WESCO Boot Features
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Stitchdown Sole Construction
The stitchdown sole has always been considered the ultimate in boot construction. Stitchdown construction helps seal the boot against dirt, mud and water and maximizes flexibility.
This is the same construction technique used in the highest quality leather mountaineering boots. The inner leather layer of the boot is secured between the leather insole and midsole then the vamp (the outer leather layer) is turned out and stitched to the edge of the sole with super tough dacron thread.
Stitchdown construction also allows the boot to be constructed with fewer nails.
This is advantageous because nails eventually cause deterioration of the leather.
Stitchdown soles are standard on all WESCO boots.
Metal Heel Breast Plate
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The metal heel breast plate is recessed into the leather and protects the heel against climbing spurs. This is a standard feature on all lineman boots. This feature also protects against dirt bike foot pegs. |
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Extra Half Slips
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. This additional arch support feature can be added to other boot styles for $12, but cannot be omitted from the Highliner boots. |
Solid Brass Lacing Studs
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The lacing studs are machined from solid brass for strength and durability. The special low profile design for logging boots reduces the chances of snagging the lacing studs on brush. The heavy duty eyelets on Wesco boots are also constructed of solid brass. Note: Nickel lacing studs and eyelets and black lacing studs and eyelets are available as an extra cost option on custom boot orders. |
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Leather Side Patch & Steel Side Plate
The leather side patch and the steel side plate are features on linemen's boots which protect it from wear when
climbing poles. These features also do a good job protecting the boot from motorcycle shift levers and brake pedals.
The steel side plate is omitted when the heavy Vibram lug sole ( # 100 ) is installed since the sole is too thick.
Wesco Boots Top Strap Options
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Wesco Boss Engineer boots come with 1 strap & buckle standard up to 18" and 2 straps & buckles standard 19" and up.
However you can specify no top straps or two or three top straps. There is a charge of $19 per set of extra straps.
Wesco Harness boots come with side pull straps standard.
However you can specify no top straps or two or three top straps like the ones used on Boss engineer boots. Price is the same as straps on the Boss engineer boots.
The straps allow you to snug up the boot top so there's no gap between the boots and your pants ( these boots are meant to be worn with the pants tucked in). The straps are not needed to hold the boot tops up since these boots are built with thick leather.
The side pull straps are available as an option only on the harness boots.
Wesco Boots Instep Strap Options
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| Instep Strap |
The Wesco Boss engineer boots have round toes and normally come with the simple instep strap shown on the right. As an option you can specify no strap or you can substitute the harness straps described below which are normally used on the harness boots.
Silver colored nickel buckles are used with black leathers and brass buckles are used with the brown and redwood leathers. Of course, you can specify your choice of brass or nickel.
The strap is normally not needed to hold the boots on your foot, but it can be used to tighten
the fit of the instep.
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| Harness Strap & Ring |
The harness ring and strap shown on the right is standard on Wesco harness boots and optional on the Wesco Boss boots. Silver-colored nickel rings and rivets are standard with black leather and brass rings and rivets are standard with brown and redwood leather. Of course, you can specify your choice of brass or nickel.
There are no adjustments to the straps... they are a style addition to the boots..
Harness boots have square toes and normally come with these harness straps. You can also substitute the standard
instep strap used on Boss engineer boots or no strap at all.
Lining Options for Wesco Boots
Wesco offers a number of lining options so boots can be optimized for different environments and applications. But whatever the lining option, Wesco boots are always built with a heavy, supple (4.5 Oz / 1.8mm) glove leather lining throughout the entire foot area. This is part of the superior design of these fine boots and contributes to their strength and comfort.
Standard Boots
Standard Wesco boots have a foot which is leather lined and a boot shaft which is unlined.
Leather Lining
The leather lined boots are lined with supple, smooth, heavy (4.5 Oz / 1.8mm) glove leather in the boot shafts in addition to the
standard leather lining in the foot area.
This lining leather is considerably thicker than the leather used to line the shafts of cheaper boots.
In fact, it's actually heavier than the outer leather of many boots.
Boots can be lined with black, tan, brown or red leather. The tan leather is also known as buckskin. The red leather lining is bright red. Pictures will be put here once we have our swatches of the new red leather lining.
The leather lining gives the boot shaft a heavier, stiffer feel and helps the shaft hold its distinct shape. When leather lining is used, the boots do not crease as heavily in the ankle area when they're worn, so the leather lined boot shafts don't settle as much as the unlined boots when they're broken in.
