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 was wondering if you could do a comparison of these Nicks boots and whites smoke jumpers. I would be curious to see whites cut view and construction compared to nicks. Thanks!
With cheaper boots though, you have a better chance of getting a good fit. You can try them on before buying. With handmade boots it's more like pick a size and roll the dice. I intend to try buying a decent pair of boots eventually, none of companies of this grade have showrooms near me (and most only have one or two in the world if they are custom/handmade)
It'd be an expensive video but I'd like to see whats inside any pair of Rick Owens footwear. Particularly tractor boots or geobasket. See if the huge price tag makes any sense from a quality and craftsmanship standpoint
I really like the video. The quality of those boots are incredible! I just subscribed and smashed bell! If you need a construction worker to do a review! I would love to try a pair for a day or week. I live in pain from being on feet all day painting and cleaning car dealerships at night to just make ends meet!!!!!👍🦶🙏
I bought my first pair of nicks custom boots in 2000 wildland firefighting and they are still holding up now I have multiple pairs and from few different companies but you can order a safety toe it is composite not steel but they are bad ass boots
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
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!
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 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 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
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 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 🤷🏾♀️
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
@@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.
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!!
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!
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
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.
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.
"feminine" lol who cares? The reason it's done is that a heel like that would be too heavy if it were straight all the way down. Just too much material, so gotta taper it.
UsernameInvalidTHIS technically it’s heel strike. The angle is added to catch heel on impact in a more natural way. A heel this high with a straight back has the tendency to hit the ground at a harsh angle causing it to be a bit more unstable. While there is added weight savings as you mentioned, the angled heel also has additional functionality.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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...🤔🙂
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.
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.
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...
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.
These look extremely well made and high quality, but that heel looks like a woman's boot, I'd have the impression of walking on high heels. With that said I will look into their other boots :)
Speedytrip that’s a woodsman heel it’s used a lot for logging boots. And high heels back in the day we’re designed for men’s use just like make up and wigs were.
You would be surprised how comfortable they are to stand in , however if your a tree trimmer and climbing in spikes that heal is made for you , now if you were a iron worker you would go for a wedge sole , proper tool for the proper job . But also wildland fire fighters need the height and a all leather boot to keep your feet cool when walking on hot coals.
At first, i thought so too, and the trim on the false tongue didn't do it for me either. Then it started to grow on me. I've got a pair of Frank's Boots, and they're the most comfortable thing i've ever worn.
Heels wear out faster (you step with your heel first), so you need more material so it lasts longer. That and it could be put in horse stirrups as well as climbing ladders. It is better for posture, digging into the ground, and it's generally a traditional work boot silhouette. The only people who call boots like these "like women's boots" are people who have never worked in the woods or any manual labor that require hard wearing boots. It's usually men who try to sound more masculine but have never done a damn thing worthy of needing quality tools for hard work. It has nothing to do with "man" or "woman", you are just weak. I am a logger, and there are women who can be out in the woods as well and are as good of a sawyer as anyone else, it doesn't matter what the shape of the boot is if it's the best thing for the job. If you've got a problem with your masculinity you should fix it before going for utility.
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.
How about a video on Chippewa logger boots. They are the “sweet spot” for the perfect work boot. About $350 retail and almost bullet proof. Easily going years before needing repair. Just my opinion, Chippewa boots are the best by far.
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.
