when you think about it, bison leather being comfortable makes sense. In my entire life I have never heard a bison complaining about being uncomfortable. This may be because of the leather!
I bought these exact boots (OT BISON Smooth/Roughout) 2 months ago. Zero break in. My most comfortable boots by far. Arch support is reeeediculus. Honey vibram sole is more forgiving as well. Will confirm all that was said. No regrets. Fun to get confirmation! Great job as always.
@@AirborneBuck Yes. I’m a 14EE IN Keen sneakers. Went down to 13 wide. Perfect. Also wear 13F in Nicks, 13E in Grant Stone and 13EE IN Whites. This bison is my fav!
I can say the same for the two Super Duty’s I have. Wow bison and honey Vibram must be even more comfortable. That will be my next purchase. JK is amazing! I still do not understand how such a well made boot like these tanks have no break in?
@@Bearded360 You really need to feel that bison leather -it is so soft. I think the design of the sole also makes it bend from the get go. The uppers are butter. And like all, JK boots, they cradle on your foot almost immediately. Sizing right is key though, like all boots.
Started working in construction in 1973 and broke in many pairs of Red Wings over the years. I just ordered OT BISON Smooth. At 68 this may be my last pair of work boots
So basically they discovered how to cut their cost and still produce a quality boot that costs the same. At least they've kept their quality and standards, and I'd still buy them
Back when I bought my Forefronts the ot and forefronts were slightly less expensive then the super duty. And it’s literally just 4.5 inches less midsole that’s it
You arent really paying for materials. Lets be clear it still takes 40 Odd Man hours to produce a PNW Boot. Ok you can do what Wesco Did and add some automation. But that only takes down maybe 10 hours. At the end of the day for something that is handmade, you are paying for expertise. There is a reason we dont have mass produced boots like these. And would be rather pay Americans or somewhere else? And we are paying a premium to keep boot making in america since it doesnt exist.
Would be really interested in seeing a review of the Drew's logger boots compared with its more expensive competitors, the Nick's and JK boots. They seem to be a great much cheaper alternative.
One test to add to your lineup should be a flex point like a ladder rung (say with 250 lbs of pressure) to show how much the boot does or doesn't flex at that point. I'm a 265 lb man who climbs all day and I haven't found leather to give me the confidence I have in carbon or steel yet. But I'm always searching. I wear Salewa and scarpa light mountaineering boots for reference. Super rigid midsole and essentially a full length shank.
For direct lineman work. This is where the Superduty comes in. Along with even adding a podiatrist custom insert to protect you. If any job should have a mandatory foot doctor evaluation each year its linemen...
I was on the fence, now they are on order. I love the 300X I got so why not both! For the record I am indoor office worker who has no "need" for these boots but I really dig them, so why not!
I have extremely flat feet, and I plan on buying a pair of these bison boots because of the arch support that these boots offer. Bison leather looks so good, too, though. Best for most USA made can't beat it.
I love my Forefront boots by JK, and I know these are basically the same construction with a different sole. I ended up ordering a pair of Nicks Overlanders, but was VERY close to ordering the OT boots. We will see, maybe I'll come around to picking up a pair of these to trash around in too.
Just had got to wear my 300s for a week now and I don’t get fatigued anymore from walking in them all day. Still have that new leather smell and broke in very fast
Damn... I'm glad I got my order in last month. These things are gonna be on backorder for a while after this one. Looks like I made some good choices. Just so everyone knows, there's a 2 month wait at the moment for building. And after going through and having a pair customized and the order expedited (my other boots are falling apart after 1 month on a new job) the final cost was $855 USD. And I'm not sure I even wanted a toe cap. The guy on the phone basically said I want them and added them to the order. That's like a 1 cm thick toe. Not sure I'm gonna like that, but we'll see.
That’s an insane price bro. I’ve tossed out 350 before and that’s pretty much my limit. I hope those things last you several years. Anymore I have been sticking with a pair that Danner makes (goes for something like 240-260) I forget the name. They hold up just as well as the more expensive pairs I’ve bought. I haven’t owned any boots that last more than a year when I’m wearing them to work. The soles are always the first thing to go. I’ve done the resoling deal but something on the upper will blow C out not long after the $150 spent on resoling. Never feels worth the time.
Ooooo, a PNW boot that I can actually legitimately justify buying! I'm not doing construction anymore, just shop work and miscellaneous stuff, so I don't want to wear big, heavy, stiff boots anymore but I do need some boots. These check all the boxes for a traditional durable work boot, but at a lighter weight with greater flexibility - I'm here for it! Now, if I could just get something like this, but with a thinner outsole(shorter lugs, harder surface biased) with a little less heel rise...
I think a series comparing all the german army trainers (GATs) could be a cool project for you guys. There is a wide range of prices and the OG is decently old for comparing all the models out there.
I’ve got bison superdutys on order, and I currently own Nicks builder Pros and Franks front range boots. I’m excited for the bison leather I just hope they’re as good as my Nicks and Franks, I’ve seen a lot of QC issues going around with this brand and with several of the other PNW makers as well. I think they just have too many orders and in an attempt to keep up with demand they’ve lost some of their attention to detail.
I've watched this video a couple of times. I just noticed that the boot on the Left Foot is Full Smooth Bison and the boot on the Right Foot is the Rough Out Combination. Great advertisement! 🙂 Thanks to this video, these were the first quality boots that I ordered. I'm still in the Try-On phase and commend the excellent Customer Service I am receiving from everyone at JK Boots.
