Less is more

Markabout 1 year ago
Viberg ChelseaConceria 800 Champagne Washed Vachetta

Maker

Viberg

Model

Chelsea

Leather

Last

2030 Last

US Men's Brannock: 10

2030 Last: 10

Sole

Purchased from

Division Road

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Order info

Availability: Collaboration

Lead Time: 7 days

Why did you choose this item?

Availability: Collaboration
Style
Workplace Needs

I live on a boat, so I don't have room for lots of different pairs of shoes. A good pair of chelseas covers all the bases. I'm not really a 'shoe guy', but when I saw this boot in this leather I thought: "OK...Let's do this!"

How did you determine your size?

2030 Last: 10US Men's Brannock: 10
Did Not Try On
Compared to Other Lasts

I have a pair of size 10 in the 2050 last I picked up at a warehouse sale in Victoria. Figured 2030 would be similar.

What was the ordering process?

Purchased from Division RoadLead time: 7 days
Online Store

Division Road were great!

Use & wear

Outdoor Activities
Travel
Cold Temperatures
Hot Temperatures
Dry Climate
Humid Climate
Wet Conditions
Snow

I wore these boots literally every single day of the dome. I wore them in the woods, on the beach, on deck and in port, in soaking wet and freezing cold and desert heat. They went from BC to PEI twice and from the Arctic to the Antarctic. I wore them in six provinces, four states, seven countries, five continents and across three oceans.

Leather

Conceria 800 Champagne Washed Vachetta
Durability
Color Change
Care Routine
Patina Process

This leather is unlike anything I've ever seen before. Unbelievable character. It's thick and sturdy, but it molded to my foot like a slipper. It is totally raw - full of stretch marks and natural imperfections. It started off bone white and then just slowly turned a golden honey brown. I brushed daily, and used VLB about once a month. I applied a touch of pure lanolin to the creases to keep them from cracking a couple times throughout the dome. The leather has become buttery soft and supple.

Fit

2030 Last: 10US Men's Brannock: 10
Comfort
Length Feels Right
Volume Feels Right
Ball Feels Right
Satisfied with the Fit

These boots fit great.

Craftsmanship

Viberg Chelsea
Construction
Clicking

I bought these boots for the leather, and it's really something. Construction was good, clicking was wonky but that's okay. Definitely quite impressed overall.

Sole & heel

Durability
Comfort

These soles were wild. Super comfortable, super flexible, ultra quiet... but not so durable. I think I like them though! If it wasn't for the cost of resoling, I don't think I'd ever go back to anything else.

Final thoughts

Would Recommend

I thought it would be cool to start with the rawest and most natural leather possible and just see what happens. When I saw this pair in undyed, untreated, uncorrected, full grain half shoulders, it was just what I was looking for. I work as a field biologist and I wanted something that would be comfortable and practical, but would also hold up to heavy use. I wore these boots every day in some pretty harsh conditions and the leather looks better after 6 months than it did on day one. Also, FWIW, I love the scalloped welt 🙂

Written by Mark
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