MinervaBy wirywill • April 5, 2024"The evolution felt slow at first but suddenly ramped up after a few months.
Then patina is sort of a ‘global’ patina. However, the toe area darkened the most and the top of the shaft the least.
The top vamp has dark line from the peddle strap which I both love and hate. The side has a dark bit probably from colliding with the wheel of my bike or, again, rubbing the pedal. There’s also some dark spots on the right pair from the stuff that came off the chain during a commute with particularly bad weather.
For some reason the break-in on these felt harder then my Diesel in Badalassi Saddle Tan Minerva. Hmm maybe it’s cause I had to wear these daily vs spacing out my wear?
As for care, I hit with a horsehair brush and old cotton T-shirt every two to five-ish weeks. I know, pretty lazy on my part. But they did hold up well. Usually I place shoe trees overnight when I remember...."Read the full review
Two of a kind, working on a full house
Grant Stone Diesel Boot in Badalassi Carlo Saddle Tan MinervaBy cuffcheckdenim • April 4, 2024"This leather is so tough and ready for anything. It changes with every brush, and it takes to brushing and conditioning like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s slow to soften up at break-in, taking almost four months before it was feeling soft as butter all around, but this is a testament to its strength. Consider conditioning these regularly after the first few months. The Veg tan will thank you. It goes from a golden blonde to a burnt orange in a few months, especially when brushed and exposed to the elements...."Read the full review
Hard wearing dress wear
Grant Stone Ottawa Boot in Badalassi Carlo Natural MinervaBy kylocheff • April 11, 2024"It was fairly stiff and uncomfortable at first, but it broke in beautifully and want from a bright tan to a delicious golden brown over the course of 5 months. Only conditioned twice in 5 months, and I don’t even think that was necessary...."Read the full review
They’re good city boots.
Grant Stone Ottawa Boot in Badalassi Carlo Natural MinervaBy benjfriedrich • April 6, 2024"The pale peach tone of unworn Natural Minerva is very pretty, and I wanted to avoid darkening these beyond the natural course of wear, so the only product I put on these was a bit of Venetian Shoe Cream. They lost that pale peach color fairly quickly and have reached a brilliant orange. In sunlight, they’re almost bright enough to be a bit confusing...."Read the full review
