White’s bite and break-in
Hey y’all,
I am having a terrible time with my White’s Crew Boots.
Long story: I bought a pair in the fall last year because I was slated to participate in an Rx burn. The Crew Boot stood out to me as a great starter boot - it’s less expensive than many other of the fire boots and I had heard great things about White’s. I have never had a PNW style boot or any handmade boots for that matter; I normally wear a 10.5-11 wide in most shoes and boots. I ended up measuring my foot based on their protocols and landed on 9.5EE. I ended up getting them in a few weeks before the fire but there was some QC issues that customer service was quick to address and send me a return label. Awesome communication and effort!
Unfortunately, the second pair didn’t make it in time for my Rx burn so I ended up getting a pair of Danner Tactical Wildland Fire boots (hiker style boots) for the burn. They got me through the fire just fine but ended up delaminating at the toe cup. So I sent those back and got a credit. Oh well, figured I would use that to get some work boots or something eventually. Not a huge fan of hiker style boots.
I started wearing my White’s at the beginning of this year - mainly at work and around town, some short hikes and such. Thick socks (Darn Tough full cushion) still didn’t cut it. Started getting a bite at the base of my shin/foot on both feet. Hot spots at the heel; tried moleskin before hikes and seemed to help, but I kept my hikes short since they were hurting my feet, generally. Normal walking, totally fine. Steep slopes and loose terrain, painful. I’ve conditioned them twice now using Bick LP and Bick 4. The leather seemed to soften up somewhat and it restored some of the moisture to the leather. Super dry climate here in the SW.
I just went on a long hike for PT (I am working as an AD FFT2 for the state this summer) and damn near destroyed my feet. The last mile I hiked back in just my socks. I’ve definitely got over 200 miles in these boots by now but they’re terribly uncomfortable. Did I size wrong? Too wide? If I alleviate the bite in the front by changing my lacing pattern or letting more slack, I get heel slip and more hotspots on the heel and today on multiple toes. They feel like they fit pretty well when I first get em on, but soon as I start climbing they get painful. I retightened them throughout the hike and by the end I just had to take them off.
Should I try the soak overnight and wear till dry method? Should I try thicker insoles and maybe another set of kilties? Should I condition them again and even inside the boot, focusing on the heel cup? I’ve tried wearing two pairs of socks, liners, and various thick padded socks. Should I just sell these on eBay and save up for some JKs, Drew’s or different brand? I don’t have the money or time before the season starts for another PNW boot, I think, so may end up with some Danners for this season. I really wanted to have rebuildable fire boots since I am in school for Forestry and plan to pursue Wildland Fire.
TLDR: White’s Crew fire boots are killing my feet no matter what I do. Need suggestions on how to proceed.
Thanks!