Custom White's Boots ... Thoughts?

[chicagoan2016]

Hello everyone, long time reader, first time poster.

I just received my first pair of White’s - BH in cinnamon waxed flesh and had some concerned over fit.

I had Kyle at Baker’s fit me via tracings, but the toes/balls of my feet feel quite roomy. I understand that’s somewhat to be expected with this style, however the lacing is also quite close together and I’m worried about it becoming even more so with age.

Other than that they are great- no heel slip or pain points.

Thanks!

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Did Kyle recommend open instep?

 

[Tar Nation]

Did Kyle recommend open instep?

No, I’m not sure what that is.

 

[Legal Eagles]

Hello everyone, long time reader, first time poster.

Welcome to the thread...

I have a few questions which may help us address your concerns...

Are you wearing the same socks now as you did for the tracings?

In addition to tracings did you send measurements?

Did you tell Kyle to fit you in a Bounty Hunter (55 last) or did he suggest the 55 Last based on the shape of your feet?

Honestly, the boots look great to me... I like laces about 1" to 1.5" apart and parallel... it looks like you have that... if the waxed flesh does stretch to the point where the laces are too close (touching) you can add a kiltie to space them out a little more.

I like a little room in the toe box, and as long as there is no heel slip, I think you are going to be OK. To me the fit on the heel and instep is more important to long term comfort than the fit of the toe box as long as the toe box is not too tight... which yours is not. Plus, you can always wear thicker socks and add an insole if they are really too roomy...

 

[Tar Nation]

Welcome to the thread...

I have a few questions which may help us address your concerns...

Are you wearing the same socks now as you did for the tracings?

In addition to tracings did you send measurements?

Did you tell Kyle to fit you in a Bounty Hunter (55 last) or did he suggest the 55 Last based on the shape of your feet?

Honestly, the boots look great to me... I like laces about 1" to 1.5" apart and parallel... it looks like you have that... if the waxed flesh does stretch to the point where the laces are too close (touching) you can add a kiltie to space them out a little more.

I like a little room in the toe box, and as long as there is no heel slip, I think you are going to be OK. To me the fit on the heel and instep is more important to long term comfort than the fit of the toe box as long as the toe box is not too tight... which yours is not. Plus, you can always wear thicker socks and add an insole if they are really too roomy...

Thanks for such a detailed response.

I did send him measurements as well as tracings, and he suggested the 55 last, although he said it didn’t really matter?

the socks I wore for tracings were actually a little thinner...

I think overall I’m probably being neurotic and they’re fine!

 

[wordfool]

Thanks for such a detailed response.

I did send him measurements as well as tracings, and he suggested the 55 last, although he said it didn’t really matter?

the socks I wore for tracings were actually a little thinner...

I think overall I’m probably being neurotic and they’re fine!

Many people fit the same in the MP and 55 lasts, so I'd not worry about that. As @Legal Eagles said, if they fit securely midfoot and in the heel then they're probably fine. How's the fit right at the front of the upper, where the first eyelets are? You should be able to wiggle your toes freely but ideally the ball of your foot should not be able to lift.

I have narrowish feet (C width) and most of my White's lace up with about an inch gap, occasionally slightly less if I'm really cinching them and am wearing thinner socks. It can sometimes be disconcerting to see photos of boots on all those lucky folks with E and EE width feet and then look down at boots on my scrawny old feet

If still in doubt, give Baker's a call. They're always happy to talk about fit and ways to dial it in better.

 

[discomute]

Hello everyone, long time reader, first time poster.

I just received my first pair of White’s - BH in cinnamon waxed flesh and had some concerned over fit.

I had Kyle at Baker’s fit me via tracings, but the toes/balls of my feet feel quite roomy. I understand that’s somewhat to be expected with this style, however the lacing is also quite close together and I’m worried about it becoming even more so with age.

Other than that they are great- no heel slip or pain points.

Thanks!

View attachment 1536388 View attachment 1536397 View attachment 1536398

One more thing to keep in mind is your toes, to an extent, are supposed to be swimming free.

I personally think they look perfect (referencing your concerns on lacing)

If you add thicker socks, does it produce a better fit?

 

[prasom]

just wanted to get the opinion on the lace spacing on these SJs . they are 4811 last and this is my try on pair. I am planning to buy an 8 inch boot but the try on is 10 inch.
reading above i felt like asking the question because i feel like the spacing narrows in the shaft. is this normal or should i be concerned about the fit?