Love my jk forefront. One of these days I'm going to purchase these bison ot. I waiting on a pair of nicks hardwear pro boots now. Jk makes quality boots that just get more comfortable everyday
I have a pair of JK Forefronts which is the exact same boot as the OT but with a wedge sole and I am very happy with them, only nitpick is the sole wears out in 6-8 months
I also have the 8inch forefronts. Best workboot I’ve put my foot in. I work with asphalt and the majority of the guys use a wedge sole due to the fact it leaves less of an imprint in the hot mat.
would be rad if you did a collab with JK Boots and used some interesting leather like this Bison leather.... also of all the PNW boots that I've looked at these were the ones that most interested me... so thanks for reviewing them.
Just got my OTs a week or so ago. Wearing them a couple hours a day, indoors for now. They don't feel like a PNW work boot. I own Nick's Travelers in Bison as a comparison. I've had the Nick's for couple years and they are barely broken in. Standing on a ladder or pipe you can't even feel the rung (good and bad). The OTs feel like what I envision as an Upland Game, 3-season, hunting/field boot. You can definitely feel the ground under your feet. You are way more connected. The OTs are way more flexible in the forefoot. The JKs aren't perfect. JK did send me crap laces and there's a clinch nail I can cut my finger on sticking through the midsole right in front of the lineman's shank. Thankfully I can not feel it on my foot. Also, on all the UA-cam reviews they send a bottle of Obenauf's with the boots. None for me... Nick's sock liner came off, but that's actually pretty common. Stuck it back down and continued wearing them. No issues now.
The problem is people like you parroting things you read with no actual experience. You wouldn't recommend them, but yet you've never actually tried them. I see more people saying that 'they've read and heard bad things' than from people that have ACTUALLY had a bad experience themselves. Does shit happen? Of course it does, with every company. But from a lot of what I've seen (and this is just my opinion mind you} the problems end up being more an unreasonable customer refusing to even let the company even try to fix something than a problem with the company or their service. I have received better customer service from JK than from Nick's BY FAR. I'll gladly deal with JK again, but am very hesitant to ever deal with Nick's again.
A boot can’t be everything everywhere at once. This is a beefy sneaker build looking like a PNW boot giving some degree of support which is mostly the extreem flexible honey lug sole itself. To put a half lineman piece to get some support leaving the front to be as flexible as possible. Cutting corners while remaining in the PNW zone and saying to people you don’t need that extra support, take less support and have some flexibility, it feels nice, just try it. Your legs can handle the weight of a PNW easy, they don’t get tired of caring that weight around. The stiff sole works as a spring making walking easier. And yes less weight and more flexibility feels nice and probably enough for couple of hours of light work or casual wears. I would consider these as a spring summer boot for city trips you won’t walk all day but the price should be less, $350-$400. We can also agree Weston isn’t a good representation of the kind of people who wear PNW boots. Let’s be honest he says it himself he is in a part of his life he needs these JK OT and not the support of PNW boots. Luckily the heel is supported by a big fat piece of veg tan leather 👏🏼 Lastly I feel Weston finally chooses his best boots and can’t really change his mind again, these are his favorite PNW boots of all time! Which are beefy 8 inch sneakers.
Yeah they’re not as stiff as the real deal work boots - everyone buying them should know that. Tons of people like a boot but just need it on the weekends or just want to wear them every now and then. But yeah they could stand to be in the $500 range and be reasonable
I have bought 2 pairs of the JK OT boot's and the results have actually been pretty mixed. I bought one pair of bison boots that I had to return as they were very tight on the vamp, even though they were the same size as my other ot's that fit well around the vamp. The bison pair that I sent for a return/ replacement was immaculately put together, but simply too small. The 6in redwood pair I have fit my foot perfectly, but have some pretty spotty stitching in some areas, and pull tabs that are totally mismatched. Not the worst thing in the world, but disappointing for the price. The biggest issue I have with my 6 in ot's is that after having them for a while I am finding that they are causing pretty sharp pain in the ball of my left foot. I think where the lineman's shank meets the insole is causing a very abrupt flex point at the ball of my foot that causes a sharp angle from my foot causing my toes to be pushed upwards and a lot of pressure to be put on the ball of my foot with no real cushioning under it. Despite its flaws, I really like my 6 in ot's and because i have worn them heavily on hiking trails and cleaned them I could not return them anyway. I am hoping that this is something that will be fixed as the leather molds to my feet more with time. These boots are very close to being perfect, but in my experience have some pretty significant flaws that make them hard to wear for any significant stretch of time. I am happy to say that JK has been fantastic as far as customer service goes, and are working with me in having this fixed. Despite what I have said I think they are really worth the cost, and I would buy from them again, but I would be careful about what I receive and take a lot of time wearing them indoors to make sure they'll work out for you.
A lot of people recommend bison leather. I have long thought of getting the JK ones, but sadly, they don't come with safety toes. Then I found that Nicks released their new bison Builderpro with safety toes. They totally look overkill, and I love them. My Nicks Americana will arrive next month, and it will help me decide which last I'll try for those bison boots.
I can see why you like these for going to town. But when I’m on very uneven ground, getting in logs, driving my old tractor, maybe even putting on spurs and climbing a tree, I want the rigidity and the heel and the arch support. I can see why these boots evolved here in the Pacific NorthWET. I don’t mind breaking them in.
