Which vibram sole for casual city boot?

[twistdh]

During my annual visit to my trusted shoe maker in tuscany I’ve seen a boot that i like…and now i’m trying to decide what i want.

The design is something like this:

Have to decide if I want a toe cap or not. Already choosen the Leather upper, maybe… (some veg tanned in a reddish brown…have to study the sample I got). I’m thinking to go without lining.

For sure i want a Leather mid sole…But don’t know which outsole to use! I would like something more casual snd less aggressive, but want some good grip also in winter with water. I plan to use it in the city, so primarly on tarmac. Aesthetically i like something like the eton, or 430 minisole. But i’m looking for some comfort on hard surface.

What do you suggest?

In my hiking boot i have the teton sole that i love (and I can wear it 10/12 hours a day no problem in rough terrain) , but on the tarmac is a pain!

Here are some photos of the Leather in different light condition:

Thank you for any advice!

 

[Edward]

The Vibram minilug sole that they use now on the RedWing Iron Rangers is a nice option for the city. Just a bit of traction to stop a smooth, wet pavement from being like a skating rink, but still low enough in the profile that it doesn't look like the footwear equivalent of a Chelsea Tractor.

 

[Monitor]

Boots like these, go with a full leather sole with Vibram 340 mini-rib half-sole & an appropriate heel protector added at the end. There's simply no need for a rubber sole on a leather mid-sole as it just further complicates repair and replacement. Plus the boots will look best.

340 are super tough and so far I haven't encountered a surface they had trouble with.

 

[twistdh]

Boots like these, go with a full leather sole with Vibram 340 mini-rib half-sole & an appropriate heel protector added at the end. There's simply no need for a rubber sole on a leather mid-sole as it just further complicates repair and replacement. Plus the boots will look best.

340 are super tough and so far I haven't encountered a surface they had trouble with.

I can’t find a picture of the 340 half sole, do you have an example?

I would like to have full Leather sole, but i’m worried about comfort…it’s not too hard to walk on tarmac? With my hiking boot, after 2 hours of walk on tarmac is more than enough ahah.

Thanks for the suggestion

 

[AeroFan_07]

Honey Vibram. It's a bit softer.

Or a wedge sole. I may not like their looks (I do not) but they are comfortable walking on Concrete.

Or a good pair of running shoes.

 

[twistdh]

Honey Vibram. It's a bit softer.

Or a wedge sole. I may not like their looks (I do not) but they are comfortable walking on Concrete.

Or a good pair of running shoes.

Wedge sole is not for me, i don’t like it at all I would prefer some sport shoes like you suggest ahahah.

Honey i don’t know…I prefer black sole and is a bit aggressive. I want some comfort, but the look is fundamental ahah. Do you think that with that style and Leather can work well the honey?

Regards the eton sole? Seems similar to dainite…I like that look but maybe they’re also pretty stiff and less comfortable.

PS: toe cap or not? I think I prefer plain one, but the more i look the toe cap the more i like it…not convinced yet

 

[Monitor]

I can’t find a picture of the 340 half sole, do you have an example?

I would like to have full Leather sole, but i’m worried about comfort…it’s not too hard to walk on tarmac? With my hiking boot, after 2 hours of walk on tarmac is more than enough ahah.

Thanks for the suggestion

Not 430. My bad. I can't recall the model name but it's this.

It's what I did with all my boots and most shoes. The leather sole and the construction stitch is safe underneath the sole, which is glued over it so once replacement is due, nothing has to be taken apart.

Thickness of Vibram soles, in my observation, is irrelevant. All the half-soles on my boots are 2-3 mm tops. And I walk a lot. Like, a lot lot. So far I only had to replace the heel protectors. Never once the actual half-sole. These things last forever.

The ones that look like tractor tire are 100% about the looks, which is cool as well but honestly, you don't need them if you don't intend to mountaineer in your boots.

 

[cbez]

Functionally, any will be fine

A big lugged sole will come off lumberjacky

 

[Zoro]

+1 on "any will do". Also that a wedge sole will be the most comfortable, but it won't be the grippiest.

Personally, I wouldn't choose a leather sole for an everyday shoe, it will be slippery (specially at first) and probably the least durable. I'm not a big fan of Stridewise, but he had video on a pair of Carmina boots or shoes (I think this one) with a leather sole and he mentioned how he would often slip around town.

 

[Edward]

Wedge sole is not for me, i don’t like it at all I would prefer some sport shoes like you suggest ahahah.

Honey i don’t know…I prefer black sole and is a bit aggressive. I want some comfort, but the look is fundamental ahah. Do you think that with that style and Leather can work well the honey?

Regards the eton sole? Seems similar to dainite…I like that look but maybe they’re also pretty stiff and less comfortable.

PS: toe cap or not? I think I prefer plain one, but the more i look the toe cap the more i like it…not convinced yet

Whatever sole you end up with, slip in a memory foam insole and you'll find the comfort factor.

 

[twistdh]

Thank you all.
Just come out from the “factory” (is a family run business)…at the end I’ve decided to go with the vibram eton.

The owner tell me that the 430 is a bit harder, and also the one suggested by @Monitor…maybe in a future project…

If also like this is too hard i’ll go with some soft insole like you have suggested.

Now I’ll have to wait unito january…
Thanks again

 

[Highwayman64]

I really like v bar

 

[twistdh]

Hi all! I have some updates, my boots are ready to ship.

here is a photo sent by the maker today:

In the end he uses the montagna sole (or at least the same pattern) because with that boot, in my size, with that heel the eton doesn't work well and he doesn't like the result...so he decided to use this.
This time he didn't ask me before...but in the end we talk a lot and i agree that this work well.

So i decided to keep it that way and not have it redone. I like how they came out, and i would be afraid of making them worse.

We will see when they arrived...i think they can arrive to me next week.

For the laces: do you think that some waxed cotton laces can work? or maybe leather laces?

 

[marker2037]

That looks good. Those soles fit the style. I think waxed flat laces would look best, but leather could also work.