• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • We would like to welcome House of Huntington as an official Affiliate Vendor. Shop past season Drake's, Nigel Cabourn, Private White V.C. and other menswear luxury brands at exceptional prices below retail. Please visit the Houise of Huntington thread and welcome them to the forum.

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

miggyramone

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2016
Messages
456
Reaction score
328
I can give it a shot, in my DT 1466 socks my brannock is 10.25E/10E L/R: I take a 9.5EEE in the 65 last but a 9.5EE would do if I didn't have to take into account my combined moderately high arch and instep; I take a 9EE in White's MP last and it fits pretty great overall; in both cases the shoe flexes at my arch and the taper is about the same with the MP being slightly more aggressive while having a shallower toebox.

If I had to quantify the differences I would say that the MP's have about a ¼" more space along the arch/ball and maybe a ¼" more generous instep, the 65 last runs a ¼" longer and hugs my heel a bit better.

Sizing was done in a pair of Fifth Avenue's and Kinney chukkas in suede.

Hopefully that was of help to you.
Thanks! AE actually sized me in my White's size, so I think it might be safe to stick with my 9.5 EEE SD size. Now I just have to confirm White's will do a EEE width in the Otto. They said yes a few months back, so hopefully the answer is still the same.
 

Quack Attack

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2011
Messages
55
Reaction score
241
Just want to give everyone an update ..... Our Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, has issued a "stay at home" order. Because we sell to first responders, offer PPE for safety toe footwear and are a stand alone brick and mortar store, from what we gather, we are able to stay open. We are having briefings and memos for CDC compliance to keep our employees safe. We have been keeping the 6 foot rule with employees and customers in-store. We are offering curbside service to customers; we’ll have our phone number on the door, customers can call and we’ll service them.

For online customers like yourself, we’re business as usual …. shipping/receiving is normal. Keep in mind if our factories close down, that will prohibit direct ships and prolong lead times on custom boots. With that said, we greatly appreciate your business and an order for us right now means a lot! Just keep in mind, lead times may extend due to factory closures and DC closures for other brands we carry. My two brothers, Brandon and Bryson are still here! My cousin Cheryl is still here in customer service. My cousin Randy is still here in shoe repair. We have a longtime employee, Dustin, still working the front end of the shop. We also have two other employees “on call” if needed. Our garage set-up was last resort!!

With that said, we greatly appreciate everyones support. We hope and pray for y’alls safety during these crazy times.

Thank you!


Kyle Baker
Baker’s Boots
www.bakershoe.com
 

Woodtroll

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2019
Messages
279
Reaction score
465
Just want to give everyone an update ..... Our Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, has issued a "stay at home" order. Because we sell to first responders, offer PPE for safety toe footwear and are a stand alone brick and mortar store, from what we gather, we are able to stay open. We are having briefings and memos for CDC compliance to keep our employees safe. We have been keeping the 6 foot rule with employees and customers in-store. We are offering curbside service to customers; we’ll have our phone number on the door, customers can call and we’ll service them.

For online customers like yourself, we’re business as usual …. shipping/receiving is normal. Keep in mind if our factories close down, that will prohibit direct ships and prolong lead times on custom boots. With that said, we greatly appreciate your business and an order for us right now means a lot! Just keep in mind, lead times may extend due to factory closures and DC closures for other brands we carry. My two brothers, Brandon and Bryson are still here! My cousin Cheryl is still here in customer service. My cousin Randy is still here in shoe repair. We have a longtime employee, Dustin, still working the front end of the shop. We also have two other employees “on call” if needed. Our garage set-up was last resort!!

With that said, we greatly appreciate everyones support. We hope and pray for y’alls safety during these crazy times.

Thank you!


Kyle Baker
Baker’s Boots
www.bakershoe.com

Thanks for the update, Kyle. I feel very fortunate to have gotten my boots delivered last week, and I hope things continue to go as well as they can for y'all under these conditions. Best wishes to your family, staff, and friends for good health!

