Best Reviews2025
Best of Patina Project
Browse top posts from the Patina Project community.Browse by
Month
July 2025June 2025May 2025April 2025March 2025February 2025January 2025December 2024November 2024October 2024September 2024August 2024July 2024June 2024May 2024April 2024March 2024February 2024January 2024December 2023November 2023October 2023September 2023August 2023July 2023June 2023May 2023April 2023March 2023February 2023January 2023December 2022November 2022October 2022September 2022August 2022July 2022June 2022May 2022April 2022March 2022February 2022January 2022December 2021November 2021October 2021September 2021
Best reviews of 2025
The patina journey I’ve always wanted. I’m looking forward to the experience.
Nicks Custom Model in Wickett & Craig Slate Double StuffedBy RubenHernandez • October 5, 2025"I’ve put about three and a half miles of walking...."Read the full review
Pre wear review.
Hook & Punch Derby Boot in Horween Color 8 Chromexcel Strips (Western Floral Stamped)By hooknpunch • September 30, 2025"This will be a daily wear pair for office work. Will also wear to weddings and on vacation. It will look good with my suit..."Read the full review
Grail For Boot Craft & Grail For The Boot Cult
Viberg Service Boot BCT in Horween Black Teacore Double Cordovan ButtsBy Huntsman • August 3, 2025"The generational culmination of Horween’s tannery alchemy and Viberg’s bootmaking, this is more than footwear—it’s well over a six-month labor of love, science, and stubborn craftsmanship.
Viberg & Horween created this Black Pigment Teacore Service Boot from Horween’s Natural Crust Double Cordovan Butts—the most ambitious leather they’ve ever worked with. At 3.5–4mm thick, it’s the heaviest in Viberg’s 92-year history.
The leather begins life as Shell Cordovan—same hindquarter cut, same 60-day bark pit tan, same hot-stuffing, hand-oiling, and 90-day cure. But here’s the twist: the shell layer remains hidden. No secondary shaving. No added dyes to the teacore. What you’re left with is **hide over shell**—thicker, tougher, and unapologetically raw—then dressed in a deep black pigment that will slowly reveal its terracotta core through creases and wear.
This boot feels like armor but wears like sculpture. The teacore beneath will emerge uniquely with every scuff and flex, recording your journey like a leather-bound diary. No two pairs will age the same.
Built on the sleek yet anatomical 2030 last, it features:
270° stitchdown construction – water-resistant and resoleable
Brogue cap toe – subtle character
Brass eyelets – aged elegance
Dainite sole – grip without bulk
This is not just a grail for the boot craft—it’s a grail for the boot cult. For those who see leather not as a material, but as a medium. For those who want their boots to speak.
I am fortunate and have such gratitude to be able to wear these beautiful beasts...."Read the full review
I chose a dressier boot for daily construction work. And the results exceeded my expectations
Frank's Wilshire in Wickett & Craig Tan Oiled LatigoBy brusa • January 9, 2025"Daily wear at work in construction, weekends climbing tall pines hunting Florida pine goats and scouting public land looking for sign and deer...."Read the full review
My dream boot in a beautiful color that came early in my boot journey.
White's MP-Sherman Toe Cap in Maryam Toscanello HorsebuttBy Florianfloorwalker • May 4, 2025"Recieved, 31. March. Review 4th May.
I’ve been wearing my White’s Boots CMP-Sherman Toscanello Horse Hide for about a month now. Usually one day a week with around 10’000 steps walking (train and bike commute, my, office. plus a half day per week with about 4'000 steps. Mostly casual and light outdoor use. They’re holding up well but still breaking in...."Read the full review
Double stuffed Wickett leather is durable as hell.
Nicks StationMaster in Nicks / Wickett & Craig MojaveBy Briansbootpage • April 9, 2025"Working outdoors,digging power pole holes in South Florida...."Read the full review
Good value, but required some effort.
