My first pair of Nick's arrives this week, I obsessed over them after watching Rose Anvil's video. I feel like I made the right choice by going with Nick's. Thank you for putting this video together and I truly hope you make a ton of money with this video and replace both boots you sacrificed for "science"
@@CarlMurawski They are here and I don't know if I can spend money on any other boots other than dressier office type boots. The videos are very helpful to get someone's interest but until you handle them you just don't get it. I love the heels, the beautiful layers of unfinished leather... I just keep staring at them same way I stare my watch (love my Tudor 58!) The Vibram soles are quite interesting as well, completely different feel than Dainite soles. They are very roomy as well, probably a desired feature for those who stand on their feet all day. So far I am beyond pleased with these boots! Thank you again for introducing great quality products to folks like me!
20 minute video, but I only needed to listen to the first 40 seconds. Once he said Whites was owned by an overseas company and Nick's is still privately owned I was done listening.
I think both are quality leather but Nicks is American and seems to still be interested in the product. Once a company goes overseas, I have less interest. One reason I bought Origin boots.
I tried to wear Thorogoods but unfortunately they aren't quite wide enough for me. Most folks recommend Thorogood for extra width, White's are one of few companies that go wider.
thanks for this! I got really excited when you said that White's has women's sizes, but the vast majority of their collection doesn't go smaller than a 7, and I wear a size 5. Nick's stock boots go all the way down to 4, so they have my vote :)
Red Wing has been too commercial and the quality is not what it was back in the days.. I always see the $$$ when I hear the "Red Wing" name.. I own a lot of handcrafted American boots. None of 'em are "Red Wing" ng"..
i think my dealbreaker between the two was the fact that whites is owned by some other big conglomerate, and i dislike that. i would rather have a smaller company like nicks. i'd rather help someone live out their american dream so to speak.
That turns off a lot of people. It’s tough because once a company grows to a certain size they can definitely benefit from being owned by a larger firm. Then again worldwide brands like Carhartt have managed to keep private, so what do I know?
Bought my first pair of Whites in 1972 , Working as a lineman building a powerline between Aspen and Vail Co. Those were their Over the calf lineman boots . Hardest work I've ever done , working at altitudes up to 12,000 ft . Gaffing up 90' poles . Couldn't have done the work without them . Had them rebuilt many times and logged and built trail in them . Loved those boots and have always had a set of White's since then . 50 years kids . Just got my Whites Packers back from a rebuild , probably be buried in them . I'd like a pair of Nicks smoke jumpers but spend most of my boot budget on high quality motocross boots .
Carl Murawski on that note, in the video on the nicks builder pro, did adding inserts to your boots affect the way it fits or cradles your foot and can you wear the boots without your inserts and not affect comfort, also can you use 3/4 length inserts, I am in the process of building by boots and included the ability to add inserts
Nicks all the way, bought the builder pros when I was 18, going on 21 with over 6000 work hours, they still look great, went with the soft gummy vibram sole and haven’t needed to resole it yet. Break in time took 4 months of part time work at a UPS warehouse. Not a real heavy guy, but now they feel like slippers and have made my posture confuse many as former military.
On the MP, the lack of stitch-through on the cap toe prevents toe rub against stitching which would be worse given the low profile of the toe. I noticed the interior of the White's MP is very comfortable, if not for the narrow toebox.
I was a Smokejumper for 20 years and only wore White's but I knew very well about the Nick's brand. In fact I've probably have a hundred hours of conversations about firefighting boots with all the firefighters I've met (that's one of the conversations we have along with what is the best knife; Buck, Gerber, Swiss Army, etc. ect.). So when I needed a new pair I went for the Nick's. Best boots I've ever owned and even though I've been off the fire-line for 5 years I'm thinking about getting another pair for more casual work and hiking. I don't need them but feel like I want to give Nick's another shout out for the quality they provided for all those years.
@@CarlMurawski yes very interesting assessment and I completely agree. It's all about the product that suits your needs. That's why there are so many levels of products out there. Personally I went with the Urban Loggers from Nick's simply due to the ability to customize them to be my own.
My god man you have committed Treason! Great Video it’s always great to see the PNW get props in Boot Making, I remember watching your Iron Ranger boots and think man This guy needs a Pair Of Nicks or Whites boots. I would like to suggest Wesco as another Option they make some Bad@ss Engineer Boots.
Thank you for making this… I had been leaning towards Nick’s anyways, but the clincher was two things: 1) White’s being owned by a big conglomerate. 2) The fact that the toe cap on the White’s was not truly double stitched… anything done should be done right… attention to detail… Again, thank you for making this, it helped me make a final decision!
