WESCO
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Custom 10" packer brown/roughout burlap + 666xhs
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Swapped out the standard laces with brown waxed instead.
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Hi Guys!
I'am planing in getting a custom Boss or a Packer, right now I'am torn between the two styles. But have questions regarding the Packer, the Boss pics are just to show what I'am thinking about.
The Boss are close to the IH offering, but has the thicker rubber on the heel, would take the brass vintage buckel from IH, one is the Vibram 705 the other has the 100F
The Packer if I understud it corectly I can get with the pointy toe like the Boss has, right?
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The Packer if I understud it corectly I can get with the pointy toe like the Boss has, right?
On the Wesco site I found this pic…this is the pointy toe right?
I configured this
But would like to get a 2 lifts lower heel with the pointy toe from the Boss. I can't configure it on the site, but should be possible on special rquest, right?
I really like the design of the Viberg/IH Smokejumper
https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5285.0 -
Just have @Alex or @Giles help you with the build.
You are in Europe, so they are your Wesco reps 100%
I just had @Alex help me with a build, and it was easy, and very fast.
Good luck - and Packers come with the “Motor Patrol” as stock I believe - Boss is the more rounded toe if I understand correctly
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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@marlin the light colour boots that you like look like Packers on a Jobmaster last to me. I would say they are quite close to the IH/Viberg Smokejumpers in many ways.
You should probably get in touch with Giles or @Alex to discuss custom variations. They are Wesco’s European retailer and know how to get a custom order done.
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Packers come with the “Motor Patrol” as stock I believe - Boss is the more rounded toe if I understand correctly
Also Adam is correct here I believe. The packers have essentially the same toe as your brown IHWE-5 (the Motor Patrol toe), whereas the standard Boss toe is similar to the standard Jobmaster last.
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One more thing, the heel on the Smokejumpers is about the same height as the heel on your current pair of Wesco boss and the standard Packer/Jobmaster heel. Dropping the Packer heel might change the balance of the boot drastically which maybe why it isn’t offered in the Boot Builder tool.
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Thanks Guys!
My plan was anyway to get things worked out and finalised with Giles or Alex, just thought that some of the question could be covered here. I'am certain, since the spring collection is around, that those two "poor" guys get tons of questions right now!
And since there a some option to choose of, which Leeds for a custom-boots-newbie like me, to some/more questions.@neph93, thanks for the info with the hight of the heels, I'am happy with the hight of my IHWE-5, it just looks then different to me within the configurator.
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I'am happy with the hight of my IHWE-5, it just looks then different to me within the configurator.
I thought that might be the case. The heels look much higher than they are on the boot builder.
If you want a Wesco version of the Smokejumpers then you should also get a half slip put in.
So the build would be:
- Jobmaster last, standard heel height
- Packer uppers
- Single midsole with halfslip, natural leather (I’d consider going with brown dye if I were you).
- Vibram #100
The brown oil tan roughout will be quite close the colour of the copper smokejumpers
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Thanks for your help @neph93!
I thought the Smokejumper was looking like if there was a halfslip used, which leeds me to the next questions. Tried to finde on the Wesco site some infos about it, but didn't found any. The halfslip get's the boot more stability, stiffens and a slightly different angle, right? Is this a option I should go for if I want the boot to be worn on easy half- or even day hikes. I do not want to use this build for my tours in the alps, just for some extended easy walks along rivers, lakes, forests and of course around the town as well. Good weather as well shitty, wett and slippery one, you'll get the idea. Do I benefit from the halfslip in this case? I like to think that the more stability/stiffens is welcomed, if the comfort when broken in doesn't suffer.
I also configured a leather lining. I picked up, that it makes the boot longer lasting, and the shaft on a 8" boot a bit more stiff/ holding it's shape. On the other hand the boot get even more heavy, which isn't an advantage for my intended use.
The sole I chose is the #100F over the #100 just because of the non marking advantage. But how is the rubber difference between the both on the described terrain above. Which rubber is better on a wet ground/stones? Or isn't there a difference at all, that it just boils down to the heat resistance?
Thanks you all for your thoughts in advance!
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The half slip basically gives more rise to the heel, changing the angle of the boot. Wesco use it as standard in their work boots that are intended for working high up, such as standing in trees, or up ladders and telegraph poles etc. This is because standing on your toes all the time is easier with a raised heel/downward angled foot.
This is from https://bigblackboots.com/bwfeatur.htm which is a good Wesco resource:
_"The "extra half slip" is an extra leather insole which extends from the heel through the instep (about the middle of the foot). It's about 4 mm thick.
It's purpose is to provide additional rigidity and support to the arch of the boot. This is important for lineman boots because they are typically worn by linemen who spend their work day on ladders. This ensures that they will be able to stand on a ladder for hours at a time without having the sole bend at the arch and dig into the foot.
Many people enjoy the benefit of the extra arch support even though they don't stand on ladders all day"._
I use my Smokejumpers for the kind of walking you describe and find them very comfy. There's a lot of hiking up rock involved so a lot of toe heavy walking. I'd guess the half slip helps in that circumstance. I also have a half slip in my JH Classics, but that is there because the #4014 Armortred sole is quite flat otherwise.
The Smokejumpers have the now defunct Fire and Ice #100 sole. Other than the non marking, fire resistant qualities of the #100F I don't think there will be any practical difference for your intended use, but I'm not sure about that tbh.
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It's a relatively soft compound so moulds to the surface you are walking on to some extent…
This is what I’m thinking will help. Also that the small ribs will catch on whatever grit or ridges their may be on the ice. I have some pairs of sneakers that are better on ice than the luggiest of lugged soles.
(They will also look great on a pair of Morrisons…).
