Whites Boots

W

Wanderlust

Joined
May 31, 2009
Messages
472
So I am considering getting a custom made and fitted pair of Whites Boots. Specifically the Whites Lace-To-Toe Dri-Foot - Outdoorsman (15 Boots down). Now there are many reasons for this, specifically I cannot find a pair of boots to fit my foot correctly. It is too narrow around if that makes any sense, and a narrower boot doesn't fit correctly. Also I have trouble wearing Logger styled boots because most of my walking is on packed earth, and I have bad ankles and Loggers seem to mess with them. I have a pair of Red Wing Fire boots, and a pair of Danner Rainforesters and like both of the boots. But the Red Wings fit great but have a loggers sole. The Danner's are exactly what I want but they do not fit correctly. So I guess in my rambling I am trying to find some advice on Whites boots or the Outdoorsman specifically. How do they hold up to HARD use, I am very hard on all of my equipment and I expect these boots to go to hell and back for me and ask for more? How is the Customer Service over there? Do they treat their customers right?

I guess I am just looking for some advice before I drop this kind of coin on a pair of boots. Thanks everybody.
 
well they make boots for smoke jumping and I would tend to think smoke jumping is hard on boots and smoke jumpers swair on whites boots so that was good enough for me so I bought a pair....the break in time is long but they get so nice I think youll love them I know I like mine alot. I switch off between those and a pair of matterhorn 12900's for work
 
I have a similar narrow lower volume foot and I really have had trouble finding boots that fit correctly. I also needed boots that did not have Goretex. My feet sweat regardless of the temp and I am smart enought to walk around most puddles;). In short, White's boots are awesome (I have the hikers), fit better than anything else I have tried. I can't comment on the service because they have not needed any!
 
Last edited:
Go Whites!!! I have been wearing their boots for 20+ years. I have a narrow foot not only do their smokejumpers fit properly but they are the most comfortable boots I've ever worn. My previous pair was a pair of farmers and they were just as comfortable.

They also wear an unbelievably long time. my first pair lasted over 8 years before I had to have them resoled. If you go with the custom fit option then you can get away with other than the lace to toe model due to the fact that they make a last specificaly for your foot (that is why all the measurements). Just make sure to take all the measurements with your prefered socks on (I use heavy wool hikers). I have never had to put insoles in a pair of White's boots, neverhad a blister in em either.

Hope this helps.
 
Wanderlust said:
So I am considering getting a custom made and fitted pair of Whites Boots. Specifically the Whites Lace-To-Toe Dri-Foot - Outdoorsman (15 Boots down). Now there are many reasons for this, specifically I cannot find a pair of boots to fit my foot correctly. It is too narrow around if that makes any sense, and a narrower boot doesn't fit correctly. Also I have trouble wearing Logger styled boots because most of my walking is on packed earth, and I have bad ankles and Loggers seem to mess with them. I have a pair of Red Wing Fire boots, and a pair of Danner Rainforesters and like both of the boots. But the Red Wings fit great but have a loggers sole. The Danner's are exactly what I want but they do not fit correctly. So I guess in my rambling I am trying to find some advice on Whites boots or the Outdoorsman specifically. How do they hold up to HARD use, I am very hard on all of my equipment and I expect these boots to go to hell and back for me and ask for more? How is the Customer Service over there? Do they treat their customers right?

I guess I am just looking for some advice before I drop this kind of coin on a pair of boots. Thanks everybody.
Click to expand...


I have trouble getting boots to fit correctly also. I have three pairs of whites, two sets of lace up packers and a set of hunters. My oldest pair of packers were made in 95. I got them used from a friend who didn’t like them in early 02.They were pretty used then. I have had them rebuilt twice since then, once in 04 and again last year. The last time Whites made some mods to them I don’t like the heel on the packers and they put on the cleated heel like on the loggers or the hunters. For working off horseback or hiking they work great. I got some lined hunters in 04 and they have held up great and still have many years left in them before I need to get them resoled. That was my only gripe with the packers is that I would grind the heel of pretty quick.

One word the arch is pretty unique in the boots it takes awhile to get used to them but once you do you won’t wear anything else unless you have to.
 
