Comparing The Different Ages of Brown Chromexcel Used by Alden, Allen Edmonds, Viberg and Nicks

[@mikekirby2085]

I love CXL. Brown just seems like such a versatile color with such built in comfort. I realized to me that scratches, scuffs, and imperfections are what make things interesting. I dont want my boots to look like i take them off to walk through a puddle but thats all preference. The brown is just the old reliable workhorse of leathers. The John of leather if you will.

[@TheBushBrown]

I could listen to you talk about leather all day. I just got a paid of Alden loafers in brown chromexcel. I had no idea the rabbit hole I was entering.

[@mitch.mcginnis]

Brown CXL looks great. Has its place, and its so popular for a reason. It works and it looks good over time.

[@James101]

Hello from the UK. I am so impressed with you as a person and your video content. It really is such a pleasure to watch your passion and knowledge of boots and clearly you are a genuinely nice guy. If you would consider it, I would be very interested in a video about how you actually store and care for your collection and organise your rotation of boots. Do you have a go-to pair or boots ? I have a large collection of welted high-end shoes and storage is one thing I know I can improve upon. I do find I have an attitude towards my favourite shoes and boots that means I want to keep them in great condition so they are actually used the least. I'm probably doing it wrong, I know. Many thanks James.

[@franky3fingers337]

Boot leathers are a flat circle. You start with CXL with AE or Thursdays and then explore more “exotic” leathers and eventually come back to CXL after you realize how good of a boot leather it is.

[@whatsinanameish]

I find that I am liking kangaroo leather more and more. It is light, supple, and strong, and holds dye and tannins well for some good color pop when required. I haven't owned a pair long enough to have an opinion on how they patina over time... but I am working on it. :)

[@ballsmcbeaver]

I have a kangaroo leather wallet from nivisto and its awesome

[@ethanbaran6158]

I have some ostrich jk's that I've been liking more and more. Ostrich hide is pretty awesome, feels like I'm wearing nothing but also don't feel it when anything hits my feet lol.

[@ericmikkelsen]

Thoughts on whites semi-dress boot? What kind of dress wear could it go with? Could it go quite formal? I really respect your style, opinions, and thoughts!

[@arindambasu9850]

Brown CXL Ottawas and captoes and Diesels from Grant Stone makes up my regular office wear rotation. Thick and supple leather, works well with most outfits and is super versatile that way for office and business casual wear. Brown CXL definitely has its place. Interested in seeing how it ages over time.

[@DancingSpacePotato]

It took me way too long to finally get a pair of boots in CXL when I started my boot journey. For the past six months I’ve been beating up a pair of Nicks in Michigan and I’m amazed at how well CXL holds up. They seriously look like I’ve been babying them and all they get is a brushing after accidentally kicking ladders and racks literally every day

[@randynovick7972]

Yo Teik! I'm another CXL fan, more preferring color 8 above others. Very enthused about your content for awhile now. Just landed in Perth for a few days as luck would have it, too. Lovely city. Thanks very much for all these excellent rundowns you've been doing lately.

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

I believe pretty much any leather used in footwear is given significant surface finishing. So, as you say, what you call full grain or corrected leather is pretty complicated. It's worth looking at a Full Tannage List chart that Horween has on their site which lists all their leathers and has a list of all the characteristics against each leather. It lists over 20 characteristics and I'm sure there will also be variants available where the degree of certain characteristics (e.g. hot stuffing) will change or could be changed if you order sufficient quantities.

[@carlosceba1962]

Teik thanks for your content, this for me was your best vid, have a great day.

[@UniversalBrow09]

Good video as always. I’m an unapologetic fan of brown CXL. I like some other leathers even more, but CXL has some great undeniable benefits. And I like how it patinas too. Even within one company (Grant Stone for instance), the differences in shade with new brown XCL has quite the variation. My Diesels are more red while my old cap toes are thoroughly chocolate brown.

[@The_Other_Matt]

My only experience with CXL so far is a few small leather goods. Some coasters from Ashland, in black CXL, which seem to be finished with additional wax on the flesh side and gave me an initially skewed perception of the leather as they are somewhat stiff; and a catch-all from Nicks in brown CXL. The leather on the catch-all feels exactly how everyone describes CXL. I really like Seidel's double shot. I have a pair of Parkhurst Delawares in natural double shot and they are one of my favorite pairs of boots. Just love the smell of the leather and the way they have broken in and started to darken a bit in the last few months. My current favorite leather though might be Wickett & Craig's chestnut oiled latigo. I just picked up a pair of Caswell Carvers in that tannage and I've been wearing them every day for the last week. Love the orange-tan pullup effect through the dark brown finish which is also starting to show through on the creases and folds.

[@jyourkin9998]

Thank goodness for your video… been looking at all my brown CXL wondering what the heck

[@stevecrawford7814]

I like CXL a lot. My favorite pair is in natural. The changes in the leather and of the color thru use is pretty intense.

