r/Viberg

Just took delivery of my first ever pair of Vibergs. Been eyeing the 310 for a couple of years, could never really fathom spending this kind of money on a boot, but with the prices getting stupid I figured if I didn't jump on board now I'd be priced out forever.

Found an online retailer selling the size and makeup I wanted for less than msrp and pulled the trigger.

Got this pair in Natural CXL 10.5E.

The right boot has a bit of the crooked facing issue that seems to be going around, but I think I can live with it as the rest of the pair seem to be pretty well rounded.

For the experts, the double row stitch down seems to be so tightly packed its almost like they are sharing the same hole... is this normal? Am I going to have issues when it comes time to resole?.

Full album

I couldn't pass up this latest Viberg release, despite the insane price at $1,345. I know, I'm part of the problem. I know this isn't worthy of the price tag, and I'll explain why. But Horween Rowdy is one of my absolute favorite looking leather tannages ever.

Viberg has used this leather a few times years prior, always in the "Dachshund" color. It's a combination tanned, very waxy leather that is thin. Therefore, this is fully lined and has no gusseted tongue. According to the Horween tannages list, Rowdy is fat liquored, mill dyed, and vacuum dried. It looks even crazier than Cypress, which I included a few comparison photos of near the end. Very veiny looking with a somewhat loose break like Cypress, which I like here. Lots of pullup. It doesn't have a particularly unique smell.

So I now have my two favorite leathers ever used on the Viberg 310 (which is also my favorite Viberg boot), but unfortunately, both are on the recent, botched pattern. Photo #12 illustrates the problem - misaligned facings, which also come closer together than they should. This is far from a dress boot, we don't need really close facings like on the Navvy. I feel like the 310 peaked in 2023-2024.

The other big issue with this $1,345 boot is the deep gash highlighted in photo #3. This cow must have lived a rowdy life indeed. Leather that damaged should be sold as seconds. You don't even see clicking this bad on Thursday Boots. Viberg seems determined to use every bit of the Rowdy they got for this release.

Photo #6 also shows some wonky edge beveling on the heels - I'm nitpicking here, but for $1,345, the finishing quality of Viberg has fallen considerably behind some less expensive brands like Crockett & Jones.

I also don't quite understand Viberg's outsole selection. The 310 is the least formal, most casual looking service boot, yet it gets the dressiest outsole out of all of them - the Dainite studded half sole. Yet the dressiest, most "refined" service boot - the 2030 - gets the chunkiest, least dressy outsole - the Dainite Ridgeway. What's the logic here?

I also included some comparison photos with my recent washed waxed flesh 310, which has a noticeably taller heel because that one has a Dr. Sole #1100 original whole heel with the same sized leather heel stack. I prefer the shorter heel on this one, which is more typical of the 310. The two 310s are also half a size apart - I do like the 310 a full size down from Brannock, but this one is half down and I added a Nicks veg tanned leather insole to it.

I need to stop buying new Vibergs, but I knew that I'd have 0 chance of getting this one in an archive/warehouse sale. I love sprung toe boots, and this leather was a must have for me.

As I write this, Viberg has now just released a Horween black washed waxed flesh drop, also for $1,345, while the same leather but in brown is still on their site for $1,060.

Got these a few months ago - still breaking them in a bit, but pretty comfortable now.

Who has some Viberg Ropers? I’m considering buying a pair slightly used and I’m concerned about sizing. How are these sized compared to White’s arch ease or redwing heritage boots? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hey - picked up these boots used - they don’t have the usual embossed model/sizing info on the lining.

Can anyone identify the leather used or when it might date from?