Custom White's Boots ... Thoughts?

[lfzhao5]

After doing some more research, ive discovered that Wesco boots do a true custom fitting, which is one tiny step below actual bespoke boots that use a new unique last. Instead at Wesco they take detailed foot measurements and then add leather onto the stock lasts they have to get as close as humanly possible to a true custom fit without actually having to go cast and mold a completely new last just for you feet. This method by far seems the most sensible to assure the correct fit, and when spending up wards of $600+ on a pair of boots, it really is a small ask of a one time payment of an additional $100 to get a custom last of your feet. Hell if i get a whites and they dont fit right, its at the very least 100 dollars on shipping and taxes( im currently situated in the British isles now) then having to sell the boots at a loss, spending the extra money to get the fit correct now is worth it in the long run and will end up saving me money.
I got my info from here btw

The Stitchdown Conversation: Chris Warren of Wesco Boots - Stitchdown

Wesco boots are built for life—and Chris Warren's own life has been plenty full of them. Warren took his first job with the 101-year-old bootmaker because his father swore by his Wesco boots while working as a millwright. 17 years later, he's a decade into serving as the company's sales...

www.stitchdown.com

Damn though... 10-12 months lead time...oh well, gives me something to look forward to at least !

O wow this is the same as how fugashin do their MTM order, didn't know Wesco offer it too.

 

[climbinglife]

Got my boots back from being stretched. Still need to break them in as I only have 25 hours on them but its a little better. Behind my right pinky toe is still meh a little but it should work out as they break in more.
They really did a good job on the cut 430 sole. Love the nailed look through the leather.

 

[chicagoan2016]

Got my boots back from being stretched. Still need to break them in as I only have 25 hours on them but its a little better. Behind my right pinky toe is still meh a little but it should work out as they break in more.
They really did a good job on the cut 430 sole. Love the nailed look through the leather. View attachment 1850291 View attachment 1850292 View attachment 1850293

are they the same boots with six eyelets?

 

[climbinglife]

These are the 6 eyelits which is standard on SDs. They were supposed to be 8 as a custom order.

 

[hoppy_IPA]

These are the 6 eyelits which is standard on SDs. They were supposed to be 8 as a custom order.

so you're keeping them - what concession were made?

they look great, btw. toe caps are perfect. i dig the exposed nails too

 

[hoppy_IPA]

ALL -

can anyone compare sizing on the 55 last vs. Viberg's 2030?

I'm a 12.5 Brannock & wear a 12 in the 55 last and can occasionally get away with an 11.5 with thin socks. What size would you recommend with Viberg's 2030?
thanks in advance

 

[Percivilla]

ALL -

can anyone compare sizing on the 55 last vs. Viberg's 2030?

I'm a 12.5 Brannock & wear a 12 in the 55 last and can occasionally get away with an 11.5 with thin socks. What size would you recommend with Viberg's 2030?
thanks in advance

Tricky to compare because of the toe shape with the 2030, it tapers in symmetrically as opposed to the 55 which is more ergonomic. I'm a 14b brannock and my big toe is my longest toe by about 1/4", and it's pretty thick as well. I've had one pair of 2030's in a 12 and while they were barely long enough, they pushed my big toe over and it eventually led to me selling them. I've also had 2045's which are closer to the 55 for toe room, but with waaay less arch support. I really should have gotten 13's in both of them but then they'd probably be a bit too wide. My Whites are 13c and fit perfectly with probably 1/2" in front of my toes.

Short story long, I'd say 2045's are size for size very similar to the 55, and for 2030's it all depends on how your toes are shaped. I'd go 12 if your big toe is longest and 11.5 if your second toe is longest.

 

[hoppy_IPA]

Short story long, I'd say 2045's are size for size very similar to the 55, and for 2030's it all depends on how your toes are shaped. I'd go 12 if your big toe is longest and 11.5 if your second toe is longest.

very helpful, thank you🙏

 

[climbinglife]

so you're keeping them - what concession were made?

they look great, btw. toe caps are perfect. i dig the exposed nails too

Yes i'm keeping them. The concession was an easy one to accept...Our bad, keep this pair, wear them. We will make you a new pair on us, whatever you want. Yes I have to wait 7-8 months for them but I thought that was more than fair.