BLKBRD Rudiger Service Boot in Maryam Toscanello TPR HorsebuttBy MrMister • September 24, 2025"I live, work, and commute in urban areas. I do almost everything in boots except for hike/exercise. Mainly just casual use. Some days in excess of 20K steps...."Read the full review
I found my work boots. I will probably stitch straps on my old boots while I get a resole.
Nicks Heritage TankerPro in Horween Natural DublinBy arriaga214 • April 1, 2025"I probably wore my boots 95% of the time. I wore them mostly to work. I found myself using them on sundays while i was just relaxing in my garage or grilling. My environments at work vary a lot. I build new houses in Texas. The terrain can be very steep, rocky, muddy, sand, trash, brick, flat concrete and nails. One of the features that i like the most is that i can step on 2x4s with nails and they dont puncture my feet. The nails just bend. Since I have worn knicks i have never had a nail on my feet...."Read the full review
Slow burn worth the wait for Nicks Parkhurst V2 Thunderdome 2024-2025
Nicks Parkhurst V2 in Horween Tan Waxed FleshBy austinrylees • April 3, 2025"I have worn these boots during most of my activities for the past 6 months. I work in a clinic with children and although they get regular use but for 8 out of 12 hours they were mostly indoors...."Read the full review
Nicks delivered on their promise
Nicks Palouse in Italian Brown CypressBy BFuller1975 • February 6, 2025"I’ve worn them every day since the beginning of thunderdome. My days have included hunting, hiking, office work, nights on the town…basically everything...."Read the full review
Tough daily drivers that I looked forward to beating up every day
Viberg Service Boot in Horween Brown Waxed FleshBy pesayerm • April 6, 2025"I wore these everywhere during the dome, they were my main boots for 6 months. I wore these in rain, snow, and mud, on the playground with my kids, on long dog walks, hikes, and everything in between. At times these felt a bit too “refined” in certain situations, but overall these were a lot of fun to wear and looked good with just about everything in my wardrobe...."Read the full review
A Red Wing Retrospective
Red Wing Iron Ranger in S.B. Foot Amber HarnessBy nikolanottesla • October 13, 2025"For many of us, Red Wing (particularly the Iron Ranger) serves as the gateway drug into this hobby. I never expected my first pair of welted boots to spark what became an adult scavenger hunt for rare and interesting footwear. But despite the numerous pairs that have cycled through my collection (some far more expensive than these), this pair has stayed put. And likely always will.
Calling them a "starter boot" feels like an understatement of just how strong a value proposition they offer. Excellent materials and unmatched quality of construction at this price point. Red Wings are the mid-90s base-model Lexus of the boot world. Relatively affordable with some (but minimal) flash, built with an unwavering commitment to quality and function. Rock-solid dependability. You can upgrade, sure, but that's a matter of choice rather than necessity; you could be perfectly content owning these as your sole (ha!) pair of high-end welted footwear for life.
I picked these up from the flagship store in Minnesota during one of the toughest professional stretches of my life. In hindsight, I think planning that drive and debating which model to buy helped pull me through some of the worst of it. Since then, they've been everywhere with me: on trips, through milestones, through change.
They don't see much wear these days, maybe a few times a year. But I still like having them prominently displayed on my footwear shelf as a quiet reminder of where all this fun (see: insanity) started...."Read the full review
Initial impressions of the Nicks Handmade Red Waxed Flesh Sample Leather boots
Nicks MTO in Horween Red Waxed FleshBy Ankle333 • October 8, 2025"Yes so far mostly office work and so light basement remodeling...."Read the full review
A Dissertation About Chelsea Boots With Cuban Heels On It
Briselblack The Seventh Chelsea Boot in Shinki Black Teacore HorsebuttBy ArySaputra • October 7, 2025"I primarily wear these boots indoors, as I work in a corpo office that requires more formal, yet sleek footwear. Additionaly, these boots can withstand the humid climate in my country...."Read the full review
