Wesco Boot Thread.

[Bruce Wayne]

 

[Saturdays_Kid]

Hi, I've just been reading this thread with interest as I'm in the middle of putting together my own custom Wesco Boss boot order. I say middle because I've just ordered a set of brass buckles from Brian Truong (Role Club) and I've had a few email exchanges with the Sales Manager Chris@wesco about the exact specs which I'm still umming and ahhing about and tbh the more I look at other peoples boots the less sure I am about my own decisions lol but I would imagine this is an experience that many others have been through before me.

So anyway here's my current spec although it is a work in progress at present and may well change. I've already done a total about turn in that for the longest time I've always thought my first order would be a pair of custom boss in burlap rough-out and in the last couple of days I've changed that to a somewhat more boring (admittedly) black fire and my reason for that is because I realise I'll need (and want) to wear the boots as often as possible to assist the break in and I'm not sure the burlap rough-out will go with as many different jeans/trousers as black will (as much as I really love the look of burlap rough out and even more so the look of well worn in rough out).

Anyway, I digress here're the specs and if anyone has read this and has any comments about their own specs compared to mine and any advice you have that I might not have considered I'm very much open to it in fact I would thank you for taking the time to offer it.

Toe Pattern: MP on #1339 last with 1930's triple stitched uppers
Top Strap Length: 2" longer
Instep Strap Length: 2" Longer
Height: 10" (Having looked around I just prefer the look of those 1" lower than standard height)
Outsole Stitching colour: White
Leather: Black Fire
Top Buckles: Solid Brass Buckles from Brian the Bootmaker
Edge: Brown
Midsole: Double
Leather Liner: I'm open to ideas on this but don't want anything too obtrusive if any liner at all, undecided??
Instep Buckle: Solid Brass Buckles from Brian the Bootmaker
Sole: Vibram 705 (half soles)
Heel Lifts: I definitely want a lowered heel (and realise that by utilising half soles that effectively already lowers the heels somewhat) but am unsure whether to go 1/4" or 1/2" Lower - any suggestions/comments welcomed on this
Thread Color (upper) - Red (this is something I've had in mind for some time and I think I am just gonna go for it - thoughts anyone??)
Size: 12D

 

[Saturdays_Kid]

I'm now thinking about getting the brown domain instead of black leather (and for the record I'm also considering khaki coloured stitching for the uppers). I was reading a post over at denimbro earlier by a guy who has a pair in both the black and domain brown and he makes the point that in comparison to the black the domain brown has a depth of colour that will develop over time unlike the more 'bland' black leather. This appeals to me especially considering I was already not fully convinced about the black (see my post above). Anyway, I'm posting updates about my custom boots order almost like a 'mini-blog' to record my thoughts and eventually show the made up boots and in time their progression.

 

[Phil4]

I have Wescos in black (oiled), black tie domain, brown domain and burgundy domain. I really like the standard black oiled. It's nice and thick and matte. However, the black tie domain "pops" among my boots. It's the Boss boot and it looks like the boss. Something about that leather -- even my alligator cowboy boots have a hard time competing.

Brown is good, too. Looks better polished up than the black imo.

Be careful around the MP toe: it really is quite a bit longer and even wider than the standard toe.

 

[Saturdays_Kid]

Hi Phil4, thanks for replying to my post. I'd really like to see some pics of your boots if you have some and wouldn't mind posting them, I know it's not easy to capture the way a boot looks in real life with pics but it sounds like you have all the colours/type of leather boots that I'm considering at the moment and I've read your post with great interest about the way those different leathers look in your boot collection. Also, what you've said here about the MP is really interesting

Be careful around the MP toe: it really is quite a bit longer and even wider than the standard toe.

I must admit I have been drawn to the MP toe for the exact reason that you seem to be saying it isn't i.e. I've come to view the MP toe as certainly being slimmer than the standard boss toe. But you're saying that's not the case. I wonder then if those posts I've read by people who've received their custom boss with the MP toe who have found their toes being somewhat cramped in their boots would also have found the same happening had they settled for the standard toe, do you think? Which toe have you gone for with your boots Phil? For the record I'm also swinging back to the idea of having my boots made in the burlap rough-out so as anyone who's read my earlier posts will now be realising without doubt is that decisiveness is definitely not my strong point!

NB: After further discussion with Chris @Wesco yesterday in which we were talking about the fact that I'm not keen on the standard boss heel and that I would definitely prefer a lower heel, Chris has suggested the MP95 last that is the MP toe on the last built for a low heel (see images below - thanks to Chris @Wesco for the images below). And for comparison there is also an image of the Wesco Custom Boss #1339 lasted boot below.

