The Truth: Wesco is not what you think

[@RoseAnvil]

Get a high quality wallet, belt or MORE in the Rose Anvil shop here - bit.ly/44jXLNu

[@TheRoadhammer379]

Nice hit piece, you shit on a company with decades of proven boots in the lineman industry. I don't know what you bought but I own 11 pairs, been buying them since the early 90s. I custom order my boots, last pair was 1000 dollars and they are phenomenally built. I wear them working in steel mills and they are built like a tank. The nail is a problem but you really should have reached out to Wesco and rectified any flaws, that would have been interesting.

[@1stRanger]

@@TheRoadhammer379 = fanboy 🤡

[@simonboyenielsen3287]

You were very kind for such brutal faults. That nail is crazy

[@StolenAlias]

Weston is often too forgiving

[@maybeblakemclemore]

i feel like it's almost a cope, i mean i would too if i spent 700$ on something and it was built like shit.

[@habl00pep]

Does the nail help it hold on to your foot more securely 😮

[@__ztx2199]

That nail simply should never be there. To me that is unacceptable.

[@aarontimm]

​@@habl00pep well, maybe technically...

[@naughtmeinam4603]

That nail singlehandedly is a dealbreaker, holy crap. How on earth does that pass QC on any boot, let alone a $700 premium collab

[@uoislame]

this. i ain't paying $725 for a boot that someone didn't take a quick look to see if there is a nail inside.

[@edipisreks5535]

It’s easy for it to pass QC: they don’t care. They sell every boot they make, so they just don’t care.

[@pewpewTN]

​@@uoislame If Iron Rangers can have a nice leather heel pad over the nails for $350, these boots should at least not have a nail sticking all the way up at $725.

[@kylewhitt587]

Yeah... some errors are simply errors. That one's both dangerous and REALLY OBVIOUS! It doesn't just hurt trust, it makes it impossible to trust them. Wesco better get a rep into these comments ASAP to at least show people they'll own up to it.

[@dscrappygolani7981]

For me it's the cardboard. Damned if I'm gonna pay $750 for cardboard heels

[@chadchampion9005]

Wow Rose Anvil, you were extremely forgiving and kind for all of the problems in this boot. From being a literal safety hazard to taking shortcuts in construction and materials. These being priced at 725 dollars with a 15-month lead time is absolutely ridiculous. This is just a glorified fashion boot to capitalize on the PNW boot hype train. If it's a more casual boot, it should be priced accordingly.

[@kart182]

Yeah some strong bias in this video for some reason

[@Hamsong]

Agreed. For $725, none of these flaws and compromises should be there. Exposed nail? I also thought you were a little to gentle on Alden for the price, too, but I always enjoy the channel and the uniqueness of being able to see materials and construction by seeing inside the boot. The style of the boot is a little too lumberjack to me, but that’s subjective.

[@chuckcole2625]

It’s all about the Japanese market there not work boots to them

[@kmb1]

Man, that nail coming through the heel is enough to make me say, "Hell no. Never gonna buy these!" Then the other cheap materials, etc... $725?! Nope. I'll stick with my cheap ass Redwings at $300.

[@patrickmorgan6163]

The flaws in this pair of boots is unacceptable at this price. I will say that my experience with Wesco's standard Job Master boots has been much better. I have purchased two of the standard Job Masters from Wesco dealers on line in the past 6 months. Both pairs sold for well under the five hundred dollar mark. The workmanship is equal to the Nick's Moc Toe boots that I recently received after about a eight month wait. There are no issues with the quality control on the Wesco boots I received. I do not know what material they used on the counters. Why would the custom built boots have the obvious flaws? I have no idea.

[@MrStreetninja007]

For a premium price they should literally be ashamed of this but I'm also glad that we have this channel that shows us things like this in full transparency

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

$725.00 WOW no way i would ever pay for a pair of work boots and a nail sticking out like that OUCH i am kind of wondering how many more slipped by with a nail sticking out inside the boot ????? i will stick to my Timberland pro or Carhartts work boots

[@laa0fa502]

@@rogerstlaurent8704 look up his reviews on the carhartt boots, they are very overpriced for the quality. I love carhartt so it hurt to see but it's great information to keep in mind.

[@Psycho-Ssnake]

@@rogerstlaurent8704 bets on how many people that weren't Weston that got blown off.

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

@@Psycho-Ssnake a lot of people like me its like buying a million dollar Rolls Royce with all kinds of problems from shoddy workmanship to poor QC or a nail sticking out in the drivers seat LOL for me i stick to my $ 150.00 shoes that you can get 2-5 years out of a pair and depending on how you use and treat them

[@Psycho-Ssnake]

@@rogerstlaurent8704 in the sword community we have similar issues. You kind of want to get the medium range price so you can get a good feel for the sword Type that feels and looks best. Sometimes you might want longsword or katana but after you've had some good ones you might favor a smaller arming sword. Then you think about the high end custom work.