Take care,
Regan
 

chicken1616

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2014
Messages
520
Reaction score
299
Just want to give everyone an update ..... Our Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, has issued a "stay at home" order. Because we sell to first responders, offer PPE for safety toe footwear and are a stand alone brick and mortar store, from what we gather, we are able to stay open. We are having briefings and memos for CDC compliance to keep our employees safe. We have been keeping the 6 foot rule with employees and customers in-store. We are offering curbside service to customers; we’ll have our phone number on the door, customers can call and we’ll service them.

For online customers like yourself, we’re business as usual …. shipping/receiving is normal. Keep in mind if our factories close down, that will prohibit direct ships and prolong lead times on custom boots. With that said, we greatly appreciate your business and an order for us right now means a lot! Just keep in mind, lead times may extend due to factory closures and DC closures for other brands we carry. My two brothers, Brandon and Bryson are still here! My cousin Cheryl is still here in customer service. My cousin Randy is still here in shoe repair. We have a longtime employee, Dustin, still working the front end of the shop. We also have two other employees “on call” if needed. Our garage set-up was last resort!!

With that said, we greatly appreciate everyones support. We hope and pray for y’alls safety during these crazy times.

Thank you!


Kyle Baker
Baker’s Boots
www.bakershoe.com
Thanks, Kyle. You all are the best. Keep safe.
 

Legal Eagles

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2017
Messages
1,231
Reaction score
2,332
OK, which of you guys ordered the Veg Tan Bounty Hunters on the Baker's site? Note the old version of the logo...
1585155488567.png
 

chicken1616

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2014
Messages
520
Reaction score
299
I have a very sparse knowledge about different types of horsehide. I have a pair of MP's in CXL Horsehide, and a pair of SD's in the Baker's only horsehide. I notice White's has a pair on sbay in cordovan HH for well over a thousand $. Can some one explain the differences in these, as per price,etc?
 

Legal Eagles

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2017
Messages
1,231
Reaction score
2,332
I have a very sparse knowledge about different types of horsehide. I have a pair of MP's in CXL Horsehide, and a pair of SD's in the Baker's only horsehide. I notice White's has a pair on sbay in cordovan HH for well over a thousand $. Can some one explain the differences in these, as per price,etc?
Great Question... start here and read down... make sure to hit the Horween link as well...
To know what one really has, one must know:

1) The animal;
2) Where on the animal the hide came from; and
3) The tannage used...

Unfortunately we rarely get that much info.

 

Legal Eagles

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2017
Messages
1,231
Reaction score
2,332
With some extrapolation, I think I can figure it out from that. Thanx!
That is just a start, if you have questions after all that, ask away... we will try to help...
 

Dancunn

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2020
Messages
6
Reaction score
24
Hi everyone, been lurking for a while and this is my first post. I'd like to start off by thanking everyone here for providing so much useful info and amazing pictures that were invaluable in picking out my own pair. Here is long post of my initial impressions of my new MP boots.


Build specs:
White's Military Police Service Boot
MP-M1 pattern
Size: 8.5C
MP Leathers: Dark Brown Waxed Flesh
Toe Cap: Vintage 4-row Toe Cap
Sole: Commando Mini Lug Half Sole
Celastic Toe Box: No Thanks
Hardware: All Antique Eyes
Logos / Embossing: No logos or embossing