 

[theofficialhung]

Yes i'm keeping them. The concession was an easy one to accept...Our bad, keep this pair, wear them. We will make you a new pair on us, whatever you want. Yes I have to wait 7-8 months for them but I thought that was more than fair.

So you're going to have 2 identical builds, only one will have 6 eyes and the other 8?

 

[climbinglife]

So you're going to have 2 identical builds, only one will have 6 eyes and the other 8?

No, that seemed counter productive to me considering that was the only error, albeit a big one, on an otherwise well constructed pair of boots. These will work for me but ultimately not what I ordered and was an error on the order. I was offered a brand new pair which I wasn't going to turn down so I decided to go a different route and I'm doing a pair of brown waxed flesh bounty hunters. Never experienced waxed flesh and never had bounty hunters before so seemed like a good time since it was comped pair.

 

[chicagoan2016]

Another price increase 🤣🤣

 

[Jimk4003]

Another price increase 🤣🤣

I think I can spot the strategy here!

The base price for the 'Original' hand-welted 350 Cutter is now $700. The stitchdown C350 Cutter is just $575. Similar with the hand-welted Nomad ($700) compared to the stitchdown Cykel ($600), or the 'Original' 350 Cruiser ($670) vs the stitchdown C350 Cruiser ($575).

Prices on the other hand-welted lines that don't yet have a stitchdown equivalent don't appear to have increased as much. For example, the MP boots are still the same price as before.

Looks like the plan is to hike the prices on the hand-welted stuff once there's a stitchdown alternative available, so that hand-welting effectively comes as a $100+ upcharge option.

 

[wordfool]

I think I can spot the strategy here!

The base price for the 'Original' hand-welted 350 Cutter is now $700. The stitchdown C350 Cutter is just $575. Similar with the hand-welted Nomad ($700) compared to the stitchdown Cykel ($600), or the 'Original' 350 Cruiser ($670) vs the stitchdown C350 Cruiser ($575).

Prices on the other hand-welted lines that don't yet have a stitchdown equivalent don't appear to have increased as much. For example, the MP boots are still the same price as before.

Looks like the plan is to hike the prices on the hand-welted stuff once there's a stitchdown alternative available, so that hand-welting effectively comes as a $100+ upcharge option.

Glad I already have enough pairs of White's to probably last my lifetime

I was under the impression that the hand-welted versions were a type of stitchdown (aka Norwegian/rolled welt), in which case what is the real-world difference between the current "hand welted" and stitchdown versions? TBH the stitchdown version of the Cutter looks a lot cleaner than the "hand welted by a one-handed elf" look of some of my pairs of BHs.

I noticed the custom MP boots on the Baker's site are now $700 along with the Bounty Hunters. Weird to think that just a few year ago I bought some custom BHs and SDs for less than $500 (albeit in a sale).

 

[Jimk4003]

I was under the impression that the hand-welted versions were a type of stitchdown (aka Norwegian/rolled welt), in which case what is the real-world difference between the current "hand welted" and stitchdown versions? TBH the stitchdown version of the Cutter looks a lot cleaner than the "hand welted by a one-handed elf" look of some of my pairs of BHs.

White's particular implementation of 'hand-welted' is a variant on stitchdown; the upper is folded out underneath the welt, and then the outsole stitching goes through the welt, the upper, the midsole and the outsole. It's like a welt on top of a stitchdown.

In practical terms, I don't think the non-welted boots will be functionally any different from the welted versions; other than the outsole stitching being slightly cleaner looking, and potentially being slightly more water resistant thanks to the lack of a welt seam. They're still fully re-soleable and re-buildable; and stitchdown boots are just as tough, as anyone who wears Nick's, Wesco or Viberg work boots would testify.

I can't help but feel White's are deliberately trying to make their stitchdown boots more appealing than their welted counterparts, given that they're much more realistically priced and on shorter lead-times.