[@jfeldmann894]

For $700 and this many faults you're being a lot nicer than you have been on some $200 boots

[@travisk5610]

You have to read between the lines a bit more on his PNW boot videos than the others I think.

[@konradvonschnitzeldorf6506]

​@@travisk5610Yeah, He loves the craft, and these aren't necessarily big companies

[@Psycho-Ssnake]

I'll bet you there were a lot of people who had problems but got blown off when they contacted the company.

[@stauker.1960]

It's stunning, and not in a good way

[@AngryyBeaverr]

Literally just looks good on the outside, what a shame for a company that carried such a great name for so long..

[@theorenhobart]

yes the executive really has to re-think their purpose. i agree with all the comments about the nail through the insole but using compressed cardboard in the heel of a boot in this price range is obscene

[@delta3niner]

I love this channel and the effort Weston puts into cutting the boots in half and being informative. It is important to see what is inside our boots, and Weston does us a great service by doing all this. However, I also find it rather odd how forgiving he can be when it comes to unacceptable flaws and cost-cutting measures. Using a celastic counter at this price is entirely unacceptable, regardless of the automated process involved in the boot’s construction. All this automation should drive the price down, not up. If Redwing can use a reconstituted leather counter at half the price, then so can Wesco. The thinner leather, cheaper materials, and sloppier craftsmanship mean that these cannot compare to White’s or Nick’s. Wesco positions and prices itself to compete with premium work boots and should be treated as such. I think Weston went way too easy on them this time.

[@bigred6137]

Weston has gotten soft compared to his older videos

[@christopherrowley7506]

He points out those things though, and that's the point. We can judge on our own. He has business relations to upkeep so I get having a mild front that's presented. The important thing is he doesn't hide any of the flaws in the video, he points them out and has mild judgement. I think he knows what happens in the comments when he points out flaws and the price in the same breath.

[@jackblah5842]

@@christopherrowley7506 Finally a rational comment. Rose Anvil is what our news media outlets should be doing; calling balls and strikes and leaving it up to us to make an informed decision. Everyone in here wants to see blood. They love their Rachel Maddow or Sean Hannity bloviated, biased, disingenuous opinions and most importantly they want to see the other guy go down hard and not get up off the canvas. Honestly all the pearl clutching going on here as folks rant "unacceptable" and "shame on them" is laughable.

[@grapeapeductape2489]

Good to see it un-unlisted. These companies should be spotlighted for their faults

[@Sturnburn772]

what happened ? It got removed?

[@thysonsacclaim]

@@Sturnburn772 Or re-uploaded. Yeah.

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

@@Sturnburn772 step in a puddle of water and you will find out Squish Squish

[@fullmetalroyal1216]

So the video got taken down and re uploaded? Did his opinion change?

[@DinnerForkTongue]

​@@fullmetalroyal1216 No, the boots did.

[@Brent6434]

Nah Weston, you're slipping. The nail alone is insane and the fact you barely addressed that is asinine. You also made wayyyyy too many excuses for why they're not built to the same standard as other boots that are significantly cheaper like JK's. Notably, the celastic heel counter is INEXCUSIBLE and the fact that those bad boys are gonna squeak within a month of getting them due to the lack of a layer between the two pieces of leather is insane. Don't let sponsors and affiliate links influence your otherwise solid reviews. You went way too light on these and everyone can tell

[@3212009a]

Unfortunately his reviews have been going down hill ever since he started accepting free boots from companies and having affiliate links. If he wants to be taken seriously he should be purchasing all of the items full retail anonymously.

[@JRRob3wn]

I think some of the backlash he got from Alden fanboys has caused him to hold back a bit since then.

[@Lolotovs]

@@3212009a I think he made a video on the second channel about these boots a few weeks ago. He PURCHASED these boots for himself and was displeased with the fit and decided to cut them up to get some use out of them. I might be mixing up which pair that was though, so go watch for yourself.

[@stevenkelby2169]

@@JRRob3wn The Alden drama helped him a lot more than it hurt him, long term.

[@stevenkelby2169]

I agree, you used to have emotions Weston! 😂 Share with us, express your true feelings, don't try to be nice! It's more kind to be honest, even if it seems to be too blunt sometimes. That's my opinion though. If I'm so smart, where's my KZbin channel? 🤷‍♂️

[@wheel1775]

A nail inside a boot like that is about as egregious as a car dealer selling a car with a loose wheel. That would be appalling for any shoemaker but for $725 that is completely unacceptable. Shame on them for allowing that to get out of their factory.