Ordering:
Placed order with Baker’s on 12/5/19 with Black Friday pricing. Had gone back a forth for a week or so with Kyle with various questions and his sizing recommendations based on my tracings and measurement I sent in. Kyle was extremely helpful and knowledgeable which is super reassuring when you are buying boots that are $450 even on sale. For reference, I don’t know my brannock size, in sneakers I usually wear a 10D with insoles, have Thursday Captains in 10D (my first pair of real boots which I realized later were definitely too large but I still wear), Thursday Presidents in 9.5D which fit well, and Thursday Diplomats in 9D which fit ok. When Kyle recommended an 8.5C I was quite surprised at what sounded very small. I inquired about a try on pair to make sure, but they did not have C width sizes for try on. After confirming my measurements a 2nd time, Kyle was confident in the 8.5C and assured me that if they didn’t fit, Baker’s would make it right. Based on his sterling reputation around these parts, I went with his suggested size. Spoiler alert: he absolutely lived up to his reputation and the sizing was spot on. Overall, the ordering process was great and though I was nervous about spending $450 on a boot I had not tried on (or even actually seen in person), Kyle made me feel confident I was in good hands. If you are planning on ordering a pair of White’s, I HIGHLY recommend going through Baker’s rather than White’s directly, more on this later.

Waiting:
This is the part where things got tough. When I ordered, Kyle estimated an 8 week wait. Understandable, given the nature of the boots and the busy time I ordered during. No big deal. Order was placed 12/5. On 1/21, just about 7 weeks after order, I received an email from Baker’s that they had received my order from White’s, but that the boots were missing the cap toe so they were sending them back to the factory to be rebuilt correctly ASAP and they estimated an additional week or two. Two weeks later, on 2/3 I checked in to see if they had any update. To my disappointment, they told me they received my boots about a week earlier, but that they had QC issues so Baker’s had ordered a complete new pair to be built and estimated another 2-3 weeks. Frustrating to have to wait even longer, but better to wait longer than get a sub-par boot. Finally, on 3/4, I received my tracking info from Baker’s. My boots were on their way to me. The only problem was that I was leaving the country the next day for a trip, thankfully they were being delivered to my office so there would still be someone to receive the package. They were delivered on 3/10, almost 14 weeks from my order. Then it was another 10 days until I was actually able to get my hands on them.

At this point is where I will discuss a topic that has come up often in relation to White’s... Quality Control. I understand the argument that they make work boots so some degree of QC issues are to be forgiven, however, if they want to get into the fashion boot business, then criticism of cosmetic issues seems more than fair. It really should not be too much to expect the QC folks to catch the fact that the order was for cap toe boots and they were built plain toe. Thankfully the Baker boys were on top of things and caught not only that, but then the additional QC issues after the rebuild. They didn’t specify exactly what the QC issues were the 2nd time and I didn’t ask, but I sure am glad I bought through them and not straight from White’s as it seems that White’s QC process could use some improvement. I’ve seen extensive debate here and on Reddit over what constitutes QC issues significant enough to warrant complaint and it is a tremendous relief that I had Baker’s to act as an additional set of eyes deal with this instead of having to worry about it myself. I don’t quite understand how they can charge lower prices than White’s direct while actually adding value, but I am so thankful that they do. Again, if you are ordering White’s, Baker’s seems like the way to go.

The final product:
These boots are FANTASITIC. It took quite some time and few attempts, but in the end, I received a beautiful pair of boots. The leather is thick and consistent, and smells amazing. They have very straight, even stitching throughout the uppers and soles. The lasting and cap toes are also very straight, even, and symmetrical. Just for the sake of full disclosure, there were a few loose threads, a welt trimmed a bit unevenly on the inside of one boot, and some glue around the soles. These are extremely nitpicky imperfections that don’t bother me in the least bit, and I actually think they contribute to the character of a hand built boot. Despite White’s issues with QC, when they get it right, as they did with this pair, they really knock it out of the park.

Fit:
As I had mentioned, I was nervous about what seemed like a small size, but of course, Kyle was spot on. The boots are the snuggest fitting that I own, but they don’t feel tight, more like they are lovingly hugging my feet. My toes don’t feel cramped in at all, and the soft toe seems to provide some extra comfort when I wiggle my toes. After wearing them around the house for a few days, the leather is still rather stiff and I think will take some time to soften up, but they are quite comfortable, no hotspots or lace bite. The arch support is noticeable but not too extreme. It’s pleasantly, well... supportive. The boots themselves are pretty heavy, but don’t actually feel too heavy on foot, they just feel sturdy. Unfortunately, not much walking around to be done in my apartment, and with current coronavirus shelter in place restrictions, it’s going to be a while before I can start putting some real miles on these, but I can’t wait to do so.