If your a serious labor worker or a union electrician who stands on latters all day going up and down then these aren't for you. Trust me.. they are worth every penny but boot makers like these really should try them on and work a typical 8-10hr day doing exactly the TYPE of work these are made for. These are not meant for standing or working on ladders comfortably for hours at a time... I don't care who you are or your size and shape, doesn't matter. The heal is too tall, thick and the surface area to great and stiff for rungs on ladders . Your soles will ache after a couple hours. Boots like these are linesmen style boots meant for climbing on pegs and locking your heal in place for better support. Another thing if you drive a stick shift vehicle to work with boots like this you will hurt your knee kicking down the clutch over time. Nearly 4 pounds of weight on the base of your feet isn't healthy for your knees after a period of time. I had the red wing linesmen style boots when I was a cable tech climbing poles and they where perfect on the pegs. But climbing up ladders, stairs and crawling in crawl spaces or in the ceilings are all difficult with 4 pounds of weight on each foot. I wore boots like this for 3 yrs when I was a cable tech doing residential work and service. I worked 12hr days, drove stick, climbed and crawled with boots like this. ultimately it cost me one of my knees as my left knee gave out and I tore my meniscus from my lifestyle and from kicking down the clutch all day driving from work order to work order. I'm not bashing Nick's, Redwing or any other high quality boot maker, what im saying is boot manufactures need to do a lot more research on how their products actually perform out in the field for a specific trade. If your a linemen or do a lot of work in a fixed position like on poles or standing in place this heavy style of boot is good for you. If you plan on doing any actual work where your knees have to constantly battle with the weight on your feet then you will only cause yourself heartache in the future while looking good in your boots. Again I'm not bashing Nick's or redwing, I just stumbled on this video and there is no one in the comments speaking from experience like I am when it comes to doing actual hard labor in these style of boots so I decided to speak up. You can say what you want, they are comfortable, tanks.... yes... but its 4 pounds of weight your knee has to lift up everytime your knee takes a step or moves for that matter. I would also like to add when my knee tore... I was 23, in perfect shape like a navy seal, ate perfectly, drank a gallon of water a day and slept 8-10hrs. So my injury wasn't a result of poor health.. just a poor judgment call because I wanted a 9inch hand made boot with an elevated heal, steel toe and shank. No one told me that was over kill for my line of work and no manufacture does. Thats what I'm getting at. End rant. excuse my grammar
i totally see your point, but is there a possibility that it might just be the wrong pair of the job? you could probably talk to someone about your needs if youre going with a handmade boots
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.
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.
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.
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.
It’s simple,, you get what you pay for!! Going cheap ends up costing more in the long run! Good video! Awesome boots!! No, I do not own a pair of Nicks boots. I do own a pair of JKs. I will be owning a pair of Nicks as well very shortly! Anything handmade with that kinda of quality is the only way to go!! Good video man!
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.
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!
Imagine spending $500 on a pair of ordinary leather boots. Meanwhile I got fucking hand crafted Italian dainese motorcycle boots for less. I've used $500 work boots before, had to glue them together after the first few months, not worth. Edit: holy fuck this boot has NAILS going into the foot with only 1 layer of leather stopping the nail going into your foot! I can't believe this is even legal.
First off, Nicks boots are hand crafted. There is zero completely automated processes involved in making them. Go watch the video in their webpage. These aren't ordinary boots. They also literally craft the boot to your exact specifications. If they don't have a last that matches yours, they make a new one and keep it in their collection for you or anyone that has the same foot profile. As for the nails, that's how these boots have been made for a long time. Decades of reliability
i mean..I disagree entirely calling $150-$250 boots..Cheap. While I completely agree that more expensive boots can absolutely justify their money. I've had plenty of $150-$250 pairs of boots last for many years and I wouldn't call them cheap. Cheap is sub $100 garbage you get at Wal-mart/Amazon.
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.
Logger style boots don't work for construction. I'm a Union Glazier or commercial glass worker. Glazier's and Ironworkers have to walk iron and on the edge of buildings. Heels are not ideal for these situations like climbing up and down ladders. You want a flat sole so there is no chance of getting the heal caught on anything while up high in dangerous situations. Almost everyone wears mock toe boots. Only Lineman and some Electritons wear this style. I'm not sure why?The heal makes you clumsy and suspect to fall. 23 years I've been buying Redwings.
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.