I like everything about Whites boots cept they look like they should be sticking out from under a house in the Wizard of Oz...:p Is it just me? They are made right near here, and I would like to own some I just think they look goofy... My motto is "Function is beauty" but I have my limits..;)
 
Trace Rinaldi said:
I like everything about Whites boots cept they look like they should be sticking out from under a house in the Wizard of Oz...:p Is it just me? They are made right near here, and I would like to own some I just think they look goofy... My motto is "Function is beauty" but I have my limits..;)
Click to expand...


To me some don’t look any different than other similar boots and some look a little quaint:D. I think that some still look the way they do because of function and they sell so they must be doing something right.
 
Horned Toad said:
To me some don’t look any different than other similar boots and some look a little quaint:D. I think that some still look the way they do because of function and they sell so they must be doing something right.
Click to expand...

Yeah Im sure they have a reason why they look the way they do... Maybe I should buy some, and see for myself..;) I dont mean to talk smack about a quality product made in the US...:o The beauty may be revealed in use, and in N. Idaho a good pair of boots is something you really want.. Im pretty pleased with the Carhartt boots I got a while back but being made in China Im sure they will fall apart fast..:rolleyes:
 
I'm actually planning to have the heels lowered on my Packers. Best boots I own (though I love my Luccheses!), but the height of the heel hurts my knees.
 
holygoat said:
I'm actually planning to have the heels lowered on my Packers. Best boots I own (though I love my Luccheses!), but the height of the heel hurts my knees.
Click to expand...

When I had the heels changed out on mine, the first time I got them back the heels were to high. I paid shipping to the shop and they fixed them and sent them back no charge.

I need to get the heels lowered on my newest packers also.
 
Trace Rinaldi said:
Yeah Im sure they have a reason why they look the way they do... Maybe I should buy some, and see for myself..;) I dont mean to talk smack about a quality product made in the US...:o The beauty may be revealed in use, and in N. Idaho a good pair of boots is something you really want.. Im pretty pleased with the Carhartt boots I got a while back but being made in China Im sure they will fall apart fast..:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Smack talking is all in fun:D The sad thing is with Carhartt importing stuff now I dont know where I am going to get shirts and jeans.
:(
 
I own two pair of Whites. One pair are 12-inch loggers that I bought directly from them at a Portland outdoor show after trying on several pairs. Fit great and I have nothing but good to say about them.

The other pair are "walking shoes" I bought from their catalog after trying to fill out their custom measurement chart. Fit bad and I hardly ever wear them. I had the same experience with another custom boot company I tried to send all my measurement in to.

My advice is don't buy boots you can't try on first.
 
Whites are by far the best fire boot you can buy i have them all danner, white, red wings and for sure the whites are the most comfortable, if your looking for a non logger sole i dont know if the make one, but if you can afford it i would stronglt recommend them to you. i would see if they have a boot compairable to the danner acadia these are my current ems boots and thier awesome hope this helps
 
The Farmer model has a non lugged incredibly durable vibram sole. They don't pick up as much mud.
 
Whites boots are awesome. In my younger days all I wore were whites cowboy lace ups and Danner hiking boots for work boots. Theres no way now I would want to have to break in a pair of whites my flat feet and plantar faciatis. I still wear danner hiking boots and do have a pair or whites pacs(there version of a felt sorrel) which has a pointed toe which works well in sturrups and is a great snow weather hunting boot. Whites leather, stitching and craftsmanship make for a very durable boot and you probably are aware that they can be resoled multiple times.
 
Horned Toad said:
Smack talking is all in fun:D The sad thing is with Carhartt importing stuff now I dont know where I am going to get shirts and jeans.
:(
Click to expand...

Im Carhartt head to toe these days it seems.. The pants and stuff still seem to be made in the US...;) I almost couldnt believe it when I saw they WERE made in the US...:cool: I hope that holds true for a good long time.
 
"how do Whites boots hold up to hard use?" amazingly well :) I had a pair of their calk boots that I wore for over four years of very hard use- several chain saw nicks and lots of other scars- I don't think you'll find a boot more suitable for hard use than Whites

they do take some time to break in, once broke in you'll be in boot nirvana :D
 
Thanks everybody, I appreciate all the responses. This is all as I had thought but I like to get some first hand experiences before I spend this kind of money on something. But it looks like I will be ordering mine up here very shortly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top