Thanks for reading all this. Hope there is useful info in here for someone.
 

Attachments

  • 20200320_130213.jpg
    20200320_130213.jpg
    262.7 KB · Views: 99
  • 20200320_130233.jpg
    20200320_130233.jpg
    183.5 KB · Views: 90
  • 20200320_130251.jpg
    20200320_130251.jpg
    210.1 KB · Views: 90
  • 20200320_130314.jpg
    20200320_130314.jpg
    235.3 KB · Views: 90
  • 20200320_130321.jpg
    20200320_130321.jpg
    218 KB · Views: 95
  • 20200320_130347.jpg
    20200320_130347.jpg
    126.8 KB · Views: 94
  • 20200320_130420.jpg
    20200320_130420.jpg
    278 KB · Views: 86
  • 20200320_130428.jpg
    20200320_130428.jpg
    339.8 KB · Views: 86
  • 20200320_130443.jpg
    20200320_130443.jpg
    384.4 KB · Views: 84
  • 20200320_130556.jpg
    20200320_130556.jpg
    259.6 KB · Views: 88
  • 20200320_130622.jpg
    20200320_130622.jpg
    424.2 KB · Views: 87
  • 20200320_130628.jpg
    20200320_130628.jpg
    422.3 KB · Views: 81
  • 20200320_130709.jpg
    20200320_130709.jpg
    203.7 KB · Views: 87
  • 20200320_130723.jpg
    20200320_130723.jpg
    212.6 KB · Views: 89
  • 20200320_130749.jpg
    20200320_130749.jpg
    206.5 KB · Views: 97
  • 20200320_130824.jpg
    20200320_130824.jpg
    229.9 KB · Views: 103
  • 20200320_130836.jpg
    20200320_130836.jpg
    208.7 KB · Views: 124
  • 20200320_130849.jpg
    20200320_130849.jpg
    166.6 KB · Views: 140

chicken1616

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2014
Messages
520
Reaction score
299
Hi everyone, been lurking for a while and this is my first post. I'd like to start off by thanking everyone here for providing so much useful info and amazing pictures that were invaluable in picking out my own pair. Here is long post of my initial impressions of my new MP boots.


Build specs:
White's Military Police Service Boot
MP-M1 pattern
Size: 8.5C
MP Leathers: Dark Brown Waxed Flesh
Toe Cap: Vintage 4-row Toe Cap
Sole: Commando Mini Lug Half Sole
Celastic Toe Box: No Thanks
Hardware: All Antique Eyes
Logos / Embossing: No logos or embossing

Ordering:
Placed order with Baker’s on 12/5/19 with Black Friday pricing. Had gone back a forth for a week or so with Kyle with various questions and his sizing recommendations based on my tracings and measurement I sent in. Kyle was extremely helpful and knowledgeable which is super reassuring when you are buying boots that are $450 even on sale. For reference, I don’t know my brannock size, in sneakers I usually wear a 10D with insoles, have Thursday Captains in 10D (my first pair of real boots which I realized later were definitely too large but I still wear), Thursday Presidents in 9.5D which fit well, and Thursday Diplomats in 9D which fit ok. When Kyle recommended an 8.5C I was quite surprised at what sounded very small. I inquired about a try on pair to make sure, but they did not have C width sizes for try on. After confirming my measurements a 2nd time, Kyle was confident in the 8.5C and assured me that if they didn’t fit, Baker’s would make it right. Based on his sterling reputation around these parts, I went with his suggested size. Spoiler alert: he absolutely lived up to his reputation and the sizing was spot on. Overall, the ordering process was great and though I was nervous about spending $450 on a boot I had not tried on (or even actually seen in person), Kyle made me feel confident I was in good hands. If you are planning on ordering a pair of White’s, I HIGHLY recommend going through Baker’s rather than White’s directly, more on this later.

