Gorgeous leather with an incredibly rich hue and depth of color.

ericawjcabout 1 year ago
Onderhoud LCV02 Monkey BootBadalassi Carlo Oliva Minerva Overdyed Black
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Use & wear

Outdoor Activities
Leisure
Travel
Wet Conditions

Daily walking on concrete/asphalt, park trails at least once a week, exploration of abandoned stormwater drains once a month, and a 5 day trip hiking through the Australian Outback.

Leather

Badalassi Carlo Oliva Minerva Overdyed Black
Patina Process
Care Routine
Break-In
Color Change

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.

Fit

Comfort
Arch
Toe Box
Instep
Socks
Length Feels Right
Volume Feels Right
Ball Feels Right
Satisfied with the Fit

The last fits great on my feet with either thin or medium-cushioned socks and within a month they were well broken in and perfectly snug on the foot. Vulture is a slimmer last than Buteo X and I would not wear thick socks in this last, or would size up if need be. There isn't alot of arch support and the toe box and instep is relatively small.

Craftsmanship

Onderhoud LCV02 Monkey Boot

Impeccable and just enough chonk to suit my needs.

Sole & heel

Durability
Traction
Comfort

The grip is great for just about anything bar extreme off terrain and possibly snow. They held up great through rain and drains, but traction struggled slightly in the rocky desert. Very easy to clean however, while they do not seem as durable as Raw Cord, Dainite or Vibram's 430/700, I consider them more comfortable.

Written by ericawjc
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