Nick's makes an really great boot no doubt about that, but if you care about real customer service from a small family owned business JK'S is better and in my opinion they make a better boot, also their leather is thicker than any other name there in Spokane, I went there just to check it all of them out, but then again you can't go wrong with Nick's I just think JK's are better
Also if you go to the whites store they usually gives you a 10% off and free false tongues but you have to go to the store to get it as many times as you go
@@javierhernandez215 I purchased a pair of new jk boots last year and their stitching was so sloppy I was extremely disappointed, the leather was extremely supple and made for an easy break in period. I think they have gotten better since, judging from some pictures they post on Instagram
@@arthurbarrios888 thanks man I been really debating if Jk can make me a boot identical as the bounty hunter from White's i think it's best to just wait or order from White's, although my Jk work boots are really well built.
@@javierhernandez215 jk definitely makes a beautiful boot, but then again whites makes a badass bounty hunter. I recently got their bounty hunter in burgundy horsehide with liner and that good stuff, just bitchin’ man. You can go wrong, they even have 20-25% off if you order through bakers right now
Very painful to watch but informative. I currently own 2 pairs of whites boots and love them but I still wanna try Nick's whenever I get enough money to buy a pair so im always interested in seeing how the compare against each other. Thanks for taking the time to make this video and sacrificing over a thousand dollars for our entertainment. 👍😃
I lived in Spokane and I own several pair of these boots. The Nick's builder pro is not the equivalent to the White's Smoke Jumper. The Nicks Hot Shot is the competitor.The White's SmokeJumper and the Builder Pro are tougher than anything I know of...except the HotShot. When putting my feet in a pair of HotShots the difference was dramatic, it isn't even close. It is NOT for everyone, Your break in time for all of the above will be in months, probably a month longer for the Hotshot than the other two.
Bought some custom nicks boots a couple years ago, the left boot was to short and the right boot had bulge near he ball of the foot. Tried to do a long slow break in, close to a year, and they never worked. Nicks offered to rebuild at my cost....nope, $550 down the drain...
Yeah, while we are in the business of making a customer for life, it can be tricky to resolve fit issues under warranty when too much time has passed. In your case, it looks like you purchased in June of 2017 and then reached out to us in June of 2019 about fit concerns. We try to handle issues that are outside of our warranty period on a case by case basis. Many times, we will do a full rebuild at a resole price, etc. I am sorry things didn't work out.
2 great boot manufacturers! Been great learning about these brands as we open up in the US. Love the history and following they’ve created. Great video
I’m ….(was) leaning hard toward nicks from 26 years of Red Wing because they’re getting away from their old tradition of quality. I walk mad miles, climb crazy amounts of metal ladder cages and spend a fair amount of time standing on grating as a qc in refineries. My boots get nasty stuff on them and absolutely must be water proof. EDIT: After 22 weeks of waiting and lame excuses I canceled my order from nick’s boots. Any boot is worthless if I never get them. I just refurbished my 2408 Redwings I’ve been wearing for six years. I truly wanted the boots but even that and 650plus dollars wasn’t enough to get them on my feet.
I completely understand that they make them to order, but this is why I never ordered a pair. I don’t want to pay $600 for a pair of shoes and have to wait 6months for them and may still not even come yet. I’d rather buy an equivalent boot from a store that has them in stock or come in a month or so. That’s just me though.
I' stopped buying white's when they sold out to Japan. I like the Nick's but they're so tough that they're a bear to break in. I had a pair for 4 years and they still hurt my feet. The White's never did that.
The main issue here is price. If nicks makes a boot more heavy duty than whites for the same price, that’s a problem. Whites can’t just downgrade the toughness of a boot (because they think you don’t need it) and charge the same price as the better built pair.
Great dive in. Whats the weight difference, a weigh in would be cool..Heavy boots fatigue u faster moving and climbing around. I wear boots for work and play like many do.
Nooooo!! You did not need to cut them. Nicks and Whites have videos of how they make the boots. Every step, construction method, and material is in those videos. You did not need to sacrifice these wonderful boots. Oh it hurts so much😢
Now Carl... When Are you going to cut up a Builder pro and a Smoke jumper? We assume they Are built the same but until they are tore apart we won't know P.S if you don't do it I'll survive I don't condone boot cruelty 😂 Another great video as always brother!
Reviewers need to stop saying “custom made” or “custom built” in regard to fit because it’s very misleading. While the companies do make boots to order based on custom preferences, this has nothing to do with the comfort of the boot being custom made to your foot. They offer a custom “fitting” which means that they will look at your measurements and your tracings and recommend a size based on that. They MAY suggest two different sized boots, but for the vast majority they will just send you a size off the rack. It should also be noted that Whites doesn’t make nearly as many (if any) excuses on their website or UA-cam videos for a dip on quality control as Nicks does. A $580 pair of boots should not have really any of the issues that Nicks claims are normal of a handmade boot. A boot being handmade should be the epitome of quality craftsmanship, not be an excuse for why there are so many mistakes.
Sorry Carl have loved your channel for years the first time it’s been hard to watch destroying these amazing works of craftsmanship. Let’s leave this to rose anvil for next time please buddy!