Waiting:
This is the part where things got tough. When I ordered, Kyle estimated an 8 week wait. Understandable, given the nature of the boots and the busy time I ordered during. No big deal. Order was placed 12/5. On 1/21, just about 7 weeks after order, I received an email from Baker’s that they had received my order from White’s, but that the boots were missing the cap toe so they were sending them back to the factory to be rebuilt correctly ASAP and they estimated an additional week or two. Two weeks later, on 2/3 I checked in to see if they had any update. To my disappointment, they told me they received my boots about a week earlier, but that they had QC issues so Baker’s had ordered a complete new pair to be built and estimated another 2-3 weeks. Frustrating to have to wait even longer, but better to wait longer than get a sub-par boot. Finally, on 3/4, I received my tracking info from Baker’s. My boots were on their way to me. The only problem was that I was leaving the country the next day for a trip, thankfully they were being delivered to my office so there would still be someone to receive the package. They were delivered on 3/10, almost 14 weeks from my order. Then it was another 10 days until I was actually able to get my hands on them.

At this point is where I will discuss a topic that has come up often in relation to White’s... Quality Control. I understand the argument that they make work boots so some degree of QC issues are to be forgiven, however, if they want to get into the fashion boot business, then criticism of cosmetic issues seems more than fair. It really should not be too much to expect the QC folks to catch the fact that the order was for cap toe boots and they were built plain toe. Thankfully the Baker boys were on top of things and caught not only that, but then the additional QC issues after the rebuild. They didn’t specify exactly what the QC issues were the 2nd time and I didn’t ask, but I sure am glad I bought through them and not straight from White’s as it seems that White’s QC process could use some improvement. I’ve seen extensive debate here and on Reddit over what constitutes QC issues significant enough to warrant complaint and it is a tremendous relief that I had Baker’s to act as an additional set of eyes deal with this instead of having to worry about it myself. I don’t quite understand how they can charge lower prices than White’s direct while actually adding value, but I am so thankful that they do. Again, if you are ordering White’s, Baker’s seems like the way to go.

The final product:
These boots are FANTASITIC. It took quite some time and few attempts, but in the end, I received a beautiful pair of boots. The leather is thick and consistent, and smells amazing. They have very straight, even stitching throughout the uppers and soles. The lasting and cap toes are also very straight, even, and symmetrical. Just for the sake of full disclosure, there were a few loose threads, a welt trimmed a bit unevenly on the inside of one boot, and some glue around the soles. These are extremely nitpicky imperfections that don’t bother me in the least bit, and I actually think they contribute to the character of a hand built boot. Despite White’s issues with QC, when they get it right, as they did with this pair, they really knock it out of the park.

Fit:
As I had mentioned, I was nervous about what seemed like a small size, but of course, Kyle was spot on. The boots are the snuggest fitting that I own, but they don’t feel tight, more like they are lovingly hugging my feet. My toes don’t feel cramped in at all, and the soft toe seems to provide some extra comfort when I wiggle my toes. After wearing them around the house for a few days, the leather is still rather stiff and I think will take some time to soften up, but they are quite comfortable, no hotspots or lace bite. The arch support is noticeable but not too extreme. It’s pleasantly, well... supportive. The boots themselves are pretty heavy, but don’t actually feel too heavy on foot, they just feel sturdy. Unfortunately, not much walking around to be done in my apartment, and with current coronavirus shelter in place restrictions, it’s going to be a while before I can start putting some real miles on these, but I can’t wait to do so.


Thanks for reading all this. Hope there is useful info in here for someone.
Very detailed. Nice write up.
 

Featured Sponsor

How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 55 36.2%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 59 38.8%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 17 11.2%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 26 17.1%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 26 17.1%

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
505,158
Messages
10,578,897
Members
223,882
Latest member
anykadaimeni
Top