[@1stRanger]

More like a nail in a driver seat. 😂

[@TheSalMaris]

My Wescos are perfect and have stood the test of time. I bought them when they were nowhere near seven hundred dollars back in the 70s. Maybe they built them even better then. Thanks for this.

[@dgoodman1484]

We’d buy them 2 to 4 pairs at a time in the 80’s & 90’s and you couldn’t ask for a better boot. Word is the quality fell off sometime after the 2000’s. I stopped logging about that time so I can’t say. Still have a decent pair left I save for for the tough jobs that lasted almost thirty years now.

[@jd70HJ19]

They did build them better as did every other company that made quality boots. This is what you get when in this balance of time there is no way to drive these dishonest garbage makers our of business. by switching to another maker. They are all making overpriced cheap material junk boots , be they for professional or casual use. Making boots for the twink- kink market is okay by me ..but they are the only pretentious idiots who would pay $ 725 so that they pretend to look like a real life lumberjack while sporting a manicure, ...🤣😂🤣🤣😂😂🤣.... to call it idiotic is not enough .

[@deniseforge1102]

For what its worth, I’ve worn wesco boots for actual work for close to 5 years, same boot, no resole, and they have held up amazing. No squeak either. The leather thickness is perfect because its easier on your feet and conforms well while still being supportive. Ive been to the factory, its a piece of history, some of the machines are very old. Also, the non custom ones can be priced really well, I believe I paid just shy of $400 for mine.

[@morg163]

How’s the sizing on them? True to size ? Bigger or smaller ? Thx

[@deniseforge1102]

@@morg163 I’d say true to size

[@morg163]

@@deniseforge1102 thx

[@umbertosmith7014]

I don't think the 400$ PNW boot exists much anymore...maybe Franks Patriot or JK...

[@ThuggaManeLaFlare]

for that much money it should really be higher quality. The compressed carboard, the nail, the flawed inside stitching and above all the fact that they missed your memo about making both boots the same size lol. This is a huge platform for their brand and it doesn't shine a good light on them.

[@gonzomalan]

if they have a CEO, that should have prioritized good customer service.

[@spookshow6999]

​@@gonzomalan he needs to be fired for this slip up.

[@halfmnn]

It's worth noting that the current CEO seems to be Roberta Shoemaker, presumably grandDAUGHTER of the original founder. The man in the photo, John J. Engel, is the CEO of WESCO International - a holding company for an electrical distribution and services company that just happens to have the same name. although the confusion is understandable it took me about 4 minutes of googling to figure this out. I love pretty much everything that comes out of all the Rose Anvil channels, but I would have expected a little bit more due diligence while researching.

[@virtusleather]

Small time bootmaker here. That nail is beyond the "whoops" range. Need a tetnus shot if you stepped into that and dove that thing into your heel. Not cool. Wesco should send you another pair for that. I freaking would.

[@Jamestreeman]

I have a 23 year old pair of highliners still in service. My daily is two pairs of Job masters I swap out weekly. I’m a climber. Not much harder on a boot then standing for hours on gaffs. Mine are trouble free. I wonder if the hipster collaboration thru off QC. Just don’t make sense. Would love to see Wesco chime in on this.

[@ronochow]

That nail would've been a lawsuit waiting to happen, if they can't QC something like that properly for 700+USD it would suggest they lack of oversight in other areas as well.

[@IcecalGamer]

If 700 gets you that "high" level of QC, at 3fidy... do they send you a DIY kit? (a cow/horse + a bail of hay)

[@spookshow6999]

Especially on the boots you're sending to a huge platform, that is going to literally cut your boots in half. They will go out of business. No one has $700 to spend on boots right now anyways. This was the biggest flop of all time.

[@NateTrucker92]

I'm so glad you posted this and saved me from a future mistake. With that level of poor QC and unbelievable lead times, Wesco will not be getting my money.

[@christopherrowley7506]

They also aren't even true to their own heritage, they changed their construction to copy cat the other PNW boots. Also hearing about poor customer service from other people, this company has bad vibes all around

[@NateTrucker92]

@@christopherrowley7506 damn....that's very sad to hear....everything has gone downhill these days

[@TheLazyTitan]

Wow, I had no idea. It makes me appreciate my Nicks Boots even more I think!

[@RyanLackey]

Thanks for narrowing my boot buying choices by one brand; I get that you don't want to be too critical of them in the hopes they'll fix their mistake but it's pretty clear this is not the best $500-725 boot, and they're at best coasting on their past legacy. Love your videos.

[@ivanska3099]

What brand?

