BIG BLACK BOOTS Wesco
Wesco Boss
Engineer Boots


Home | Boot Menu | Order Stock | Order Custom | Boot FAQ | Shipping | How to Measure Feet | Contact



It's all on this page. Scroll down to see everything.

Features:

  • 16" 2 buckle and 11" 1 buckle configurations are usually in stock and can be shipped quickly. Other heights and options are custom made to order.
  • Many optional features... these boots can be
    highly customized
  • Heavy (7 Ounce / 2.8mm) Oil Tanned Black Leather
  • Foot lined with heavy (4.5 Oz / 1.8mm) glove leather
  • StitchDown Sole Construction
  • Hard Toe
  • Sturdy Steel Shank
  • Heavy Duty, 9 Iron Leather Mid sole and Insole
  • OrthoLite® ventilated & cushioned insoles with moisture wicking Drilex® footbed
  • Vibram® Soles
  • Nickel buckles on black boots
    Brass buckles on brown & redwood boots
  • Soles stitched with heavy duty white thread
    Uppers with strong brown dacron thread
  • U.S. Men's Sizes 2 to 16 - Widths AA to EEE
  • 11", 14", 15", 16", 17", 18", 19" and 20" heights
    (and higher in the over the knee versions)
  • Production time for these custom made to order boots is
    currently taking about about 12 weeks.

Options:

    Note: we have two pages of information on Wesco boot features and options - click here

  • Steel or Composite Safety Toes - ANSI Z41 PT91 MI/75 C/75 impact and compression class ratings
  • Standard Oil Tanned 7 Ounce / 2.8mm Leathers:
        Black, Redwood or Brown - oily finish
  • Silicon Tanned 7 Ounce / 2.8 mm Leather:
        BKF - Fire resistant - Black with Dull Mattte Finish
  • Lighter weight Oil Tanned 5 Ounce / 2 mm leathers:
        Black Tie - polishable dressy black leather
        Burgundy - deep reddish brown waxy finish
        Burlap Explorer - light tan like dessert boots - dry finish
    (With these lighter weight leathers consider leather lining to provide additional body)
  • 4 Ounce / 1.6 mm Bright Red leather - dry satin like finish
    (Leather Lining required with this lightweight leather to provide additional body)

    Click here for complete leather information.
  • Leather Lining - Heavy 4 Oz. Leather: black, tan, brown or bright red. All Wesco boots are leather lined in the foot area. This option adds leather lining to the boot shafts.
  • Straps & Buckles: Standard is one at the instep and one at top - other options are:
    • Two top straps
    • Three top straps
    • Omit the Top strap
    • Omit the instep / bottom strap
    • Substitute a Harness Strap on the bottom
    • Substitute brass instead of the usual nickel buckles (or vice versa)
  • Five Choices of Vibram® Soles
  • Sole and heel edges normally dyed to match the color of the boots but they can be left in the natural leather color.
  • Optional black stitching instead of the classic signature heavy white sole stitching and light brown upper stitching
  • Custom orders can be made up to 38" in height

The Boot:

The Wesco Boss Engineer boot is our signature boot. It's the classic pull-on boot worn by the surveyors and engineers who built the USA. These days it's one of the most popular and versatile motorcycle boots. Wear them while riding and use them at work or play. We can do many variations on the basic style, so you can have a pair for any occasion... make a statement... why wear anything else?

We also carry two relatives of this famous boot, the Wesco Harness boot and the Wesco Motor Patrol boot.

The Details:

We have two picture-filled pages which highlight all the features and options for the Wesco boots. You can follow the links from this page or simply click here for the Wesco boots features page with detailed pictures and information.

WESCO constructs these boots on lasts expressly designed for producing comfortable, high quality work boots.

The foot area is lined by a smooth inner leather layer which contributes to the strength and comfort of the boot. This extra layer of leather complements the careful fit and excellent arch support.

The boot's comfort is further enhanced by a removable cushioned foot liner like those found in high quality athletic shoes. Our new customers are often surprised when they discover how comfortable these sturdy boots are!