@@RogerLoera they run very big. Not sure against the brannock but I'm wearing 7.5 JK and most of my other shoes and boots are 9.5. They're a perfect fit and that was off the size finder on their website
I love my OT's! They are the best boot I have every owned in my life. You know what is my favorite shoe I've ever had? Dansko. How about we cut a pair of those bad boys up eh?
I have a new pair of bison boots on the way, and I am really loving the look of the old ot boot. Too bad they're discontinued, otherwise I would scoop up a pair.
Hobby bootmaker here. I also use upper leather as the filler before vegtan midsole. better than eva and cork, but save a couple bucks and less squeaking than veg on veg.
My favorite boots took an entire year to break in, and that was with being worn nearly daily. I'd rather have that same boot with the additional weight and build. Bison is a great leather, but I want my boots to outlive me.
I'll stick with my Bellview Tanker boots that I've been wearing ever since I can remember. They're comfortable, durable and cost effective for me. Can't see paying all that money and waiting six months to a year for a pair of boots that I don't even know wll fit and will kill my feet for a month or two before they get broken in.
@@Highland_Paddy This is my biggest issue with these handmade boots, that's a lot of time & money to end up with the wrong size. I just got some Thursdays over the holidays, different business model of course, but the exchange process to get the right size was painless & free. This is a different level of product of course, but, man, to spend so much more money and wait so much time just for the sizing to potentially be a roll of the dice with no easy recourse is such a turn off. I may have to go for it with these JKs though...
@@RyTrapp0 Well, I had issues with Thursday fit and sizing, too, but then I'm only out $200 for the ones that I can't really wear and they were here in three days and I could have returned them immediately, etc. I've been going back and forth over several websites and if you're willing to lose money on return shipping, Frank's has some models in stock that you could at least try on first if you're lucky to try on their size and hope they run similar to JK? They both seem to be my front-runners for any possible future purchase now out of the PNW, but I think JK custom expense is second highest next to White's and then Frank come in third.
@@RyTrapp0 This is where the shoe and clothing industry needs to be changed up. I'm looking at Thursday, Helm, Adelante, Rancourt all because they at least have return/exchange policies. I took a step back and stopped looking because I was getting so frustrated. None of the current tech options that recommend your size work. 3D printing custom lasts based off measurements from the iPhone LiDar scanner will likely be where it goes in the future, hopefully. If you DM Rider Boots with your foot measurements Ron will at least try and help you size and pick a last for his boots based off actual foot measurements. Why no other companies do that is baffling.
Bought a pair of JK's based on your recommendation. This has been the hands down WORST experience I have ever had with any pair of shoes. The quality is terrible. When I called to see why they forgot to fully stitch my boot, Customer Service asked if I would be okay super gluing them back together. Literally out of the box brand new. Instead of sending boot oil they should send crazy glue so their customers can glue back together their "American" made workmanship. After almost 30 days of back and forth trying to get customer service to address the issue I got them to make me a replacement. I got another pair where the grain is defective ON BOTH the left and right boot. I would be EMBARRASED to send any customer what I got, TWICE. This company has zero integrity. It's embarrassing to me to have to admit I paid for such garbage.
I think I am getting these for all my early/mid season hunting and hiking activities. I live two hours from Spokane so I can even go for a custom fitting 🤤
@@JimKiralfy So you're saying Weston has no integrity? Even though he's owned a pair himself (in different leather) for the last year and a half? Cool story.
@@Patryn71 from previous Rose Anvil videos: ua-cam.com/video/C-gK9Zqu7_M/v-deo.html Weston calls Nick's "the ultimate work boot" in a video sponsored by Nick's, and includes an affiliate link to their web store in the video description. ua-cam.com/video/xzRjohzblnU/v-deo.html Weston says that it's "hard to dispute [White's are] not the best in the entire United States" in a video sponsored by White's, and includes an affiliate link to their web store in the video description. This week it's JK's turn to be the best boot ever, in a video sponsored by JK, with an affiliate link to their web store in the video description. It's called 'pay to play', and it's how UA-camrs make money.
I’ve been looking at PNW boots for about 4-5 years now. Always hesitant about buying a pair. Only thing that really worries me is the sizing. Not being able to try on a boot before I purchase just seems crazy to me. The cost of these plus the wait time on having them built. It would be a huge upset if they didn’t fit right and I had to send them back to wait even longer.
I really like this idea of a Bison Boot without the heavy duty side of things. And really something that every man can use. Would be nice to see the price point of Buffalo Come down... Westons Buffalo Ranch & Cafe?
Just got my OT in bison on order and I was literally giddy when I saw the confirmation. JK really is a great company. I mean a company founded by immigrants used the skills learned in homeland to ultimately add that expertise to the available American/international skill pool. Businesses like JK are making sure the knowledge and quality of days past is not lost in the desire for profit. Lord knows there are cheaper and quicker ways to buy boots. It’s gonna be a long 9 weeks.
I've been a huge fan of bison leather since I got a pair of tecovas in bison. I will have to get a pair of these when I get a third year of boot allowance from work.
This boots looks beautiful. If only it had an adamantium toe, carbon laces, 7 layers of leather for the midsole, 4 inch nails at the heel, a full set of speed hooks instead of eyelets, and certification of handmade in the U.S.A. for $250 then id be all over it. Afraid im gonna have to pass.