Nice enough boots; however, for my work site I need CSA approved footwear which those are not (steel or composite toe cap and "shank"/all sole. aka full on safety boots). (said before looking at their website to see if they offer those options) An awesome boot cut video :)
Yep Nicks are a breed of boot originating in Spokane WA. That particular boot is what makes up their bread and butter. It's a logger boot used by loggers (duh) but are also the main boot for federal wildland firefighters in the entire western United States. The original was made by Whites which has been recently bought out by Lacrosse and I think the main parent company is from Japan (Lacrosse). So most pros who were diehard Whites purists have gravitated to Nicks (among other Spokane makers) even more now that Whites is no longer family owned. (Side story, Nicks founders started out as Whites employees). Nicks is by far the largest family owned Spokane boot company (aside from Whites which is now owned by a large corporate machine). The former general manager of Nicks is now the owner of Franks (his name is Frank) who also makes the same "Whites" style boots. Another company is JK (which were founded by former employees of Frank) So these Spokane boots have a long lineage and are decedents of the original Whites. Sorry for the rambling and long history, federal wildland firefighters are boot culture fanatics and our lives revolve around these Spokane boot companies. Great video!
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
Great video, Weston! Really appreciate the effort you put into this years ago. Excited for the $100/mo of anticipation for their arrival!
Worth the money.
There are companies who sell questionable sneakers for thousands ... these boots are clearly worth it
I was wondering if you could do a comparison of these Nicks boots and whites smoke jumpers. I would be curious to see whites cut view and construction compared to nicks. Thanks!
Amazing glad your calling out these cheaper big brands
With cheaper boots though, you have a better chance of getting a good fit. You can try them on before buying. With handmade boots it's more like pick a size and roll the dice.
I intend to try buying a decent pair of boots eventually, none of companies of this grade have showrooms near me (and most only have one or two in the world if they are custom/handmade)
It'd be an expensive video but I'd like to see whats inside any pair of Rick Owens footwear. Particularly tractor boots or geobasket. See if the huge price tag makes any sense from a quality and craftsmanship standpoint
Boot murderer,you at it again.Defenceless and innocent boots,but still you did it.I'm going to cry now😭.
Awesome video bro!! I love your channel buddy
How about a video of Nicks vs whites vs Wesco
I really like the video. The quality of those boots are incredible! I just subscribed and smashed bell! If you need a construction worker to do a review! I would love to try a pair for a day or week. I live in pain from being on feet all day painting and cleaning car dealerships at night to just make ends meet!!!!!👍🦶🙏
Why is a big heel good for work boots? My instinct would tell me that a flatter profile is better
who is winner ,name plz ,
But boots is really amizing ,,
I like hand made ,boots
It hurts me alittle to see a work boot torn apart cause I live in my work boots so I’m pretty attached to boots
is it really a work boot without a hard toe?
I bought my first pair of nicks custom boots in 2000 wildland firefighting and they are still holding up now I have multiple pairs and from few different companies but you can order a safety toe it is composite not steel but they are bad ass boots
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!
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!
"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
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.
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.
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 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.
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
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 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?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!!
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.
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
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 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.
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.
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.
Something about how the heel gets narrower makes it look feminine. I just don't like the look of it from the side.
Idk, makes me think of cowboys tbh
Looks like Mary Poppins would wear them.
"feminine"
lol who cares? The reason it's done is that a heel like that would be too heavy if it were straight all the way down. Just too much material, so gotta taper it.
UsernameInvalidTHIS technically it’s heel strike. The angle is added to catch heel on impact in a more natural way. A heel this high with a straight back has the tendency to hit the ground at a harsh angle causing it to be a bit more unstable. While there is added weight savings as you mentioned, the angled heel also has additional functionality.
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
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.
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.
well done their site is down because of the trafic you generate
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.
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.
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!
Man that’s a lot of money to cut up lol love the wallet ya made looks great...
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!
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)
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.
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!
The heel hight is so much higher than the forefoot height, just wonder how comfortable that is?
I feel like your dealing with something that has to be a perfect design in order to get that height to work comfortably and this may be it.
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
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.
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...🤔🙂
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.
Weston, your integrity is a beautiful thing. Cuddle Toaster for me! I watch every video you put out😎
Jessica Seyfried 🙀
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.
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...
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.
You are not a sell out, you are just working, doing what you enjoy, which is cutting footwear in half.
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.
These look extremely well made and high quality, but that heel looks like a woman's boot, I'd have the impression of walking on high heels. With that said I will look into their other boots :)
Speedytrip that’s a woodsman heel it’s used a lot for logging boots. And high heels back in the day we’re designed for men’s use just like make up and wigs were.