[@bateriayvr8988]

@@ivanska3099 Umm, Wesco 🤓

[@todtalk3912]

This does occur with other boots, the NAIL sticking up in the heel. However, JK and others, have a final QC step that will take care of these things, if missed during the build.

[@brandonb.5304]

A final quality control step that Wesco either missed with this pair or they routinely skip in the production of their boots. It's unacceptable to ship a boot to a customer with a nail coming through the footbed that could cause the customer serious injury.

[@bootcloset]

This was surprising. I bought a pair of custom Jobmasters back in 2004, wore them out and got them rebuilt 9 years later, but they didn’t feel the same and I haven’t really worn them since. If their process and quality control have changed that much, maybe I should look elsewhere if I want a high quality boot moving forward… Also, thanks for not omitting the leather community, I have a feeling we’re a crowd that Wesco would rather not have as customers sometimes, and it would be easy to sweep that under the rug.

[@Eric_Tarrant]

Would love to see Drew's boot review, they look like a amazing value Boot. Love your content as always, very indepth reviews.🙏

[@AstroVanTribe]

I bought a pair of their BOSS engineer boots of the shelf around 1999 - Love 'em, wore them riding motorcycles for years and they even saved my foot in a few accidents - One of which were I was T-boned and the car struck me directly at my right foot and bet the frame of the bike opposite the other side of my foot. The steel shank kept my foot from being pulverized. In '07 I ordered a custom pair but they could not get the fit right after sending them back 3 times. I had the original pair rebuilt and they still fit today although I've since gone to barefoot boots made by Chris Layman of Broadwinger Boots. The custom pair of WESCO's sat in the box for 13 years until I traded them to a friend for other things so, in the end, it worked out BUT they were 100% unwearable for me....

[@tomdoomtube]

Yes, do more Wesco boots. A Mr. Lou boot would be great. In fact, do an engineer boot series!

[@HaydonRyan]

I wholeheartedly second this.

[@jimmylarge1148]

What’s an engineer boot?

[@MRBUCK273]

I worked with westco to come up with a custom work boot for my fire department. They are a mix of the jobmaster and the wildland fire boot. They are amazing and some of these issues are not applicable.

[@madhatte73]

I just retired a pair of Wesco romeos that I had resoled 3 times over 6years. Best bang for the buck over time. Expensive up front but actually cheap over time. Wesco make a great product.

[@scottsterner4091]

So for what it’s worth I will share my Wesco experience. I have a pair of custom Jobmasters, mostly stock with a few minor modifications, and made from my custom last that was made from my tracing and measurements. The custom last was $100, but they keep it in their warehouse so if I ever order another pair from them in the future, they will be able to use that last without an additional charge. I ordered them one July, and they arrived at my house the following March. The arches were unbearably high out of the box, I have flat feet so they were torture, but after enduring and trusting the break-in period, it was 100% worth it. They have been my go-to pair of outdoor work boots for years now, I have yet to have them resoled since the forest floor doesn’t wear down rubber as quickly as concrete. The boots are tough, comfortable, rugged, and worth every penny I spent on them.

[@NonLegitNation2]

I'm hoping you're cutting this boot in half because Wesco actually finally got in contact with you and said they would send you a boot that actually fit after ghosting you for so long.

[@badgerpa9]

For a climbing boot I preferred a steel shank, climbing pegs or on spikes. Like you said this is a little bit of a casual boot than a dedicated work boot. If I could still spend a day climbing I would like to try them out but I do not think I could climb for a day much less a couple hours. Thank you for going through all these boots.

[@Chiller11]

LaSportiva are my go to climbing boot. There are a couple of models. I have one pair that’s fairly flexible which work for more technical alpine or mixed routes. I also have a more rigid boot for long, cold, serious mountaineering.

[@thenoneckpeoplerepresentat8074]

I watched a Wesco response video recently, their rep was pissed off. They then disabled the comments, leading me to believe they know the issues are legit but don’t want the negative feedback. Sad and cowardly imo.

[@overtheunder1133]

I enjoy and appreciate all your videos but this one just saved me $800. ... I was about to order these when the preorder opens up again on the 21st and now seeing how little attention it seems they gave to putting those together and finishing them, I'll buy something else. Thankyou bud. ALSO, I'm happy you didnt impale your heel on the nail SMH

[@dgoodman1484]

All I can say is the couple pairs of pre-2000ish Wescos I have left are fantastic and have lasted almost thirty years now. Still don’t squeak. Word is, like everything else, the quality went down about that time. I noticed they used to use a thick felt insole that appears to be missing from the other video you posted. Shame because it helped your foot breathe in the summer and was warm in the winter

[@markleon7127]

At my work we climb telephone poles, a lot of the guys wear Wesco and I must say their boots out last mine 3 to 1. As in I buy 3 boots to their 1. I don't like the price but can say they are a solid climbing boot. The leather also seems so much more resistant to cuts and punctures.