MP95 Last (Low Heel+MP Toe+Double Midsoles+Vibram 705 'half soles')

#1339 Last (Standard Heel+MP Toe+Single Midsole+Vibram 700 soles)

 

[Phil4]

The MP is a sleeker looking toe, but one should size down a half size since it is longer and wider, size for size, than the regular toe.

I have pics of a few (not brown)

, which I'll post:

 

[Saturdays_Kid]

So the boots in that first image Phil, thats the black tie domain is it? With the standard boss toe presumably (and is that a reinforced toe?). Do you know what heel that boot has by any chance Phil? It looks as though it may be the #95 but I stand corrected if not, it just doesn't look like a standard boss heel it looks more like the lower heel that I'm after getting on mine. I see you have brown edges to the first two pairs above and black in the 3rd, I plan to go for the brown edges with mine. I just cannot settle on the final details of mine but I guess that what getting a custom boot is all about, clearly making up ones ideal boot is not as straight forward as I first thought. Thanks for posting those images Phil your post has given me more to think about. I definitely love that burgundy domain on your boots in the second image above its got some real character to it I can see that.

 

[Phil4]

Hi, the Boss (yes that's black tie domain) in the first pic is the regular heel with a couple of rows removed. Lowered a bit. You can do that with almost any Wesco stacked heel boot up to (I think) 1/2 inch. Check with them to be sure. If you go past a certain point they have to use another last.

Now, the boot in the bottom pic has that low MP heel, MP toe. It was made from the start for that low heel.

 

[Saturdays_Kid]

Spot on Phil, thanks for the rapid response. Its all making more and more sense now the more questions I ask/responses I receive. Yes, I think I will stick with the standard boss heel, have it lowered by 1 stack (and I'll stick with the MP toe). The more I look at the image Chris sent me yesterday of the low heel last the more I'm thinking it has clearly meant that the resulting boot has a shaft that's quite a bit wider than the boot made with the #1339 (narrow) last.
Also, your 3rd pic that you've just mentioned was the boots that were built on the low heel last as nice as they are I think maybe the heel for me is gonna be the lowered standard boss. Cheers Phil

 

[kyboots]

Spot on Phil, thanks for the rapid response. Its all making more and more sense now the more questions I ask/responses I receive. Yes, I think I will stick with the standard boss heel, have it lowered by 1 stack (and I'll stick with the MP toe). The more I look at the image Chris sent me yesterday of the low heel last the more I'm thinking it has clearly meant that the resulting boot has a shaft that's quite a bit wider than the boot made with the #1339 (narrow) last.
Also, your 3rd pic that you've just mentioned was the boots that were built on the low heel last as nice as they are I think maybe the heel for me is gonna be the lowered standard boss. Cheers Phil

I think the boots will be great but I too am a brown boot guy right now and I wear them much more than the black ones. I also like the lowered heel but I have the MP toe and I would be concerned about having enough room if you have wide feet. With any heel our toes get shoved and I don't believe there is as much room in the MP toe as the standard toe. The MP toe is made for a boot with lowered heels.

 

[Saturdays_Kid]

I put my order in last night (thanks to Brandon @Bakers for his help and Chris@ Wesco if you're reading this thanks again for your help too).
I ultimately decided to put in my order with Bakers as they have an offer on the basic boss right now.
Here's the final spec:

• Leather Configuration: Two Tone

• Toe Vamp Leather: Black Tie

• Counter Leather: Black Tie

• Upper (Shaft) Leather: Burgundy Rough Out

• Height: 10"

• Instep Straps: Black Tie

• Instep Strap Length: 3" Longer

• Instep Buckle Options: Nickel Roller Buckle

• Top Strap Amount: One

• Top Straps: Black Tie

• Top Strap Length: 2" Longer

• Top Buckles: Nickel Roller Buckle

• Shaft Diameter: Standard

• Thread Color (upper): Brown

• Leather Liner: No Thanks

• Credit Card Pocket: No Pocket

• Knife Pocket: No Knife Pocket

• Gear Shift Patch: No Gear Shift Patch

• Heel Lifts: 1/4" Lower

• Midsole: Double

• Edge: Brown

• Sole: Vibram 705 (brown only)

• Outsole Stitching color: White

• Toe Pattern: Motorcycle Patrol Toe

• Steel Toe: No Thanks

• Toe Cap: No Thanks

• Rush Fee: No thanks

• Size - Length: 12

• Size - Width: D (medium)

On the toe front, I'm a D width on all other boots and a D width for me is never too tight so I'm 'hoping' the mp toe and the standard boss heel I've chosen (albeit I've opted for it to be lowered 1 stack i.e. 1/4") will be OK for me.

