Wesco Mister Lou - The Original Engineer Boot - Review
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
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This is my review of the Wesco Mister Lou. Wesco is one of the companies who originally built the engineer style boot in the early part of the 1900s, along with Chippewa. After having tried 4 different Wesco engineers, my conclusion is that this is a very solid purchase, but it does not feet my particular feet well.
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10D/E (1/2 down from Brannock)
MP1339 last
Horween CXL - brown
Dr Sole Super Grip 1/2 sole
Quabag heel cap
Double row stitchdown construction
Triple row upper stitching
Brass roller buckles
Every engineer boot has heel slip. Engineer boots aren’t meant to fit like a lace up. They are supposed to move with your feet, like big slippers. The aren’t supposed to be so loose your feet are sloshing around but they will never be tight to your feet like a lace up because then you’d never get them off.
Some heel slip is normal, yes 👍🏽 Good point; they do fit differently than lace boots. But having a heel cup which doesn’t cup at all to the point where you have a floating heel is a less than ideal design. I’m comparing this to the 20+ cowboy boots I’ve owned and the 10+ engineer boots I’ve owned, some of which are custom/made-to-measure. Of all of them, this one has the most poorly designed heel cup IMHO. A well fit pull-on boot anchors your instep and loosely cups the back upper portion of your heel 👍🏽
Love David's videos and love the insight he provides across brands.
Wanted to add my experience with Wesco Engineers. I have 2 pairs of Mister Lous and 1 pair of 7500s. Probably over 1000 miles on each pair. All D width. I am one of those people who does not think you should get an E. The D fits as I would expect.
I have a fairly high instep and my pairs fit really well. I don't use the strap at all. I keep it at the middle hole and it doesn't really do anything to hold my foot. All that work is done by the vamp.
My experience compared to David's is a great example of how important it is to find the right brand and last for a pull on boot for your feet.
For my feet, Wescos work really well.
Love the videos, David. Keep them coming!
Glad they fit you well! And I appreciate you dropping your perspective and experience here; it helps people, gives alternate viewpoints, and keeps the conversation maximally educational and helpful. 🙌🏽
I have a pair of these on order, I can’t wait to get them since it’s my first pair of engineer boots. Thanks for the quality content as always.
Enjoy those boots!
My Wesco Boots are awesome. I love the look and fit amazing. Also love the way they smell.
I 100% agree to your thoughts on the big toes and heel cups. I'm experiencing that problem with my mister lou as well. The big toes pushing is really annoying and feel really weird when walking
Great boot videos. Thx! Same experience for me with Wesco Mr Lou fit ... UNTIL I used a 3/4 insole. Specifically for me, the Superfeet Easyfit was a game changer to tighten up the instep...much better and more so than the Pedag insole that is sometimes suggested for boots. I like a really locked-in heel cup also, but in this case, it also actually helps a little that the heel is not so well formed so that the insole raise on the heel isn't adversely affected by the heel cup digging in - if that makes sense. The insole also pulled my toe back slightly. I've heard taking out the leather insole could buy a little room for the toes until the outer leather stretches, as well. Anyways, really appreciate your breakdowns on boots!
I have perforated an extra hole in the strap that helps the heel slip. At the same time I have removed the leather insole from day one till the foodbed breaks in which is still going after half a year. After one year I plan to put the leather insole back in.
Wesco needs to bring down that lead time for them to be worth it.
Fair point. Availability is one huge aspect of value which people overlook frequently. Thanks for the comment!
Lot of different factors. They have an elevated profile compared to some of the competitors ( American) not to mention they were one of the original engineer makers( Chippewa might be the first)
Great video Dave! The Mister Lou’s are a bit unfortunate as they seem to have a decent amount of strange quirks. They’ve always been a no go for me because my feet are too wide but I’ve always enjoyed their look. Maybe one day they’ll do an updated last. That would be awesome
Hey man! Good to hear from you! And yeah, a different last would be GREAT
Your videos have been super helpful in helping me decide which engineers to go with. I’m definitely trying to find a pair that cups my somewhat narrow heel slightly and does not taper too much near the big toe. Thank you for keeping foot health in mind when sharing your experiences.
Glad the reviews help! I would suggest Bristleblack (formerly Benzein) in Indonesia. You can access them best through DM on Instagram. Adi is the owner. You will need your Brannock device measurement and some additional foot dimensions they will ask you for. That engineer on the Kapak last checks all the foot health boxes in my book, better than the American brands. Decent heel cup, doesn’t push the big toes in. Kapak is a wonderful last IMHO. Otherwise, you would have to pay much more for Role Club or Clinch. There’s other brands like Zerrows, Keystone, Motor, but they’re so hard to get and ascertain sizing for. Risky investment.
@@thevintagefuture6567 Super generous of you to take the time to share these recommendations. I’ve had my eye on the Motors and now that you’ve put me on to the Briselblack Kapak last, they look wonderful as well.
