I am into well made leather and denim not because I need it for work but because I love well made things that are the result of decades of building know how and cherishing old production methodologies. I cannot wear boots to work as I’m working in a job where a formal dress code is demanded. This means that my Whites (and other boots) are essentially weekend warriors. And warriors here means that they fight against NYC pavement and the occasional visit of the upstate NY outdoors. They age very gracefully and slowly I feel. Some scratches from riding city bikes, some wrinkles from walking around.
I opted for the Red Dog leather after watching Rose Anvils first Drifter boot review. I love that it’s a substantial work boot leather and I love that I don’t need to think about anything wearing these boots. Compared to my veg.-tanned horsehide boots the leather felt soft from the very beginning - not Horween CXL soft though. After the first few months (in reality that’s days) the leather became softer and softer and the toe started to collapse. The leather does great in the rain. Rain drops/ water is visible for a few seconds and then basically absorbs into the leather without leaving any stains. Where scratched light undertones started to show through, however, overall the leather isn’t very prone to scratches. Compared to brand new, I feel the leather got slightly darker. So far I didn’t use any care products except for a brush to get rid of dust and dirt after smaller hikes.
I went with the 55 last following the Baker’s boots sizing process. I didn’t want the 4811 wide toe box while also using a traditional boot last. In terms of sizing Kyle fit me as a 12.5C (13C on Brannock), which feels spot on in the 55 last. The boots bend where they are supposed to (perfect ball placement) and there’s sufficient space in the toe box. I naturally have a low instep and a high arch which is why the high arch support never felt awkward. Whenever I put the boots on I get the same feeling when slipping into my Birkenstocks (as a German I’m a fan for three decades). There’s a satisfying „flop“ noise when my feet fall into place and then they are locked in perfectly. The only area that tool some break in, time to get used to was the tongue and the kilties. Upon some googling I learned about the Whites Bites and that’s an accurate description. Now that everything has softened up, the fit couldn’t be better.
In short, I’m very happy with the design and quality of the boots. I read about QC issues and that got me a bit nervous before ordering. Mentally I was prepared to tell myself that these are workbooks and not meant to be perfect in terms of finishing but to my very positive surprise there weren’t any issues. I own John Lofgren boots and Field Leather leather jackets so I can distinguish a good stitch from a wonky one. I’d put Whites into the same bucket as Aero Leathers. Could the SPI be higher? Sure! Could one polish edges more? Sure! However, when zooming out and not looking at the whole boots, it’s perfect! I wouldn’t want a more dense stitch count. To me the design and workmanship is spot on and my second pair of Whites is already on order. I love the handsewn stitchdown construction and ones per week I watch the YouTube video of the skillfull Whites people putting together boots like mine. Irrespective of the Thunderdome these boots get many more wear than some of my higher end boots. Everything just feels right about them.
No major comments on the sole. It works well visually and overall I never noticed anything particular which I think is great. It’s grippy and durable and has a nice slim profile. Nothing more to ask for. The heel height is fantastic too. Comfortable when walking, standing, and sitting!
Gorgeous design that works well with the boots!
Overall, they are my favorite boots at the moment. I sold three pairs of RedWings after the first month of wear. Mostly because the fit of the Whites is just so much better. Having the handshake feeling that the C-width last offers compared to a D width is brilliant. Also, the construction and thickness of the all leather construction had other boots feel like toys. Nothing wrong about that and my fiancée thinks that it’s wild to enjoy so much weight on your feet all day long. As mentioned before, a second more playful pair of Whites is in the making to replace some of my other (black) boots. Looking forward to put them through their paces in the winter and See how they hold up on some motorcycle commuting in the Spring time.