Getting to the sole of the matter: Vibram

Yuketen Maine Guide Boot with Vibram sole

Out in Spitalfields with Boris last night, which culminated in my being privvy to a gathering of some the capital's career-casuals - those who have made a living out of an unhealthy obsession with hard-to-find mens' clothing. 

Boris called it "a riot of rigid denim and chunky knits," which summed things up nicely, although I would have to add Vibram soles to that description.

As Scouse Dave observed, Vibram soles are just about everywhere these days, attached to everything from calf-height hunting boots to hikers and brogues. It has become the preferred method of difusing the stiff leather shoe.

They were certainly the choice in the pub, which means the look will only gain momentum from here.

Can't say I'm averse to the look myself. I've long been a fan of the shoe with the trainer sole, so a sparkling white Vibram sole, while no doubt derided as sacrilege in certain shoe-making circles, does make a welcome update to a classic brogue, or as it happens, a Maine Guide Boot, to me.

Grenson

Viberg for Heritage Research

Fracap for Oki-Ni

Visvim Eiger boots: a hill too far

Visvim Eiger FIL exclusive colourway

Visvim was way ahead of the curve when it introduced its Serra hiker a few years back.

Fast forward to this year and everyone looks like a mountaineer. The Moncler x Visvim hiking boots went faster than a loose bobble cap in a gale, and in their place you will now find Visvim's Eiger boots.

An equally splendid offering, you might think. I certainly did, until I saw the price. £1,005 in Dover Street Market. That sort of money would buy you a fair condition family car.

The price might even be considered slightly more acceptable if they were mind blowing in some way, but the Moncler offerings were in my mind better looking for less than half the price.

What's more, there is an Italian brand which has been around three times longer than Visvim, hand-makes mountain boots with the same Vibram sole as the Eiger, and until this season was available solely to the Japanese market.

It is Fracap. Put their scarponcini alongside the Eigers and you will be hard pushed to decide which looks best. Of course Visvim will always have its heel cap going for it, but for an £800 saving, I could live without that.

I wouldn't usually go on about the price of things on here and I know that one of the reasons Visvim has remained such a sought-after brand is the quality, which comes at a price. But there is a ceiling, and I reckon they've gone through it.

Fracap Scarponcini boot

Moncler V hiking boots