@@sons.moon.leather No problem! And it’s weird, cuz these fit things don’t necessarily get better as you go up in price. Like, Clinch is great; I’m a big fan; but they don’t have much of a heel cup either. That’s not objectively a bad thing, but I do prefer the heel to cup a bit.
@@thevintagefuture6567 I actually just got my foot measured with a Brannock today and I’m an 11E as it turns out. This is a revelation since I’ve been sizing down to account for heel slip but probably damaging my toes and ball in the process.
@@sons.moon.leather nice! That’s good! Do you have your Brannock arch length? Or just the overall length?
I have these in natural cxl and love them, but…. Yes, I experienced heel slippage too. Some quality insoles have helped, but not enough to buy a pair in black. I’ll keep these, but probably going Indonesian for my next pair of engineers.
Still waiting on my made to measure pair. Maybe by May they tell me. I didn’t feel like I could get a decent fit with the stock versions either. We’ll see what the semi-custom is like.
Love my Mr. Lou’s and I have a pair of Ship John Derrol boots on the way in a couple months. I don’t mind the fit, custom would be better but more money and longer waits.
Nice! Yeah, if they fit, rock ‘em!
a funny coincidence that CJ Cook came out with a video on the Mr. Lou's about the same time. he said they were the best engineer boots. I have them in black Horween horsehide, i am pretty low maintenance when it comes to sizing but i will say these are a little snug, so i cant fit an insole or wear thick socks. they have a much sleeker profile then my other engineers. the wait time is astronomical for all the boot companies in this neighborhood. and there doesn't seem to be a viable solution to shorten them.
I’ve heard you need to size up or get brannock size to make these fit right. Odd they suggest 1/2 down from brannock.
I love the look of them. This series is perfect to show difference between engineer, from good to high end. I kind of love the way clicking is done. It really suits the character of what it is. Maybe im weird that i like that
No, I think you’re right about clicking. The course construction fits the aesthetic so nicely. 🙌🏽 I just wish they had fit.
@@thevintagefuture6567 yep the fit is moest important, before detail and what they are, unfortunately the hardest part to nail
My two cons with Mr.Lou, Hells slip and the uneven stiching (seems had been done by a hangover employe the next morning). Not acceptable at that price range. But I prefer the squarish toe of Mr.Lou over other brands.
I have both Role Club and Wesco. They are 100% different. My main problem with my custom fit Wesco's is a ton of heel lift when I walk. They seem too loose across the instep and so my heel goes up & down way too much. The styling is of course completely different. The other huge difference is weight. The Wesco's are TANKS compared with Role Club. They really aren't even in the same universe.
Wow you have flame pandas too. Super interesting
I’ll review the Flame Pandas soon. But on that review I want to make it a real nice video, cuz they deserve that. Nicest boots I’ve ever owned, hands down, in virtually every aspect including fit. Better than Clinch and Role Club. Phenomenal. I actually pulled out my SLR camera for them; they’re the only boots I’ve ever done that for.
@@thevintagefuture6567 wow that sounds exiding! Im looking foword to that
i have the same problem with the heel cup/slip in this model.
I have sized these in TTS (both width and length) and I fortunately don't experience the pushing against my toes, I have to 100% agree about the heel cups (or lack thereof) - the most annoying thing about their fit to me - granted, It gets better with time, but still.
Thanks for the info on your experience! Totally helps. I think these prob fit someone absolutely perfectly since all feet are different….but definitely not my feet 😂
Pull ons in general not having a more formed heel cup is a huge area that most book makers SHOULD improve. Its my definite main gripe with any work pull on. Its also the main gripe i hear from anyone that chooses lace-up vs. Pull-up.
Red Wings are the worst ive tried. The stiffer the sole, the more heel shaping a boot needs. Relying solely on instep fit to stop heel lift is a flawed design, imo.
I agree about the heel cup. I'm going to be moving on from my Mister Lous specifically because the heel cup feels too small and shapeless. It kind of feels like the heel only goes up to about halfway to 3/4 of the entire height of my heel and because of this, I cannot walk miles in those boots or else my heels will start to hurt. My Lofgren engineers are very comfortable mostly because the heel has a defined shape to it and enough volume. It sucks because I love the Maryam horsebutt leather, but I think the benzeine engineers will likely be a great substitute for that.
Yes! The heel cup of my Lofgrens and Benzeins were superior to the shapeless, formless Wesco heel. Nothing to suck the heel in. Enjoy the other boots! They sound great. Fit is king 👑
@@thevintagefuture6567 I heard that the reason some people find the heel cup in the Wescos uncomfortable is because the heel counter is made of thermoplastic instead of a thick piece of veg tan because a lot of the boot making process is automated and they can't use a thick counter with those machines. I'm not sure if this is actually true, but if it is then either your heel is going to fit into it or not. Some people have the exact opposite issue with the Lofgrens where the celastic toe is just very unforgiving if the toe doesn't already fit your foot.
