A bunch of you guys hit the nail on the head. This boot was so hard to “rip the guts out of” that I am going to have to make a separate video on just that. Also the construction is so intense and complicated that it really needs a stand alone video to cover it. Plan on seeing it on Monday the 11th... if I can get it torn apart by then.
No toe reinforcement for work boots? And you don't even mention it. And stop saying how much you are surprised that €500 cost only that. You said the same in previous video. BTW stop explaining over and over again why you are not biased on your sponsored videos because it makes the opposite effect
Oh excellent I thought it was a bit short ! I want a pair of nicks and u just sold me . But alas I live in Australia and they would cost me close to 1k$ by the time I got them here
Nick's are good boots your not a sale out that why I recommend them to you I know you k how good quality better than must of us thanks again really enjoyed the video
I am currently wearing a 17 year old set of Nicks. The were originally black with smooth leather over the whole boot. The lowers were rebuilt 10 years ago and changed to rough out leather. The soles have been replaced 5 times. Initial investment $385. First resole was $95.00. 2nd resole and new lowers was $175.00. Third, fourth and fifth resole totals are $355.00. New laces $50.00 Total over $17 years is $1060.00 or $63.00 per year. Imagine standing all day and routinely lifting /carrying 100# door slabs and not wanting to take your boots off when you get home. Broken in properly, these boots feel like slippers with fantastic arch support! They are worth ever penny!
As a forestry worker and firefighter in North Idaho i went through 2 pairs of Whites and one pair of Nicks boots in 9 years of very hard use. I loved all 3. My first pair was $95 in 1977.
I don’t believe anyone who knows leather and boots can say you’re a sellout. You’re promoting probably one of the best if not the best work boot available in the market. There’s no negatives... that’s a beauty right there.
Huh? How could you call a ripoff the best on the market? Vibergs, the first boot to use this design, definitely top these. Goodyear welt instead of glued on. Despite being made in Canada with high quality materials, they're 100-150 USD cheaper. If I were to work in construction again I'd 100% use it as an excuse to buy a pair of Vibergs.
Keep promoting good products, I think you're really helping give a lot of exposure to brands and products that deserve exposure to unfamiliar audiences.
I agree. I've never heard of these boots but if I have a need and can justify a boot of that caliber I'll consider it. It's a 4-hour drive to Spokane for me, and if they offer in-house fitment, I'll likely choose them over another that doesn't. I have narrow heels and finding a good-fitting boot can be difficult.
I was going to comment this exact thing. Quality products speak for themselves, but sometimes they need a bit of a push to get in front of the right audience!
@@tammysilverwolf1085 So true. Part of he problem is that manufacturers of poor quality products, often give the retailers a higher mark up to encourage them to rip their customers off.
@@tammysilverwolf1085 Judging by some of the rubbish that they have turned out over the years, Levi's take the biscuit in that department. A few years ago, jeans costing £4.99 in the UK were being made in the same factory and using the same denim as Levi's costing more then £40.
I love how they have several different problems they fixed with leather. P: shanks cause discomfort A: oak tanned leather P: cork breaks down over time but you still want a material that molds to your feet A: add more leather
P: flashlight won't turn on even if you jiggle the batteries a little A: add leather P: car broke down in the middle of the highway A: put a piece of leather on the hood P: tv remote missing A: use leather P: asteroid on a collision course with Earth with a 100% probability that the human race is wiped out A: large piece of high quality leather to make the asteroid insecure causing it to turn around and go home
Value is not always apparent and we use proxies that may not be the best. Really helped me to see the differences and be a better judge of quality. Sometimes it's just difference, sometimes not
Max Lambert What is “Worth paying that much” is subjective. Person to person. A $50,000 car that worth paying that much may not to the next person. There’s a reason only so many of these sale 🤷🏻♂️
@@thepirateking1178 it's imaginary value to you. those jordan 1s are very iconic in sneaker culture and the event they're named after is a legendary moment for Michael Jordan's career.
As a shoe maker all those levels, quality of materials and custom builds would justify a high price point. Would have been interesting to see the upper discussed a bit more. Other than that great video and boot brand. Keep it up 👍
Pepe is life Pepe Is love we enjoying venturing out of Africa and learning as we go a long. Great to have a Jim Green customer and fan supporting us, so thanks very much to you.
Your review of Nick's Boots was what convinced me to order them. It took 6 months to receive them because of covid but I am 100% happy with my decision. I love them! Thank you for your reviews.
I own a pair of custom Builder Pros, which I wear daily for 12-14 hours, and I can say they are without a doubt worth every penny. Not only is the craftsmanship and comfort unmatched in a heavy duty work boot, but Nicks is an absolute pleasure to work with. I went through their custom fit process by mail, as I'm on the east coast. Much to my surprise and delight, part of their fit process involves a phone consultation with one of their fitters. You actually get to speak to a person! I view boots as a tool, and I find value in investing in my tools. I look forward to many years of enjoyable service from my investment, and will certainly be ordering another pair(s) in the future.
Thanks for your comment Randy. I'm in Northern Michigan and was concerned about the ordering process and making sure they fit right. Speaking with an actual person, yeah, a huge plus in my book.
How do you go about drying them out in between wears? I live down in the deep south and your feet sweat pretty bad down here. I'm hesitant buying something this expensive if the leather will stay wet and break down faster
I don't know anything about shoes but listen if sneakerheads will pay insane amounts of money for shoes that aren't even great quality then $500 for custom work boots with like 10 different layers of leather sounds reasonable to me 🤷🏾♀️
This video led me to buy a pair of Builder Pros back in January. When I first put them on the high arch made me question my decision. Took about two months of wearing off and on to get them broken in, now my feet and the arch support have made friends. Now I wear them all day with no complaints.
When I stepped up to a high end boot for firefighting I was shocked at how it changed my performance. It literally felt like I had 4 wheel drive and traction control. I felt how much fitment affected my stability on a hillside with a 30 lb. hosepack, 25 lb. webgear and a hand tool. It was actually less fatiguing and my knees and ankles took way less abuse. Nicks or Whites are worth every penny in wildland firefighting situations.
I own a pair of these boots. Full smooth grain leather throughout the whole boot instead of the rough out that yours has. Bought them in 2017 and they are still going very strong. A couple of notes based on my use of them that may help some others. 1.) I do not wear them daily. Shortly after I ordered them my job description changed and I'm not on my feet that much anymore. 2.) They were murder to break in (my experience), it took me right about the full 100 hours or so before they started to feel truly comfortable and about another 30 to 40 (yes, I was actually keeping track of the hours) before they felt REALLY comfortable. 3.) They are stitched, glued and screwed together, so everything stays and feels very tight. Once they were completely broken in they simply feel like an extension of my foot, and still do. I have never once worried about the screws coming through, I do not believe that they are long enough to do so. 4.) I live in upstate New York where we get brutal winters and although they are not not technically graded as waterproof, due to the very thick full grain leather I have never had wet feet in them. Let me reiterate this is my specific experience with them. I have heard of others having little to no trouble with break in time but I do believe that is the exception. My 2 cents: I believe even if you are not on your feet working 12 hours a day, that these boots are a good investment for the same reasons that they are a good investment for the hard users of them. Comfort, ankle, knee and back support. Finally, if a hard user (12 hours a day) gets them resoled every 18 months or so, how long will they last a casual user (so to speak). I hope this helps those who may be on the fence. Looking forward to the follow up video. Thank you for the great videos. Keep it up my friend.
Isn’t it nice seeing a quality product still made in the US. I don’t think I could wear them daily, particularly with so many laces, but the craftsmanship is beyond words. I’m an Aussie, but I’d wear anything made in the US with pride over those brands now made in Asia. Well done mate.
You're definitely not selling out. It makes total sense that the companies who would want to sponsor you know what you do in your videos- cut stuff in half. If there's anything about their product that isn't good quality, they won't want people to see that. The companies that decide to sponsor you are going to be ones with high quality products and nothing to hide. Keep doing what you're doing!