He's obviously sarcastic, and for a good reason, paying for quality is one thing, but these kind of boots are generally overkill and overbuilt for almost anyone
I know you were joking, but the omission of the speed lacing (and dual zone lacing- where, e.g. the foot may be laced tighter than the calf) is a bit of travesty
@@simongrushka983 certain features have been omitted because it is up to the builder to read my mind or at least take enough feedback to know that a feature such as the one you suggested should be obvious to them.
Hate to say it my man, but they sponsored the video. That's a problem. You didn't specify if the sponsorship was just providing the boots or if there was a cash payment, but if they paid you (which I assume is the case, otherwise I think you'd have said so), that destroys your credibility as a reviewer. Not just you, but anyone in your position. You're reviewing boots - I can't understand why you would accept sponsorships from boot companies? Why not pursue unrelated sponsorships? There'd plenty of companies that regularly sponsor UA-camrs. I guess because you want or need the money for the channel more imminently; of course, because, as you pointed out, you've destroyed a lot of money worth of products, but by accepting those sponsorships, you throw your credibility away completely. You acknowledge IN THE VIDEO that people hit up your comment section feeling sus about the sponsorship - I mean, I'm writing you a fresh one right now. I'm that guy today. But then again, you're also the guy who took a payment for a review today, so don't be too quick to roll your eyes when you read comments like mine. I do hope you think a little more carefully about it, and reflect on your credibility in the industries of leathercraft, shoemaking, AND UA-cam, and consider whether you're willing to follow best practices for a reviewer (meaning, not accepting payment for a review).
Nice video, One shoe I would request that you cut open would be the air Jordan 13. Its such an interesting shoe and im surprised you have not done it. It would be great if you did the 13s, thanks
Get a high quality wallet, belt or MORE in the Rose Anvil shop here - bit.ly/44jXLNu
Thank you Weston!
Designing this boot model was a lot fun, and we’re so glad to see that our customers love it.
Thanks for tuning in guys!
Hey its you!
I have Franks and JK. JK the best hands down. The fit is incredible vs the Franks. Glove fit, perfect.
I'd love to see a shankless, wide toe box zero drop boot with the Pacific northwest durability.
this seems a little scammy... like an undeclared paid promotion.
What's up with the huge void in the heel?
Bison is really one of those forgotten gems in leather. Looks great, wears like iron, breathes extremely well.
when you think about it, bison leather being comfortable makes sense. In my entire life I have never heard a bison complaining about being uncomfortable. This may be because of the leather!
As someone who grew up around cattle - can confirm, they complain non-stop about their skin being too tight and stiff.
I bought these exact boots (OT BISON Smooth/Roughout) 2 months ago. Zero break in. My most comfortable boots by far. Arch support is reeeediculus. Honey vibram sole is more forgiving as well. Will confirm all that was said. No regrets. Fun to get confirmation! Great job as always.
Hey Steve! Was their sizing guide on point for you? Thanks!
@@AirborneBuck Yes. I’m a 14EE IN Keen sneakers. Went down to 13 wide. Perfect. Also wear 13F in Nicks, 13E in Grant Stone and 13EE IN Whites. This bison is my fav!
Yeahm they dont all have a tough break in. but my Whites Smokejumpers (my faves) were rough to break in took 6 months
I can say the same for the two Super Duty’s I have. Wow bison and honey Vibram must be even more comfortable. That will be my next purchase. JK is amazing! I still do not understand how such a well made boot like these tanks have no break in?
@@Bearded360 You really need to feel that bison leather -it is so soft. I think the design of the sole also makes it bend from the get go. The uppers are butter. And like all, JK boots, they cradle on your foot almost immediately. Sizing right is key though, like all boots.
I don't know if they have recognised themselves as a fashion brand, but these boots are very thoroughly built and look beautifully made.
I had a rolling gang box hit me in the heel awhile back…I’m happy to have had that type of “overkill” heel counter.
Started working in construction in 1973 and broke in many pairs of Red Wings over the years. I just ordered OT BISON Smooth. At 68 this may be my last pair of work boots
So basically they discovered how to cut their cost and still produce a quality boot that costs the same. At least they've kept their quality and standards, and I'd still buy them
Back when I bought my Forefronts the ot and forefronts were slightly less expensive then the super duty. And it’s literally just 4.5 inches less midsole that’s it
Yeah I'm pretty sure it's a bit cheaper than their standard boot. Still handmade though so it's going to be pricey.
Actually, it's more because only available as custom, etc.
The labor makes up a much bigger chunk of the expense than the material costs do
You arent really paying for materials. Lets be clear it still takes 40 Odd Man hours to produce a PNW Boot. Ok you can do what Wesco Did and add some automation. But that only takes down maybe 10 hours. At the end of the day for something that is handmade, you are paying for expertise. There is a reason we dont have mass produced boots like these.
And would be rather pay Americans or somewhere else? And we are paying a premium to keep boot making in america since it doesnt exist.
Would be really interested in seeing a review of the Drew's logger boots compared with its more expensive competitors, the Nick's and JK boots. They seem to be a great much cheaper alternative.
Moleskin helps a lot with breaking in boots. I didn't even know it existed until a few months ago. Been a foot saver.
That and KT Tape its what all the professional runners use.
One test to add to your lineup should be a flex point like a ladder rung (say with 250 lbs of pressure) to show how much the boot does or doesn't flex at that point. I'm a 265 lb man who climbs all day and I haven't found leather to give me the confidence I have in carbon or steel yet. But I'm always searching. I wear Salewa and scarpa light mountaineering boots for reference. Super rigid midsole and essentially a full length shank.
