Since I live out in the boonies, I usually buy my boots via mailorder. I live in the steep wooded country of north-central PA. I need a boot with good support, waterproof and traction on snowy hillsides. My 10 year old Danners went to the dumpster today, but I still have new LLBean Kangaroo boots. Looking for something a bit more heavy duty than the LLBean boots and I found Whites Dri Foot Boots for $200 on line. Anyone here have any experience with these boots, quality wise, and know if they run true to size?

Stoneybroke,

I don't have experience with that particular boot, but my Dad worked for the Forest Service in N. Idaho and fought wildfire for about 20 years in White's boots and swears by them. White boots are standard wear in that country. Whites will re-build your old boots. Its not cheap, but they replace just about everything.

Guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but...

I used to fight fire on a shot crew for the FS and wore logger smokejumpers. The high heel isn't ideal for hiking, but they were really the only thing tough enough other than some smaller specialty makers. My 15 year old whites are still one of my favorite pair of boots for general wear and they are hell for stout.

However, I just stopped by their factory this past month to get a look at the dri foots. I tried them on and walked around a bit. I also examined a pair of current production logger smoke jumpers. Bottom line? I wouldn't spend money on a pair of current production whites myself. The leather quality is embarrassing given whites heritage and price. The sales guy said they still get the best leather they can but there is no doubt the leather quality has gone downhill in the last 10 years. I wouldn't rate current whites any higher in quality than a pair of US made Danners and they cost a fair amount more.

It sucks, but there it is.

FWIW, many of the wildland firefighters I used to work with were going to higher end backpacking/mountaineering type boots. LaSportivas seemed to be the most common brand. I wonder if it doesn't have something to do with that which was posted by evan.

I think Adair still uses his for hippies and kittens...

I wear work boots 365 days a year and owned them all when they were still made in the US. My whites smoke jumpers are by far the best boot I had on my feet. They split duty with a pair of whites packers. They are a very well made boot that holds up very well to the abuses I put them through. I sat down and figured out in the last 7 years I saved $1000 dollars owning whites, than I would have if I would have kept burning through redwings or danners every 6 months.

The LS Glaciers in particular are very common.

I just spent the last four seasons in Lowa Sheep Hunters and for my feet they have been terrific. Obviously, not a flat terrain boot but, they are terrific in hilly country.

I started my fire career in a good pair of norwegian welt mountaineering boots that didn't really make the 8" height limit but they were what I had (and were good rough country hikers). The soles delaminated on a fire and I had to screw them back on with screws salvaged from somebody's tool box. The nails and screws that you find on the sole of a pair of White's are there for a reason.

But yeah, the heels just aren't that great for hiking in. It's hard to imagine parachute landings with those heels, but I've watched it happen.

I ware a pair of whites packers as a everyday boot. I didn't realize how much better my feet and knees could really feel until I got them.

I have had no issues with durability and believe they are worth every penny. I did notice though that the production boots (already made) seem to be a little less quality then the custom made to order boot.

I don't think I would order them off the net with out being properly fit and sending in your measurements. Plus you can get the heels lowered if you get a made to order boot.

I really like the whites Farm and Ranch boots, I also have the packer but do not like them as well. I have worn the Farm and Ranch hunting and firefighting both and the heel has not been an issue for me, I think the heel is lower than the smoke jumper on the farm and ranch.
Are the boots you guys are talking about that people are wearing firefighting NFPA compliant?

I have owned 2 pairs of White's 10" packer smoke jumpers, the first pair lasted 14 years of firefighting, with only 2 resoles. I bought a second pair 7 years ago and they are great boots unless you are on pavement or concrete all day. The boots are tough as nails I swear by them if there is a pair of boots I have to wear 12 - 16 hrs a day!

I don't see anyhting NFPA compliant concerning these boots. From the picture, these boots don't seem to have the high heel common to most Whire's boots. Really curious if the Whites usually run true to size. Here is the description:

The White's Dri-Foot Series incorporates a waterproof, yet breathable, Hill-tex liner that sheilds the foot from water while allowing perspiration to escape. White's Dri-Foot Series boots are handcrafted at our factory in Spokane, Washington and are completely rebuildable for years of service.

6oz. silicone tanned all leather upper. brown pebble
Completely rebuildable for years of extended life
10" height standard
9-iron leather insole
9-iron composition rubber midsole
8-iron leather heel counter
Goodyear leather welt consruction
Hill-tex waterproof/breathable liner - Prohibits moisture penetration from the outside but allows sweat and moisture to flow away from the body to the external environment to maintain proper body temperature.
Padded leather collar

I was refering to the backpacking/mountaineering boots they were talking about, I can not answer you on true to fit cause I have a very narrow foot and mine were built to my measurements. (9AA)

I spent 2 1/2 long years in a pair of Whites climbing poles pretty much everyday.

Very durable and comfortable. Not quite up to Wesco quality, but damn close.

Mine ran true to size.

Not that this applies to you or the boots you're asking about, but I wouldn't recommend them to any lineman. As I later found out, other high end boot makers have a much better shank in them.

Last rebuild I had Whites do wore out WAY too quick! Mentioned it at a high end boot store and they told me Whites has started using machines for rebuilds. They suggested I send my next rebuild to Nicks Boots(and specify Nicks arch, whatever that means). I am glad I took their advice as they are holding up really good.

http://www.nicksboots.com/

I can only assume so since even the AFMO wears them and is on a national type 2 team. IIRC, the only requirements I can remember are all leather uppers, 8" height, a Vibram type sole, and leather laces. They seem to overlook the leather laces part. I used either Meindls or Kenetreks on fires and never once had anyone bat an eye when my PPE was checked (twice on seperate incidences).