I almost cried when you started cutting 😢 Seriously, you’re spot on in your estimation of these boots and just make me that much more certain I’m going to get a pair, sooner rather than later. As for selling out, no worries there.
One trick I learned in the Army. Have two pair of the same boots if you wear them everyday. That is why they issued us two pair of boots back in basic training. The day for letting one pair rest, is they air out. + clean pair of socks everyday. Never a foot problem for 3 years.
3:55 that reminds me of this Terry Pratchett passage i see a lot on the internet "The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles. But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet. This was the Captain Samuel Vimes' ‘Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness." and this also reminds me that i need to read more Terry Pratchett.
The Terry Pratchett quote is bullshit because it totally discounts the possibility of buying expensive boots on the factory seconds or second-hand market.
Since these boots are built on the 55 last, it would be really awesome to see the original 67 last version cut in half as a comparison. I think a lot of people struggle trying to decide which last will work better for their foot. Awesome video as always!
You're doing good. Do not stop. This channel is exposing the good and the not so good. People should be able to come to there own conclusion no matter what your opinions are anyway.
I’m going through the made to order process with Nick’s right now for some Urban Loggers and let me just say after being a plumber for 5 and some change years you really start to consider the boots that you wear to work. I finally started looking at boots like tools that you use to get your job done. Although I am not wearing my Urban Loggers for work and plan to get some Builder Pros in the future, I know that my Urban Loggers will last me a life time and to me that is worth the $500. I’m not going to go out and say that Nick’s boots are the best boots out there because there are plenty of handmade boot companies out there that will do custom made boots, but I will say that according to Wranglerstar Nick’s are some of the best boots out there. I don’t believe you are a sell out because you didn’t say anything bad about these boots because I did my research before buying a pair of Nick’s and no one NO ONE on the internet has said anything bad about them so keep doing what you do and sometimes people need to understand that there isn’t always something bad to say about a pair of boots.
You should do a pair of Whites Smokejumpers next! And compare the 2. These 2 are the big boot companies here in the pnw with a ton of history would make a cool video!
Happy you're getting more sponsors! It's good that you addressed the naysayers, but I would say keep trucking and don't feel like you have to keep justifying yourself. Some call it "don't water the weeds", I hope the sentiment gets across. Always great to find out about other shoe/boot companies. I tend to beat the heck out of anything I own, so I'm always keeping an ear out on finding info on ones that can take a beating.
I like your honest impartiality, yet admitting the difficulty in doing so. Hard to not be somewhat biased with something that impresses you in it's quality. Keep on keeping on, you're doing anyone who watches a service. Your 1st video that I watched made me understand the need to know what goes into a boot to justify the cost of quality...🤔🙂
@@Joe_S. there is a company called White's that owns a brand named Hawthorne which are claimed to be the same quality boots just not handmade. The Hawthorns run you about $300 to $400 versus the 500 to $600. And I do have to say they are pretty comfy.
Not really. As an artisan, you know your products are going out into a cruel world. Once they change hands, they're gone. As a good businessperson, seeing something like this is worth its weight in gold. My only real concern is, did they make this boot any different than the ones they sell. Otherwise, I'd bet that whoever made this shoe is proud to have it immortalized on UA-cam.
@@jodysrandomnesschannel4577 that's a good point. They are made to be worn, and to be worn is the ultimate punishment. I guess I look at it as a time investment and dedication type of thing, all that time and effort and the boots didn't see their time. Idk. I have a strong value on time spent.
@@modarnwarfare2rull oh yeah, for sure. They're amazingly high quality. Can't imagine the difference from my $200 work boots that already feel like clouds.
Wow really looking at the Iron Ranger compared to everything else it really doesn't look like much haha. Basically walking on a thin layer of cork. Pretty amazing what Nicks put into the construction of these boots.
Ah yes, finally some good boots. My favorite bootmaker in italy made me some boots built like these (with an additional layer of foam between the vibram outsole and the rest of the boot), unfortunately the pandemic forced him to cease operations. Support your artisans!
The question of whether or not they are worth it comes down to what you do in an average day. If you work in an office and sit down at a desk all day, and then never do anything that requires wearing boots on the weekends, then all these boots will be to you is a fashion piece. If you work on a construction site, out in nature, in a warehouse, workshop, or any other place where you are moving around all day in a rough environment, then they are worth it. If you are somewhere in the middle, where you work in an office, but every weekend you are out and about doing work out in nature or whatever, then it is a little more hit or miss.
I watched this video when it first came out and it really turned me on to handmade PNW boots. It took me a while and many pairs of sub standard work boots to finally pull the trigger. My Nicks Rangers showed up today and they're awesome. Thank you.
I wear Nicks boots now, this exact boot in the video. I’ve worn Whites for years, Wesco & others. Nicks have quickly become my favorite! I transport heavy machinery. I’m climbing up and down iron all day long. These boots are amazing!
The proof is in the teardown... Nicks is by far the best boot you have broken down to date... perhaps not the most attractive(perspectively), but the best built thus far...
Excellent review. Had a quick peek at their website and was interested to see how many different styles there were. Also noticed that there were different 'gradients' of arch support to choose from which is something I've not seen before.
No way you are selling out...! These boots are worth more than $500, easy...! Quality through out.... You are doing a great job and you can't get more factual than a boot cut in half and you can literally see what is in these boots...! Excellent video... 100% Factual..!
These boots are worth every penny. I work a lot on my feet and these boots are the most comfortable things I have ever worn. Plenty of guys at work think I'm crazy for paying that much for a pair of boots and I'm over here thinking they're crazy for not wanting them. These videos really highlight the effort and justify the price on them if comfort alone wouldn't get you to buy them
Sort of. He imagined a scenario where you break even. I can't imagine burning through those soles in one year. Also, he went as far as breaking even. Now you have them rebuilt again and resoled again and again. I suspect you come out on top. Unless you compare it to Wal-Mart boots...
After watching your videos, I ordered a pair of 1964 medium arch Builder Pros in May. Due to me, they arrived in October. I started wearing them full time immediately. Office/driving 50% of the time, construction field inspection 50% of the time, so not a true work boot killer. Break in has been a bit rough, but 8 weeks in, they are all I want to wear. I wear them to work all week and hike in the mountains of northern Utah in them on the weekends. The leather laces rock and they look awesome all the time. Narrow 10B. Finding footwear is a nightmare for me. I am normally a 10.5B (Red Wing, Irish Setter, Thorogood), but 10B Nicks fit perfect. Problem is...I want to order the Moc Toe cream vibram sole boots now...Thanks Weston, love the work boot dissection and analysis, and no, you cannot have them in a year to cut apart!
Miami TSA did not like the screws in the soles of my Builder Pros this morning. They were asking if I put them in. I told them to watch this video. I set off the SLC TSA metal detector on the way here. Baltimore, Las Vegas, Boise and Reno have had no issues so far. The lacing is a bit of a pain when I need to take them off, but worth it. Merry Christmas!
I work construction and it pisses me off when people want me to take off my boots every time I go in and out of their house taking boots like this on and off ten times a day isn't reasonable
Almost 3 years in...boots are still in great shape. In them 5-6 days a week, especially after my feet hurt from long trail runs in running shoes. Ordered moc toe pros last week so I can send my BPs in for new heels. 1964 brown smooth looks insanely bad a$$ after 3 years! Looking forward to receiving my S-ranked moc toe pro, 8" 1964 brown smooth, nicks white soles!
After long hard day at work I had the worst heel and lower back pain for years. Saw doctors, physical therapists, specialists..... to no avail. Then I went to see the guys at Nicks boots and they changed my life. They measured my foot and 6 weeks later my boots came. Not only were they a perfect fit on my feet, but they realigned my body and that agonizing dull lower back ache went away as well. To me it was well worth the price and I’ve only bought three pair over the last 20 years. I won’t hesitate to order another pair when I’m ready.