[@ralleyquattro]

Thanks for the video, I was going to go with a pair of Wesco boots, but after seeing this I am glad I went with Frank's Highlanders. I bought a pair of Nicks last year and even though I am very happy with them, after getting the Frank's I can say that they are even better. Not only a stitchdown and hand lasted but also have Blake stitch to go along and they were slightly cheaper than Nicks with the same leather (W&C Latigo) and same spec for rest of the boot (55 last, logger heel, 8" high and Honey V100). Keep making these awesome videos. Thanks!

[@LastNineBreaker]

Just watched a video of a worker at Wesco that exposing their manufacturing faults are “uncalled for” and “untrue”. If these boots came from Wesco, manufactured in such a disappointing fashion, I don’t see how anyone from Wesco can defend their faulty product. He continued to say that Wes’ experience with customer service was false and would never have been handled that way. And that just because their top of the line boots are made with better materials, that you should ignore the proof in the video like it doesn’t exist. The Blacked Peakock I think the channel was. With comments turned off.

[@dyersnider5406]

I saw part of that video, too. After 2 minutes of excuses and b***s***, I moved on. Wes’ videos are awesome.

[@Alecnguyenn]

I have a pair of wesco boss engineers that came with a nail sticking out too… had it kind of taken care of by a cobbler nearby but if I choose to wear it without the little leather insole with a thick sock, it tears my sock and cuts my heel. Also the squeaking my boots make when it’s wet is insane. Super loud. When I called to ask about them to take care of it, they said I’d need to pay for shipping… so I just never sent them back in.

[@robertsandgren9389]

I'm glad this video's back, helpful and interesting!

[@truthreignsforever9286]

Anvil’s “cut in half” trademark review is off the wall. Love it

[@exexpat11]

I hope WESCO watched this video are are making changes and quick! I have been tempted to buy but this video gave me second thoughts on the QC. I was going to option some in the $850 range custom. Crap stitching and nails protruding into the sole/foot bed is disappointing.

[@chickenlicker6207]

A thorough breakdown of the differences in different kinds of animal leather would make a great Rose 2 video. Can even tier list them.

[@adamcuthbert9498]

The Full Grain podcast has done a few episodes on the topic you may be interested in, Aeorosurferlv also has a few videos on the topic.

[@Herbster41]

Been wearing a pair of Nick's for the past six months. I'm good.

[@jaydee3928]

Thank you for everything you do, it's amazing to see so much detail before making a purchase. Your channel helped me pull the trigger buying a pair of Nicks

[@ashwinkrishnan5653]

was waiting for a Wesco video for ages, ya'll never disappoint. A holitic comparison across PNW/Canadian boots would be incredible

[@maurelius135]

I'm looking for my first pair of handmade boots and watching all these videos - ruled out Wesco. Thanks for the hard work!

[@Robbajohn]

It's a shame they didn't fit so you could try them more. Looking forward to the comparison video. Have you seen the ll bean bucksport cap toe boots? They're under 200 and I'd be interested to see what they look like inside.

[@RirtyDascal]

They're $134 at Nortsrom right now. I wouldn't buy them but yeah I'd like to see them cut in half too.

[@mood1676]

“Do I think it’s a bad boot? Absolutely not” can’t believe how charitable you were to this boot. You shit on other brands like doc martens at price point under 200$ and these actually seem worse for such a premium price.

[@DirtyDanMunicipalMan]

I’ve always wanted a pair of the Wesco Boss boots, also because of Terminator 2. Interestingly, the boots Arnold wore were actually made by Chippewa. However in my opinion I love the logger heel and lug tread of the Wesco’s better. Here’s hoping the company took some constructive criticism here and might make a positive effort.

[@jeffbones2802]

I came here looking for this review after seeing the worker from Wesco’s video on this. Safe to say they were not happy about this review lol. Keep up the good work. These companies need to be held accountable for what they put out. People spend a lot of money of these boots and expect to get what they pay for.

[@alleycat9369]

I bought the Wesco Boss boots about four years ago. They’re super heavy duty and fit great, only problem is the left boot started squeaking like crazy about a year later. I called Wesco and by the timeframe (many months) to fix it I just kept them. Filled up with water and let sit overnight in shower, the squeak stopped, for about six months. Filled with water over night and no squeak for a while. It got to where I just quit wearing them. Ok for riding my bike but that’s it.