[@davidcallan7844]

I’m liking the Seidel Double Shot more these days, mostly because I find it harder wearing generally depending on the weight. The teacore thing is too much of a fad to me, seems to be used as an excuse to not take care of their boots, the best benefit of CXL to me is the easy break in. Beautiful boots!🤘🇨🇦 I heard in an interview with Brett Viberg that loose grain is bad clicking and nothing more.🤷‍♂️

[@franky3fingers337]

Teacore has been a thing for over 100 years. Not really a fad, just a tannage finishing process.

[@ethanbaran6158]

I've had some natural doubleshots for about 14ish months now, love this leather. Although brushing it once a week makes all the scuffs disappear which is kinna weird to watch still lol.

[@philipmarsh842]

I have a pair of Grant Stone Ottawa’s in Dune/natural cxl and I really like the color and quality!

[@toneohm]

great video~! i feel like this one was made just for me haha,, from prior comments,, can't wait to get my black Double Shot MP 50/50s in the mail,, very curious about double shot.. I'm very interested in acquiring three of the four boots you have there.. the 403, Viberg 2030, and Higgins Hill.. i wanted the Vibergs in black originally (contrasting their tight double row white stitching , but now with the black White's on the way,, now I'm leaning toward brown CXL.. so this video only heightens the excitement hah. everyone needs a black and a brown dress boot hah,, a Cordovan color 8 Alden or Allen Edmonds would be the cherry on top.. I'm generally more into the rugged PNW casual + work boots.. but those three models of dress boot really have an allure imo.. the Grant Stone Brass Boot is another contender.. but the legacy of Alden is appealing.. with the long standing Tru Balance and Barrie lasts.. Your work ethic is impressive as always,, thanks for your time! have you considered a White's Stevens yet?? I feel like the styling is right in your ball park : ) maybe in color 8 CXL...? looking forward to more content,, thanks again

[@liljuanito123]

I love cxl. My other favorite is maryam horsebutt. Shell is up there as well due to its unique characteristics

[@unknown81360]

Im the guy who owns way to many boots but not a single CXL boot yet.. Im here to be convinced ahah

[@kenwilliams2219]

Bought my first cxl boots about 2 weeks ago. AE Higgins Mill. Over the moon with these! Love the feel, smell, color and how fast they broke in! For the most part I only plan on using Saphir Renovateur white cream a few times a year on them. If this is bad please let me know. Thanks for your videos, very informative!

[@Bootlosophy]

Can’t go wrong with Saphir, but you might mean neutral, not white

[@kenwilliams2219]

Yes.thanks​@@Bootlosophy

[@pbrdoug4962]

Well said about brown CXL👍

[@igucl1027]

Hi, Teik. Your method of lacing the kiltie in your pair of NIcks is what intrigues me most about this video. I don't think I've seen it done this way before. I've been struggling to keep mine from sliding down the boot as a I walk, and I'm wondering if you've had good luck with yours, or if this is the primary motivation for your lacing method.

[@Bootlosophy]

It is, and they fall down less, but the con is that it doesn’t “sit” flat and lets some dirt under the front

[@F.R.G317]

Great informative video as always Teik!! I just received my first pair of Boots made with Horween's Chromepak leather. What is the differences between CXL and Chromepak by chance?

[@Bootlosophy]

Not sure, I’ll look at it and do a video!

[@F.R.G317]

@Bootlosophy Thanks kind sir!! You're the man!!🙏

[@BobBafaro-ee9ck]

I only have 4 pairs of boots and don’t expect I’ll be buying to many more and 3 of the pairs are CXL, obviously I am a fan. Thinking about getting a different leather next time and was wondering what your next favorite leather for versatility is Teik? Thanks for another great video and I love those Viberg’s , what’s a few wrinkles, it’s a boot.

[@Bootlosophy]

I’m not sure there’s a more versatile leather than CXL! The “next” one though might be the Double Shot.

[@BobBafaro-ee9ck]

@@BootlosophyThanks Teik, great idea. Take care.

[@DavidGonzalez-cv4wq]

I really like CXL leather.

[@Sub-Machinist]

Hey Teik! How come you use both neatsfoot oil and VSC to condition? Why not just use VSC?

[@Bootlosophy]

The oil absorbs deeper

[@acelennygaming]

Hello. I am currently considering buying a pair of Jadd chromexcel boots and I was just wondering whether you have had to do much to prevent/repair scuffs in your boots, and whether yours are fully or only surface dyed?

[@Bootlosophy]

@@acelennygaming they’re all aniline dyed and scuffs tend to self repair due to the oils

[@acelennygaming]

@@Bootlosophy Thanks. I'm getting my first pair of better quality footwear and hoping for something that is on the smarter end of casual for work and pleasure (i know chromexcel is not inclined to be 'dressy').I see such variety in the finishes people end up with. Some get a refined look, while others look like they have beaten their shoes up behind the wood shed. You make some lovely videos and I have enjoyed watching several.

[@mikester6192]

Hi sir, my Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill in brown Chromexcel looks burgundy instead of brown.

[@Bootlosophy]

You sure it’s not a Color #8?

[@Stealther]

I like to see more character in my brown shoes that CXL doesn’t provide.

[@canadafree2087]

Boring? With 50 Shades of Brown? Heck no! Chromexcel is the leading cause of heart attacks, who knew?! lol