It’s definitely worth $500. Women spend like $1,200 or way more, on a purse they will only wear a few times with 1 specific outfit. My ex wife had purses she bought that were like $700 and when I was cleaning the closet, they still had the tags! For a boot you’re going to WORK in for years, YES it’s absolutely worth the money!!
Great video! Love seeing the inside of boots. As a son of a shoe cobbler, I value quality shoes and like to see what inside of the shoe looks like. Forget the people who say you are selling out. If a company is willing to send you boots to critique them, I say that is a good indication of a company willing to constantly improve their products.
Thanks for the vids. I live in New Zealand and we don't have the range of the US so it's great to watch what you do to see the boots out there. At the moment every other week you're putting up a new boot that I'm wanting.... with our exchange rate I might need a second job!
I don’t think you’re a sellout because of the way you are being honest about the materials. I agree that the companies that are sponsoring these videos are obviously good quality and they are aware that their boots will be cut in half! The price of these are completely a deal without having the 10% discount - the custom made aspect alone, then they have such a great foundation of leather in the sole. Would love to see you try to rip these apart lol!
You're not a sell out becuase you answer 3 important Thomas Sowell questions. 1. Compared to what? 2. At what cost? 3. What is the hard evidence? You answer all three each time you do a video regardless of sponsor or no sponsor. Great job! If I had a job that needed Nick's, I'd buy them.
Ive gotta say, this content is such a huge need in things like the sneaker community and informing consumers. Im more into sneakers than boots and I still watch every video lol. What strikes me the most is your humility, even in dealing with the trolls or people who don't know much of anything about leatherwork. You still remain so humble, unbiased and open. That is a huge testament to you and part of the reason It was an easy decision to subscribe a couple months back. Now I just wish you would make more crazy Nike Swoosh Jordan 1 wallets lol Bifold please and you can take my money haha
Ty_Braek I'm a lady with wide palms, long but narrow fingers. Even a lot of xl women's gloves don't fit. I'm about a medium in men's. However, I have the smallest damn wrists, like I can wear children's bracelets. I have never found a perfect fitting pair of gloves. I'll also never be able to wear vintage gloves, which is a shame, because I love wearing vintage clothing. And vintage glove patterns are damn hard to find.
If you wear leather gloves without a liner, try putting them on, soaking your hands in water, and working them out and oiling afterwards. I had to do that with a set of issued leather gloves that were itchy and did not fit well. The 20 minutes of discomfort of wet gloves hands was well spent when I have to use them. Many many tutorials on how to make gloves fit better.
Vermont Glove Company - high dollar, but quality, fit and durability set them apart. As important, Made in the USA! The gloves can be somewhat custom sized. I have long fingers, but narrow hands. Every pair of off-the-shelf gloves I've ever owned, the thumb web was not deep enough causing pain, torn nail beds in my index finger and thumbs. I contacted Vermont Glove Co and sent them a tracing of my hand, similar to fit sheet for Nick's. VG used different sized glove parts to construct a comfortable, great fitting pair of gloves. I just hope my wife doesn't find out how much I paid for them, but well worth it.
I’ve had a pair of White’s for seven years, and a pair of Nick’s almost just like this one for four years. I always recommend these two boots over Red Wings.
Try Franks and JK, these two companies are pretty good too, same people that build Nicks, they just started their own companies, basically the same boot. I have had Whites for about 16 years. Just got a pair of Franks and a pair of JKs to compare. I might get some Nicks soon. Too bad Whites is owned by Lacrosse now.
I am currently waiting for my builder pros, I can say that between Nick's videos helping through the ordering, and your videos helping justify the cost, I cannot wait for them to show up. I found your channel about 2 weeks ago and by the end of today I think I will have watched all your videos. I thought I knew some things about good boots but your videos have blown my mind in showing how many companies rely on the brand name itself. I really enjoy being truly educated on the products I spend my money on, no matter the item. anyways keep up the great content, love your honest comments and sarcasm, and toaster too.
You do an amazing job. I sell boots and I've learned so much from watching your videos, so far there has only been a couple we don't carry. I've passed on some of that knowledge to my fellow co workers as well. Thank you sir
Great review and analysis of Cheap v. Quality. Fitting is such a misunderstood thing. I have worn size 10 shoes since High School, in everything from Tennis shoes to cowboy boots. Then I started firefighting and got my first quality boot (sorry, not Nicks, but the other guys that is the opposite of black). Imagine my surprise when I'm told my size is an 8 1/2 - F. What is an 'F' ? She says I have Fred Flintstone feet and that's why I went from a 10 to an 8 1/2. Thanks for this great review.
@@JM-bl3ih LMFAOO care to explain how in any imagination these look feminine? Also while you’re at it care to link what you’d consider a “masculine” work boot?
Started fighting fire in CA 25 years ago. My first pair of boots were Redwing but all I heard about were Whites. Over the years we had Nick's and Drew's come along. As soon as I saw the video I stopped looked over at my wife and said 'this guy's cutting a brand new pair of Nick's in half.' She looked at me in disbelief.......... Just wanted to add to my post about something you mentioned. My wild land boots were mostly a fire season staple, that being said, there main use was 6 months out of the year. I started with Redwing but went to Drew's. After 25 years I only had 3 pair of boots and never got them resoled I still have them sitting in my closet. Now I'm 5 '11' and 160 lbs so I'm not heavy in my boots. Which may explain not having a sole issue, as far as my uppers. I took them down to the leather every year at the end of fire season, some times during fire season and smothered them in mink oil. These boots are the best you can buy. Work them hard and treat them very well and they will last a long time.
How did you not talk about the custom fitting process!?! That's the main thing that makes them worth it. They make a wooden last specific to your foot, that they keep in their warehouse, and when you need another pair of boots, or need a rebuild, you don't have to wait.
You definitely aren’t “selling out”,what the hell does that mean anyway!!! Your trying to make money to support numerous things as well as posting great content so don’t listen to to people projecting their negativity! I totally agree with your reviews and genuinely think your a great guy.
I find you very trustworthy. The videos where you've reviewed boots I have personal experience of have been on point and fair. You make boots interesting (!!!) and have made me consider spending more to GET more! Best of luck!
Never heard of this brand until now. Love that they are made in the N.A. They look amazing and worth more than the $500. Or maybe this is exactly what i would like in a boot that price and most of the others are over priced. Hopefully you will do a part 2 & literally tear it apart and show the quality of the leather. Gonna check out the link for Nick's.
Will buy these in a heartbeat if I can find them in Sweden. Never been so impressed before. Oh, and as some others have already said, would've liked much more in depth video about these boots, at least 5 more minutes.
I'm as disappointed as you would be, I think. Shipping to the UK is over $200, which unfortunately makes it too far. I'm sad I can't experience this boot.
Those nails are legit, and yes that is a Goodyear welt. Woodland firefighters often go to brands like Nicks, Whites, Franks and JK boots for high quality.
those are constructed with double row stitchdown, and no the SCREWS were placed to support the outsole from detaching when heat(fire) compromised the adhesives to bond. and also to anticipate when stitching fails.
Awesome review. I only buy Red Wing Heritage and I have one pair of Nicks and wow! Nicks are the best period. My only complaint is the long wait after you place an order.
I really liked that you mentioned the terms of the sponsorship before you started. I’ve always wondered why many people don’t do that when I suspect they’re still being objective. Very clever
Yeah, Hanwag and Meindl are amazing, I own hiking boots from both. I'd love for him to cut open some Hanwag Tatra Top GTXs. They are my go-to boots for hard tours in rough terrain and they are absolute units.
