I have put these boots through just about every condition possible. I hiked in them through mud and water, wore them in dense urban cities, got some good office chair patina, wore them in a hurricane and for cleanup after the hurricane, wore them in sub-zero deep freezers and outside in 90+ degree weather. I've worn them to set up and tear down my booth at around 30 farmer's markets. I've worn them during my cobbler apprenticeship, getting all sorts of glue and scratches on them.
The leather has softened dramatically, and has also turned into a very deep shade of orange-brown. It has developed quite a bit of so-called "loose grain" throughout the boot. The break-in process was relatively seamless compared to other boots I've worn. On my first day in them I took them on a 2-mile walk, and after that they were ready to go! In terms of care, I maybe brushed them twice before the final month. Then, towards the end of February, I brushed them down hard, wiped them with a damp wash cloth, applied Saphir mink oil (undyed), and then brushed them again. I repeated this process again before taking final pictures.
I went a full size down on these (I'm a Brannock 10D, went with a size 9E (Viberg only offers these boots in E width). These boots fit perfectly. They are the standard that I'll judge all other boots by, from now on. I wore them all day long and was comfortable the entire time, even after spending 12+ hours on my feet.
I mean they're Viberg Service Boots --- we all know this design. It's a classic for a reason. However, it is new Viberg, and so there were one or two issues. The heel/back panel on the right boot was noticeably darker than the rest of the right boot / entire left boot, but this evened out a bit over time, and is now a loveable quirk. In addition, some might say that the loose grain / grain break is a construction issue, but I think ultimately it is a matter of personal preference. I have grown to appreciate the grain and wrinkling.
This was my first boot on a Dainite sole. I wore it in rain, snow, ice, wet grass, wet wooden floors, and more. Never slipped once. Don't have much more to say than that. The soles kept me on the ground.
I love these boots. I never honestly thought I would've stuck through this whole competition, and I don't think I could've in many other boots. These were versatile, comfortable, hard-wearing. I think I could've worn them harder. Still, my boots and I have lived a LIFE in these past 7 months. We took leaps of faith, we fell in love, we rose to occasions. We conquered and crushed obstacles: My cat, Sigmund Freud, passed away in my arms during this competition. I buried him wearing these boots. I gave a keynote speech at a graduation ceremony at my alma mater --- and I did it in these boots. I launched a new free food pantry for food insecure people in my community, that's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. One of the only food pantries in the country that is always open. And I did all the shelf assembly in these boots, and I stocked those shelves in these boots, and I put up decals and posters in these boots, and I dragged fridges and freezers across the state to put in this pantry, you guessed it, in these boots. I jumped and pushed and shoved people in mosh pits at various punk concerts. I ate at Michelin star restaurants in these boots --- including the best meal of my life. I started a cobbler apprenticeship in these boots, and was paid by my first customer in these boots. I fell in love with my partner in these boots. Just like the patina on these boots, I know my life has changed and grown for the better, and there's certainly no going back — only forward. With these boots, or on them.