Current production White's Boots vs Nick's...Drews?

[dmr400]

After trying two kinds of mountaineering boot, I've decided to move back to a rebuildable logger style boot. I wore a pair of Drew's linecutter II's into the ground in the years after I spent a season fighting fire, and I'm in a place where I can spend enough for the custom build my odd size feet require for a real quality fit now.

I hear mostly good things about Nick's. I hear that White's have gone downhill a lot, then surged back a bit but not to the quality they were, and I learned that they recently sold to a Japanese owned corporation (ABC mart, which I believe also owns Lacrosse and Danner?)

Some of the reason I might consider White's are the much shorter lead times (4 weeks from what I hear vs 18-22 weeks quoted from Nick's today), and the fact that they have more insulated options listed on their website for when I want to buy a winter pair. Nick's did tell me today though that they can insulate most of their boots, so I suppose that reason could be off the table?

The other thing I'm considering is another pair of Drew's linecutter II's, since they are now rebuildable, but with the original Drew's closing and being bought by Baker Boots, I worry about the longevity of the line for rebuilds and such. The Bend, OR store is local to me though, and they are less expensive on the pro side. I actually went in and got measured there today there and tried on a pair of White's alongside the Drew's, and the Drew's were slightly more comfortable in the stock size, apparently my feet are a full size larger than they should be around my arch across the top of my feet. The stock size Drew's pinched LESS there than the White's, but with a custom build neither should pinch though, right? Drew's also doesn't offer any insulated versions.

I'm a bit torn right now, anyone have any input/thoughts?

[elkslayer069]

Kulien boots family owned business in Centralia , pretty expensive but both of the pairs I've had built had zero break in time. Pm if you want some more info

[uplandhunter870]

i have a pair of whites smokejumpers that are about 15 years old and have been rebuilt once. its been about 5 years since the rebuild so i dont know if the decline in quality rumors are true. my whites are the only boots ive ever hunted in and the only complaint i have is in really steep country where youre climbing all day they tend to pull on my achilles pretty good and make for sore ankles the next day.

they are not insulated but a good pair of wool socks fixes that problem, i double up with a silk footy sock under the wool in really cold stuff.

i did have some pretty wicked break in time with the rebuild, had to take them to my cobbler to have them stretched out and that fixed the problem.

i have full custom boots, i cant wear off the shelf boots due to having tree stumps for legs haha.

[HawkCreek]

Whites suck. Last pair I had rebuilt (about 3 years ago) lasted one whole work day before the rebuild started to come apart (that particular pairs first rebuilt). Screw them, that pair of boots was 2 maybe 3 years old. Might they have fixed it if I would have gone back? Maybe but whats the point, how long until I would have had to go back? One week? A Month? Not worth it.
I have an older pair that has lasted much better, when they are ready for another rebuild I'll have someone besides Whites do it. 

Nicks builds a boot like Whites used to. More options although admittedly they are more costly. Well worth it in my opinion.

[Mossy]

White's pac boots are made in China so I've never shopped there. Had some linemans built 12 years ago by Nicks but they gave me calluses on the top of my feet. Had them rebuilt 5 years later and they told me because they are a full size off on one foot and a half size off on the other....uh, you guys fitted me and charged me over $400?  So even after rebuilding to my true size, I still got the calluses

I now run hoffmans. In a pac and lineman boot.

[MtnMuley]

I have both Nicks and Whites. Apples to oranges if you ask me. I'd personally look at a Kenetrek or similar and never look back. I have.

[dmr400]

Thanks everyone. Mtnmuley, what do you mean by apples and oranges? Seems like you are saying one is better than the other, but which? Kennetreks don't seem to fit my feet unfortunately, but I've worn out a pair of zamberlans and a pair of meindls. Both decent, but I would like to give a custom boot a try as I have two different sized feet and a pretty uncommon foot shape, size e ball, size f at the arch, and size d heel according to the lady at the store today.

[MtnMuley]

Sorry for the confusion. What I meant by that is White's guys are going to preach White's and Nick's guys are going to preach Nick's. I personally don't think one is better than the other. Both are great for their intended use when buying their high end boots. I know several guys with beefs when they tried to save a few bucks when buying a "new style" or less expensive model. I'd sell either of my pairs if you're interested.

[Bofire]

Have you tried WESCO out of Scapoose Or.? They custom build, same style, my customs are 20 years old.
Carl

[AZcoueshunter78]

Have you tried WESCO out of Scapoose Or.? They custom build, same style, my customs are 20 years old.
Carl

How are the weaco's comfort wise? Ive been tossing it around about buying some. Love the thought of having a boot for 20 years. That means i could possibly retire with that pair of boots.

[Duckslayer89]

Have you tried WESCO out of Scapoose Or.? They custom build, same style, my customs are 20 years old.
Carl

They have an awesome website I just checked it out. I'll probably go with them for my next boot purchase

[Bofire]

I got the custom built, leather lined,logger boot. they rebuild them cheap also. You can get a measuring kit or go to the factory, wear the socks you'll be wearing.
They are my most comfortable boot
Carl

[Doublelunger]

Whites and Nicks both suck for the price these days. Had two pairs of each over a ten year period. Every pair needed a rebuild after year one and were in the garbage after year two. My first pair of Wescos I got 15 years ago were probably the best boots I ever had. Most recently I got a pair of Viberg boots and I'd say they're the most durable logger style boot on the market right now.

[Jake T]

I have a pair of White's now.  After about 3 years the liners had developed a hole.  I sent in the boots to get the liners fixed.  When I got the boots back, they had developed a squeak that wasn't there before.  Sent the boots back and they couldn't figure out why they were squeaking.  They sent them back to me.  I sent them a video of the boots making the squeak.  They had me send them the boots back.  When I finally got the boots back, they had rebuilt them for me.  No charge, no more squeak.  It took a few months for everything to flush out, but in the end they made it right.  This was only a few months ago.