Edit: a couple of things I asked for in the Additional Comments box at the end of the Bakers order form are for the boots to built on the #1339 last and for the uppers to be triple stitched.

 

[Saturdays_Kid]

I chose the above build after seeing the pic below. Its not easy to see but I think the boots in this pic have been constructed using burgundy roughout for the counters but I decided not to do that with mine. I was chatting with someone on Instagram the other night about his boots, he also has a pair of all brown domain leather and they do look wicked but anyway I asked him what he thought about the leather / roughout combo I've chosen and he said something along the lines of 'The color is strictly your choice/ opinion' and that is exactly right of course (equally that may well have been his way of saying I really don't like your choices lol).

 

[Bruce Wayne]

NO clue why the previous images were deleted.

 

[Saturdays_Kid]

I said I wanted to use this thread as a record of the progress of my custom boss boots order that I have made with Bakers. So with that in mind I need to update the info above and point out that I have just changed my order to black smooth oil tanned leather in all those parts of the boots that I initially had down to be done in black tie domain. I was going to put the order in originally with black smooth leather but changed my mind at the last minute for reasons I'm struggling to recall the rationale for to be honest ...Anyway, I've now gone back to that plan and I am so relieved I just had an email from Kyle to say it would be no problem to change my order at this point. I just said to Kyle in my reply 'you just made my week man' cos I was thinking that he was gonna reply saying it was too late to change the order but thankfully that was not the case.

Here's the revised final spec:

• Leather Configuration: Two Tone

• Toe Vamp Leather: Black smooth

• Counter Leather: Black smooth

• Upper (Shaft) Leather: Burgundy Rough Out

• Height: 10"

• Instep Straps: Black smooth

• Instep Strap Length: 3" Longer

• Instep Buckle Options: Nickel Roller Buckle

• Top Strap Amount: One

• Top Straps: Black smooth

• Top Strap Length: 2" Longer

• Top Buckles: Nickel Roller Buckle

• Shaft Diameter: Standard

• Thread Color (upper): Brown

• Leather Liner: No Thanks

• Credit Card Pocket: No Pocket

• Knife Pocket: No Knife Pocket

• Gear Shift Patch: No Gear Shift Patch

• Heel Lifts: 1/4" Lower

• Midsole: Double

• Edge: Brown

• Sole: Vibram 705 (brown only)

• Outsole Stitching color: White

• Toe Pattern: Motorcycle Patrol Toe

• Steel Toe: No Thanks

• Toe Cap: No Thanks

• Rush Fee: No thanks

• Size - Length: 12

• Size - Width: D (medium)

 

[OneEyeMan]

Hey all, just discovered this thread.
I have a pair of custom brown Boss boots.
Loved the color when they were new.
Then I applied the bee oil and a coat of Obenauf's and the color darkened considerably.
I was wondering if they ever fade back to the original color.
What are your thoughts on this?
Thanks.

 

[Dav]

Hey all, just discovered this thread.
I have a pair of custom brown Boss boots.
Loved the color when they were new.
Then I applied the bee oil and a coat of Obenauf's and the color darkened considerably.
I was wondering if they ever fade back to the original color.
What are your thoughts on this?
Thanks.

These are my two brown oiled Wesco's, the Boss' have had more than the Packer's, which I think have only had what they came with. It's difficult to recall the exact shade they were when new, but I'm pretty sure they haven't lightened back to as they were, sorry.

 

[OneEyeMan]

These are my two brown oiled Wesco's, the Boss' have had more than the Packer's, which I think have only had what they came with. It's difficult to recall the exact shade they were when new, but I'm pretty sure they haven't lightened back to as they were, sorry.

Dav,
How often do you clean them. Do you reapply oil after each cleaning?
BTW, I love the look of a really well used pair of brown boots.

 

[Dav]

To be honest, I'm not sure, just as and when I feel it necessary really. I've applied more to the Boss' as they get worn in muddy fields a lot while walking the dogs, getting wet often, so I suppose three maybe four treatments in the couple of years I've had them.

 

[OneEyeMan]

Thanks Dav.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Reviving this thread! I've recently bought into this Wesco boot business with the following pair. Found the toes (MP-style) have stretched enough that I can wear them now. Originally thought they would be too tight. Nearly sold for a loss, but decided to keep. Glad I did!

I'll plan with these to keep them as "good" or dress boots, keeping them polished as much as possible and wearing other boots more often in rougher conditions.