For direct lineman work. This is where the Superduty comes in. Along with even adding a podiatrist custom insert to protect you. If any job should have a mandatory foot doctor evaluation each year its linemen...
Bison were always native to the Americas and technically the og leather for here, love that the bison are also making a come back
I wish I would’ve known about these bisons before buying my nicks😢
@Daryl Hill yea I only recently got schooled on bison by the bearded butchers they kinda give a history lesson and teach you how to butcher a bison
Honestly it should be the standard for work boots, in my relatively uninformed opinion :)
My favorite boots are the forefront from jk. The ot is a very close second. Those two pairs of boots are by far the best footwear I’ve ever owned.
I was on the fence, now they are on order. I love the 300X I got so why not both!
For the record I am indoor office worker who has no "need" for these boots but I really dig them, so why not!
I have extremely flat feet, and I plan on buying a pair of these bison boots because of the arch support that these boots offer. Bison leather looks so good, too, though. Best for most USA made can't beat it.
Mine came in today! Absolutely love these boots.
How long did it take for then to be made? I'm currently waiting on mine.
I can confirm that these in bison are by far the softest, most comfortable boots I have ever own. They are 100% worth it.
Got my JKs a couple weeks ago. Looks like q good thing. Month and a half wait for a stock boot.. but unreal comfort and durability.
I just got a pair of JK Superdutys, they are hands down the best!
I just bought the OT as a hunting/wilderness boot for these exact reasons! Can't wait to get them.
My first boot from PNW group was JK Superduty Bison (thanks to you!)
And my next will be OT 6" Shadow Bison !! Can't wait for them to arrive !!
I love my Forefront boots by JK, and I know these are basically the same construction with a different sole. I ended up ordering a pair of Nicks Overlanders, but was VERY close to ordering the OT boots. We will see, maybe I'll come around to picking up a pair of these to trash around in too.
Just had got to wear my 300s for a week now and I don’t get fatigued anymore from walking in them all day. Still have that new leather smell and broke in very fast
Damn... I'm glad I got my order in last month. These things are gonna be on backorder for a while after this one.
Looks like I made some good choices.
Just so everyone knows, there's a 2 month wait at the moment for building. And after going through and having a pair customized and the order expedited (my other boots are falling apart after 1 month on a new job) the final cost was $855 USD.
And I'm not sure I even wanted a toe cap. The guy on the phone basically said I want them and added them to the order. That's like a 1 cm thick toe.
Not sure I'm gonna like that, but we'll see.
That’s an insane price bro. I’ve tossed out 350 before and that’s pretty much my limit. I hope those things last you several years. Anymore I have been sticking with a pair that Danner makes (goes for something like 240-260) I forget the name. They hold up just as well as the more expensive pairs I’ve bought. I haven’t owned any boots that last more than a year when I’m wearing them to work. The soles are always the first thing to go. I’ve done the resoling deal but something on the upper will blow C out not long after the $150 spent on resoling. Never feels worth the time.
Every pnw boot ive had havent required any break in. Super comfortable from 1st wear
Ooooo, a PNW boot that I can actually legitimately justify buying! I'm not doing construction anymore, just shop work and miscellaneous stuff, so I don't want to wear big, heavy, stiff boots anymore but I do need some boots. These check all the boxes for a traditional durable work boot, but at a lighter weight with greater flexibility - I'm here for it!
Now, if I could just get something like this, but with a thinner outsole(shorter lugs, harder surface biased) with a little less heel rise...
this video convinced me to buy one and he's right, I don't think ill ever go back to normal shoes after these
I think a series comparing all the german army trainers (GATs) could be a cool project for you guys. There is a wide range of prices and the OG is decently old for comparing all the models out there.
BW 2000 basically brought me to the world of boots. Amazing boots and incredible durable
I ordered these exact boots 2 weeks ago. Cannot wait to get them!
Me too, only 4 weeks ago.
I'm so stoked. My Danner's only lasted a month on the new job. Hope these fare better.
I’ve got bison superdutys on order, and I currently own Nicks builder Pros and Franks front range boots. I’m excited for the bison leather I just hope they’re as good as my Nicks and Franks, I’ve seen a lot of QC issues going around with this brand and with several of the other PNW makers as well. I think they just have too many orders and in an attempt to keep up with demand they’ve lost some of their attention to detail.
I feel the same way about my redwings, no leather midsole makes them very flexible compare to my Nicks.
I've watched this video a couple of times. I just noticed that the boot on the Left Foot is Full Smooth Bison and the boot on the Right Foot is the Rough Out Combination. Great advertisement! 🙂 Thanks to this video, these were the first quality boots that I ordered. I'm still in the Try-On phase and commend the excellent Customer Service I am receiving from everyone at JK Boots.
Love my jk forefront. One of these days I'm going to purchase these bison ot. I waiting on a pair of nicks hardwear pro boots now. Jk makes quality boots that just get more comfortable everyday
Love this! I have a few pairs of JKs and haven’t looked back. These are next
I have a pair of JK Forefronts which is the exact same boot as the OT but with a wedge sole and I am very happy with them, only nitpick is the sole wears out in 6-8 months
Ouch
I also have the 8inch forefronts. Best workboot I’ve put my foot in. I work with asphalt and the majority of the guys use a wedge sole due to the fact it leaves less of an imprint in the hot mat.
would be rad if you did a collab with JK Boots and used some interesting leather like this Bison leather.... also of all the PNW boots that I've looked at these were the ones that most interested me... so thanks for reviewing them.
