Random Observations #014
My three pairs of shoes that age well.
There are so many things I wish I could write about one day. In the Random Observations series, I attempt to put together my random thoughts and observations on clothing and related topics in a shorter, more approachable format. This is one way for me to capture thoughts before they sink into oblivion. If you find any of the subjects helpful or questionable, do not hesitate to share your feedback in the comments below the article — I’d be happy to continue the conversation.
In the fourteenth episode of Random Observations, I talk about my Birkenstock Boston clogs and visvim 7-Hole ‘73 Folk boots after repairs, show the aging progress of my pair of Astorflex desert boots, and share news about how this newsletter might have gotten noticed.
Let’s get it!
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Birkenstock Boston Resoled
In the previous issue of Random Observations, I shared the pictures of my 8-year-old Birkenstock Boston clogs. These are my house slippers, but over the years, I still managed to wear the soles down to the ground. Literally, the rubber protector wore down to the cork midsole, which started to crumble. I stopped wearing the pair immediately (and spent horrifying two weeks at home without slippers) because I didn’t want to lose them. I don’t want to get too sentimental, but they are my very first pair of Birks. They are among the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever stepped into. And, they come in the classic taupe suede/brown rubber, which I consider one of the most versatile and underrated shoe color combinations, especially in this clog-mule game that Birks won long before it even started. I had to save them.
So, I took them to a shoe repair shop and got the soles replaced. Fortunately, they had rubber units in an almost identical shade of brown. So now my Birks look, well, interesting: pristine soles with years of wear in them attached to suede uppers covered in layers of dirt and stains. I haven’t cleaned them once — taupe suede turned to be the perfect canvas for beautiful aging. I don’t want to kid myself, but I like to think of my resoled Birks as being similar to a Found Objects bag: destroyed on the outside but luxuriously new inside. To truly achieve that, I would technically have to take the uppers from my Birks and replace them to a completely new pair with fresh cork, which would be ridiculous. At least I know that my pair has aged naturally from real, albeit prosaic wear, and that’s the most luxurious thing to me.
Visvim 7-Hole ‘73 Folk Toe Sole Fix
The other pair that I got back from repair was my visvim jungle boots. Although they required a roughly 90% less dramatic fix than the Birkenstocks, judging by the amount of protector real estate in need of replacement, I worried about them just as much since they are my go-to bad weather boots almost year-round. Stakes were high, but the return was well worth it.
Instead of the no-one-will-ever-notice stitched-through toes flex, my visvim boots now boast gum rubber Svig offcuts. They match neither the original protector pattern not its color, but I still like how the pair turned out. White rubber soles and plastic heel guards already make these boots appear less military than their original jungle boot predecessor. The updated contrast rubber toes enhance the sporty look even further.
The cobbler suggested to replace the original protector at the heels as well. But since there are still 2–3 mm left, I believe I have at least another year before they need attention. Overall — although this is totally subjective — due to the initial rugged nature of the boots, four years later, they still appear barely worn to me. Not bad at all, considering I've walked hundreds of kilometers in them, many of those through snow and rain. Let me know what you think in the comments about how these visvims hold up.
Astorflex Montflex: 5-Year Update
Since we’re talking about shoes in this issue of Random Observations, I figured it’s only right to share the progress of another pair — Astorflex Montflex. Unlike the two pairs above, I haven’t worn these much over the last five years. Mainly because I avoid wearing them in wet weather or when there’s even a slight chance of rain, which happens quite often. Maybe it’s my early menswear trauma, but I used to have a pair of Clarks Desert Boot on crepe soles that became so sticky after getting wet that they picked up all the dirt in the world. Not only did the soles look horrible, but I could feel them stick to the ground with every step. Eventually, after four years of wear, I got them resoled with thick, lightweight white Vibram Morflex soles. They even won a Heddels contest for the most well-worn, beaten-up shoe. So all the struggles paid off after all.
Anyway, with Astorflex Montflex, I have been deliberately avoiding getting them wet. So, although five years may sound like a lot, I haven’t worn them that often, and I haven’t cleaned them at all. Still, this spring, I noticed the pair had obtained an evident patina and wanted to share the progress with you.
I especially like the faded creases on the toe box and how the roughout leather has lost it’s uniformity, with stray fibers unevenly sticking out here and there. Although unlined, the inside heels have an extra layer of suede that hasn’t worn through at all. Lastly, the crepe soles have turned a bit sticky but fortunately, not so much that I can feel them stick to the ground.
What’s your experience with crepe soles?
Samples For Review
Recently, several brands have reached out to me with offers to send product samples for review. Honestly, I don’t know how to feel about this. I guess it’s a sign that this newsletter is getting noticed, which is good. Your boy is making moves out here — that’s how I imagine I should brag about such things. But in fact, I’m just grateful to all of you who like, share, or comment on my articles. Thank you! My wife and I already joke that a few more sample, and I could quit my job to keep us covered with clobber while she takes care about the routine stuff such as rent, bills, groceries, health — you know, the mundane.
I’ve read a lot of opinions online about how samples ruin the objectivity of content. I want to say this won’t happen to me since I’ve been doing this for far to long to suddenly switch to silly promotions in return for freebies. But we’ll see. So far, I’ve only agreed to review products that genuinely excite me — some of which I’ve admired for a long time. I love quality things and often find myself wanting to experience them even if I don’t really need them — because I’ve already accumulated enough. This is a chance for me to try items that I wouldn’t get my hands on otherwise.
With that being said, I have three products on the way, and you can be sure I’ll share them with you once they get here.
Mystery Links
That’s a wrap for the fourteenth issue of Random Observations! As always, let me know what you think in the comments section on the blog, ask questions, and share the article with friends who might benefit from it.
The Astorflex look amazing though
Cool job! Particularly loved how you fixed Visvims with Svig offcuts. How much a service like that costs?