I’ve been wearing a pair of Builder Pro Nicks boots with composite safety toe and custom uppers for a year now. That’s six days a week as a flatbed truck driver, loading, strapping, tarping, and driving roughly 16 hours a day. They are the best I’ve ever worn. Stock boots never fit me correctly, as I have very narrow heels and ankles. I like them so much that I can’t stand to be parted from them when I send them in for resoling. So I recently ordered a pair of the Hotshots just so I can have them well broken in by the time the first ones need to be sent off. For me, the custom fit upper (slight upcharge ~$75 on the first pair and half that on the second pair) was totally worth the higher price over a $300 pair of stock boots that don’t fit well.
I bought a pair of Nick's handmade boots about a year ago and they're still in pretty good shape compared to Red wings, which I would have to buy a pair every year, so they're totally worth the money. They're made really well.
I think that your claim of "companies that sponsor me, send me quality products" is true and they want to stand behind it. Nicks currently has a banner at the top of their web page thanking you for cutting their product in half!! That's so rad!
It would be interesting if you included some more information on the brand! Like how it developed, what‘s the boot‘s original purpose was... They often have such interesting histories. :)
The founder of the company, Nick, worked for another high end boot maker, Whites Boots. He thought he could do better and started his own company. They specialize in boots made for wild land fire fighters.
Man people can only express the hate, you’re no sell out, you just helped me make a wise decision on purchasing quality vs quantity and I thank you for that. Maybe haters should cut there boots in half so they can see how their own are made compared to the quality you see in other brands who’s name you recognize a reliable product from.
I have bought 2 pairs of these boots so far, they are great, the first one I bought, I wore it for about 5 years, it is still healthy ... I suggest you buy it
I would love to see the break in process in something like this Only think I'm skeptic about its the leather shank, how much weight can it stand, the longevity argument is good, but imagine the stress those things are subjected to
Luis Figueiredo de Mesquita Firefighters have used these boots with leather shanks forever, as metal shanks can heat up too much from walking in burning or burnt areas. I think those guys are as hard on a boot as one can be, so leather shanks are proven.
I had the same question but I called all of the big handmade boot makers in the US and they use leather shanks in their heavy duty boots, so they must work ha ha
My pair of Nicks are just about 5 years old now, other than a resole they are still in great shape, still very much supported and stiff in the shank and arch. I actually scrubbed them with some simple green and oiled them up and the guys I work with (commercial construction) thought I had bought new boots. These should last another 5 to 7 years before needing a rebuild and I figure I'll have saved 4 or 500 on buying new boots every 1 1/2 to 2 years. Just my 5 cents on the matter take it for what its worth.
You should cut open either the Danner RATS or Marine Expeditionary boots, they are bout $300 new, see if they are justified at that price point when compared to Red Wings and Nicks, would be interesting
Apples and oranges my friend. The requirements of a combat boot are very different than a "work" boot like this. Weight, moisture retention, breathability, steel shank, affordability in bulk, etc are all factors that high price work boots don't need to account for. I spent a dozen years in various combat boots around the world, and no work boot I've tried has the same characteristics or adaptability as most of my combat boots.
A bunch of you guys hit the nail on the head. This boot was so hard to “rip the guts out of” that I am going to have to make a separate video on just that. Also the construction is so intense and complicated that it really needs a stand alone video to cover it. Plan on seeing it on Monday the 11th... if I can get it torn apart by then.
The nails joining the sole and leather together look like they could start digging into your foot after a while. Otherwise that boot looks awesome.
No toe reinforcement for work boots? And you don't even mention it. And stop saying how much you are surprised that €500 cost only that. You said the same in previous video. BTW stop explaining over and over again why you are not biased on your sponsored videos because it makes the opposite effect
Not a sellout you hit it on the head Nick's are strait up awesome boots can you do video on viberg hunter boot please
Oh excellent I thought it was a bit short ! I want a pair of nicks and u just sold me . But alas I live in Australia and they would cost me close to 1k$ by the time I got them here
Nick's are good boots your not a sale out that why I recommend them to you I know you k how good quality better than must of us thanks again really enjoyed the video
The companies who sponsor Rose Anvil are the ones who have balls to deconstruct their product. These boots look like tank!
I’m wearing my Frank’s at work now. They really are tanks, but they’re the Cadillac of tanks.
Nick has balls
I agree. The boots are far superior to most other brands. It breaks my heart to destroy a great pair of boots though.
@wO Do you think anything said/shown here is exaggeration? I am looking into buying Nick's for some time. Thank you
Strong like bull
Dude, the fact that you can admit you can't be 100% unbiased alone shows you're doing the best you can.keep up the content 🤙🏻
This, so much!
I am currently wearing a 17 year old set of Nicks. The were originally black with smooth leather over the whole boot. The lowers were rebuilt 10 years ago and changed to rough out leather. The soles have been replaced 5 times. Initial investment $385. First resole was $95.00. 2nd resole and new lowers was $175.00. Third, fourth and fifth resole totals are $355.00. New laces $50.00 Total over $17 years is $1060.00 or $63.00 per year.
Imagine standing all day and routinely lifting /carrying 100# door slabs and not wanting to take your boots off when you get home. Broken in properly, these boots feel like slippers with fantastic arch support!
They are worth ever penny!
If you've replaced everything, are they still the same boots you first bought?
@@ebinecksdee9872 The Ship of Theseus!
@@ebinecksdee9872 The uppers are likely original.
What about cushion? I have herniated disc and nobody talks about cushion
Todd Van Dyke I know red wings are no comparison, but even after 1 year break in of iron ranger, my heels feel like hell.
As a forestry worker and firefighter in North Idaho i went through 2 pairs of Whites and one pair of Nicks boots in 9 years of very hard use. I loved all 3. My first pair was $95 in 1977.
Mine lasted for about a year before getting new sole's. Another year to follow. Not bad considering the wear and tear.
Never in my life did I think I would be considering saving up for a pair of $500 boots, yet here we are
I have a pair of whites that I really love
Best decision ever made. It will last you a lifetime.
Yep - I'm there with ya.
As long as we keep letting them install mail-order presidents*, now you have to save up another $65.00 a year later.
...and they now have a few womens boot styles.
Never skimp on things that separate you from the ground - Footwear, tires and mattresses...
Words of wisdom
...Also never skimp on your brain! Also your heart.
Never heard it put in that manner - genius. Cheers
Words to live by 👍
Thats so true hey!
I don’t believe anyone who knows leather and boots can say you’re a sellout. You’re promoting probably one of the best if not the best work boot available in the market. There’s no negatives... that’s a beauty right there.
i wouls say nicks whites and wesco
amen to that
MichXJdad high quality, tho. Strong craftmanship.
Hail to rose anvil
Huh? How could you call a ripoff the best on the market? Vibergs, the first boot to use this design, definitely top these. Goodyear welt instead of glued on. Despite being made in Canada with high quality materials, they're 100-150 USD cheaper. If I were to work in construction again I'd 100% use it as an excuse to buy a pair of Vibergs.
Keep promoting good products, I think you're really helping give a lot of exposure to brands and products that deserve exposure to unfamiliar audiences.
I agree. I've never heard of these boots but if I have a need and can justify a boot of that caliber I'll consider it. It's a 4-hour drive to Spokane for me, and if they offer in-house fitment, I'll likely choose them over another that doesn't. I have narrow heels and finding a good-fitting boot can be difficult.
I was going to comment this exact thing. Quality products speak for themselves, but sometimes they need a bit of a push to get in front of the right audience!
@@tammysilverwolf1085 So true. Part of he problem is that manufacturers of poor quality products, often give the retailers a higher mark up to encourage them to rip their customers off.
@@wilsjane It also allows them to spend tons on marketing and brand image; a lot of 'premium' products are just shlacked turds.
@@tammysilverwolf1085 Judging by some of the rubbish that they have turned out over the years, Levi's take the biscuit in that department.
A few years ago, jeans costing £4.99 in the UK were being made in the same factory and using the same denim as Levi's costing more then £40.
I love how they have several different problems they fixed with leather.