[@highfructosedreams]

It can't be good for your boots to regularly soak them in water for hours

[@bootcloset]

If they are properly dried (without heat) and oiled after, it shouldn’t impact the durability too much. If there is a way to get oil between the layers though, that might be better. Just don’t attempt anything too crazy like an oil soak if you use a cloth lining, any insulation, or don’t have oil-resistant soles.

[@bateriayvr8988]

@@bootcloset Please explain why (at that price point) this should even be a consideration?

[@hyena2176]

Wow. I started wearing Wescos 20 years ago after finding a very old pair of steel toe Jobmasters at a second hand store in London, UK. British work boots tend to be very delicate in comparison with PNW boots, so I was immediately impressed and have worn Wescos ever since, getting them repaired and resoled along the way because I don't like waste. It's disappointing and almost embarrassing to discover they're so poorly made in comparison with boots from similar US manufacturers.

[@thedownwardmachine]

I have a little Wesco story for you. In 2012 I was living in SF in a warehouse in SOMA, near the leather daddy district. I had quit my job and was about to ride my motorcycle all the way south to Ushuaia. I needed a pair of boots, so I went to Stompers ("The best damn boot store in the world"), and at this pop and pop boot shop I got talked into getting a pair of Wescos. I ended up with a custom pair of Jobmasters, which came up to just below my knees. When I told the owner of the store about my plans, he offered to sponsor me if I would write blog posts about my trip, which I did. My boots worked really well going all the way south, and they were sexy enough to trick my (now) wife into falling in love with me. Also this is why my resume now says "Intercontinental Adventure Motorcyclist / Boot Model". So yeah I've got a little soft spot in my heart for the Wescos.

[@justinjacobson7555]

I’ve worn out three sets of highliners over the years. Every one has fit me like a glove. Super comfortable for climbing. They are highliners for power poles. If they where for telephone poles they would be called low liners or something else. High liners are what us lineman call lineman that always work on transmission poles aka high line.

[@henrymach]

Cardboard? Selastic? And this price tag? That's a nope

[@jmfarms3555]

I like how wesco has new technology to prevent heel slippage. Who would have thought a nail sticking up would be so useful 😅🤣

[@bateriayvr8988]

🤣🤣🤣

[@MxMattieRose]

I feel like it’s a pretty low bar to clear that my boots shouldn’t stab me. Also, why do machine-made boots take so long to manufacture?

[@deniseforge1102]

Only a few steps are slightly automated, its still a long process and only so many machines and people that have the skill to use them. Some of their machines are original- you can see them at their factory.

[@jbsimmons54]

Weston did say that 66% of their boots are sold overseas. I'm also sure there's a premium surcharge for that (= more profit). They should take care of the national demand first before doing overseas demand IMHO.

[@theorenhobart]

@@jbsimmons54 any company will always go where the money is. capitalism, baby !

[@RobertSpitzer]

My Boss boots lasted 15 years of heavy use before I had them rebuilt. They are coming up on 20 years now.

[@GDCC]

OMG!! Love how you are cutting the very best premium climber/lineman boots. Could you please cut some Arbotec Scafell boots? All the tree guys will greatly appreciate it.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

Their serious heavy-duty work boots are as good as anyone's, or at least they were. I have a pair of early '90s Wesco lineman boots, my cousin (happens to wear exactly my size) wore them for years and gave them to me since he no longer climbs poles. I use them for motorcycle boots. They still feel incredibly solid, I'll probably never wear them out and they've never been rebuilt. Not the most comfortable boot I've ever worn, but they're full-on lineman boots, of course they're not. I think most linemen and firefighters still wear Wescos, they can't be this shoddy very often.

[@andreashauser9483]

I had the problem with the nails piercing the heel of my Jobmaster 100 anniversary edition after breaking them in. I bent the nails with a steel rod and a hammer and now everything is fine. I love these boots!👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@robertlarsen6516]

Weston, you were too kind. Great review, as usual. Breaking in my JK 300s…

[@RandomGuy-qm3mg]

how do you like the JK 300? the review sounded pretty interesting but another review would be good. thanks in advance

[@Brent6434]

@@RandomGuy-qm3mg I bought a pair of 300x's and I love mine. First PNW boot and definitely happy with them because they seem like they'll last for years. Only gripe I have is that I wish I'd gotten the 300's because the 300x's outsole is very hard and I don't spend enough time in dirt. Most of my time with mine has been on floors and concrete and they're a bit hard for that, but that's my fault.

[@RandomGuy-qm3mg]

@@Brent6434 thanks! good to know about the sole!

[@sailcat9]

Interesting video. I have a couple of pair of Nick's boots and I was thinking about getting a pair of either White's or Wesco's but I may write off the Wescos, at least for now. Thanks for the video!

