Design 
Quality of Materials 
Craftsmanship 
Fit & Sizing 
Value for Money The Pacific Northwest boot brands have a cult following. White’s, Nicks, JK: they make boots that are more like tanks.
They’re work boots, primarily. But heritage style fans have flocked to these brands because they’re made in the USA and they’re overbuilt. Handmade heirlooms that will stand the test of time.
I picked up White’s Perry Moc Toe, part of their Goodyear welted line, and it’s like it’s from a completely different brand.
Now, I visited White’s workshop in Spokane and saw their Goodyear welt department—they’re dedicated to their craft.
But it’s important to state at the top that the White’s Perry is not the same as other White’s boot you might be drooling over.
Unlike the classic stitchdown construction and PNW overbuild you get with a traditional White’s boot, their Goodyear welt line has more modern materials in the midsole section, uses thinner leathers (which honestly is a good thing), and uses a machine last instead of a hand-lasting technique.
My Moc Toe Comparison
Everything is relative, right? I’m comparing the White’s Perry to eight other moc toe boots.
Some things I’m saying in this review may seem overly harsh, so I’ll start by saying this:
The White’s Perry is a really good boot. And the price is fair. If you get it, I’m willing to bet you’ll be happy.
But as you’ll see throughout my review, I think there are better options in the same price range.
My Hands on Review of the White’s Perry
First Impression
The White’s Perry looks closer to the Danner Bull Run and the Thorogood Moc Toe than it does a Red Wing, Nicks, or Grant Stone.
It’s a bulkier boot, and it has a taller shaft than most other moc toes I compared it to.
From a style perspective, I neither love it or hate it. It’s a pretty basic looking moc toe.
When I compare the Perry against the Red Wing Classic Moc, Red Wing’s boot seems much more carefully calculated and designed. There’s more shape and contour, and overall the pattern is much more interesting to me.
If you’re looking for a work boot, this shouldn’t make any difference at all. But as someone who’s mainly interested in boots for style, I found the Perry a bit boring.
Leather Quality and Care
I picked the standard White’s Perry in Red Dog leather from Seidel. One of the first times I wore this boot, I went fishing and ended up wading through some significant swampy mud.
After a bit of cleaning, the leather looked as good as new. Plus, the whole boot kept my feet dry throughout that.
The leather feels a bit stiff out of the box, but it broke in quickly and was comfortable on the first wear.
Caring for the leather is easy: I just wiped the mud off with water. You can just brush your boots with a horsehair brush once every few weeks. The Red Dog leather isn’t a pull up leather, so you may want to condition it every 4-5 months to keep it supple.
Sole
White’s uses a 360 degree Goodyear storm welt to attach a Vibram Christy wedge sole.
The insole is a thick piece of veg-tanned leather, and they also throw in a comfortable Ortholite insert for added padding. I like the insert—it’s a nice touch and does make the boot more comfortable right away.
The welt did get pretty ragged after it was soaked in water. This shouldn’t pose any long-term issues to the longevity of the boot, but I made sure I gave the welt some extra conditioner after cleaning the boots.
Christy wedge soles are comfortable and offer a lot of shock absorption. They’re the softest of all the wedge soles I’ve tried. This translates to a lot of comfort, but they also wear down relatively quick.
Moc Toe boots in general are easy and cheap to resole, so even though the Christy wears down faster than other wedges, you can always easily get a new one added on.
Fit and Sizing
I ordered a size 10D, which I order for practically all my boots and the fit is fantastic. It’s comfortable and I have plenty of room for my toes to wiggle around.
I like that White’s also offers EE wide sizes as well.
I have the same size for my Nicks, Red Wings, Thursdays, Grant Stones, Danner, and Thorogoods.
Break-in Period
There was no uncomfortable break in period for these boots.
Of course, with the leather insole and the leather upper, there is some breaking in that happens, and the boots should get more comfortable after 10 wears or so.
But you can plan on wearing them for a full day’s work the first time you put them on.
White’s Perry Alternatives
Red Wing Classic Moc
I think the Red Wing Classic Moc is a better value overall. And mainly because the S.B. Foot tanning leather is both more interesting, supple, and dynamic.
From a construction standpoint, they’re both Goodyear welted boots with a wedge sole. The White’s Perry does have a composite shank, and the Red Wing Classic Moc doesn’t have a shank at all.
But in my experience, a shank in a wedge sole doesn’t make a difference anyway since that wedge is in full contact with the ground and there’s no flex at the heel.
For roughly the same price (Red Wing’s are a bit less expensive), you get a more interesting shape and design, plus superior leather.
The Red Wing Classic Moc Toe boot has quite a large toe box, which can be off-putting for some, though it’s an ideal match for American Heritage workwear aesthetic. The Puritan Triple stitching, 360-degree Goodyear welt, and thick full grain leather footbed all make for a beast of a boot that will easily last years.
Grant Stone Brass
The Grant Stone Brass is my favorite moc toe. It’s a bit pricier, but the construction is next level and the leather choices you have are phenomenal.
I also prefer the lug sole and heel look over the wedge, so the Brass checks that box for me.
The Brass is also more versatile in that you can wear it on more dressy occasions. Or if you want to just beat it up, you can do that, too.
The Grant Stone Brass boot is a total beast. The construction and stitching is meticulous and the build quality is the best I’ve experienced. While I personally prefer a slightly slimmer style, there’s no denying that the Grant Stone Brass Boot is one of the best value-offers in boots today.
My Thoughts Overall on the White’s Perry
What I Like
It’s very comfortable and I like the Ortholite insert that comes with the boot.
It feels very sturdy and solid on foot and holds up to tough conditions.
Excellent water resistance. I walked through a lot of mud in these and my feet stayed dry.
What I Don’t Like
Everything is solid and decent and good. Nothing about this boot is special or stands out as exceptional.
Who is the White’s Perry for?
The White’s Perry is a good boot if you don’t like the leather colors available from the Red Wing Classic Moc.
The Verdict
I like White’s a lot as a company. But to me, the Perry seems like it’s from a totally different brand.
It’s a good boot. It’s everything I expected. There were no flaws in its construction. The materials are solid.
But there’s nothing exceptional about it at all.
When I compare it to my Red Wing Classic Moc, I’m much more impressed with the pattern and the leather quality on the Red Wing.
So it’s not so much that I don’t like the White’s Perry. It’s just that if I could only get one moc toe under $350, I’d pick Red Wing.
But if you have a bit more budget and can stretch to $400, then the Grant Stone Brass is a more versatile, stylish option.
FAQs
Is White’s boots owned by Danner?
White’s was bought by LaCrosse Footwear (the owner of Danner) in 2014. Both companies are owned under the parent company, ABC Mart from Japan.
These boots are totally overrated IMO. I’d much rather have a Redwing or Thorogood any day.
I agree with you on Red Wing – don’t know about Thorogood though with the plastic welt. Thorogoods are cool (and $100 cheaper, which isn’t a small thing), but I do think the White’s Perry outclasses the Thorogood. But price wise, they’re right there with Red Wing and I think Red Wing leathers are just so much cooler.