P: shanks cause discomfort
A: oak tanned leather
P: cork breaks down over time but you still want a material that molds to your feet
A: add more leather
P: flashlight won't turn on even if you jiggle the batteries a little
A: add leather
P: car broke down in the middle of the highway
A: put a piece of leather on the hood
P: tv remote missing
A: use leather
P: asteroid on a collision course with Earth with a 100% probability that the human race is wiped out
A: large piece of high quality leather to make the asteroid insecure causing it to turn around and go home
More leather is the answer to all lifes problems
If leather isn’t fixing your problems, you’re not using enough of it.
Plot Twist........ Cougars at the Applebees jumping you..... Add more leather....
P: the sun is turning into a white dwarf
A: cover the earth with leather
"Not trying to sell you these boots"
continues to perfectly sell me Nicks BuilderPro Boots, in a totally good way.
Dude these videos cemented my want of nicks. Damn things are amazing. Only more impressive iv seen are some japanese ones.
Value is not always apparent and we use proxies that may not be the best.
Really helped me to see the differences and be a better judge of quality.
Sometimes it's just difference, sometimes not
You know a company is proud of their product when you walk in their store and they have an example of all their boots cut in half on their wall.
My heart hurts more seeing you cut these than the 1k jordans.
Brian Chu probably because the value those held was literally imaganry whereas this is something worth paying that much
Max Lambert 🤦🏻♂️
Oregon Born wym they 160 retail for a reason🤷♂️
Max Lambert What is “Worth paying that much” is subjective. Person to person. A $50,000 car that worth paying that much may not to the next person. There’s a reason only so many of these sale 🤷🏻♂️
@@thepirateking1178 it's imaginary value to you. those jordan 1s are very iconic in sneaker culture and the event they're named after is a legendary moment for Michael Jordan's career.
As a shoe maker all those levels, quality of materials and custom builds would justify a high price point. Would have been interesting to see the upper discussed a bit more.
Other than that great video and boot brand. Keep it up 👍
I agree. Normally he rips everything apart and talks about it! I was waiting to see him struggle on that.
Tony Nunez he’s probably still busy doing that😅 might take a few weeks and physio sessions
Part 2 coming soonish... depending on which gives out first, my arms or the boot.
Woah I’m surprised to see Jim green here
Pepe is life Pepe Is love we enjoying venturing out of Africa and learning as we go a long. Great to have a Jim Green customer and fan supporting us, so thanks very much to you.
Your review of Nick's Boots was what convinced me to order them. It took 6 months to receive them because of covid but I am 100% happy with my decision. I love them! Thank you for your reviews.
Old timer told me when I was a teenager
" Your going to be on your feet your whole life. Take care of your feet, don't cheap out on footwear "
Don't cheap out on your mattress or your boots; if your not in one you're in the other.
Never skimp on the things that separate you from the ground: your boots, your bed, and your rifle.
I own a pair of custom Builder Pros, which I wear daily for 12-14 hours, and I can say they are without a doubt worth every penny. Not only is the craftsmanship and comfort unmatched in a heavy duty work boot, but Nicks is an absolute pleasure to work with. I went through their custom fit process by mail, as I'm on the east coast. Much to my surprise and delight, part of their fit process involves a phone consultation with one of their fitters. You actually get to speak to a person! I view boots as a tool, and I find value in investing in my tools. I look forward to many years of enjoyable service from my investment, and will certainly be ordering another pair(s) in the future.
Thanks for your comment Randy.
I'm in Northern Michigan and was concerned about the ordering process and making sure they fit right.
Speaking with an actual person, yeah, a huge plus in my book.
How do you go about drying them out in between wears? I live down in the deep south and your feet sweat pretty bad down here. I'm hesitant buying something this expensive if the leather will stay wet and break down faster
now I think of it, my dishwasher was like $500 too, and I did chat with a dedicated sales person before buying.
@@Arto257 my boots go on a Peet's boot dryer after every wear. Keeps them dry and fresh. Quality wool socks are a must, also.
I don't know anything about shoes but listen if sneakerheads will pay insane amounts of money for shoes that aren't even great quality then $500 for custom work boots with like 10 different layers of leather sounds reasonable to me 🤷🏾♀️
Supply and demand.
@@jkxss stop trying to justify selling trash with dumb arbitrary concepts
@@Fapnyr That's how the market works...
@northern_lights And the styling and design. A product is much more than the sum of the materials that make it
@@Fapnyr supply and demand is a dumb arbitrary concept?
This video led me to buy a pair of Builder Pros back in January. When I first put them on the high arch made me question my decision. Took about two months of wearing off and on to get them broken in, now my feet and the arch support have made friends. Now I wear them all day with no complaints.
When I stepped up to a high end boot for firefighting I was shocked at how it changed my performance. It literally felt like I had 4 wheel drive and traction control. I felt how much fitment affected my stability on a hillside with a 30 lb. hosepack, 25 lb. webgear and a hand tool. It was actually less fatiguing and my knees and ankles took way less abuse. Nicks or Whites are worth every penny in wildland firefighting situations.
Nick's and White's both in the same town too. hahah
Fire Fighters in the UK get Boots providing as part of the uniform
@@themadcoachman I think I'd rather have a boot I know I'll like instead of some junky standardized boot.
I own a pair of these boots. Full smooth grain leather throughout the whole boot instead of the rough out that yours has. Bought them in 2017 and they are still going very strong. A couple of notes based on my use of them that may help some others. 1.) I do not wear them daily. Shortly after I ordered them my job description changed and I'm not on my feet that much anymore. 2.) They were murder to break in (my experience), it took me right about the full 100 hours or so before they started to feel truly comfortable and about another 30 to 40 (yes, I was actually keeping track of the hours) before they felt REALLY comfortable. 3.) They are stitched, glued and screwed together, so everything stays and feels very tight. Once they were completely broken in they simply feel like an extension of my foot, and still do. I have never once worried about the screws coming through, I do not believe that they are long enough to do so. 4.) I live in upstate New York where we get brutal winters and although they are not not technically graded as waterproof, due to the very thick full grain leather I have never had wet feet in them. Let me reiterate this is my specific experience with them. I have heard of others having little to no trouble with break in time but I do believe that is the exception. My 2 cents: I believe even if you are not on your feet working 12 hours a day, that these boots are a good investment for the same reasons that they are a good investment for the hard users of them. Comfort, ankle, knee and back support. Finally, if a hard user (12 hours a day) gets them resoled every 18 months or so, how long will they last a casual user (so to speak). I hope this helps those who may be on the fence. Looking forward to the follow up video. Thank you for the great videos. Keep it up my friend.
Isn’t it nice seeing a quality product still made in the US. I don’t think I could wear them daily, particularly with so many laces, but the craftsmanship is beyond words. I’m an Aussie, but I’d wear anything made in the US with pride over those brands now made in Asia. Well done mate.
They recently came out with Tanker Boots that dont use laces, in a tank if it can get caught it will.
Yea they have fire fighter line of zip boots too
You're definitely not selling out. It makes total sense that the companies who would want to sponsor you know what you do in your videos- cut stuff in half. If there's anything about their product that isn't good quality, they won't want people to see that. The companies that decide to sponsor you are going to be ones with high quality products and nothing to hide. Keep doing what you're doing!
I almost cried when you started cutting 😢 Seriously, you’re spot on in your estimation of these boots and just make me that much more certain I’m going to get a pair, sooner rather than later. As for selling out, no worries there.
One trick I learned in the Army. Have two pair of the same boots if you wear them everyday. That is why they issued us two pair of boots back in basic training. The day for letting one pair rest, is they air out. + clean pair of socks everyday. Never a foot problem for 3 years.
Omg! these boots are like the hulk of boots
wO did you even watch it? they're handmade with an entire cow's worth of leather. of course they're expensive
There are others like White's boots
3:55 that reminds me of this Terry Pratchett passage i see a lot on the internet
"The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.
Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.
But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.