Weston: “What do I love about Jk? They pay me money”.
I ordered a pair of Forefronts a couple weeks ago for work. I CANNOT wait to get them, they are out of stock so I will have to have some patience.
Just got my OTs a week or so ago. Wearing them a couple hours a day, indoors for now.
They don't feel like a PNW work boot. I own Nick's Travelers in Bison as a comparison. I've had the Nick's for couple years and they are barely broken in. Standing on a ladder or pipe you can't even feel the rung (good and bad).
The OTs feel like what I envision as an Upland Game, 3-season, hunting/field boot. You can definitely feel the ground under your feet. You are way more connected.
The OTs are way more flexible in the forefoot.
The JKs aren't perfect. JK did send me crap laces and there's a clinch nail I can cut my finger on sticking through the midsole right in front of the lineman's shank. Thankfully I can not feel it on my foot.
Also, on all the UA-cam reviews they send a bottle of Obenauf's with the boots. None for me...
Nick's sock liner came off, but that's actually pretty common. Stuck it back down and continued wearing them. No issues now.
Recently picked up their Forefront boot for work and love it. Really considering the OT as a camping/outdoor use boot.
LOVE my JK honey bison Superduty boots. Great boots and a fantastic looking leather that's so unusual.
No one sources better Bison Leather than JK.
Look around, you will not find any other boot maker with this leather that looks this amazing.
Great vid, Jk will definitely be my first PNW Boot brand
Difficult to watch you cut these in half. I just ordered a pair and waiting patiently. Bison Smooth out OT
Just got mine and I can tell they're the best work boots I've ever tried on! I'll retire before they do!
I’ve heard a lot of quality assurance and customer service complaints about this company. Because of that, I probably wouldn't recommend JK boots.
The problem is people like you parroting things you read with no actual experience. You wouldn't recommend them, but yet you've never actually tried them. I see more people saying that 'they've read and heard bad things' than from people that have ACTUALLY had a bad experience themselves. Does shit happen? Of course it does, with every company. But from a lot of what I've seen (and this is just my opinion mind you} the problems end up being more an unreasonable customer refusing to even let the company even try to fix something than a problem with the company or their service.
I have received better customer service from JK than from Nick's BY FAR. I'll gladly deal with JK again, but am very hesitant to ever deal with Nick's again.
A boot can’t be everything everywhere at once. This is a beefy sneaker build looking like a PNW boot giving some degree of support which is mostly the extreem flexible honey lug sole itself. To put a half lineman piece to get some support leaving the front to be as flexible as possible. Cutting corners while remaining in the PNW zone and saying to people you don’t need that extra support, take less support and have some flexibility, it feels nice, just try it. Your legs can handle the weight of a PNW easy, they don’t get tired of caring that weight around. The stiff sole works as a spring making walking easier. And yes less weight and more flexibility feels nice and probably enough for couple of hours of light work or casual wears. I would consider these as a spring summer boot for city trips you won’t walk all day but the price should be less, $350-$400. We can also agree Weston isn’t a good representation of the kind of people who wear PNW boots. Let’s be honest he says it himself he is in a part of his life he needs these JK OT and not the support of PNW boots. Luckily the heel is supported by a big fat piece of veg tan leather 👏🏼 Lastly I feel Weston finally chooses his best boots and can’t really change his mind again, these are his favorite PNW boots of all time! Which are beefy 8 inch sneakers.
Yeah they’re not as stiff as the real deal work boots - everyone buying them should know that. Tons of people like a boot but just need it on the weekends or just want to wear them every now and then. But yeah they could stand to be in the $500 range and be reasonable
I have bought 2 pairs of the JK OT boot's and the results have actually been pretty mixed. I bought one pair of bison boots that I had to return as they were very tight on the vamp, even though they were the same size as my other ot's that fit well around the vamp. The bison pair that I sent for a return/ replacement was immaculately put together, but simply too small.
The 6in redwood pair I have fit my foot perfectly, but have some pretty spotty stitching in some areas, and pull tabs that are totally mismatched. Not the worst thing in the world, but disappointing for the price. The biggest issue I have with my 6 in ot's is that after having them for a while I am finding that they are causing pretty sharp pain in the ball of my left foot. I think where the lineman's shank meets the insole is causing a very abrupt flex point at the ball of my foot that causes a sharp angle from my foot causing my toes to be pushed upwards and a lot of pressure to be put on the ball of my foot with no real cushioning under it.
Despite its flaws, I really like my 6 in ot's and because i have worn them heavily on hiking trails and cleaned them I could not return them anyway. I am hoping that this is something that will be fixed as the leather molds to my feet more with time. These boots are very close to being perfect, but in my experience have some pretty significant flaws that make them hard to wear for any significant stretch of time. I am happy to say that JK has been fantastic as far as customer service goes, and are working with me in having this fixed. Despite what I have said I think they are really worth the cost, and I would buy from them again, but I would be careful about what I receive and take a lot of time wearing them indoors to make sure they'll work out for you.
A lot of people recommend bison leather. I have long thought of getting the JK ones, but sadly, they don't come with safety toes. Then I found that Nicks released their new bison Builderpro with safety toes. They totally look overkill, and I love them. My Nicks Americana will arrive next month, and it will help me decide which last I'll try for those bison boots.
I can see why you like these for going to town. But when I’m on very uneven ground, getting in logs, driving my old tractor, maybe even putting on spurs and climbing a tree, I want the rigidity and the heel and the arch support. I can see why these boots evolved here in the Pacific NorthWET. I don’t mind breaking them in.