The stitchdown construction helps keep this boot drier during wet weather and keeps out dust and dirt which can shorten the life of boots. In stitchdown construction, the inside layer of leather is secured under the foot while the outer layer of leather is folded out and sewn to the sole. This technically challenging construction method yields a sturdier boot which is less likely to be damaged during its life.

These boots can be re-soled by any competent boot repair shop using traditional re-soling techniques. You can also send them back to Wesco to be re-soled re-built.



Prices

Stock Boss Engineer Boots

( No Options -- "off the shelf" boots -- usually ship quickly )
Black
11"
one
#100 7 through 12 D and 13 D $389
Black
16"
two
#100 9 through 12 D $435
Order Stock Boots These stock boots are made of black oil-tanned leather.

They have a leather lined foot, unlined shaft
and #100 Vibram lug soles

The 11" Boss Engineer boots are now stocked by Wesco and can
be shipped quickly

The 16" Boss boots with the two top straps are specially made
for Big Black Boots using the traditional Wesco #9109 last. Read more
about this last here.

These 16" boots are kept in stock by Big Black Boots and available
for immediate shipment. These boots would otherwise be a custom
order from Wesco which would take about about 12 weeks. If you need
other sizes, please order these as custom boots.

You can visit the order form to see
more information without placing an order.

1 inch = 2.54 cm
Click here to see the difference between stock and custom made boots.


11" Wesco Boss



Custom Boss Engineer Boots

( You choose height, leather, soles, lining, etc. -- made to order -- takes about about 12 weeks)
Custom Engineer Boot Prices
Height
Inches
9"$419
11"$389
14"$419
15", 16"$425
17", 18"$469
19", 20"$515
21" - 38"$1,150


1 inch = 2.54 cm
Prices for Options
Steel or Composite Safety Toes$15
7 Ounce / 2.8 mm Oil Tanned Leather:
Black, Redwood, Brown
No charge
7 Ounce / 2.8 mm Silicon Tanned Leather:
Black Matte Finish - water & fire resistant
$39
5 Ounce / 2 mm Oil Tanned Leather:
"BT" Black Tie, Burgundy, Burlap Explorer
(consider leather lining to provide additional body)
$39
4 Ounce / 1.6 mm Oil Tanned Leather: Bright Red
(only possible with leather lining to provide additional body)
$39
Leather Lined Legs - black, tan, brown or bright red$84
Extra Top Strap & Buckle (in addition to standard)
( 1 buckle standard up to and including 18" - 2 buckles standard 19" and up )
$26
Harness Straps at ankle$29
Three Choices of Standard Vibram® SolesNo charge
#100R Heavy Lug Vibram® Soles / Low Marking / Oil Resist$7
#100F Heavy Lug Vibram® Soles / Fire Resist$9
All black stitching in soles and uppers$24
Boot shafts made larger / smaller than standard
( ±1" / 2.54 cm - see shaft / size table below )
$59
Order Custom Boots You can visit the order form to see more
information without placing an order.


Size / Width Table for Custom Boss Engineer Boots

Sizes available when using Wesco's standard "new" last
2 ½ 3 ½ 4 ½ 5 ½ 6 ½ 7 ½ 8 ½ 9 ½ 10 ½ 11 ½ 12 ½ 13 ½ 14 ½ 15 ½ 16 ½ 17 ½ 18 ½ 19 ½
AAA                                                                        
AA                                                                        
A                                                                        
B                                                                        
C                                                                        
D                                                                        
E                                                                        
EE                                                                        
EEE                                                                        

The table above shows the U.S. men's size range for the custom Wesco Jobmaster, Highliner,
Boss and Firestormer boots built with the standard "new" last.
The boots can be made in any size / width combination shown in green.



Sizes available when using Wesco's traditional "old" #9109 last
2 ½ 3 ½ 4 ½ 5 ½ 6 ½ 7 ½ 8 ½ 9 ½ 10 ½ 11 ½ 12 ½ 13 ½ 14 ½ 15 ½ 16 ½ 17 ½ 18 ½ 19 ½
AAA                                                                        
AA                                                                        
A                                                                        
B                                                                        
C                                                                        
D                                                                        
E                                                                        
EE                                                                        
EEE                                                                        

The table above shows the U.S. men's size range for the custom Wesco Jobmaster, Highliner,
Boss and Firestormer boots built with the traditional "old" #9109 last.
The boots can be made in any size / width combination shown in green.