This was the Captain Samuel Vimes' ‘Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness."
and this also reminds me that i need to read more Terry Pratchett.
If the unfairness are the soles, it's 36$ for those vibram soles and heavier shoes wear faster.
The Terry Pratchett quote is bullshit because it totally discounts the possibility of buying expensive boots on the factory seconds or second-hand market.
@@DeepFriedDoom That doesnt make it bullshit. Just means its very general and doesnt cover every single solution and instance.
This boots are 90% leather, that’s dope!
thats hard to believe since the lower portion sole etc. is quite a big portion of the boot
ah those are leather layers
@@Daniel-dj7fh your avatar is perfect for this comment 😆
@@coreartalex6708 p
Bruh never seen work boots THIS STYLISH I want 10 even tho I work in the office
Check out the Whites Semi Dress boot. Go to Bakers shoes
Since these boots are built on the 55 last, it would be really awesome to see the original 67 last version cut in half as a comparison. I think a lot of people struggle trying to decide which last will work better for their foot. Awesome video as always!
You're doing good. Do not stop. This channel is exposing the good and the not so good. People should be able to come to there own conclusion no matter what your opinions are anyway.
Don't forget about the rest of the teardown with the thickness measurements and all.
I believe you're genuinely doing your best to be unbiased.
You are going to have to do a Part 2 for this boot because you left out a lot of details and discussion you usually do.
I’m going through the made to order process with Nick’s right now for some Urban Loggers and let me just say after being a plumber for 5 and some change years you really start to consider the boots that you wear to work. I finally started looking at boots like tools that you use to get your job done. Although I am not wearing my Urban Loggers for work and plan to get some Builder Pros in the future, I know that my Urban Loggers will last me a life time and to me that is worth the $500.
I’m not going to go out and say that Nick’s boots are the best boots out there because there are plenty of handmade boot companies out there that will do custom made boots, but I will say that according to Wranglerstar Nick’s are some of the best boots out there. I don’t believe you are a sell out because you didn’t say anything bad about these boots because I did my research before buying a pair of Nick’s and no one NO ONE on the internet has said anything bad about them so keep doing what you do and sometimes people need to understand that there isn’t always something bad to say about a pair of boots.
You should do a pair of Whites Smokejumpers next! And compare the 2. These 2 are the big boot companies here in the pnw with a ton of history would make a cool video!
Wesco as well, lots of high end brands here in the NW.
Happy you're getting more sponsors! It's good that you addressed the naysayers, but I would say keep trucking and don't feel like you have to keep justifying yourself. Some call it "don't water the weeds", I hope the sentiment gets across.
Always great to find out about other shoe/boot companies. I tend to beat the heck out of anything I own, so I'm always keeping an ear out on finding info on ones that can take a beating.
I like your honest impartiality, yet admitting the difficulty in doing so. Hard to not be somewhat biased with something that impresses you in it's quality. Keep on keeping on, you're doing anyone who watches a service. Your 1st video that I watched made me understand the need to know what goes into a boot to justify the cost of quality...🤔🙂
The Iron Rangers look absolutely pathetic compared to these.
Tnb Spotter They kinda do ..... and I’m a huge Iron Ranger fan with 3 pairs. Looks like it’s time for a pair of Nick’s.
@@Joe_S. there is a company called White's that owns a brand named Hawthorne which are claimed to be the same quality boots just not handmade. The Hawthorns run you about $300 to $400 versus the 500 to $600. And I do have to say they are pretty comfy.
I own a pair of Nicks. They make Iron Rangers look and feel like crap
Thomas Patrick Parker Which style/model do you have?
wyomarine I like my Red Wings. Had them for years now.
Weston, your integrity is a beautiful thing. Cuddle Toaster for me! I watch every video you put out😎
Jessica Seyfried 🙀
I can't imagine the feeling the person that hand crafted this boot, only too watch it get cut in half..... had.
I imagine it'd be heartbreaking.
Not really. As an artisan, you know your products are going out into a cruel world. Once they change hands, they're gone. As a good businessperson, seeing something like this is worth its weight in gold. My only real concern is, did they make this boot any different than the ones they sell. Otherwise, I'd bet that whoever made this shoe is proud to have it immortalized on UA-cam.
Nah, I'd be happy people can appreciate how good these are.
@@jodysrandomnesschannel4577 that's a good point. They are made to be worn, and to be worn is the ultimate punishment.
I guess I look at it as a time investment and dedication type of thing, all that time and effort and the boots didn't see their time. Idk. I have a strong value on time spent.
@@modarnwarfare2rull oh yeah, for sure. They're amazingly high quality. Can't imagine the difference from my $200 work boots that already feel like clouds.
No, as an artist, having the quality of my art tested and found worthy is an honor.
Just did it, spent $604 on these boots. Thanks for the discount code saved me $$
Wow really looking at the Iron Ranger compared to everything else it really doesn't look like much haha. Basically walking on a thin layer of cork. Pretty amazing what Nicks put into the construction of these boots.
Ah yes, finally some good boots. My favorite bootmaker in italy made me some boots built like these (with an additional layer of foam between the vibram outsole and the rest of the boot), unfortunately the pandemic forced him to cease operations. Support your artisans!
At my job, I have over $2 million in orders on hold as the customer is shut down (also in Italy)
The question of whether or not they are worth it comes down to what you do in an average day. If you work in an office and sit down at a desk all day, and then never do anything that requires wearing boots on the weekends, then all these boots will be to you is a fashion piece. If you work on a construction site, out in nature, in a warehouse, workshop, or any other place where you are moving around all day in a rough environment, then they are worth it. If you are somewhere in the middle, where you work in an office, but every weekend you are out and about doing work out in nature or whatever, then it is a little more hit or miss.
I watched this video when it first came out and it really turned me on to handmade PNW boots.
It took me a while and many pairs of sub standard work boots to finally pull the trigger.
My Nicks Rangers showed up today and they're awesome.
Thank you.
I wear Nicks boots now, this exact boot in the video. I’ve worn Whites for years, Wesco & others. Nicks have quickly become my favorite! I transport heavy machinery. I’m climbing up and down iron all day long. These boots are amazing!
The proof is in the teardown... Nicks is by far the best boot you have broken down to date... perhaps not the most attractive(perspectively), but the best built thus far...
Seeing such a sophisticated boot makes me think what a handmade cowboy boot would look like cut open.
Not too differently. Depending who made it.
Excellent review. Had a quick peek at their website and was interested to see how many different styles there were. Also noticed that there were different 'gradients' of arch support to choose from which is something I've not seen before.
No way you are selling out...! These boots are worth more than $500, easy...! Quality through out.... You are doing a great job and you can't get more factual than a boot cut in half and you can literally see what is in these boots...! Excellent video... 100% Factual..!
These boots are worth every penny. I work a lot on my feet and these boots are the most comfortable things I have ever worn. Plenty of guys at work think I'm crazy for paying that much for a pair of boots and I'm over here thinking they're crazy for not wanting them. These videos really highlight the effort and justify the price on them if comfort alone wouldn't get you to buy them
well done their site is down because of the trafic you generate
I really appreciated how you went through the lifetime cost for the Nicks boot vs. Cheaper options. It was eye opening. Their construction is amazing.
Sort of. He imagined a scenario where you break even. I can't imagine burning through those soles in one year. Also, he went as far as breaking even. Now you have them rebuilt again and resoled again and again. I suspect you come out on top. Unless you compare it to Wal-Mart boots...
You are not a sell out, you are just working, doing what you enjoy, which is cutting footwear in half.
After watching your videos, I ordered a pair of 1964 medium arch Builder Pros in May. Due to me, they arrived in October. I started wearing them full time immediately. Office/driving 50% of the time, construction field inspection 50% of the time, so not a true work boot killer. Break in has been a bit rough, but 8 weeks in, they are all I want to wear. I wear them to work all week and hike in the mountains of northern Utah in them on the weekends. The leather laces rock and they look awesome all the time. Narrow 10B. Finding footwear is a nightmare for me. I am normally a 10.5B (Red Wing, Irish Setter, Thorogood), but 10B Nicks fit perfect. Problem is...I want to order the Moc Toe cream vibram sole boots now...Thanks Weston, love the work boot dissection and analysis, and no, you cannot have them in a year to cut apart!
