Smokejumper

The Smokejumper established White's reputation in the firefighting industry, earning recognition as "the original" fire boot that set industry standards in forestry. The boot features the company's patented 4811 Arch-Ease™ last and Vibram® Fire & Ice sole, combining traditional bootmaking techniques with modern safety requirements for professional wildland firefighting applications.

The origins of the Smokejumper trace to 1939 when Francis Lufkin wore his pair of White's Summer Loggers into the first smokejumper camp in Methow Valley, Washington. This marked the beginning of White's involvement in wildland firefighting, leading to the development of specialized boots for the emerging smokejumper profession.

White's Boots has been serving American forest workers for more than 80 years, with the Smokejumper becoming central to the company's identity in professional firefighting markets. The boot's reputation grew alongside the expansion of organized wildland firefighting efforts throughout the 20th century.

The 4811 Arch-Ease™ last used in the Smokejumper has remained unchanged since White's first began building the boot in the 1940s, representing continuity in design and construction methods across decades of production.

The Smokejumper employs White's traditional hand-sewn stitchdown construction, a method passed down from bootmaker to bootmaker since the company's founding in 1853. Each boot is hand-lasted, hand-welted, and hand-bottomed by master craftsmen in a process involving more than 25 unique stages performed entirely by hand.

The upper consists of 10-inch full-grain water-resistant leather designed to absorb high impact during firefighting operations. Construction includes double-row, rolled welt stitchdown assembly using fire-resistant Technora thread, with options for single-row construction available upon request. The boot features handsewing with nine-strand Irish linen and heavy-gauge waxed thread throughout.

The sole system combines a Vibram® Fire & Ice White Dot outsole with an all-leather midsole and shank configuration. This all-leather construction includes a true leather counter and heavy-duty leather midsole, maintaining White's commitment to traditional materials. The Arch-Ease™ support system duplicates the natural contour of the foot, providing high arch support that molds to individual foot shape over time.

Three rows of lock stitching provide structural durability, and the boots are designed to be completely rebuildable, extending their useful life through professional repair and resoling services.

The Smokejumper meets or exceeds NFPA 1977-2001 31 DR standards and NFPA 1977-2011 31DR requirements for protective clothing and equipment used in wildland firefighting. The boot is NFPA certified to resist extreme temperatures and flames, making it suitable for professional firefighting environments.

The Vibram® Fire & Ice sole operates effectively in temperatures ranging from -20°C to +250°C, providing traction and heat resistance in harsh firefighting conditions. Optional ANSI-approved steel toe protection is available for applications requiring impact protection.

The boots are available in standard 8-inch or 10-inch heights and can be fully customized upon request to meet specific departmental requirements. Construction options include choice of smooth or rough-side-out leather finishes to suit different operational preferences.