[@steveeab2364]

My Whites are ok. I wish instead I would have got another pair of Nicks, or maybe Frank's or JK. Problem with Whites is they are owned by LaCrosse footwear who is a subsidiary of Japanese company ABC-MART Inc. Basically you are paying for ever increasing overhead and they need to cut more corners to make sure profits are made.

[@Nordic_Sky]

I have Wesco, Nick's and White's. I like Nick's the best. FWIW.

[@Booksandboots]

Wait didn’t this come out already?

[@Booksandboots]

@BLM = KKK tf is your name and comment

[@jimmybone5128]

Always used them as tree climbing boots, the steel shank helps so much with the climbing spikes.

[@Cooper024]

That nail was crazy 😭😭. Wesco is out to get you

[@mitchlol5710]

This looks like a good $400-$500 dollar boot, certainly better than most, but no where near the quality of the other NorthWestern boots.

[@Brent6434]

Yeah for $725 he really went way too light on them. That price is a scam for what you're getting.

[@TheJohn8765]

That nail alone is a very bad sign of cost cutting (QA costs money and is an easy way to lower labour costs). Add in the stitching issues and cardboard (wtf), I wouldn't even pay 400, esp when the lasting is done by machine. Wesco is clearly trading on their rep.

[@sisleymichael]

For the price, I will have to pass. They are taking advantage of a once great reputation. It will eventually catch up to them. When people get screwed, they tend to lose any brand loyalty.

[@russellzauner]

Leather shanks rip out when you have to kickstart your dirt bike in the mud a lot. Steel works well. PNW coast range rider here lol yeah ruined a lot of spare loggin boots and it was always the arch that tore out.

[@bassplayer2011ify]

Only one thing to do now. Do a full teardown of these and the other pnw boots.

[@JB-mw5rg]

He has destroyed many PNW boots look up his videos. No wonder Nicks has long lead times.

[@jacksondoughty]

I’m look forward to my pair arriving. I’ll let you know in 15 months.

[@aradoran]

The protruding nail really locks in your heel for a secure fit…

[@frankrice1253]

Im really hopeing your gonna cut a pair of Frank's patriot model up for High arch March, as I just ordered a pair & will get them around June or July. Would love to see it Weston.

[@fishkluch]

Yeah Franks Patriots seem to be the best bang for the buck by far

[@StolenAlias]

Wesco should be ashamed

[@kristenvincent3622]

Now we need a top list video of all the different styles. Overall Favourites for Logging boots, Barefoot Shoes, Athletic Shoe, Hiking Boot, Work Boot, Dress Shoe, Sandal, Budget Boot… what would you actually wear if you could only pick one per Category??? And What is the most versatile all around footwear. Forget the trends. If you could only own ten footwear items, what would you choose?

[@Doodleman2020]

After the Alden dismantling I was wanting more critical comments. I have to admit it makes me question the reviews.

[@luciegrant1260]

glad you mentioned the leather kink community. that's the only place I've ever seen wescos out in the world, at the leather bar

[@Grumpytortoise]

I have 2 Wesco highliners and 1 Boss boot and for me they are the most comfortable, most durable and well made boots among all my other boots and I have a lot. Sorry to hear about the nail and the cardboard heel stack but I don't think this is representative of their product line as a whole. Hope Wesco sees this and investigates who's responsible.

[@absolutefreedom9437]

Look closer at your boots. If you have a heel stack with natural or brown edges, you'll notice a different color material in the middle, that is the compressed cardboard stuff. Sucks I know.

[@alltimers_dizzies7311]

I’ve worn Wesco boot since 1982, work in the timber industry, always been a very good boot, wore one pair for 15+ years, resoled 5-6 times I think

[@chrisl3209]

You're being way too light on these man, if they were a 25$ boot it'd be fine but for 725$ that's horrible quality, I'd be ridiculously disappointed with that product paying that price

[@lozada1971]

You hurt Wesco feelings. They released a video countering your findings, it didn’t work but they tried. They said he welcomes the input but they turned off the comments section 🙄

[@dunka12]

"we didn't cover horse hide before" ....wait, weren't you a big fan of cordovan?

[@marknava321]

Hey Weston, I was wondering if you could review and dive into the history of the Red Wing Supersole. I’ve been using the same pair for mechanic work the past 3 years and they’re some of the best boots I’ve ever had!

[@spotifyjustin]

I’ve been wanting to see a supersole video for like 3 years now

[@UncleDon226]

Of all the Pacific Northwest boots, Wesco is still my favorite. The Whites and Nick's have crazy high arches and it feels like I'm standing on a roll of quarters. They're good, but they arent for someone with lower arches. The regular Jobmaster boots are fantastic. I'm surprised at how poorly these turned out to be since we know they can make fantastic boots.