Miami TSA did not like the screws in the soles of my Builder Pros this morning. They were asking if I put them in. I told them to watch this video. I set off the SLC TSA metal detector on the way here. Baltimore, Las Vegas, Boise and Reno have had no issues so far. The lacing is a bit of a pain when I need to take them off, but worth it. Merry Christmas!
I work construction and it pisses me off when people want me to take off my boots every time I go in and out of their house taking boots like this on and off ten times a day isn't reasonable
@@patrickday4206 I agree. If I had to remove them 5 times a day, I wouldn't be wearing lace up boots. Mine stay on from 7am to 7pm.
Almost 3 years in...boots are still in great shape. In them 5-6 days a week, especially after my feet hurt from long trail runs in running shoes. Ordered moc toe pros last week so I can send my BPs in for new heels. 1964 brown smooth looks insanely bad a$$ after 3 years! Looking forward to receiving my S-ranked moc toe pro, 8" 1964 brown smooth, nicks white soles!
After long hard day at work I had the worst heel and lower back pain for years. Saw doctors, physical therapists, specialists..... to no avail. Then I went to see the guys at Nicks boots and they changed my life. They measured my foot and 6 weeks later my boots came. Not only were they a perfect fit on my feet, but they realigned my body and that agonizing dull lower back ache went away as well. To me it was well worth the price and I’ve only bought three pair over the last 20 years. I won’t hesitate to order another pair when I’m ready.
It’s definitely worth $500. Women spend like $1,200 or way more, on a purse they will only wear a few times with 1 specific outfit. My ex wife had purses she bought that were like $700 and when I was cleaning the closet, they still had the tags! For a boot you’re going to WORK in for years, YES it’s absolutely worth the money!!
12:35 stop explaining yourself Mr Anvil. Keep doing what you are doing. Don’t read to much comments
I find it even better that he does, it shows the genuineness of his work even more
Edwin chattellon needed said!
Great video! Love seeing the inside of boots. As a son of a shoe cobbler, I value quality shoes and like to see what inside of the shoe looks like. Forget the people who say you are selling out. If a company is willing to send you boots to critique them, I say that is a good indication of a company willing to constantly improve their products.
Just got mine, wore them 8 hours or so with zero discomfort. My White's took weeks to be comfortable. Awesome boots! Awesome video!
The music that played when you did the reveal was PERFECT.
Thanks for the vids. I live in New Zealand and we don't have the range of the US so it's great to watch what you do to see the boots out there. At the moment every other week you're putting up a new boot that I'm wanting.... with our exchange rate I might need a second job!
Man that’s a lot of money to cut up lol love the wallet ya made looks great...
I don’t think you’re a sellout because of the way you are being honest about the materials. I agree that the companies that are sponsoring these videos are obviously good quality and they are aware that their boots will be cut in half! The price of these are completely a deal without having the 10% discount - the custom made aspect alone, then they have such a great foundation of leather in the sole. Would love to see you try to rip these apart lol!
You're not a sell out becuase you answer 3 important Thomas Sowell questions.
1. Compared to what?
2. At what cost?
3. What is the hard evidence?
You answer all three each time you do a video regardless of sponsor or no sponsor. Great job! If I had a job that needed Nick's, I'd buy them.
Ive gotta say, this content is such a huge need in things like the sneaker community and informing consumers. Im more into sneakers than boots and I still watch every video lol. What strikes me the most is your humility, even in dealing with the trolls or people who don't know much of anything about leatherwork. You still remain so humble, unbiased and open. That is a huge testament to you and part of the reason It was an easy decision to subscribe a couple months back. Now I just wish you would make more crazy Nike Swoosh Jordan 1 wallets lol Bifold please and you can take my money haha
We should get rid of the idiom “fits like a glove” I’ve never had a pair of gloves that fit well. We should change it to “fits like Nicks”
Ty_Braek I'm a lady with wide palms, long but narrow fingers. Even a lot of xl women's gloves don't fit. I'm about a medium in men's. However, I have the smallest damn wrists, like I can wear children's bracelets.
I have never found a perfect fitting pair of gloves. I'll also never be able to wear vintage gloves, which is a shame, because I love wearing vintage clothing. And vintage glove patterns are damn hard to find.
If you wear leather gloves without a liner, try putting them on, soaking your hands in water, and working them out and oiling afterwards. I had to do that with a set of issued leather gloves that were itchy and did not fit well. The 20 minutes of discomfort of wet gloves hands was well spent when I have to use them. Many many tutorials on how to make gloves fit better.
Vermont Glove Company - high dollar, but quality, fit and durability set them apart. As important, Made in the USA! The gloves can be somewhat custom sized. I have long fingers, but narrow hands. Every pair of off-the-shelf gloves I've ever owned, the thumb web was not deep enough causing pain, torn nail beds in my index finger and thumbs. I contacted Vermont Glove Co and sent them a tracing of my hand, similar to fit sheet for Nick's. VG used different sized glove parts to construct a comfortable, great fitting pair of gloves. I just hope my wife doesn't find out how much I paid for them, but well worth it.
Just ignore the comment section and keep making good content. Take advice from people you trust not us degenerates down here!
I’ve had a pair of White’s for seven years, and a pair of Nick’s almost just like this one for four years. I always recommend these two boots over Red Wings.
Try Franks and JK, these two companies are pretty good too, same people that build Nicks, they just started their own companies, basically the same boot. I have had Whites for about 16 years. Just got a pair of Franks and a pair of JKs to compare. I might get some Nicks soon. Too bad Whites is owned by Lacrosse now.
@@matthewg.garcia9415 I’m interested in Franks’s once they get some more leather option in. I heard that is something they are looking to add.
I am currently waiting for my builder pros, I can say that between Nick's videos helping through the ordering, and your videos helping justify the cost, I cannot wait for them to show up.
I found your channel about 2 weeks ago and by the end of today I think I will have watched all your videos. I thought I knew some things about good boots but your videos have blown my mind in showing how many companies rely on the brand name itself. I really enjoy being truly educated on the products I spend my money on, no matter the item.
anyways keep up the great content, love your honest comments and sarcasm, and toaster too.
You do an amazing job. I sell boots and I've learned so much from watching your videos, so far there has only been a couple we don't carry. I've passed on some of that knowledge to my fellow co workers as well. Thank you sir
Really nice to see some of the high quality items being cut up as well :)! Even better that you are not having to pay for the boot to cut.
Great review and analysis of Cheap v. Quality. Fitting is such a misunderstood thing. I have worn size 10 shoes since High School, in everything from Tennis shoes to cowboy boots. Then I started firefighting and got my first quality boot (sorry, not Nicks, but the other guys that is the opposite of black). Imagine my surprise when I'm told my size is an 8 1/2 - F. What is an 'F' ? She says I have Fred Flintstone feet and that's why I went from a 10 to an 8 1/2. Thanks for this great review.
Not only are the boots ridiculously high quality, but they're also an incredible looking shoe. Labor workers and fashion heads alike love these boots.
They look incredibly feminine
@@JM-bl3ih a thick leather vibram soled rugged rough out leather work boot, I can think of nothing more feminine.
@@JM-bl3ih LMFAOO care to explain how in any imagination these look feminine? Also while you’re at it care to link what you’d consider a “masculine” work boot?
Started fighting fire in CA 25 years ago. My first pair of boots were Redwing but all I heard about were Whites. Over the years we had Nick's and Drew's come along. As soon as I saw the video I stopped looked over at my wife and said 'this guy's cutting a brand new pair of Nick's in half.' She looked at me in disbelief..........