You would be surprised how comfortable they are to stand in , however if your a tree trimmer and climbing in spikes that heal is made for you , now if you were a iron worker you would go for a wedge sole , proper tool for the proper job . But also wildland fire fighters need the height and a all leather boot to keep your feet cool when walking on hot coals.
At first, i thought so too, and the trim on the false tongue didn't do it for me either. Then it started to grow on me. I've got a pair of Frank's Boots, and they're the most comfortable thing i've ever worn.
Heels wear out faster (you step with your heel first), so you need more material so it lasts longer. That and it could be put in horse stirrups as well as climbing ladders. It is better for posture, digging into the ground, and it's generally a traditional work boot silhouette. The only people who call boots like these "like women's boots" are people who have never worked in the woods or any manual labor that require hard wearing boots. It's usually men who try to sound more masculine but have never done a damn thing worthy of needing quality tools for hard work. It has nothing to do with "man" or "woman", you are just weak. I am a logger, and there are women who can be out in the woods as well and are as good of a sawyer as anyone else, it doesn't matter what the shape of the boot is if it's the best thing for the job. If you've got a problem with your masculinity you should fix it before going for utility.
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.
How about a video on Chippewa logger boots. They are the “sweet spot” for the perfect work boot. About $350 retail and almost bullet proof. Easily going years before needing repair. Just my opinion, Chippewa boots are the best by far.
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.
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.
If your a serious labor worker or a union electrician who stands on latters all day going up and down then these aren't for you. Trust me.. they are worth every penny but boot makers like these really should try them on and work a typical 8-10hr day doing exactly the TYPE of work these are made for. These are not meant for standing or working on ladders comfortably for hours at a time... I don't care who you are or your size and shape, doesn't matter. The heal is too tall, thick and the surface area to great and stiff for rungs on ladders . Your soles will ache after a couple hours. Boots like these are linesmen style boots meant for climbing on pegs and locking your heal in place for better support. Another thing if you drive a stick shift vehicle to work with boots like this you will hurt your knee kicking down the clutch over time. Nearly 4 pounds of weight on the base of your feet isn't healthy for your knees after a period of time. I had the red wing linesmen style boots when I was a cable tech climbing poles and they where perfect on the pegs. But climbing up ladders, stairs and crawling in crawl spaces or in the ceilings are all difficult with 4 pounds of weight on each foot. I wore boots like this for 3 yrs when I was a cable tech doing residential work and service. I worked 12hr days, drove stick, climbed and crawled with boots like this. ultimately it cost me one of my knees as my left knee gave out and I tore my meniscus from my lifestyle and from kicking down the clutch all day driving from work order to work order. I'm not bashing Nick's, Redwing or any other high quality boot maker, what im saying is boot manufactures need to do a lot more research on how their products actually perform out in the field for a specific trade. If your a linemen or do a lot of work in a fixed position like on poles or standing in place this heavy style of boot is good for you. If you plan on doing any actual work where your knees have to constantly battle with the weight on your feet then you will only cause yourself heartache in the future while looking good in your boots. Again I'm not bashing Nick's or redwing, I just stumbled on this video and there is no one in the comments speaking from experience like I am when it comes to doing actual hard labor in these style of boots so I decided to speak up. You can say what you want, they are comfortable, tanks.... yes... but its 4 pounds of weight your knee has to lift up everytime your knee takes a step or moves for that matter. I would also like to add when my knee tore... I was 23, in perfect shape like a navy seal, ate perfectly, drank a gallon of water a day and slept 8-10hrs. So my injury wasn't a result of poor health.. just a poor judgment call because I wanted a 9inch hand made boot with an elevated heal, steel toe and shank. No one told me that was over kill for my line of work and no manufacture does. Thats what I'm getting at. End rant. excuse my grammar
i totally see your point, but is there a possibility that it might just be the wrong pair of the job? you could probably talk to someone about your needs if youre going with a handmade boots
What would you recommend?
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.
When you buy a boot like that, it's like getting married. It's for life.
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.
But the real question is: where is Toaster?
prowokator we gotta get cat and pup videos on the regular!
In Europe a pair of boots of that design is called a women’s footwear.