[@Jamestreeman]

Spot on

[@jimmylarge1148]

We know the USED to make good boots…..

[@brighammmer]

I ordered a pair of wescos 9 months ago. I was told 11 months wait time. Then 12-14 months. Last week I was told 18-20 months. I cancelled my order, as I wasn't prepared to wait for another year or more. Ordered some Frank's off-the-shelf instead. Sorry, Wesco. Just couldn't hang.

[@TheRealCartman1]

I'd like to see your top picks for some work boots/shoes in the $150-250 range, my work gives me $250 CDN credit towards new boots/shoes and as long as they last the year I'm happy.

[@christinesommerfeld9815]

Thorogood in my opinion is the best and pretty durable. Boilermaker by trade so they get used in extremely harsh conditions. Cold,hot, fire/sparks oily and grit/abrasives. Made in USA and $250ish dollars. Feel broke in right outta the box.

[@rautsai_00pm23]

Hi from Connecticut 🙏 I better go with JK boots. Thanks for your help sharing your efforts..❤️ ❤️

[@leatherblades3908]

I hope you have a one legged homeboy that gets the other boot when you do this! Good stuff very entertaining, been buying and wearing Wesco Highliners for the last 22 years as an Arborist. Think I’m going to try something else next time, I don’t think they’re making them like they used to.

[@rayfriedman6107]

Zero interest in paying for a companies "history" particularly when they haven't shown much loyalty to the history of PNW boot manufacturing methods. Seems to me, considering what your autopsy revealed, it's your pals at Black Bear that got the lion's portion of the over inflated margin built into the price you paid. The other thing that occurs to me is that while you rave about horse hide's merritts, the fact that they're using the roughout side means they can use any and every substandard hide with cosmetic imperfections that normally couldn't be used in the other orientation--meaning they likely can pay less for the hide (they'd certainly be dumb to pay as much). It's obvious WESCO didn't give the boot any special features (arguably less) and considering the wait-times their customers are forced to endure, they're not prioritizing this boot's build over any others (suggesting they're not be paid to prioritize them). By the way, don't feel as though they we're only slow making your boots, they're presently posting this notice on their website: "ALL Custom orders are currently taking over 19 months to manufacture." So--pay too much, wait too long, begs the question: What the hell for?!

[@bleedingteddy]

I have really enjoyed your reviews especially the ones on Pacific NW boots. In that vein I would really like to see you do a video reviewing Dayton boots from BC.

[@floydblandston108]

They used to recommend horsehide for dairy farmers- something about it being more resistant to the acids in manure. Idk though, I wore Red Wings back then...

[@billystpaul8907]

Very poor QC for boots that almost $700 boots. My Whites where tip top. And, they are almost broken in. Your being to nice to Wesco. I was thinking about getting a pair of their Chukka's. But, I am not so sure now. I always like your reviews and your truthfulness....

[@astral_plane_crash]

Dude my Redwings are put together better than these.

[@krustysurfer]

Very kind review all things considered pricing and wait times......"weird stuff" Thanks for the video Rose anvil

[@nyquil762]

Wow bro, say it aint so. I definitely appreciate your work.

[@fredbyerly5094]

Passing off a rerun as a new video

[@ikemontel2465]

I've had a nail through the heel before. Can't wear it anymore when that happens. Still, I had a friend who bought Nick's loggers and he actually wanted to go back to Wessco boots.

[@tnan123]

Nice breakdown. The price is fore sure steep for those issues.

[@laa0fa502]

I'd recommend taking a look at Bonaza boots sometime. They are handmade in Mexico and the stitching on some of their boots is as nice as my whites. For 150 bucks I think they are a great brand.

[@tailzzgermzz6943]

I use to buy bonanza boots back in mid 2000 our so. For 60 bucks they where a great boot

[@laa0fa502]

@@tailzzgermzz6943 had no clue they have been around that long, were they in America at the time?

[@tailzzgermzz6943]

@@laa0fa502 A store called shoe4sale in southern California sold them for like 60 bucks,then started raising the price. For 60 bucks they were a great boot I'd get a year out them

[@laa0fa502]

@@tailzzgermzz6943 for 60 bucks I'd never buy another boot, thanks for the info, always been a bit curious about their history as they just popped up one day a couple months ago in all the stores near me.

[@AallthewaytoZ2]

I'm sure I've seen this video before! Also, great video.

[@tomcondon6169]

My Wescos, (built in the mid-'80s), have a double steel Shank, for comfort, (less discomfort), being 8n your hooks up a pole in those 84 hour weeks, that 36 hour storm-damage shift.