I have owned quite a few engineer boots from entry up to 2K ones and like the Mr Lou the best. Now have several pairs of them in different leathers/colors. To me, they look more like southern gentleman boots than biker boots if that makes sense. Have a few pairs of Japanese made engineers that cost more but just not as good looking in my opinion. Nicks makes a good one as well. Have a couple pairs of the Whites but they have that biker look.
Awesome that the Wesco really worked out for you! They really do have an incredible look. For me, the best engineer I’ve tried so far was the Benzein. I ordered one in a more casual leather, so hopefully when that arrives it stays in the rotation. For now, I’m wearing Clinch for the most part. They’re not ideal as far as fit, but they work.
@@thevintagefuture6567 Had a custom pair made a few years ago in shell. They were not great and were coming apart just after a few wears. Little known US maker…..🫤 currently have Wesco Mr Lou, pair of Nicks, few pair of Whites, Lofgren in shinki, and another couple pairs from Japan. Cannot get my feet into the regular leather Lofgren ones…..
That’s a bummer! And yeah….I’ve always thought Lofgrens look funny, plus my skinny feet swim in them big time haha
Sounds like you should try a longer narrower last in this style of boot maybe?
The bigger issue was the shape, honestly. But yes, longer and narrower lasts do work better for me 👍🏽
@@thevintagefuture6567 thanks I’m always struggling with strategies for a better fit and my comment really should have been phrased as a question.
@@SaltShack haha no worries!
Hi, do you have any video that tells how and where do you sell your boots? Tnx
I don’t. I usually sell on the Stitchdown Discord. If that doesn’t work, I list on my IG stories or Grailed.
@The Vintage Future thanks Dave. 👊
No problem! 🙌🏽
Nothing to say man with these beautiful boots, but of course, they seem just a clear step of improvement vs Red Wing but nothing more. I think 750/780 bucks for these brown Chromexcel leather Wescos are going to be too much.
That said, for us in Europe it's even worse...with fees charges and custom duties... to have a pair of these beauties you need to put down a lot of money!
Oof, EU prices hurt to even think about 🥴 But yeah, I agree these are real solid, but getting to be too expensive.
Interesting feedback about the toe shape. I’m guessing 2030 and Barrie don’t really work for you either?
Barrie works, as it does not curve in much right there, comparatively. The 2030 does not work for me.
HI! I'm Matteo from Milan Italy. Gorgeous Mr Lou boots. I want to order a pair too but I'm extremely undecided about the size. Some say (including the factory) to cut half a size off, others don't on the Mr Lous due to the "MP" toe. My measurements are 10US (27.4cm) and foot circumference at the ball 11 inches, so wide. In Nicks boots I'm a 9.5F. What do you think about Wesco Mr. Lou? In all Red Wing moc toes I wear a size 10 and in all my boots I wear a 28.5 cm leather insole that fits perfectly. help!!! Thanks for the advices. Matteo
Ciao Matteo se ti può essere di aiuto, io ho preso i Mister Lou 10.5E e normalmente indosso Redwing Iron ranger 10.5D Redwing Blacksmith 10.5D
White's boots 10D
Viberg
Il mio piede misura 28cm. Considera che calzano stretti e tutti suggeriscono di passare alla E. Considera anche che con questi dovrai indossare calze un po' più spesse, i primi tempi saranno dolori 😁
@@maurvigi2047 Grazie per i consigli. La stessa cosa vale anche per i Wesco Jobmaster, che tu sappia? Cioè non vale la regola della mezza taglia in meno?
No I jobmaster se sei D devi prendere D. I Mr.Lou sono un evoluzione dei boss, sono più stretti sia sulla pianta del piede sia sul gambale o "shaft" come dicono loro.
Purtroppo attualmente ci sono tempi di attesa incredibili, siamo sui 12-13 mesi purtroppo. Io li ho presi da Standard&strange (per un colpo di fortuna, avevo letto del restock e praticamente controllavo ogni ora🙂).
@@maurvigi2047 Grazie!!! Ma parli italiano o Google translate? Io l’ho usato per scriverti in inglese!!! Ahahahhahah! Si mi hanno risposto quelli di Wesco, tempi di attesa lunghissimi. Cercherò altrove dei Mr Lou o dei Boss 1339 MP toe. Quindi per gli stivali stringati tipo Jobmaster vale la regola che usano in Nicks, cioè mezza taglia più piccoli rispetto al Brannock? Io sono un US 10 (27,4 centimetri di lunghezza; e circonferenza del piede in larghezza 27 centimetri). Credo Wesco con stringhe 9,5 E o EE? Comunque non 10 corretto?
hi did sell your mr. lou’s yet
Yes sir I did 👍🏽
What an unfair comparison FP with Wesco! 😂😭
😂
Have you sold these yet?
Yes 👍🏽
@@thevintagefuture6567 darn, was worth a shot.
Funny how two Mister Lou videos come out at the same time and one is amazing and offers in depth information (this one) and one offers no information whatsoever...