The Ultimate Vass (Footwear) Thread (Pictures, reviews, sizing, etc...)

[archangle13]



No one can help with choosing cream/polish for Vass oxblood? 

Try Bordeaux Saphir cream. It's 08 on the colour chart.

 

[Belligero]



How much is a resole by Vass?

Not a lot is right; two pairs including insured shipping to Norway came out to less than $100.

 

[TehBunny]

Darn dats cheap!

 

[Ilovelobbs]

Not a lot is right; two pairs including insured shipping to Norway came out to less than $100.

$100 for shipping or is it $100 for resole + shipping for 2 pairs. Hard to believe.

Should be €150 per pair when Vass quoted me last.

 

[Belligero]



I just got a pair delivered like this-- P2 Budapester with antique Cognac shell. (Single sole.) I'm very happy with them, although after some thought and worry I left them behind and took the P3 Alt Wieners that came in the same order on my trip to China. The little bit of extra toe room is comforting after the long flight, the salty food, and a few hours of walking around today.

They're great; I have five pairs of Vass in P2, and the shell brogues still the best-fitting, as well as being my go-to for travel because of their comfort, versatility and toughness. If they're a decent fit on you, I'm sure you're going to love yours too. For me, the break-in period took some extra time compared to calf, but it was well worth it.

I wore the sole clean through from all the places I went in them, but the uppers are amazingly abuse-resistant and hardly look any worse for wear. If anything, they look better than new after some proper brush work; I can't wait to how they turn out after Vass is done with them.

The P2 last is very similar to the one used on my bespoke boots earlier in the thread; it's difficult to tell a difference sometimes. The Budapest last on my new calf brogues doesn't seem to be nearly as good of a fit, but they're still too new to tell. I doubt if I'll ever get to the point where they'll be comfortable enough to use for a heavy travel day, though. I got them more for riding the Dutch bike around and chillin' at cafés, anyway, since I suspected that that last wasn't ideal for me. But they go so well with denim that I don't really care if they don't work for long-haul days.

 

[Belligero]



$100 for shipping or is it $100 for resole + shipping for 2 pairs. Hard to believe.

Should be €150 per pair when Vass quoted me last.

They definitely gave me a sweeter-than-usual deal; it was far too inexpensive. Mind you, I'm up to around ten pairs from them by now when you include Mrs. Belligero's and ones I've picked up for family. With the quality of the job they do, I'd have no problem paying €150 shipped for a resoling, but they declined my offer to pay more.

PS: I hadn't realized just how much of a discount I received; I probably shouldn't have mentioned it. They've done some light restorative work and added a steel toe plate for me before, but this was my first full resoling from them. I'm not sure whether the second pair counts as a full resole job. The problem was a Vibram sole on a boot refusing to stay glued down, so I asked for a swap for a thin rubber sole with a steel toe plate, which I've found works well.

PPS: Vibram soles and Vass are not a good combination; both pairs in the house started separating at the front very quickly. Rezső at Vass said they're going to start using Dainite ones instead.

 

[Ilovelobbs]

They definitely gave me a sweeter-than-usual deal; it was far too inexpensive. Mind you, I'm up to around ten pairs from them by now when you include Mrs. Belligero's and ones I've picked up for family. With the quality of the job they do, I'd have no problem paying €150 shipped for a resoling, but they declined my offer to pay more.

PS: I hadn't realized just how much of a discount I received; I probably shouldn't have mentioned it. They've done some light restorative work and added a steel toe plate for me before, but this was my first full resoling from them. I'm not sure whether the second pair counts as a full resole job. The problem was a Vibram sole on a boot refusing to stay glued down, so I asked for a swap for a thin rubber sole with a steel toe plate, which I've found works well.

PPS: Vibram soles and Vass are not a good combination; both pairs in the house started separating at the front very quickly. Rezső at Vass said they're going to start using Dainite ones instead.

After 10+ pairs, technically they are giving this service to you for free.
As $100 just about cover shipping costs and materials.

Good business sense from Vass.

 

[Belligero]



After 10+ pairs, technically they are giving this service to you for free.
As $100 just about cover shipping costs and materials.

Good business sense from Vass.

No doubt; I'm under no illusions that they're operating a charity, although the gesture was certainly appreciated.

Good shoes, though; I'm obviously quite satisfied with them or I wouldn't be such a regular. I feel like I get my money's worth with their stuff. The cost of things in Norway combined with having a brother who plays on a waterpolo team near Budapest is a hell of an enabling mechanism, too. Seriously — just for reference, RM Williams in suede or yearling leather runs NOK4000 locally, which converts to nearly USD700/EUR550.

 

[TehBunny]

Hi,
I'm under the impression that it is possible to send measurements of your foot to Vass so as to get the best possible RTW fit that they can provide; I recall someone using a particular measurement method to do this. I would also like to do this if anyone has an accurate way to measure one's feet for this purpose please do tell.

In general my feet are short and wide at the waist and forefoot while my heel is very slim around the ankle; thus I find it hard to find a shoe which fits my forefoot while still being snug around the heel/ankle (not sure how to express this part of the foot).
P.S.
Sorry if this is un-understandable rubbish to you

 

[rikod]



^^^ That's fantastic.  Classic Vass indeed.

Amazing. And I love that medallion.

Thanks!

How does the double sole work with that in your opinion? I know their office tends to view the P2 as a single-sole sort of last. Whether that's based on form or function I couldn't say.

I like the double sole very much on these, they look good, and I like the feel when walking. I have another pair (theresianer) with a double sole but I wish I had ordered those with a single sole but based on pure aesthetics.

 

[rikod]



PPS: Vibram soles and Vass are not a good combination; both pairs in the house started separating at the front very quickly. Rezső at Vass said they're going to start using Dainite ones instead.

True, I have two pairs and both separated at the front, but a quick fix at the local cobbler.

 

[SHS]

^Are the vibram soles used as topies and glued to the leather soles, or what is the problem?

 

[Belligero]



^Are the vibram soles used as topies and glued to the leather soles, or what is the problem?

Yes, that's exactly the problem. They just peel off way too easily; evidently the rubber and the glue are not friends. I've asked to have the toe end notched and a steel plate installed to prevent this, but no go, and it probably fail and really mess things up when coming apart anyway.

 

[RogerP]

They need to consider a new adhesive. I have never had a Topy or similar outsole fail and peel off.

 

[Mr. Moo]

My shell P2 have a thin Topy and no issues whatsoever. As always, YMMV.