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Custom White's Boots ... Thoughts?

post #1 of 7856
1/15/11 at 3:02am
Thread Starter 
So I finally decided to take the dive on a decent pair of boots. After doing a lot of research, I finally decided on a pair of White's.
I wanted a boot that was durable, long lasting, yet still retained some classic styling.

I ended up picking some custom White's Semi Dress.
I had no idea what size to pick, so I traced my foot and sent it directly to White's.
Went with:
-Semi Dress Brown Leather
-Single leather sole
-90 degree block heel, 1/4" lowered
-standard last
-antique eyes and hooks
-black leather lining

I just put the order in. I will give full details and pics when they arrive in 4 weeks.

However, in the meantime, I was wondering if anyone out there has also ordered custom White's in the past, and why they made their decisions, what they thought about them after they received them.
How they fit with the custom tracing, features, etc.

Pics would be awesome as well.

Thanks
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post #2 of 7856
1/15/11 at 3:27am
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post #3 of 7856
1/15/11 at 3:51am
Thread Starter 
Holy cow. Thats an impressive screw up. Thats the first I have heard of something like that happening with White's. So they wouldn't do anything about this? Even with the wrong color lining? That seems like a pretty cut and dry error on their end.
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post #4 of 7856
1/15/11 at 4:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Whacky View Post
Holy cow. Thats an impressive screw up. Thats the first I have heard of something like that happening with White's.

So they wouldn't do anything about this? Even with the wrong color lining? That seems like a pretty cut and dry error on their end.

Yah I was just kidding. I've never ordered anything from them. lol
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post #5 of 7856
1/15/11 at 4:19am
Whacky: Did you order through Baker's? I've been thinking about doing this but I'm a little scared about the number of options (it's hard to visualize everything) and sizing. Any idea how White's sizing compares to Red Wing, Clarks, Chippewa, Alden, Wolverine, etc?
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post #6 of 7856
1/15/11 at 6:17am
I've still got my Hathorn customs that White's put together a year and a half ago - the experience was great... I sent White's a printout of the boot I wanted and they called me up as soon as they got my tracings and we sorted out the details.
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post #7 of 7856
1/15/11 at 11:36am
I currently have 4 pair of White's and there was a 5th pair I sold that were a little on the big side for me. 2 pair were custom ordered direct through White's, one pair custom ordered through Baker's and 2 pair I scored direct from White's off of Ebay. I absolutely love White's boots and their service is excellent. Every pair I ordered came in on time or earlier then expected and their boots never dissapoint. Here are my current White's: L-R: Brown dress leather cap-toes w/ double leather sole Brown chromexcel swing lasted w single leather sole Roughout Farmer/Ranchers w/ mini-lug sole Roughout Smokejumpers (my winter boots, dubbed with couple coats of Obenauf's....looked just like the F/R to start with)
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post #8 of 7856
1/15/11 at 11:57am
Jesus Christ I want a pair of White's Semis

Quote:
Originally Posted by slide13 View Post
I currently have 4 pair of White's and there was a 5th pair I sold that were a little on the big side for me. 2 pair were custom ordered direct through White's, one pair custom ordered through Baker's and 2 pair I scored direct from White's off of Ebay. I absolutely love White's boots and their service is excellent. Every pair I ordered came in on time or earlier then expected and their boots never dissapoint.

Here are my current White's:

L-R:
Brown dress leather cap-toes w/ double leather sole
Brown chromexcel swing lasted w single leather sole
Roughout Farmer/Ranchers w/ mini-lug sole
Roughout Smokejumpers (my winter boots, dubbed with couple coats of Obenauf's....looked just like the F/R to start with)
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post #9 of 7856
1/15/11 at 4:27pm
Thread Starter 
Hey Slide, those Roughout Farmer/Ranchers look fantastic. I almost went with that model, but I decided my first pair should be the Semi-Dress. Just too classic to pass up.

Any impressions considering you've done both the custom process, and non-custom Ebay. Was there any difference in fit between the two?
I'm curious because I heard people speculating that all Whites does with your custom measurement and foot tracing is match your foot to one of their standard sizes??

Also, you have a pair with the standard and the modified last, any differences in comfort between the two?


As far as using Bakers, I thought about it, but decided just to go directly through White's.
Aside from the Baker's website that shows you pictures of the custom options, and lets you fiddle with options, I didn't see much use going through another party. I didn't save any money, and the people at White's were very nice. So I just sent my tracings directly to them.
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post #10 of 7856
1/15/11 at 8:48pm
I'm pretty sure that White's will almost always just match you up to an existing size from tracings. If your foot requires something special then I believe they can do a custom last but it's going to cost extra. I don't think most people really need that though. Ebay boots are same quality/lasts as the custom order stuff if they are the same size. There are some great deals to be had on Ebay, I picked up both the Farmer/Ranchers and the Smokejumpers for $150 each. They both have soft, unreinforced toes which bummed me out at first, but it's actually really comfortable. For $150 they were both absolute steals! My SD on the Swing last definitely fit different...much wider toe box and feel just a tick longer as well. I like the look of the regular SD last the best myself, but the Swing last is comfy and a nice option for people who need it. I'm sort of borderline and can go either way.
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post #11 of 7856
1/15/11 at 9:10pm
I got the same size White's as I get in other workboots (Thorogood, Red Wing, etc.) - 13EE. I wear a 14 in sneakers, would probably wear a 14 in desert boots. Worked out just right for me.

I've got dress black, captoe, double-leather natural midsole+Vibram 700. They look great and they're amazingly comfortable. They are very heavy, though - 6 pounds for the pair - but I am wearing a 13EE.

Next pair are going to be Chromexcel Brown, single leather midsole and Vibram 705 (which wasn't available via Baker when I bought mine) - I'm thinking I might save a few ounces here and there this time.
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post #12 of 7856
1/15/11 at 9:19pm
Sounds nice, would love to see pics of those black cap toes if you have them.
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post #13 of 7856
1/16/11 at 10:58pm
Thread Starter 
This is more of an afterthought to my custom selections... I picked a single leather sole for my custom Semi Dress because I wanted a boot that wasn't too work-like, and maintained a fashionable look. Any thoughts to the downside of the single leather sole? Anyone have problems with wear, water, etc? Slide - how much difference do you notice between the single and double leather soles?
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post #14 of 7856
1/16/11 at 11:07pm
a fair bit actually...the single leather sole gives you much more ground feel when walking. I actually prefer the double leather myself, but the single leather does provide a really clean and less "worky" look. I honestly don't wear those boots a ton so I can't comment on how they wear over time really, but I wouldn't be too concerned.
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post #15 of 7856
1/16/11 at 11:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by slide13 View Post
I currently have 4 pair of White's and there was a 5th pair I sold that were a little on the big side for me. 2 pair were custom ordered direct through White's, one pair custom ordered through Baker's and 2 pair I scored direct from White's off of Ebay. I absolutely love White's boots and their service is excellent. Every pair I ordered came in on time or earlier then expected and their boots never dissapoint.

Here are my current White's:

L-R:
Brown dress leather cap-toes w/ double leather sole
Brown chromexcel swing lasted w single leather sole
Roughout Farmer/Ranchers w/ mini-lug sole
Roughout Smokejumpers (my winter boots, dubbed with couple coats of Obenauf's....looked just like the F/R to start with)

After seeing these brown chromexcel's I don't even want to lace up my black cherry GT's ever again.
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