Nice boots! Light, comfortable, and tough. What's not to like? Thanks for the video.
Just got my redwood O.Ts a month ago and I love them. Uppers are kinda gnarly to break in to be honest but it'll be well worth it
How's the sizing compared to others? Especially of your brannock size.
@@RogerLoera they run very big. Not sure against the brannock but I'm wearing 7.5 JK and most of my other shoes and boots are 9.5. They're a perfect fit and that was off the size finder on their website
@@alex_ottomano gotcha, thanks man.
Great choice. Personally, I don't much care for the stitchdown construction, but even so, really well made.
Just ordered the super duties- redwood. Do a lot work in Oregon forests. Can’t wait!
I love my OT's! They are the best boot I have every owned in my life. You know what is my favorite shoe I've ever had? Dansko. How about we cut a pair of those bad boys up eh?
I have a new pair of bison boots on the way, and I am really loving the look of the old ot boot. Too bad they're discontinued, otherwise I would scoop up a pair.
Hobby bootmaker here. I also use upper leather as the filler before vegtan midsole. better than eva and cork, but save a couple bucks and less squeaking than veg on veg.
Ok Sir. For the Super Bowl of boots. Those boots vs Nick's books. Side by side comparison. I'd get out the popcorn for that one
My favorite boot...sponsored by the boot maker. Okay 👌
Exactly.
My jk boots needed almost no brake in time, by far the best boot I've ever owned!
I'm digging that shot around 9:25 of the boots paired with the Carhartt pants. They look great together.
Do you know what model these are?
Love the OT series, my next order! With the build quality might be my last I need to make!
My favorite boots took an entire year to break in, and that was with being worn nearly daily.
I'd rather have that same boot with the additional weight and build. Bison is a great leather, but I want my boots to outlive me.
@RoseAnvil please do a durability video on Bison Vs Cowhide . Someone needs to test the actual durability and see what this stuff can handle....
I'll stick with my Bellview Tanker boots that I've been wearing ever since I can remember. They're comfortable, durable and cost effective for me. Can't see paying all that money and waiting six months to a year for a pair of boots that I don't even know wll fit and will kill my feet for a month or two before they get broken in.
I'm sold - These are my next boots!
Drew's new Logger boot is comfortable right out of the box. That pre formed foot bed is genius.
I found their sizing way off and had to spend forty bucks to return.
@@Highland_Paddy This is my biggest issue with these handmade boots, that's a lot of time & money to end up with the wrong size. I just got some Thursdays over the holidays, different business model of course, but the exchange process to get the right size was painless & free. This is a different level of product of course, but, man, to spend so much more money and wait so much time just for the sizing to potentially be a roll of the dice with no easy recourse is such a turn off.
I may have to go for it with these JKs though...
@@RyTrapp0 Well, I had issues with Thursday fit and sizing, too, but then I'm only out $200 for the ones that I can't really wear and they were here in three days and I could have returned them immediately, etc. I've been going back and forth over several websites and if you're willing to lose money on return shipping, Frank's has some models in stock that you could at least try on first if you're lucky to try on their size and hope they run similar to JK? They both seem to be my front-runners for any possible future purchase now out of the PNW, but I think JK custom expense is second highest next to White's and then Frank come in third.
@@RyTrapp0 This is where the shoe and clothing industry needs to be changed up. I'm looking at Thursday, Helm, Adelante, Rancourt all because they at least have return/exchange policies. I took a step back and stopped looking because I was getting so frustrated. None of the current tech options that recommend your size work. 3D printing custom lasts based off measurements from the iPhone LiDar scanner will likely be where it goes in the future, hopefully. If you DM Rider Boots with your foot measurements Ron will at least try and help you size and pick a last for his boots based off actual foot measurements. Why no other companies do that is baffling.
Bought a pair of JK's based on your recommendation. This has been the hands down WORST experience I have ever had with any pair of shoes. The quality is terrible. When I called to see why they forgot to fully stitch my boot, Customer Service asked if I would be okay super gluing them back together. Literally out of the box brand new. Instead of sending boot oil they should send crazy glue so their customers can glue back together their "American" made workmanship. After almost 30 days of back and forth trying to get customer service to address the issue I got them to make me a replacement. I got another pair where the grain is defective ON BOTH the left and right boot. I would be EMBARRASED to send any customer what I got, TWICE. This company has zero integrity. It's embarrassing to me to have to admit I paid for such garbage.
I think I am getting these for all my early/mid season hunting and hiking activities. I live two hours from Spokane so I can even go for a custom fitting 🤤
Love this. I just decided to go with JK for the boots I wear on the job site.
This looks like a commercial for that brand
It is.
I'm sure you said that about the Nick's sponsored videos, too, right?
@@Patryn71 that's the point. The 'best' boot is always the one from the company paying for it that week.
@@JimKiralfy So you're saying Weston has no integrity? Even though he's owned a pair himself (in different leather) for the last year and a half? Cool story.
@@Patryn71 from previous Rose Anvil videos:
ua-cam.com/video/C-gK9Zqu7_M/v-deo.html
Weston calls Nick's "the ultimate work boot" in a video sponsored by Nick's, and includes an affiliate link to their web store in the video description.
ua-cam.com/video/xzRjohzblnU/v-deo.html
Weston says that it's "hard to dispute [White's are] not the best in the entire United States" in a video sponsored by White's, and includes an affiliate link to their web store in the video description.