 

[klank74]

View attachment 1536841



just wanted to get the opinion on the lace spacing on these SJs . they are 4811 last and this is my try on pair. I am planning to buy an 8 inch boot but the try on is 10 inch.
reading above i felt like asking the question because i feel like the spacing narrows in the shaft. is this normal or should i be concerned about the fit?

If you do the tracings and measurements, measure 8” up your calf ( since you want 8” boots) and send them in, Whites will make them to fit the measurements of your feet and legs. Bakers has a really good instructional video on their site.

 

[klank74]

View attachment 1536841



just wanted to get the opinion on the lace spacing on these SJs . they are 4811 last and this is my try on pair. I am planning to buy an 8 inch boot but the try on is 10 inch.
reading above i felt like asking the question because i feel like the spacing narrows in the shaft. is this normal or should i be concerned about the fit?

Forgot to mention, the try on pair are usually just whatever they have in stock, so I wouldn’t be worried about how the shaft fits right now, just how they fit your feet.

 

[Leveskie]

View attachment 1536841



just wanted to get the opinion on the lace spacing on these SJs . they are 4811 last and this is my try on pair. I am planning to buy an 8 inch boot but the try on is 10 inch.
reading above i felt like asking the question because i feel like the spacing narrows in the shaft. is this normal or should i be concerned about the fit?

My Whites do that as they go up the shaft as well. I noticed the s fold seems to even the uppers out on my pair

 

[prasom]

If you do the tracings and measurements, measure 8” up your calf ( since you want 8” boots) and send them in, Whites will make them to fit the measurements of your feet and legs. Bakers has a really good instructional video on their site.

Yes i did the measurements and send it to them. Do they adjust the fit of the shaft to our measurements when they build the final product?
My feet fits well to the try on pair(at least i think ) no pain points , no heel lift and i can wiggle my toes comfortably. only bit of down side is that there is a bit of extra length from the end of my toes to the end of the boot. (bit more that a width of a thumb)
the fit is pretty snug and i read in this forum that is how it should be in a new pair which has not broken in yet.

 

[wordfool]

View attachment 1536841



just wanted to get the opinion on the lace spacing on these SJs . they are 4811 last and this is my try on pair. I am planning to buy an 8 inch boot but the try on is 10 inch.
reading above i felt like asking the question because i feel like the spacing narrows in the shaft. is this normal or should i be concerned about the fit?

You probably just have a slightly skinnier than average ankle and lower calf (like me) so that's to be expected. personally I think they look fine on you. The important thing, fit wise, is that the lowest 5-6 eyelets/hooks can be well cinched. That's what locks in your foot. If you are concerned then mention it to Bakers and I believe they can order the boots with a slightly narrower shaft, although that might incur a small upcharge.

 

[Leveskie]

Yes i did the measurements and send it to them. Do they adjust the fit of the shaft to our measurements when they build the final product?
My feet fits well to the try on pair(at least i think ) no pain points , no heel lift and i can wiggle my toes comfortably. only bit of down side is that there is a bit of extra length from the end of my toes to the end of the boot. (bit more that a width of a thumb)
the fit is pretty snug and i read in this forum that is how it should be in a new pair which has not broken in yet.

Im a 8.5C and have a small ankle. I think they put a 7.5 shaft on my boot so the lacing was a little farther apart. Whatever they did worked

 

[klank74]

Yes i did the measurements and send it to them. Do they adjust the fit of the shaft to our measurements when they build the final product?
My feet fits well to the try on pair(at least i think ) no pain points , no heel lift and i can wiggle my toes comfortably. only bit of down side is that there is a bit of extra length from the end of my toes to the end of the boot. (bit more that a width of a thumb)
the fit is pretty snug and i read in this forum that is how it should be in a new pair which has not broken in yet.

Sounds like they have you sized perfectly then. I’m pretty sure they will fit the shaft to your measurements, or use a pattern when cutting the leather that comes close. That’s why they tell you to measure up your leg to the height you want your boots at.

 

[johng70]

Well, it's finally time: need to get my first pair of semi-dress resoled. So, I see both Baker's and White's offer services: Can anyone compare the two for a re-sole?