Boot Building Specs: Heel - [Reddit Wiki]

Boot heels are made up of pieces of leather nailed atop one another with the sole on the bottom to form the heelstack. See the last section for heelstack height compatibility. 

Moderate

• A standard height offering comprised of 3-4 leather pieces stacked in the heel.
• 3/8” – ½” leather stack, plus the sole.
• Standard on HNW and ThurmanNW lasts.
• While a classic, high arch last can sometimes take a moderate heelstack, the classic is recommended because of boot balance.

Classic

• A standard height offering comprised of 4-5 leather pieces stacked in the heel.
• 5/8” – 3/4” leather stack, plus the sole.
• Most common, and default option, on boots using a classic arch profile last: 55, 11067, Thurman55 last.
• Not compatible with the HNW, ThurmanNW, 5332, or 5812 lasts.

Packer

• A specialty height comprised of 6 leather pieces stacked in the heel.
• 1” leather stack, plus the sole.
• Only available on the 55, 5332, and 5812 Western lasts.

Single Lift

• A specialty height comprised of only one piece of leather in the heel.
• Roughly 1/8” life, plus the sole.
• The shortened heelstack is designed for additional walking comfort and to create a lighter weight boot.
• Currently only offered on the Maxwell boot.
• Has size restrictions due to boot becoming imbalanced when a Single Lift is put on a larger sized boot.

None

• A specialty height with no additional heelstack layers.
• Currently only offered on the Strider zero drop boot.

The heel profile is the shape of the heelstack. It is sanded to this shape once the heelstack has been attached to the boot. The profile is primarily an aesthetic preference; however, it can change the way the boot walks a bit. ie) a block heel sits back a bit further than a dogger heel

Block

• Straight 90° angle on the back of heel. 
• Has a slight curve on the front of the heelstack under the arch of the foot.
• The heelcap is larger and set further back than on the logger and dogger profiles.
• Only available on boots with a moderate heelstack height.

Dogger

• Slight slant of a Cuban heel profile, but less of a slant than a Western style Packer profile. 
• Has a slight curve on the front of the heelstack under the arch of the foot.
• The heelcap is smaller and set further forward than on block profile.
• Available on classic or moderate heelstack heights.
• A classic heelstack height shows the slant of a Dogger profile more than a moderate heelstack height.

Logger

• A concave, curved, Woodsman heel profile. 
• Has a slight curve on the front of the heelstack under the arch of the foot.
• The heelcap is smaller and set further forward than on block profile.
• The front of the of the heel allows wearer to anchor into the ground on slopes. 
• Easy to lock in climbing spikes, lineman gaffs, and stirrups.
• Available on classic and moderate heelstack heights.
• A classic heelstack height shows the slant of a Dogger profile more than a moderate heelstack height.

Packer

• A more extreme straight slant than the dogger profile that tapers to the sole. The classic cowboy boot heel.
• Has a slight curve on the front of the heelstack under the arch of the foot? Looks straight.
• Designed to slide into, and stay in, stirrups for riding.
• Only available on Western boots: Palouse and lace-up packer.
• This is on a taller heelstack made up of six leather pieces. 

Lineman

• The slant of a dogger profile sanded into the back of the boot. 
• The front of the heelstack under the arch of the foot is breasted flat into a 90° angle.
• Currently standard on the Lineman and Becca boots.

Spring

• A logger profile sanded into the back of the boot. 
• The front of the heelstack is curved under the foots arch allowing for caulks at 45° angles providing additional security while working.
• Only available on the Woodsman boot.

Wedge

• Not a heelstack, but one continuous sole across the bottom of the boot. 
• Always sanded to the same profile as a block heel on the back.
• Available on HNW and ThurmanNW lasts only.
• Only profile that can have 365 Stitchdown.

Read Also: What Is The Best Work Boot? Top Picks For Comfort And Safety

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