Wesco Boot Thread.

[Bfd70]

Can’t believe with times like that they don’t expand their capacity? Their boots are nice. Their not unicorn hide on a space alien last. Nothing about them imho is worth more than a 90 day wait.

 

[Gone]

Baker's Boots is showing Wesco wait time as 18-20 months.

That is brutal

I don't know the inner workings, but it seems like they ought to focus on direct customers rather then collaborations and stockists until they get caught up. I wouldn't be surprised if they actually take more than 18-20 months

 

[Gone]

Can’t believe with times like that they don’t expand their capacity? Their boots are nice. Their not unicorn hide on a space alien last. Nothing about them imho is worth more than a 90 day wait.

The reviews I've read on the glass door say they don't pay employees very well and there's almost no chance for upward mobility. The video on youtube by rose anvil shows the materials are not great, such as cardboard in the heel spacers.

 

[Bfd70]

I’ve had some. I found them comparable to the other pnw makers. Not better or worse.

 

[jonbuilder]

I ordered custom White's through Baker 18 months ago. The lead was advertised as 4 months, it took closer to 5 months. I know the lead time is longer now

 

[Modified_last_call]

The big problem seems to be related to the lack of qualified bootmakers and the reluctance and difficulty of finding new hires.
I listened to the Stitchdown Shoecast with Eric Kinney, who runs White's boots.
They are having a big problem finding workers to train for this profession.
It's hard, backbreaking work. Young people don't want to work in these positions.

This is one of the reasons that White's has gone to a stitchdown option for their boots.
It takes a lot less time and less skill to make a stitchdown boot than their handwelted construction. They don't have enough qualified workers to complete the labor intensive handwelting process that White's uses. Stitchdown looks cleaner, with a nice clean welt.
Spokane has a well established boot making community with many different brands and White's can't seem to find enough workers.
I can't imagine that it's any easier in Scappoose Oregon to find workers that want to take on this physical profession.
It's so bad for Wesco that the last time I was on their website, the main page had a link for employment opportunities. That's pretty desperate. As I write this, the website is down.
I hope Wesco can find a solution. I like all of the PNW boots, and I would like all of them to keep their traditions going strong.
Btw, I ordered a pair of White's on Dec 1, 2022. Haven't heard a peep on their production

 

[mlwdp]

Well, I love my Boss boot, which was bought and shipped before the long lead times.

Wesco also resoled with Dr. Sole. Buckles by Fukushi (sp).

Black Chromexcel. They used to look beat up until I treated them with Collonil 1909 polish.

The Romeo are based on the Roller Magazine collaboration, exact to the T except without the Roller watermark on the insole. They’re my beaters, treated with Black Rock polish.

 

[Goel]

Well, I love my Boss boot, which was bought and shipped before the long lead times.

Wesco also resoled with Dr. Sole. Buckles by Fukushi (sp).

Black Chromexcel. They used to look beat up until I treated them with Collonil 1909 polish.

The Romeo are based on the Roller Magazine collaboration, exact to the T except without the Roller watermark on the insole. They’re my beaters, treated with Black Rock polish.

View attachment 524609

View attachment 524611

Did you have the uppers lined? The lining they use is some of the nicest I've felt, it's hard to go back to unlined boots.

I like Wesco the most of all makers I've tried as their last + removable insole works the best for my feet so the long wait time really sucks. I was considering giving Nicks a try but their customization is very limited as are their leather choices. For anyone that's worn Wesco's engineer boots, did you go with the same size as your lace up boots? That's what I was told to do, I also went with a narrower shaft and supplied a soft leather to hopefully making taking it on/off easier.

 

[mlwdp]

Did you have the uppers lined? The lining they use is some of the nicest I've felt, it's hard to go back to unlined boots.

I like Wesco the most of all makers I've tried as their last + removable insole works the best for my feet so the long wait time really sucks. I was considering giving Nicks a try but their customization is very limited as are their leather choices. For anyone that's worn Wesco's engineer boots, did you go with the same size as your lace up boots? That's what I was told to do, I also went with a narrower shaft and supplied a soft leather to hopefully making taking it on/off easier.

Yes my boss boot is leather lined in back because the first two Boss boots were literally cutting into my leg (I have the scars). It definitely feels different and gets hotter in the summer.

My greatest mistake is with the first boss boot I did, a MP toe in Horween Horsehide when Horween was the main choice. I believe Horween is still backed up and no longer doing Horsehide hence why Wesco does Maryam now I think. They were too narrow and scraping the top of toe. Should have gotten them in e width not D width. I had them widened and later sold them. What was cool about them is that I had special half soles on them (forgot the type) and had brass roller buckles from Iron Heart put on them. They were real beauties to look at the thought. To this day, still kicking myself that I didn’t get the vintage triple stitching on them because I forgot about it.

The second Horween Horsehide one I did was very ugly but did have the triple vintage stitching. Didn’t like how they looked, and had the crepe sole on them. 9 inch inspired by The Shop Vancouver’s green Chromexcel version.

But the worst mistake of all time was a triple sole White’s smokejumper boot in black Bullhide. They felt like metal clogs, inspired by Japan websites. Sold those long ago.

Anyway, here’s the two that have been sold. Both didn’t have leather linings btw.

 

[mlwdp]

Regarding sizing for Nicks, Wesco, White’s, PNW boot companies, I highly recommend going to a retailer that stocks them that can measure/trace your feet or having a trusted person such as someone whose good with measurements like a carpenter or shoe cobbler do them. I got real lucky and had a White’s boot retailer in North Carolina do my tracings and sizing. DM me if you need the name. It’s worth the trek if you’re in the area and need some barbecue.

 

[jglf]

Ordered 14 months ago and still waiting.

 

[Goel]

Yes my boss boot is leather lined in back because the first two Boss boots were literally cutting into my leg (I have the scars). It definitely feels different and gets hotter in the summer.

My greatest mistake is with the first boss boot I did, a MP toe in Horween Horsehide when Horween was the main choice. I believe Horween is still backed up and no longer doing Horsehide hence why Wesco does Maryam now I think. They were too narrow and scraping the top of toe. Should have gotten them in e width not D width. I had them widened and later sold them. What was cool about them is that I had special half soles on them (forgot the type) and had brass roller buckles from Iron Heart put on them. They were real beauties to look at the thought. To this day, still kicking myself that I didn’t get the vintage triple stitching on them because I forgot about it.

The second Horween Horsehide one I did was very ugly but did have the triple vintage stitching. Didn’t like how they looked, and had the crepe sole on them. 9 inch inspired by The Shop Vancouver’s green Chromexcel version.

But the worst mistake of all time was a triple sole White’s smokejumper boot in black Bullhide. They felt like metal clogs, inspired by Japan websites. Sold those long ago.

Anyway, here’s the two that have been sold. Both didn’t have leather linings btw.

View attachment 526021 View attachment 526022

Yeah, the high heel MP1339 last runs a bit narrow so an E width fits more like a typical D. The low heel MP95 last is the opposite and fits a bit wide. I love the look of their engineers though, so I hope the wait is worth it. Was that wedge sole a double midsole?

 

[mlwdp]

The wedge sole was a single sole. The black edge makes it look like a double midsole.

 

[Gone]

Ordered 14 months ago and still waiting.

I'm at 15 months and have given up on wesco. The last estimate I got was for this July/August, which I will believe when I see it.

 

[mlwdp]

Wesco Japan’s new updated site is great. Really shows the difference between each last/toe.

https://wescojapan.com/lace-up-boots/
https://wescojapan.com/pull-on-boots/
https://wescojapan.com/boots/boss/