This week it's JK's turn to be the best boot ever, in a video sponsored by JK, with an affiliate link to their web store in the video description.
It's called 'pay to play', and it's how UA-camrs make money.
Whites semidress in dress brown with single midsole and 269 sole is most flexible "serious" boots which i owned.
I’ve been looking at PNW boots for about 4-5 years now. Always hesitant about buying a pair. Only thing that really worries me is the sizing. Not being able to try on a boot before I purchase just seems crazy to me. The cost of these plus the wait time on having them built. It would be a huge upset if they didn’t fit right and I had to send them back to wait even longer.
my favorite pair of boots are my nicks bison boot, honey vibram sole, 55 last with the shorter heel high. love it
Love JK Forefronts too!
I really like this idea of a Bison Boot without the heavy duty side of things. And really something that every man can use. Would be nice to see the price point of Buffalo Come down... Westons Buffalo Ranch & Cafe?
Fantastic! That is exactly what we needed to know.
Just got my OT in bison on order and I was literally giddy when I saw the confirmation. JK really is a great company. I mean a company founded by immigrants used the skills learned in homeland to ultimately add that expertise to the available American/international skill pool. Businesses like JK are making sure the knowledge and quality of days past is not lost in the desire for profit. Lord knows there are cheaper and quicker ways to buy boots. It’s gonna be a long 9 weeks.
After seeing this it makes me feel even better that i decided to go with JK over the other PNW boot companies.
Would love to see a review of some Canadian made western boots, specifically Brahmas or Canada west boots
I've been a huge fan of bison leather since I got a pair of tecovas in bison.
I will have to get a pair of these when I get a third year of boot allowance from work.
Love my JK’s
Im waiting on my superduty boots to come. I'm pumped to wear them while making an American made product myself, Hacker Craft Boats.
Bison leather is always a win in my book
I'm really digging these in the smooth toe
Jk boots are so great . I have the forefront and they are awesome!!!
Funny.... I didn't mention needing new boots out loud, and yet...
Seriously though, this video found me at a good time, been looking for boots.
Looks a lot like my french army 1952 mod.61 combat boot (La Ranger)
yo don't forget that honey outsole. It's way more flexible from the original black vibram.
I have no need for boots like this at all. I wear boots maybe twice a year but wow these seem incredible.
I just hope JK will do an engineer in that buffalo hide. Automatic buy for me
Wow, might order these boots. Thanks for the video! Question; What jeans are you wearing at 9:27?
I'd love to see you do a video on oxford shoes at different price points
This boots looks beautiful. If only it had an adamantium toe, carbon laces, 7 layers of leather for the midsole, 4 inch nails at the heel, a full set of speed hooks instead of eyelets, and certification of handmade in the U.S.A. for $250 then id be all over it. Afraid im gonna have to pass.
Would be an insult to pay those fine gentleman 250
There is no boot out there like that for 250
He's obviously sarcastic, and for a good reason, paying for quality is one thing, but these kind of boots are generally overkill and overbuilt for almost anyone
I know you were joking, but the omission of the speed lacing (and dual zone lacing- where, e.g. the foot may be laced tighter than the calf) is a bit of travesty
@@simongrushka983 certain features have been omitted because it is up to the builder to read my mind or at least take enough feedback to know that a feature such as the one you suggested should be obvious to them.
Hate to say it my man, but they sponsored the video. That's a problem. You didn't specify if the sponsorship was just providing the boots or if there was a cash payment, but if they paid you (which I assume is the case, otherwise I think you'd have said so), that destroys your credibility as a reviewer. Not just you, but anyone in your position.
You're reviewing boots - I can't understand why you would accept sponsorships from boot companies? Why not pursue unrelated sponsorships? There'd plenty of companies that regularly sponsor UA-camrs. I guess because you want or need the money for the channel more imminently; of course, because, as you pointed out, you've destroyed a lot of money worth of products, but by accepting those sponsorships, you throw your credibility away completely.
You acknowledge IN THE VIDEO that people hit up your comment section feeling sus about the sponsorship - I mean, I'm writing you a fresh one right now. I'm that guy today. But then again, you're also the guy who took a payment for a review today, so don't be too quick to roll your eyes when you read comments like mine. I do hope you think a little more carefully about it, and reflect on your credibility in the industries of leathercraft, shoemaking, AND UA-cam, and consider whether you're willing to follow best practices for a reviewer (meaning, not accepting payment for a review).
Nice video, One shoe I would request that you cut open would be the air Jordan 13. Its such an interesting shoe and im surprised you have not done it. It would be great if you did the 13s, thanks
With FLAT WIDE FEET not all of us can have high arch Boots. Causes more problems than good tbh. Love the look of those JKs
Indeed! Makes my feet hurt just looking at them. Like balancing on a couple of baseballs all day 😖
@@powersww1reset Great analogy 😆
@@powersww1reset Negative homegirl. They don’t hurt flat feet. Suck it up.
I've have no problem breaking them in at all. Maybe because I've been wearing PNW boots for so long. Whites,Nicks and now JK'S.
I like my Thorogoods.
Owned thorogoods. Not even close. JK is it.
Not even close to whites perry
So do I. But the PNW boots are tougher and more durable. If I was a logger or construction guy ….
Thorogood doesn't last more than 8 months
Those look great too!! Great review, I've just added another pair of "need" PNW boots to my list. Probably at the top of the list now.