Leather and Thinsulate™ Lining
Thinsulate™ is a thin, lightweight, high efficiency insulation. With this option, the entire foot and leg area is lined with leather and Thinsulate insulation is placed throughout the foot and up the leg to the 12" height... above that the boot shaft is leather lined. This reduces bulk in the calf area where insulation is not needed. We use 400 gram Thinsulate™ Ultra Insulation for Footwear from 3M.
For years, outdoor enthusiasts have chosen Thinsulate insulation over foam and felt based on one characteristic alone: its ability to retain warmth when wet. Thinsulate insulation absorbs less than 1% of its weight in water, so it keeps feet warm even in damp conditions. Thinsulate offers the ultimate in warmth, moisture resistance, durability and breathability.
The Thinsulate lining has a bit of give to it so these boots will tend to have a fit which is more loose than a standard Wesco boot in the same size. The looseness is intended since the insulation works best when it is not compressed. You might come down a half size and / or one width if this is a concern.
If you need lots of insulation for very cold weather we advise solving the problem the old fashioned way. Order the leather lining without Thinsulate, get the boots larger and wider and wear heavier socks and a thicker insole to stay warm.
Cambrelle® Lining
Boots made with the Cambrelle lining option are lined entirely in Cambrelle from the foot through
the entire height of the shaft.
Cambrelle is a durable, breathable lining from Dupont. Cambrelle keeps feet cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Its construction provides a comfortable cushioning effect and Cambrelle's unique properties help to keep your feet dry by allowing moisture to pass back into the atmosphere at a remarkably rapid rate.
This lining can be identified by its grey color.
Cambrelle® and Thinsulate™ Lining
Boots made with the Cambrelle and Thinsulate lining option are lined entirely in Cambrelle from the foot through the entire height of the shaft. Thinsulate insulation is placed between the boot and the Cambrelle lining through the entire foot area and up the boot shaft to the 12" height.
This lining can be identified by its brown color.
Cambrelle® & Kevlar® Lining
Cambrelle lining backed with 6-oz. Kevlar/Nomex fleece. The Kevlar/Nomex fleece adds to the fire and heat resistant properties of the boots and is a good insulator.
The Kevlar in this lining is there for added strength and heat properties... it is not bullet proof and is not designed to protect against chain saws like the special multi-layer Kevlar fabric which is used for that purpose in some special purpose logging boots.
Boots made with the Cambrelle and Kevlar/Nomex lining option are lined entirely in Cambrelle and Kevlar/Nomex fleece from the foot through the entire height of the shaft.
This lining can be identified by its black color.
Cushioned Sole Insert
All Wesco boots come with OrthoLite® ventilated & cushioned insoles with moisture wicking Drilex® footbed
which provides superior comfort, keeps feet cool and dry and absorbs shock.
The OrthoLite Drilex Comfort Foam Innersole is specifically designed to be ventilated and breath so that moisture doesn't accumulate. This not only keeps your feet cooler and drier, it also ensures that moisture doesn't accumulate between the liner and the boot's insole.
The OrthoLite insoles not only prevent bacteria from growing because
they keep your feet and boots dryer... they also contain anti-microbial copper compounds which
actively resist the growth of harmful bacteria. The insole can be removed and washed
without reducing the anti-microbial properties of the OrthoLite insoles.
Stitching on Wesco Boots
Wesco uses multiple rows of extremely strong thread to stitch its boots together. In particular, a very thick, strong white cord is lock stitched through all layers of leather, rubber midsole and Vibram outsole to ensure that the soles stay on in all conditions. This is in addition to the glue used to hold the sole system together.
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The uppers of the lace-up boots are subject to considerable stress in tough working
conditions so these are sewn with one or two rows of extra strong white thread with a row
of brown Dacron thread on either side. This configuration provides extra strength
by spreading stress over a wider area.
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The uppers of pull-on boots do not come under such high stress in working situations, so their uppers are stitched with double layers of the brown Dacron thread.
When you order custom boots you have the option of specifying black thread instead of the
traditional white and brown thread.
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Although the standard threads have an excellent reputation in high temperature conditions, the
Firestomer boots are sewn using heavy black Kevlar thread for the soles and uppers. This
gives them additional ability to withstand damage from high heat.
Dye the Stitching Black
Of course you could always do it yourself. You can dye your boots' existing white and brown stitching
black using the instructions in on our Boot FAQ page.
That way you can have the distinctive white thread for a while then switch to black.
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Last edited 16:04:30 11/20/07