White's Boots
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For me its not a matter of soft toe OR celastic, it's embracing both, in the right context, depending on the style of boot, the type of leather, and what look you are trying to achieve. I own boots with both types of toe boxes, and like both for different reasons. But I almost screwed up my last pair, I ordered a soft toe SJ in bullhide, and they shipped celastic by mistake. Lucky mistake for me as I like the bulkier toe on this particular boot. But I do love the soft toe box on my cxl BHs, and Road Champ and Viberg engineers. But generally speaking, I think the "safer" choice with White's is to get the celastic toe. You won't be disappointed with celastic - but the soft toe box can be hit or miss. And "gambling" with $400 boots can definitely lead to disappointment.
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Bounty Hunters and Farmer Ranchers are the same boot, no?
Btw, Aho, you gotta grace this thread with a few more shots of these boots- Especially, the side profile. These all but convince me to get British Tan (which is apparently the same stuff as "classic brown" if you can believe it) for my next pair
IIRC, Bounty Hunter and Farmer Rancher are not the same. BH is built on a Semi Dress last, FR uses the Smoke Jumper last. It also appears to come with soft toe by default - at least mine did.
I have a few side profiles I can share:
This is a Farmer Rancher I ordered from Black Bear Trading in Telluride, CO. They had brown pairs in stock and gave excellent advice on sizing – they recommended a 12.5D instead of the 13D I originally thought I needed and the fit is spot on.
It came with a soft toe – The toe box is very roomy and has a nice round shape even without the celastic. Given the choice though, I would definitely order single celastic. With such a massive sole construction, some toe protection seems to make more sense -
What's the difference between a pair of standard lace smokejumpers (not lace to toe) and farmer ranchers then?
Edit- Searching wayyy back in my memory bank- standard farmer rancher is on the 700 sole and SJ on lug sole? Do I have it? :-\
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Less talk, more boots.
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You got it. If it doesn't have the big vibram 100 - they call it a farmer rancher. even if lace to toe.
also plain toe smoke jumpers default to soft toe. I think it has something to do with the NFPA compliance. I think farmer ranchers also default to soft toe - but you have to keep in mind these are using the standard leathers - brown smooth - black smooth - brown rough out - black rough out - red dog smooth and rough out - which are much thicker leathers. When I tried on soft toe SJs at White's I didn't even think that they'd be soft until the guy fitting me mushed the toe in to check the length of the boot.
something else thats interesting about White's -
when they measure you using the brannock device they have you sit down in a chair resting your foot on a wooden shoe fitting thing. Its at a 45 degree angle or so. so your foot is straight but theres no pressure on the feet.
something to think about if you're using a brannock device to measure yourself - or its just something to confuse you.
What's the difference between a pair of standard lace smokejumpers (not lace to toe) and farmer ranchers then?
Edit- Searching wayyy back in my memory bank- standard farmer rancher is on the 700 sole and SJ on lug sole? Do I have it? :-\
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no problem aho. great score on the farmer rancher's I think they look great.
although I do want to see some natural light pictures of them
(don't want to be pushy, but I've got a feeling they're gonna look even better outside.)
@aho:
erk, thanks for the breakdown!
bretro, some quick shots, hopefully this will do:
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Aho, thx for the extra photos. Really, really digging these
Speaking of British tan; here are some really cool captoe SDs on the C461 last; a makeup I hadn't seen before till today. Thought I would share. This last appears to have a pointier but fuller toe box than the #55. The more and more I look at boots on this last, the more intrigued I am. Not sure how I feel about the bump toe, but it's a pretty striking design IMO
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Nah, those are still in good shape. No need to send them back until it's time to resole them.
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What are you doing to try to clean them?
Beating up some taller boots given the weather…
