To the office plus many miles of walking. I also wore them at the boot shop where I am apprenticing under a cowboy boot maker on the weekends.
The Maryam horsebutt is super durable. The break in was a little tough but not as bad as it could have been if the fit wasn’t so spot on. Took over 100 hours and roughly 25 miles until they felt solidly broken in. Developed nice rolls and I kind of liked the way the leather toe puff flattened out a little over time, creating an almost vintage look. Slow to teacore, but I kind of prefer that. Got to earn it more. Conditioned with Venetian shoe cream three times total. Brushed daily. Leather is a bit squeaky, especially where the tongue rubs against the facings. It gets squeakier as the leather picks up your sweat. Quiets down again after drying out. Never could eliminate the squeaks altogether. Probably my only pet peeve. Also, maybe it was just my pair but the Maryam horsebutt isn’t my favorite smelling leather. Almost mildly fishy/barnyardy. Definitely had me a bit self conscious at the office in meetings a couple times. It mellowed a little bit or maybe I just got used to it.
I have high arch/high volume feet and the 1035 lasts fit me closer than almost anything else. Absolutely loved the fit
This was my first pair of Vibergs, and they hit it out of the park. Comfort, pattern and craftsmanship were absolutely great. As with a lot of stitchdown construction the flared out uppers started to delaminate at spots from the midsole. Not in a structurally compromising way, just an aesthetic thing. Nothing a little strategic glue from you cobbler can’t fix. Clicking was solid. Overall, high level of finishing,craftsmanship and attention to detail.
The ridgeways were suitable. Good traction during the snowy days. Softer than some soles which provided some cushion and shock absorption. Helped on the 360+ miles that I walked in these. The downside of the softer soles is that they wear out a bit faster. They are pretty much ready for a resole. Might get to 400 miles before resoling but would’ve liked to get 500+.
See my comments in the sole section
Quality, design, craftsmanship, attention to detail is all very high. So is the price. At $930, these were the most I’ve paid for boots at this point. It’s by no means the most expensive pair of boots out there, but if you’re looking for the best cost/quality ratio, this may not be for you. If your main priority is a highly finished and durable boot and cost isn’t as much of a factor, then I think Viberg is a solid choice. They have several different last shapes to accommodate most foot shapes. Prices have already gone up since I bought these, so you’re likely going to be paying over $1000 for these now if they were to come back around. Overall, I don’t regret buying these one bit. The comfort and fit and quality was worth the price for me, and now they have the memories of being my first Patina Thunderdome boots. So there’s that!