Custom White's Boots ... Thoughts?

[Legal Eagles]

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?

This is interesting to me as well... I have always thought I would use White's... kind of like going to the dealership for your car... who knows the boot better than the people who built them... however, I like the look of the wide double stitch on the welt, and would want it preserved in any resole...

I have never gotten a satisfactory answer as to whether this is possible... either by Baker's or White's... anyone have input on this aspect of the resole?

 

[chicagoan2016]

I remember @ExtraitdeMinimalist sent his smoke jumpers to Bakers for a rebuild and they came back with double row stitching. The pictures are a few pages back.

 

[Legal Eagles]

I remember @ExtraitdeMinimalist sent his smoke jumpers to Bakers for a rebuild and they came back with double row stitching. The pictures are a few pages back.

I fully expect that with a rebuild White's can do the double row stitching... after all everything but the quarters is new...

I am more curious about a resole... can they maintain the double row welt stitch on a resole?

 

[chicagoan2016]

I fully expect that with a rebuild White's can do the double row stitching... after all everything but the quarters is new...

I am more curious about a resole... can they maintain the double row welt stitch on a resole?

Awe I need to read "closely" lol

 

[Tweedboy]

Our cat Slinky prefers the SJs! Meow
View attachment 1535188
(The bouquet is oiled leather and sawdust, not stinky feet, I promise)

Here is Slinky’s British cousin Bruce guarding my Red Dog roughout Semi Dress

 

[ExtraitdeMinimalist]

*SOLD*

Letting these go, lads.
10D
< 20 wears

 

[hoppy_IPA]

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?

Bakers did a resole for me last year & White's did a rebuild for me last year. I preferred Baker's & thought they did excellent work. The communication with Bakers was friendly and helpful as always.

 

[Fear and Loathing]

Custom semi-dress with plain caps, block heel, double-row, Vibram 430, Horween CXL

Custom semi-dress with dress caps, Cuban heels, single-row, Vibram 100 tan, Horween burgundy CXL

Waiting on a custom pair... Semi-dress, plain caps, modified slightly slanted block heel, midsole in special charcoal brown, single-row, Vibram 100F black, Horween black horsehide CXL

 

[wordfool]

Waiting on a custom pair... Semi-dress, plain caps, modified slightly slanted block heel, midsole in special charcoal brown, single-row, Vibram 100F black, Horween black horsehide CXL

I'm curious to see how the heel turns out on these. I requested the same on a pair of 6" BHs with 100 soles and they arrived today with what looks like a regular woodsman heel. Not a big deal, but I was hoping for more of a semi-woodsman or semi-block (the bigger issue with them, however, is they have all eyes instead of eyes/hooks as ordered, so my White's jinx apparently continues

 

[Fear and Loathing]

I'm curious to see how the heel turns out on these. I requested the same on a pair of 6" BHs with 100 soles and they arrived today with what looks like a regular woodsman heel. Not a big deal, but I was hoping for more of a semi-woodsman or semi-block (the bigger issue with them, however, is they have all eyes instead of eyes/hooks as ordered, so my White's jinx apparently continues

That sucks to hear! The only custom from White’s is the above burgundy. They aren’t perfect... the heels are slightly different heights.

Customization to the above black pair and all custom work (including the caps) being done to the incoming horsehide pair is courtesy of Raoul Ojeda. He’s the man behind Don Ville and Willie’s, and arguably the finest independent bespoke shoemaker in the United States.

 

[Luscombe]

I'm curious to see how the heel turns out on these. I requested the same on a pair of 6" BHs with 100 soles and they arrived today with what looks like a regular woodsman heel. Not a big deal, but I was hoping for more of a semi-woodsman or semi-block (the bigger issue with them, however, is they have all eyes instead of eyes/hooks as ordered, so my White's jinx apparently continues

Wordfool, how did Bakers respond to this QC failure? This is really disappointing given the cost of these boots and the time it takes to make them. My SD rebuild was messed up, wrong toe cap and had to be sent back. The overall quality of the stitching and reconstruct is poor and I have stitches unraveling. My other pair, MP's have the hooks tearing out of the leather. Kyle said to send those back for repairs. My Centennials had quality issues too. I am three for three with issues and Whites. Kind of concerned about the HH SD's i have on order.

 

[wordfool]

Wordfool, how did Bakers respond to this QC failure? This is really disappointing given the cost of these boots and the time it takes to make them. My SD rebuild was messed up, wrong toe cap and had to be sent back. The overall quality of the stitching and reconstruct is poor and I have stitches unraveling. My other pair, MP's have the hooks tearing out of the leather. Kyle said to send those back for repairs. My Centennials had quality issues too. I am three for three with issues and Whites. Kind of concerned about the HH SD's i have on order.

I emailed them this afternoon and have not yet heard back. Hopefully the eyelets are the same size and can simply be swapped out for hooks, but that would still involve two way shipping, which from the East Coast would mean another 2-3 weeks waiting.

This is my fourth pair out of five that have had QC issues. In addition to the missing hooks, the waxed flesh of one toe is a totally different texture and slightly different shade to the other, which I’m not too bothered about but puzzled that it was not noticed before construction. I guess WF clicking is not a thing. Otherwise the build is pretty good!

I might give the eyelets a go and see if I can live with them, otherwise winter will be half over by the time I get them back. I have one more pair coming and that’ll probably be my last from Whites. I have enough PNW boots and TBH it’s become too much of a hassle to deal with White’s QC issues, even with the good customer service from Bakers.

 

[ExtraitdeMinimalist]

Probably easier/quicker for them to send you the hardware and have a local do them.

 

[Legal Eagles]

I have one more pair coming and that’ll probably be my last from Whites. I have enough PNW boots and TBH it’s become too much of a hassle to deal with White’s QC issues, even with the good customer service from Bakers.

I am in the same boat... if they had not offered natural veg tan on Black Friday, I would have looked elsewhere... incredibly frustrating... I love White's and it makes me sad to see this happening again and again... I do not have a solution...

 

[chicagoan2016]

I am in the same boat... if they had not offered natural veg tan on Black Friday, I would have looked elsewhere... incredibly frustrating... I love White's and it makes me sad to see this happening again and again... I do not have a solution...

I don't know a thing about boot 'making' process but I think if White's could print a paper with all the customizations and give it the staff member(s) working on that particular pair, it could help reduce the number of 'errors' but like I said it's just a shot in the dark : )