White's Semi-dress Boots..

[Lexybeast]

Thanks guys. I wound up just going for a pair of White's Packers, impulsive fella that I am. They are simply darn, darn nice.

 

[railroad detect]

White's Shoe Company

I have never worn the White semi dress, however I have a pair of the Farmer/Rancher which are twenty years old. Have been sent back to the factory for heels and soles twice.

I worked as a Railroad Detective for 32 years and they protected my feet and were comfortable.

I found I could walk farther longer with less fatigue in these boots than any other I tried. The only thing that came close was a pair of Cocoran Jump boots.

 

[eClairvaux]

Semi-Dress Customized

I just got another pair of White's, this time Semi-Dress with a twist.

These are my first semi-dress and I was surprised just how much lighter they are than my packers, Farmer-Rancher or Smoke Jumper's.

Anyway, here they are: all brown bull hide, toe cap, double leather sole, brown lining, brass eyelets and a 90 degree heel (traveller), which is also lowered by 1/4" and a closer trim.

 

[Creeping Past]

90 degree heel (traveller), which is also lowered by 1/4" and a closer trim.

The trimmer heel, I think, makes the 'traveller' heel work much better - more pleasing to the eye. Good work.

 

[s_crumb]

I'm planning on ordering a pair of Bounty Hunters from Bakers. I'm confused about the sole and their customer service is dodging the question. If I order a double leather sole, will there also be a rubber sole on the bottom? I've notice some people seem to have a double leather but also a rubber half sole or even a full Vibram sole. I like the looks of the double leather with the half soles, but I would prefer not to have to immediately ship my boots to a Japanese shop to add the rubber sole. Bakers won't answer me about that option. I'm not entirely sure how the Midsole and Sole option on their order form works. I'm not familiar enough with boots to understand. Thanks guys.

edit: Edmonds pics on Page 3 is what I am shooting for.

 

[mattfink]

Double leather sole means NO RUBBER! You can get a double leather mid-sole with a rubber sole or half sole though.

 

[s_crumb]

Mattfink: Thanks, I think I understand now. Even though there is a double layer of leather on Edmonds boots, those are not double leather SOLES. They have a double leather MID sole and then Vibram. That makes sense.

 

[jonbuilder]

I brought my semi-dress from Bakers over three years ago in light brown bull hide. I re-died the boots dark brown and recently after a hard1-1/2 use as construction, yard and hiking boots had the composite soles replace by a local cobble with a thick leather sole. Two foot surgeries latter and wanting to use orthopedic inserts, I am looking to buying the bounty hunter from Baker. I know the sale guy there does not recommend leather soles. The bounty hunter is made on a semi last with a smoke jumper top. I am going for the lace to toe option for the flexibility in fit at the ball in dress black leather with double leather soles and single insoles. The double leather sole is not a cost upgrade. Double or tipple insole is $40 or $50 upgrade and will add stiffness and weight to the boot for appearance sake. Wanting to use the boots with orthopedic inserts, I don’t think multiple insoles is a good choice for myself. I not working in construction presently and have three pair of white construction boots so these babies will be walking and kick around use. I would appreciate if anyone had experience or advise other wise.

 

[s_crumb]

I finally ordered a pair of White's Semi Dress through Bakers. I intended to purchase a pair of Bounty Hunters but I found their ordering process very misleading. They state the prices as being one thing but at Checkout the prices are much different. The ordering process did not specify the costs of each individual option until the entire order was completed and in the basket. I would have understood had the price stated "Starting at..." I found myself having to manually determine the additional cost of each option by trial and error. Because of that I chose to go with a standard pair of Brown Chrome Excel Semi Dress.

 

[Whacky]

What was the configuration on the Semi Dress boots that you ordered?

 

[s_crumb]

Brown Chrome Excel, double leather midsoles, vibram half soles. Pretty basic.

