Boots Review — White’s Boots Bounty Hunter via Bakershoe — First impression
Usually when you love denim, you would also love leather workwear or the other way around LOL. I am no exception! White’s Boots has been on my radar for a longgggggggg time but I have not pulled the trigger. Part of the hesitancy was I need to trim off my collection, and my feet are really weird.
Anyway, when Bakershoe was running their promotion, I grabbed it, eventually, and I’m glad I did.
Now, let’s see what we got here!
Customization details
Below is the detail list of what I ordered in particular, via Bakershoe. I want something that is rugged but still have some dressy details. Also, I do not work in harsh environment, so I would trim off quite a few options here.
Custom Baker’s Horsehide Bounty Hunter by White’s Boots
Leather: Brown Horse Hide / Hardware: Antique Eyes & Hooks
Celastic Toe Box: Single Celastic Toe / Edge: Brown / Heel Base: Standard
Heel Lifts: Standard / Height: 6" / Lace Design: Plain Toe
Last: Semi Dress (Bounty Hunter) / Leather Half Slip: No thanks
Leather Laces: No Thanks / Leather Liner: Cream
Lineman/Side Patch: No Thanks / Midsole: Single
Pull Loops: No Thanks / Sole: Vibram 430 Mini Vib
Sole Trim: Standard Trim (Double Row Stitch)
Toe Cap: Medallion Dress Toe Cap [ $45.00 ]
Logos / Embossing: No logos or Embossing
Top: Rolled Top [ $25.00 ]
Size — Length: 8 (I just put this to complete the form, I sent the measurements and tracings after that)
Size — Width: E (I just put this to complete the form, I sent the measurements and tracings after that)
Sizing Confirmation: I am sending measurements and tracings.
2. Ordering process
As I mentioned, my feet are weird, especially the left one. It has both a bunion and a shrunken arch. Thus, sizing a pair of boots, even a pair of sneakers always has been a nightmare for me. The best solution for me so far is walk to the store and try it on. Ordering a pair of boots online seems like a huge risk for me. However, after few conversations with my friend, also a boots nerd, I decided to go with Bakershoe. Very well-known for their expertise in fitting and sizing consulting, I had big confidence when ordering. Additionally, Bounty Hunter is the particular model that only Bakershoe offers. I had the consulting with Kyle. Although I’m in Australia, he replied my emails pretty promptly. He gave me advice to tackle the bunion and shrunken arch on my left foot. Really nice man.
I took around 3 days to finish the size and fitting consulting. Another 3 weeks for the actual production and shipping. So nearly 4 weeks and I got on my hand my first pair of Whites’. Can’t be happy more!
3. Packaging
When the package arrived, I was so excited. The pair is wrapped by White’s printed paper, then packed into their original box. And this box is packed into the box from Bakershoe. Very nice and sturdy packaging!
4. Material & Construction & Details
And finally, here is the pair of boots that I have been waiting! It took me a while just to look at them.
The upper: is strip horsehide sourced from Horween. Under a good natural light source, the colour is similar to chocolate. Just the right tone that I love. Under cool white, it is somewhat grey-ish.
The leather has a little bit of shine in it. The texture is rather smooth. No grains are noticeable. I believe this is CXL horsehide. After some wears, the leather surface is still shiny but some “burnt orange” shade starts arising from underneath. Love it!
The hardware: eyelets and speed-hooks are made from solid brass. The speed-hooks are a little bit smaller compared to Redwing Iron Ranger. However, they seems to be more heavy-duty.
The sole: I just get the single mid-sole for more flexibility and shorter breaking period. The outsole is Vibram 430 Mini Vib. It looks rugged and durable. I strongly believe these will last for around 5 years, easily.
Construction:
Bakershoe stated their Bounty Hunters are handsewn stitchdown, except for 2 rows of stitching on the welt. This is the most complex and highly prized construction you can find in a pair of boots. It is much more complicated than Goodyear-welted construction. You can read more about this construction here on White’s official website: https://whitesboots.com/construction/
My general understanding is that, the boots are lasted, welted and bottomed all by hand. This enables White’s craftmen to create a pair of boots which are as fit and durable as possible. Moreover, they are 100% resoleable and rebuildable.
Details:
A high quality pair of boots has not only good material and solid construction but also beautiful details. Let’s see what we got here.
All the details are beautiful!
5. Fit & comfort
When I tried the pair on, for the first few seconds I was like: “Shiet, it will not make it!”. But somehow my feet slipped in and the fit is perfect. My mind was blown out. I never have anything that fit me that nice, like a glove. Even for boots and shoes I bought from retail stores that I can try on first, they are not this fit. Simply amazing.
When ordering a pair of White’s, I did some research about their lasts to find what would suit me the best. Bounty Hunter is built on White’s 55 Arch Ease last. The link is here if you would like to dig deeper into their last range in details https://whitesboots.com/last-guide/
Ok now, I put them on and walked. In the first 15 mins, the leather was quite stiff and the upper hugged my feet quite tight. However, it was not painful at all. After around 30 mins then all the tightness and stiffness went away. I could walk comfortably already. Damn…that’s crazy. It took me nearly 3 months, 5 days in a week just to break-in my Redwing Iron Ranger. And with this White’s boots, maximum 45 mins.
One thing quite interesting here is these very boots weight at around 2.2kg LOL It is incredible. At first, when I held them on my hands, it was daunting. However, putting them on and walking around, the feeling was not as I expected. I can really feel the weight, but at the same time, the support and the “significance” of each footstep I made. It’s somewhat strange but I enjoy it. I never have this feeling before with all the sneakers and other leather footwears in my collection. Very very interesting!!!
Then, I went on testing the comfort further. I went on walks of 3km, 5km, 8km. For the first 3km trip, it was still a bit tight in the arch on my left foot (the ugly one :))) ) and a bit sore on left ankle, since the foot is shrunk down. However, I can feel the arch support really clear and it did the work. With my Red Wing Iron Ranger, I never be able to make anything further than 2km. Next trip of 5km, it was an absolute pleasure. The leather stretched out, the foot beds are quite soft now and the arch support was really working. So I went for another trip of 8km the following week, it was quite exhausting LOL. I guess it would be uncomfortable even when I wear sneakers. But it was not anything that unbearable or unpleasant.
Now I wear it 3 days a week, strolling around the town, going for bushwalk. They’re all beautiful!
6. Thought
I love it!
Finally, I now have a true pair of workboots made from one of the greatest bootmakers that fits me perfectly. I cannot describe how happy I am whenever I put them on and stroll around. Simply a pleasure.
Moreover, this pair looks good when matching with my jeans and trousers. Especially for the relaxed fit ones. Below are some photos.
This Bounty Hunter is so versatile that it can go with most of my bottoms, except for the dressy pants. I can put them on to go to the field, strolling down town, going to the pubs with no problems.
Both White’s Boots and Bakershoe have done a terrific job here pulling out such a well-made product to the market. From the design, material, details and comfort, everything is wonderful. I cannot stress enough about the comfort and stabilisation this pair of boots provide. Besides the sneakers, I never have this feeling before with leather footwears. It makes walking a pleasure and now I truly can understand when people say “I do not want to take off my boots”.
Guess what? I think my next leather footwear also will be a White’s.