Thanks, I looked last knight and they don't come narrow enough for my foot anyways.

I haven't used the boots you mention but I do have a pair of White's Smoke Jumpers that I bot in March, 1971. YES - 1971!! I was in college, fire fighting in the summer & wanted the best boot I could find at the time for sheep hunting as well.
I sent the tracing of my feet to White's and for the 1st week I had them, I thought I'd die. My feet were killing me just from sitting in class & doing very little physical activity. On the 5th day, things miraculously turned arond and they became the most comfortable boot I've ever had. Over the years, they've been re-built twice, I think and I still have them.
I've since realized they are not the best boot for sheep hunting with many others better designed for that. The Smoke Jumper style IS NOT very good on snow & ice AND the vibram sole is vey slick on ice as well.
I can't address the style you mention but should you want to go with the White's, be certain that the 2 problems I mentioned are addressed. Unless things have changed with them, they are hell-for-stout and you will get your money's worth. I well remember an old timer here in Ak. who was originally a logger in Idaho in the 1930's. He told me that at the time, if you walked into a logging camp without wearing a pair of White's corks, they'd laugh you out of camp. No job.
That says something to me. Good luck.
Bear in Fairbanks

i've a pair of 12" White's Hunters with the Honey Vibram sole. they are a softer, stickier sole and do much better on ice.

it took an all day hike in pouring rain to break them in.

I have several pairs of whites, nicks, and hoffmans. I like hoffmans for the packs, and nicks for the welted. I had a pair rebuilt by whites a few months ago and it took them 3 tries to get it right. The good news is they used ultra thick leather on mine to make me happy. They are a good choice if you have a odd foot, but for hunting boots, meindl, ls, lowa, asolo, Kennetrec......etc, are all better choices. Besides, I *think* the non handmade boots at whites are all imported now.

Laffin my ass off here.... Yes, I've been wearing Whites, or Hawthorne Hi-Lines for the last 5 years around the plywood mill I work at. They ARE hell for stout. I wouldn't wear anything else for a straight up tough ass boot. They can take abuse like you wouldn't believe, and they are excellent for stomping hippies and kittens

BUT, my next pair of boots will be either Wesco's (I'm a 9.5 EE with a girl heel, I have to "pile" the heels to not blister the [bleep] out of myself) or Nick's. I work with 200 other Millbillies that also abuse work boots professionally. Wesco's, Actual Whites, and Nicks all last about 2 years. Nicks tend to hold up the best (as long as their not the sueded side turned out on the toe box, pitch sticks to them BAD) Also, Nick's is hands down better on their rebuilds... you get back brand new, already broke in, boots from Nicks. White's rebuilds usually make you go through that 5 months of suffereing again before they get back to where they were.

But if you've never tried a NW type Logger boot, buy a pair of Hawthorne Hi-Lines first and make sure you can love them... Lace them up really tight with two pairs of socks on and walk through a calf high creek, then walk them dry... The Hi-Lines are 7 mil welted leather, they last about 2 years and then you [bleep] them... Its a NFPA rated boot, machine made stitchdown with screws too, and they claim to be rebuildable. I never put more work into them than a resole.

Nicks are worth the coin, once you decide you dig the logger... I work with a guy thats had his rebuilt every 3 years for the last 20 years...



Now.... Having said all that. I hardly ever hunt in them. They aren't water proof, and they're too high in the heel for walking downhill. I have a 10 year old pair of Danner Klondikes with 600/thinsulate that are about dead.



If you go over an 8" upper, just remember that those are referred too as Hooker Boots or Hooch Boots

If they're black, this is a perfect example of Hooker Boots.

Leave it to a track mechanic





Am I wrong about the "Wet Break-in"???

toad,

I have the same boot, and like them for the same reason....they're sticky. I use mine for climbing towers, and they stick to steel really well. They've also lasted longer than any boot I've ever owned. A busy summer would eat a pair of off the shelf Wolverines, Red Wings, etc. I've had these White's for 5 years, I think, and still going strong. The first day I wore them, I thought WTF, these are the most painful boots I've ever had on! After a week or so, I was love'n them! That said, I do not hunt or hike in them. Pretty much just a work boot.

Jeff

i don't wear the Hunters at work (steel toe requrement) but i pressed them into service as backcountry hiker last summer because i was laid off (lots of time to hike, but not enough money to replace my old hikers).

the double thickness uppers add a lot of ankle support, and the Honey Vibram soles stick well like i mentioned, but they were not waterproof and they are heavy. i did the hot beeswax treatment to them though. that made them even heavier...

i do a surgeon's knot where the eyelets end at the ankle so i can seperate boot lace tension between foot and ankle.

They would be the ticket if you lived somewhere that never snows during hunting season.

I've worn mine a lot in bow season and summer pack trips. But come October, its time for the old school hunting boot with insulation

Yeah, insulation is a necessity when it temps start to drop. Love my Whites, but when it gets colder, anything beats em.

On a side note, I greased my Whites this afternoon (Obenaufs) and noticed just how beefy the Nicks rebuild is, compared to the last Whites rebuild on my other pair. The shank is at least two times as thick and the rubber between the sole and the shank is three to four times as thick! The leather in the toe is thicker as well. Kinda sold on Nicks rebuilds thats for sure.

If ya don't mind me asking what does Nick's charge for a rebuild? Sounds like thats the way to go these days.

$230 something. Same as I paid Whites last time.

vs.

Thanks looks good.