 

[univibe88]

I brought my semi-dress from Bakers over three years ago in light brown bull hide. I re-died the boots dark brown and recently after a hard1-1/2 use as construction, yard and hiking boots had the composite soles replace by a local cobble with a thick leather sole. Two foot surgeries latter and wanting to use orthopedic inserts, I am looking to buying the bounty hunter from Baker. I know the sale guy there does not recommend leather soles. The bounty hunter is made on a semi last with a smoke jumper top. I am going for the lace to toe option for the flexibility in fit at the ball in dress black leather with double leather soles and single insoles. The double leather sole is not a cost upgrade. Double or tipple insole is $40 or $50 upgrade and will add stiffness and weight to the boot for appearance sake. Wanting to use the boots with orthopedic inserts, I don’t think multiple insoles is a good choice for myself. I not working in construction presently and have three pair of white construction boots so these babies will be walking and kick around use. I would appreciate if anyone had experience or advise other wise.

I'd love to see some pictures of those semi-dress boots put to hard use!

 

[jonbuilder]

Here we go Karl

And I sent 1/2 an hour last Saturday conditioning and cleaning them using Leatherique Leather Ejuvenator leather conditioner a light oil that soaks into the leather and raises any dirt to the surface than a part two cleaner and a coating of precard for good measure.
Here a picture about two years ago prior to my re die

 

[jonbuilder]

Bounty hunter in the making

I went and pull the trigger on the bounty hunters through Baker I changed to from black dress to brown dress which is a very dark brown almost black and antique hardware with double leather soles. I was told 4 weeks last time Baker was right on with the time frame.

 

[univibe88]

Thanks for posting those pics. I love to see some boots put to good use!

 

[illumin8em]

.
Where di you make your purchase? I have seen the option to get the heel lowered and a close trim. I remember Bakers offered the close trim but it seems to no longer be an option

I just got another pair of White's, this time Semi-Dress with a twist.

These are my first semi-dress and I was surprised just how much lighter they are than my packers, Farmer-Rancher or Smoke Jumper's.

Anyway, here they are: all brown bull hide, toe cap, double leather sole, brown lining, brass eyelets and a 90 degree heel (traveller), which is also lowered by 1/4" and a closer trim.

 

[jonbuilder]

.
Where di you make your purchase? I have seen the option to get the heel lowered and a close trim. I remember Bakers offered the close trim but it seems to no longer be an option

I ordered my semi-dress bounty hunters through bakers over the phone.
somethings might be do-able and not listed on a web page click and point format

 

[univibe88]

I got my boots today. I ordered them through Baker's Boots on Thursday 1/20 and they shipped on Thursday 2/17 - 4 weeks to the day!

Here are the details:

Size 9FF
Black Cherry Water Buffalo
Lined with red leather
Swing Last
Standard Heel
Vibram Composition Half Sole (I like the vintage look of the half sole, and I HATE the black line running through the middle of the heel on a full vibram sole)
Brown edge
Antique eyes and hooks
Pull loops (seems most people don't get the pull loops, but I like them)

Here are some initial observations. I called Baker's and gave them the length and width measurements of my foot. I wear a 9EEE in Allen Edmonds, so I was thinking 9F or FF. They recommended I got with the 9FF. I am glad I got the widest width available. I would not want them any narrower. I think I could have gone with an 8.5 though.

It turns out the red leather liner is not red. It is more like a Sienna.

I wish that I got the close trim option. They standard treatment is for a double row of stitching around the sole. It does protrude pretty far. The close trim only has a single row. I hoped to wear these with a suit on nasty winter days. I still will, but I think the close trim would be a bit dressier.

Others have said the laces that come with the boots leave something to be desired. I agree. I'm going to pick up some leather laces soon.

I welcome your thoughts/questions.

 

[53Effie]

Very nice boots indeed! I agree concerning the laces. My semi-dress are black and I replaced the original laces with a round heavy-duty black boot lace from a local boot shop...not leather though. Enjoy your new boots.

 

[Chinaski]

Hey univibe, congrats on taking delivery of your White's. I really like the color, the heel stack, and the composition sole. I see what you mean regarding the double row of stitching not looking as dressy. You could try some matching black cherry boot cream on the stitching, however once you try it you probably can't go back! If they were mine I'd keep wearing them. I bet the look will grow on you and you'll be fine with the double row. Again, congrats, they're beauties.