Just wanted to add to my post about something you mentioned.
My wild land boots were mostly a fire season staple, that being said, there main use was 6 months out of the year. I started with Redwing but went to Drew's. After 25 years I only had 3 pair of boots and never got them resoled I still have them sitting in my closet. Now I'm 5 '11' and 160 lbs so I'm not heavy in my boots. Which may explain not having a sole issue, as far as my uppers. I took them down to the leather every year at the end of fire season, some times during fire season and smothered them in mink oil.
These boots are the best you can buy. Work them hard and treat them very well and they will last a long time.
this is one of my favourite channels on UA-cam. And I've only come across your channel 2 months ago.
How did you not talk about the custom fitting process!?! That's the main thing that makes them worth it. They make a wooden last specific to your foot, that they keep in their warehouse, and when you need another pair of boots, or need a rebuild, you don't have to wait.
I think he's very sensitive to the perception that he's shilling for the brands he cuts apart.
What?! That is crazy awesome!
To get a custom shoe or boot made with a custom last for 500 bucks that’s pretty amazing.
4:49
He said he might make an entire video about the fitting process, next time pay more attention to the video before making comments like this
Talking about the stitching on the uppers would have been nice. That heels so thick you'd feel like a giant walking in them!
This type of boot is normally used in forestry so I’m interested in why they’re marketing them as a construction boot.
You definitely aren’t “selling out”,what the hell does that mean anyway!!! Your trying to make money to support numerous things as well as posting great content so don’t listen to to people projecting their negativity! I totally agree with your reviews and genuinely think your a great guy.
I find you very trustworthy. The videos where you've reviewed boots I have personal experience of have been on point and fair. You make boots interesting (!!!) and have made me consider spending more to GET more! Best of luck!
Placed an order after watching this and bingeing your other videos. Thanks for the hard work.
Never heard of this brand until now. Love that they are made in the N.A. They look amazing and worth more than the $500. Or maybe this is exactly what i would like in a boot that price and most of the others are over priced. Hopefully you will do a part 2 & literally tear it apart and show the quality of the leather.
Gonna check out the link for Nick's.
Also check out Whites boots and Frank's boots. Also both in Spokane.
West Coast Shoe Company (Wesco) also another US West coast boot maker that make great quality boots.
R Mayer I got a pair of frank’s on order. Good people.
Fox hound just received my franks, they are beasts!
Will buy these in a heartbeat if I can find them in Sweden. Never been so impressed before. Oh, and as some others have already said, would've liked much more in depth video about these boots, at least 5 more minutes.
They can probably ship to Sweden. Want their office number?
It’s a two part episode don’t worry
I'm as disappointed as you would be, I think. Shipping to the UK is over $200, which unfortunately makes it too far. I'm sad I can't experience this boot.
@@AgentBuggy47 dang I'm really sorry for that.
You missed how the boot is attached to the outsole.. looks like a Goodyear welt but it also has like screws at the bottom?? Are those decorative only?
I actually didn't think of that. Good point
and where is dissasembly of layers?
Those nails are legit, and yes that is a Goodyear welt. Woodland firefighters often go to brands like Nicks, Whites, Franks and JK boots for high quality.
yes its so the outsole doesnt fall off goodyear welting isnt enough for firefighters because of the heat
those are constructed with double row stitchdown, and no the SCREWS were placed to support the outsole from detaching when heat(fire) compromised the adhesives to bond. and also to anticipate when stitching fails.
Awesome review. I only buy Red Wing Heritage and I have one pair of Nicks and wow! Nicks are the best period. My only complaint is the long wait after you place an order.
I really liked that you mentioned the terms of the sponsorship before you started. I’ve always wondered why many people don’t do that when I suspect they’re still being objective. Very clever
Damn those look amazing, I think they're worth the price for sure
When you buy a boot like that, it's like getting married. It's for life.
Can you do hiking/mountain climbing boots? Brands like "hanwag", "meindl" or "lowa". I really love them for walking long distances on rougher terrain.
Would love to see this as well!
Tell you from start lowa is absymal quality in every way
Yeah, Hanwag and Meindl are amazing, I own hiking boots from both. I'd love for him to cut open some Hanwag Tatra Top GTXs. They are my go-to boots for hard tours in rough terrain and they are absolute units.
I’ve been wearing a pair of Builder Pro Nicks boots with composite safety toe and custom uppers for a year now. That’s six days a week as a flatbed truck driver, loading, strapping, tarping, and driving roughly 16 hours a day. They are the best I’ve ever worn. Stock boots never fit me correctly, as I have very narrow heels and ankles. I like them so much that I can’t stand to be parted from them when I send them in for resoling. So I recently ordered a pair of the Hotshots just so I can have them well broken in by the time the first ones need to be sent off. For me, the custom fit upper (slight upcharge ~$75 on the first pair and half that on the second pair) was totally worth the higher price over a $300 pair of stock boots that don’t fit well.
I bought a pair of Nick's handmade boots about a year ago and they're still in pretty good shape compared to Red wings, which I would have to buy a pair every year, so they're totally worth the money. They're made really well.
I think that your claim of "companies that sponsor me, send me quality products" is true and they want to stand behind it. Nicks currently has a banner at the top of their web page thanking you for cutting their product in half!! That's so rad!
this craziness would be proud to own a pair!
It would be interesting if you included some more information on the brand! Like how it developed, what‘s the boot‘s original purpose was... They often have such interesting histories. :)
Google
Maybe in an initial impression video of the boot/shoe. Do a brief overview/history on the company and or style boot/shoe.
The founder of the company, Nick, worked for another high end boot maker, Whites Boots. He thought he could do better and started his own company. They specialize in boots made for wild land fire fighters.
Man people can only express the hate, you’re no sell out, you just helped me make a wise decision on purchasing quality vs quantity and I thank you for that. Maybe haters should cut there boots in half so they can see how their own are made compared to the quality you see in other brands who’s name you recognize a reliable product from.
I have bought 2 pairs of these boots so far, they are great, the first one I bought, I wore it for about 5 years, it is still healthy ... I suggest you buy it
I would love to see the break in process in something like this
Only think I'm skeptic about its the leather shank, how much weight can it stand, the longevity argument is good, but imagine the stress those things are subjected to
Luis Figueiredo de Mesquita Firefighters have used these boots with leather shanks forever, as metal shanks can heat up too much from walking in burning or burnt areas. I think those guys are as hard on a boot as one can be, so leather shanks are proven.
I had the same question but I called all of the big handmade boot makers in the US and they use leather shanks in their heavy duty boots, so they must work ha ha
Oh that thick it'll last. I'd actually rather have a leather shank as he mentioned, it'll bend with your steps.
Once more leather surprises with its structural integrity haha
My pair of Nicks are just about 5 years old now, other than a resole they are still in great shape, still very much supported and stiff in the shank and arch. I actually scrubbed them with some simple green and oiled them up and the guys I work with (commercial construction) thought I had bought new boots. These should last another 5 to 7 years before needing a rebuild and I figure I'll have saved 4 or 500 on buying new boots every 1 1/2 to 2 years. Just my 5 cents on the matter take it for what its worth.
You should cut open either the Danner RATS or Marine Expeditionary boots, they are bout $300 new, see if they are justified at that price point when compared to Red Wings and Nicks, would be interesting
Apples and oranges my friend. The requirements of a combat boot are very different than a "work" boot like this. Weight, moisture retention, breathability, steel shank, affordability in bulk, etc are all factors that high price work boots don't need to account for. I spent a dozen years in various combat boots around the world, and no work boot I've tried has the same characteristics or adaptability as most of my combat boots.
I am currently waiting for my builder pro pair. I wish I could get one of those wallets you're going to make from them too.
Great video, Weston! Really appreciate the effort you put into this years ago. Excited for the $100/mo of anticipation for their arrival!
Seem like a very honest individual telling us how you see it period. Thanks for your professional opinion 👍