Here is the worst thing about every pacific northwest (PNW) boot brand: Whites, Wesco, Nicks, JK, Franks, and Drews boots. Each offer similar products, but no company is perfect and I scoured Facebook, Reddit, and other online sources to see what people disliked most about each PNW boot brand.
Let’s get into it
The Pacific Northwest region of the United States is home to abundant natural beauty, rainy weather, and some of the best work boots ever made by human hands. With six current boot companies (not including Viberg or Hoffman) claiming the PNW as their home, this are is a hotbed for boot makers. Unsurprisingly, many of the companies can trace their history back to the oldest of the group: Whites Boots. Whites has spawned Nicks Boots, Nicks Boots spawned Franks and JK Boots, and the cycle will likely continue as boot makers strike out on their own.
And as good as these PNW boots are, issues remain which might be the dealbreaker for you. Costs, wait times, and overwhelming product offerings can deter even the most enthusiastic customer. So here are the worst things about each of these Pacific Northwest boot companies to help you choose the best match for your needs.
Whites Boots: Price
The oldest PNW brand of them all is Whites Boots, getting their start in 1853. We have a lot to thank Whites Boots for, and some of their boot models are (arguably) the best of their segment. Unfortunately, since their sale to parent company Lacrosse Footwear (who also own Danner boots), the prices of Whites boots have ballooned to several hundred dollars over their competitors in some cases. Consider $810 for their Lineman, $699 for their Roughneck, or $670 for their Farmer Rancher boots. Similar boots from Nicks or Wesco are far less expensive with very similar build quality and materials. Is the new Lacrosse Footwear ownership by Tokyo-based ABC Mart the cause? Or is it simply a sign of the times?
Wesco Boots: Wait Time
Wesco is unique among the PNW brands, being an old brand (1918) and located in Scapoose Washington. Perhaps this last fact is behind their big problem: wait times. Wesco Boots currently have a 17-month wait time for custom orders. My pair of Mister Lou Engineer boots just passed their first birthday from order in July of 2022. Wesco does some boot models better than anyone else, like the aforementioned Mister Lou, their Boss Boot, and of course the Wesco Jobmaster.
It might be the case that being located so far outside of Spokane, they have a difficult time finding and retaining workers. This is purely speculation, and I sincerely hope they find ways to increase productivity while keeping their standards as high as they are. Wesco is a fantastic brand, and still worth the wait in my humble opinion.
Nicks Boots: Overwhelming Options
In a world of “more is more” Nicks Boots have expanded their product catalog to a staggering degree. Pages and pages of boot models, special leathers, Quick Ship, limited edition, and custom variations can lead to customer paralysis by analysis. Often what appears on Nicks website is a result of accommodating too many requests, resulting in a confusing and bloated catalog with no clear direction. This is a fairly recent issue, and I remember far fewer options when I ordered my first Builder Pro boots in 2017.
Hopefully Nicks can reign-in their boot models, styles, and customizations into a more concise package which doesn’t intimidate and overwhelm potential customers.
JK Boots: Sizing
JK Boots have become extremely aggressive with their marketing lately, taking a page from the Nicks 2020 playbook which led to increased market share via social media and influencer marketing. JK Boots have done all they can to differentiate themselves from the pack with unique models and materials, but their take on sizing can be confusing. While boot lasts, like the classic 55 last are shared (and sometimes modified) between companies, it offers a good point of reference in terms of sizing. Almost any brand will tell you to order your “typical PNW size” which is largely the same across brands. JK takes a different approach, ignoring the standard MOP and offering their own, somewhat confusing measurement guide. When using this guide I ended up with a boot that was easily ½+ size too large. Clearly I should have just ordered my typical PNW size all along.
Franks Boots: No NFPA Option
The youngest of the PNW family is Franks Boots, former owner of Nicks Boots, Frank knows his stuff. Which is why the most common complaint is surprising: no NFPA certification (as of Sept. 2023). Though their boots are obviously made to the same specifications as the Whites Smokejumper or Nicks Hotshot, the Franks Fire Commander doesn’t carry the NFPA certification. For some of us this won’t mean a thing (I work in construction, not firefighting) but could be the deciding factor for others.
Drew’s Boots: Made in Mexico
Drews caused quite a stir when they released their Drews Logger Boot last year, a PNW build quality boot sourced from Leon Mexico for $350. This made some customers very happy since the minimum price for a PNW boot was high $400’s or low $500’s. It infuriated others however since Drews took an American style boot and outsourced it to another country. The patriotic bunch took offense to the Mexican boots and made their objections known on social media. I suspect that a larger portion simply bought their Drew’s Loggers and enjoyed them quietly, ignoring the outrage from the internet.
It’s no secret that people looking for high quality work boots have more options than ever before. Regardless of the above issues, I encourage you to check out these brands for yourself since each has something unique to offer.
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