Lol
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.
I’m getting a pair . I’m going to drive to the showroom in Spokane and get it fitted . And I’m excited
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.
I feel like you kind of glossed over these ones. Iike breaking down the parts further and you didn't really talk more about the construction.
I forgot to mention this will be a two parter ha ha
Rose Anvil maybe put a lil “pt. 1” in the title to clear up the confusion? Love the vids 👍
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.
It’s simple,, you get what you pay for!! Going cheap ends up costing more in the long run! Good video! Awesome boots!! No, I do not own a pair of Nicks boots. I do own a pair of JKs. I will be owning a pair of Nicks as well very shortly! Anything handmade with that kinda of quality is the only way to go!! Good video man!
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.
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!
Damn those look amazing, I think they're worth the price for sure
Imagine spending $500 on a pair of ordinary leather boots.
Meanwhile I got fucking hand crafted Italian dainese motorcycle boots for less.
I've used $500 work boots before, had to glue them together after the first few months, not worth.
Edit: holy fuck this boot has NAILS going into the foot with only 1 layer of leather stopping the nail going into your foot!
I can't believe this is even legal.
First off, Nicks boots are hand crafted. There is zero completely automated processes involved in making them.
Go watch the video in their webpage. These aren't ordinary boots. They also literally craft the boot to your exact specifications. If they don't have a last that matches yours, they make a new one and keep it in their collection for you or anyone that has the same foot profile. As for the nails, that's how these boots have been made for a long time. Decades of reliability
i mean..I disagree entirely calling $150-$250 boots..Cheap. While I completely agree that more expensive boots can absolutely justify their money. I've had plenty of $150-$250 pairs of boots last for many years and I wouldn't call them cheap. Cheap is sub $100 garbage you get at Wal-mart/Amazon.
Don't let the vocal minority get you down. Most of us are just here for your cat ;)
Bad Rongo All hail the Mighty Toast!!!!!!
they're nice and all but what's up with the height of that heel? Are they work boots or stripper heels?
I believe it is a logger type heel
@A M what club do you dance at?
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.
Logger style boots don't work for construction. I'm a Union Glazier or commercial glass worker. Glazier's and Ironworkers have to walk iron and on the edge of buildings. Heels are not ideal for these situations like climbing up and down ladders. You want a flat sole so there is no chance of getting the heal caught on anything while up high in dangerous situations. Almost everyone wears mock toe boots. Only Lineman and some Electritons wear this style. I'm not sure why?The heal makes you clumsy and suspect to fall. 23 years I've been buying Redwings.
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 would like to see a video of ordering a custom pair of Nicks...
You order me some and I'll hold the camera
Naked feet are disgusting but some people would pay good money to see them. Strange isn’t it
Nice enough boots; however, for my work site I need CSA approved footwear which those are not (steel or composite toe cap and "shank"/all sole. aka full on safety boots). (said before looking at their website to see if they offer those options)
An awesome boot cut video :)
I believe Nicks makes both a steel toe and composite toe it might even be Kevlar I’ll have to check out their website to be sure
Yep Nicks are a breed of boot originating in Spokane WA. That particular boot is what makes up their bread and butter. It's a logger boot used by loggers (duh) but are also the main boot for federal wildland firefighters in the entire western United States. The original was made by Whites which has been recently bought out by Lacrosse and I think the main parent company is from Japan (Lacrosse). So most pros who were diehard Whites purists have gravitated to Nicks (among other Spokane makers) even more now that Whites is no longer family owned. (Side story, Nicks founders started out as Whites employees). Nicks is by far the largest family owned Spokane boot company (aside from Whites which is now owned by a large corporate machine). The former general manager of Nicks is now the owner of Franks (his name is Frank) who also makes the same "Whites" style boots. Another company is JK (which were founded by former employees of Frank) So these Spokane boots have a long lineage and are decedents of the original Whites. Sorry for the rambling and long history, federal wildland firefighters are boot culture fanatics and our lives revolve around these Spokane boot companies. Great video!
You should cut up jk boots and compare them
I want a pair to pretend I'm a steampunk mechanic on a giant American airship, not a scrawny british artist.