How Old Are These Wescos?
- Thread starter slowp
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
joesawer
Addicted to ArboristSite
If it's not considered rude...or even if it is...may I ask what a pair of Kuliens cost now. I mean regular sizes, not the miniature ones.
lol........ That is funny. Now play nice Bob.
Bout the same as a hardly used, 17 foot plastic kayak. Not quite as much as a Pygmy full kit. And, yes, Kuliens are the ones that turn my feet into Smurf feet. Have your fun, then I'll whine and post an "I'm So Depressed That I'll Not Take Part, Or Whatever At This Site Ever Again." Not really.
Just call me Imelda.
Not really.Just call me Imelda.
Last edited:
Bout the same as a hardly used, 17 foot plastic kayak. Not quite as much as a Pygmy full kit. And, yes, Kuliens are the ones that turn my feet into Smurf feet. Have your fun, then I'll whine and post an "I'm So Depressed That I'll Not Take Part, Or Whatever At This Site Ever Again."
Just call me Imelda.
Okay, I get the picture. In other words, if I have to choose between a new kayak next spring or a pair of Kulien boots I'd probably better get my Wescos rebuilt. Again. And you can't bail out of here. You're our favorite Fed.
Humptulips
ArboristSite Guru
If it's not considered rude...or even if it is
On the price of Kuliens, they are custom made and you get charged for everything you want different or extra. The result is you can spend just about any amount you want but the cheapest plain janes are still going to be expensive.
My last pair was about 5 years ago. 12 inch tops, stitch down uppers, drive caulks and dented soles (that's where they take an impression of the bottom of your foot and and pound out the sole to match). No extra charge for padded false tongue, cushion insoles and your choice of 4 lengths of caulks. Total price was $950. Since then they made me a pair of cheaper vibram sole shop shoes with 8" tops, no extras for $700.
When I went in to pick them up there was a pair of caulks waiting to be picked up with a price tag of $1800. What made them so high priced was they were made with kip leather and 18" tops.
If you want to get fancy it was $35 extra for two tone caulk shoes.
I hear a lot of you talking about getting shoes rebuilt. This has never been in the cards for me or any riggin men I worked with. I used to love Hi lines and after they stopped making them I tried a lot of other brands and could never get more then 8 months out of them and they would be completely shot with patches and toe caps. Kuliens would last me a year maybe a bit longer with judicious repair work.
Of course now that I'm older and slower and don't wear the caulks everyday or even most days they last a long time.
Last edited:
You must also realize, I can't find good boots on the shelves of most places.
On the day I ordered the Kuliens, my feet and legs were feeling pretty trashed. My left Wesco, has bulged out and that foot now turns when I'm on steep ground. The leather is about shot. I'm tired of ordering the expensive spikes that only Wescos use. I drive with them on and walk on roads with them -- the spikes have a short life. The Wescos were custom made or at least I was measured for them. I had intended to try some Viburgs, but the smallest size in Madsen's along with the other good brands was 7 1/2 or 8. The world is not fair!
So I'm already in the $400 range just because of foot size. Funny, I can find rubber calks in my size at the "other" saw shop, but they don't carry the good brands of leather boots. I'm a little worried, I've been wearing a spring heel and will be going back to a heel heel. Stay tuned...
On the day I ordered the Kuliens, my feet and legs were feeling pretty trashed. My left Wesco, has bulged out and that foot now turns when I'm on steep ground. The leather is about shot. I'm tired of ordering the expensive spikes that only Wescos use. I drive with them on and walk on roads with them -- the spikes have a short life. The Wescos were custom made or at least I was measured for them. I had intended to try some Viburgs, but the smallest size in Madsen's along with the other good brands was 7 1/2 or 8. The world is not fair!
So I'm already in the $400 range just because of foot size. Funny, I can find rubber calks in my size at the "other" saw shop, but they don't carry the good brands of leather boots. I'm a little worried, I've been wearing a spring heel and will be going back to a heel heel. Stay tuned...
Last edited:
I took my Wescos to our only remaining shoe repair shop that has experience with logging boots. They laughed. They rebuilt them last time and told me then that there wouldn't be another but I thought I'd try anyway. They'll last for awhile but they're sure hammered.