Checking Your Calf Size:

Your calf is the large muscle in the lower leg below your knee. Find the widest point on your lower leg and measure the circumference (distance around the leg) at that point. The table below shows the maximum calf measurement for each size of Wesco boots in Inches and Centimeters. This is largest size calf which will comfortably fit in this size boot. If your calf is larger than the dimension in the table, please choose the option to have the boot shafts made larger. We can have the shaft made up to one inch larger or smaller in ¼" increments.

If your heel measurement is larger than the calf size, your foot will be too large to fit into the boot.

Using this table:

  1. First, determine your foot size. Wesco boots are designed to be worn with boot socks. Wesco boots run true to your US Men's size. Order your Wesco boots in your true size or ½ size larger or one width larger to accommodate multiple or extra heavy socks. Click here to go to the page which shows how to measure your foot to determine its true US Men's size and width. Enter the table with the boot size and note the maximum calf measurement for that size boot. See below for instruction on measuring the calf size.

  2. Foot Measure
    Wesco
    Boot
    Size
    Max Calf
    Size
    Inches
    Max Calf
    Size
    Cm
    2 13.25 34.3
    3 13.25 34.3
    4 13.25 34.3
    5 13.90 35.2
    6 14.25 36.2
    7 14.75 37.5
    8 15.00 38.1
    9 15.25 38.7
    10 15.60 39.7
    11 15.90 40.3
    12 16.10 41.0
    13 16.75 42.5
    14 17.10 43.5
    15 17.50 44.5
    16 17.90 45.4
  3. Next, measure the circumference of your calves to ensure that they will fit the shaft. This should be done while seated. If you will be wearing pants tucked into the boots (best way to wear your boots!), you should wear the pants or breeches you plan to wear with the boots and measure over the pants. You will need a measuring tape or you can use a piece of string then measure the length of the string with a ruler. Wrap the tape around the largest part of your lower leg (the calf). The tape should be comfortably snug but not tight. If this calf measurement exceeds the measurement in the table for your size, the standard boot shafts will be too tight for your leg to fit into the boots. In that case, please choose the option to have your boot shafts made larger.

    Wesco's bootmakers can add or delete up to 1 inch (2.54 cm) in ¼ inch increments. If you need more than one inch added or removed then we and Wesco recommend that you have the boots custom made to your specific measurements.

    Wesco has a one time charge to adjust the size of the boot shafts on custom Boss Engineer boots, harness boots and motor patrol boots. Once they've made a leg pattern for you, they keep the pattern on file. On subsequent orders they can adjust the boot shaft size without charging extra.

    The shafts of these boots will NOT stretch as they break in... so if the boots are too tight in the legs, your calf muscles will be cramped. However, competent boot repair shops can stretch these boot shafts if necessary. The point is that the shafts are stronger than your calf muscle so mechanical help is needed to stretch them.


Checking the Boot Height:

Check the height you have selected to determine where the top of the boot will be on your leg. Measure up from the heel of your stockinged feet along the back of your leg. This should be done while in a seated position with the knee bent at a 90 degree angle. New Boss Engineer boots will initially be at that position. e.g. if you order a 16" boot, it will come up 16" from your heel, but the boots could be higher... see the note below.

As they break in, unlined engineer boots will drop .5" to 1.5" (1.3 cm to 3.8 cm) depending on their original height. Lined boots will stay very close to their initial height.

Wesco warns that the initial height of Wesco pull-on boots, out of the box, can vary ±1" (±2.54 cm) from the specified height. In our experience, there's a high probability that your boots will end up higher than specified. We have not seen any which were lower.

So, for example, if you've specified 20" boots with the expectation that they will be just at the bend in your knee after they are broken in, they could be up to an inch too high. So it's better to get your boots a bit under the maximum possible height.

Finally, measure around your heel as shown in the diagram. This measurement should not exceed the calf measurement from the table or your foot would not fit through the shaft.



BIG BLACK BOOTS Home Page

Email questions or comments to

BIG BLACK BOOTS Web Pages - Copyright © 2010 Ron Belanger - All Rights Reserved

Last edited 02:40:21 1/15/10