A friend of mine has Vibergs and he's been happy with them. When I come up for the GTG I'll take an extra day and stop at Madsen's. I may not go into the store, though. I'd be a lot better off if I just threw the money through the door and they threw me back a pair of boots. Going into Madsen's would seriously test my self control. Too many goodies in there. :hmm3grin2orange:
A friend of mine has Vibergs and he's been happy with them. When I come up for the GTG I'll take an extra day and stop at Madsen's. I may not go into the store, though. I'd be a lot better off if I just threw the money through the door and they threw me back a pair of boots. Going into Madsen's would seriously test my self control. Too many goodies in there. :hmm3grin2orange:
Maybe Madsens would sponser a get together in their parking lot:hmm3grin2orange:
Wife and I are running down there next week for a few "accessories" wink wink
:hmm3grin2orange: Accessories? I remember the last time you got accessories...you came home with a new460! I tried that here..."Hey, I'm gonna run down to the saw shop and pick up a few accessories, some files, five gallons of bar oil, air filters, sparkplugs, a new 660, and some bar nuts". Didn't work at Bob's house. Not even close. The wife was able to quote, from memory, the exact date I bought my last new 660 and she knows I only get about one a year.
I buy socks and the cheap wedges there. They don't have pastel hickory shirts. Should you go to Chehalis, there are also clothing accessories to be had, and a huge selection, just down the South one way road in a store called Sunbirds. Then there's the other saw shop where I got Twinkle and the Barbie Saw and need to go back and get some chains and stuff for Twinkle. Maybe bigger dogs. I would lead a covert tour to there if the GTG was in the Madsen's lot. We could store hop.
then onwards to the ####'s oops, rhymes with Picks but put a D there, brewery.
then onwards to the ####'s oops, rhymes with Picks but put a D there, brewery.
I buy socks and the cheap wedges there. They don't have pastel hickory shirts. Should you go to Chehalis, there are also clothing accessories to be had, and a huge selection, just down the South one way road in a store called Sunbirds. Then there's the other saw shop where I got Twinkle and the Barbie Saw and need to go back and get some chains and stuff for Twinkle. Maybe bigger dogs. I would lead a covert tour to there if the GTG was in the Madsen's lot. We could store hop.
Maybe Ill go to sunbirds been past there I think other saw shop over near I5east side been there if its the one I think it is.
joesawer
Addicted to ArboristSite
I don't know if you like White's caulks, in case you do, I Just bought a pair of the Madsens store brand caulks. They look just like White's Hathorn corks. In fact they had a tag on them thanking me for buying authentic White's Hathorn boots. But they did come with some very thin and fragil laces.
That's a thought. What kind of heel do they have? There's time between now and spring when I have to buy. See how you like them by then and let me know? Thanks a lot.
That's a thought. What kind of heel do they have? There's time between now and spring when I have to buy. See how you like them by then and let me know? Thanks a lot.
Unless they have changed, plan on getting soaked feet, if you ever work in the rain. I used to wear Whites vibrams when I marked timber on the Eastside. They were extremely comfy, but the saying was, if they looked at water they got squishy wet. We tried every boot grease there was and nothing worked. Squish squish and unhappy feet. I don't see guys who are working here wearing them. Only the transplants from the eastside and the Montanians.
But maybe it never rains in middle California. Now I'll have that stupid song stuck in my head!
Last edited:
Hmmmm...also something to think about. I have that job coming up where we have to have at least 18" of snow before we can work and I like dry feet. I thought about the Viking rubber caulks but wouldn't really have enough use for them to justify the cost.
Jeeeez...I'm starting to sound like one of those "which saw should I buy" people.
And, yes, it does rain here. It's just that we haven't had enough of it for a while. Enjoy the song
Or, in your part of the country..."Who'll Stop the Rain" by CCR
Humptulips
ArboristSite Guru
If you are going to have to work in the snow you might like Hoffman pacs. I like mine in the snow but they are way to hot any other time. The snow doesn't stick to the soles similar to rubber boots. Very important consideration I think.
The perfect boot for winter, would be rubber, with retractable calks so I wouldn't have to change when putting on snowshoes. Or maybe snowshoes that could be worn with calks?
Bushler
ArboristSite Operative
I have worn a lot of caulks and really like the Danner rubber/synthetics the best of any. Lightly insultated, dry, warm, and above all, light.
Retractable caulks would be good idea, also 'swivel' caulks would be cool. (I'd like to be able to turn around on a log without lifting my feet....)
Retractable caulks would be good idea, also 'swivel' caulks would be cool. (I'd like to be able to turn around on a log without lifting my feet....)
hammerlogging
Addicted to ArboristSite
You mean like dancin caulks?