I ended up ordering the White's because their lead time is 8 -12 weeks as opposed to Nick's 16 - 20 weeks. Yes, it seems Nick's is built SLIGHTLY tougher, but both are more than tough enough for the demands of my job, anyway.
Another awesome video! You've seen my dressjumpers, but this was a really well rounded unbiased video! Now im just curious, does John Lofgren do customs? I'm wanting some pull on/engineer style boots and im eying some wescos, unless I could get something in whites since they already have my fit sheet lol.
If my Iron Rangers ever fail - and they show no signs of it after 6 years of near daily use - the NIck’s Americana will be the replacement, based on your reviews.
After watching your video, you should compare apples with apples vs the smoke jumpers not the casual, I looked at my whites about the double stitching that must be something new they are doing because the stitching goes through on all rows of my Whites, or its because it is a causal you are comparing
I see you cutting the boots in half and I'm screaming nooooo!!! But I thank you because you are truly providing a service to those of us who choose to buy these footwear. I am waiting for my next 8'Urban lager which I got in the Brown waxed flesh, with a 55 last composite toe and the Honey vibram souls.
@@rogerr.8507 the sole of Hawthorne is not attached with screws like the. You are getting a $300 factory fit boot instead of a $500 custom fit boot but after wearing the hawthorns all summer the far outshine an boots that are ready to wear right out of the box. My boots still have a few summers left in them where as the boots my coworkers bought were eaten by the rugged white mountians in a summer.
And later that day, Carl's wife says: "Honey. We're going to the neighbors for dinner. Why don't you wear those Whites MP or Nick's Americana I bought you?" Carl: 😳
Thanks for getting me started in the Bison's Carl!! Now I'm off to order the Travelers in Burgundy!! Dang you Brother!! Haha, gonna be a looong 20 week wait!! Great video Brother!
“What if I wanna use casual looking boots as work boots?” That’s why I go with Nick’s. For my job it’s a coin toss if I’m standing doing warehouse work or driving for deliveries but I will say the days I’m standing my feet basically are screaming at the end of the day. I wanted to get red wings but I watched UA-cam videos of people who work much harder jobs than I do say that they tested both boots for about a month each and 100% of them say if you have the money get the Nick’s.
Good info. I've been wearing White's and Nicks boots for years. Currently I own a pair of Nicks Hot Shots, White's lace to toe Smoke Jumpers, White's Packers and Whites Smoke Jumpers that were rebuilt by JK Boots. JK Boots did an excellent job on the rebuild. I think anyone looking to spend $500+ on any pair of boots should do as much research as they can because it's a big investment. Having said that I think the construction and durability of a pair of Nicks or White's boots is exceptional. However, I have seen some of the White's boots come out of the factory over the last few years that don't appear to match up to the quality of the older White's. Nicks quality has not changed from the older to new boots. Food for thought.
I recently purchased two pairs of their custom smoke jumpers and the quality hasn’t changed, having said that my oldest pair is only 10 years old, I’m not sure how more robust they were built back in day
@@arthurbarrios888 Thanks for the info. I think the leather may have been a little thicker in the older White's Smoke Jumpers and I've seen some stitching defects in few of the newer boots. I don't think these issues will effect the durability of the newer boots, but I do see a value in buying the older boots if in excellent condition.
@@legalsolutions07 you might have a point, I actually just used my gauge to measure the smoke jumpers and they are btw 7-8 ounce, I have a used pair of nicks from 78’ I bought near new from eBay and the leather seems a bit thicker, however it seems Ike quality control sucked back in the day as mine have vein traces all around the right boot. I remembered frank saying veins can tear. All in all I think tanneries have changed as well over the years.
My first pair of true work boots was White's. I'm born and raised in Spokane. I'm a Welder by trade, 20 years. 10 years of that was in a foundry and that first year I burnt through 4 sets of regular so called work boots, then I bought White's. I wore those for the whole time working at the foundry. I liked them, they did the job but they never did fully hold up. I finally got a pair of Nicks. I've been wearing them for almost a year now and I can tell a huge difference. Nicks for life
Hi. I am a welder by trade and I have an upcoming project on a shipyard (shipbuilding) can you please tell me what your boot model is so that I have a baseline in choosing what model I'd purchase in the future. Thank you
Can I trust a guy that wears ring on his index finger? The jury is still out but I appreciate your great video sir! Edit: With a utility knife... All of this has become very painful. Cute cat! Edit#2: Thank you for cutting the boot in half for us. This is GREAT video. Thank you buddy!
Carl is right. Never thought that much money spent would be wise but I scored my first pair of Whites off Ebay and they put my RW in the closet. Don’t have Nicks but 4 pair of Whites and 2 Wescos. I will say the MP and SD from Whites are more casual and use less robust leathers than my 2 Bounty Hunters. My LTT BH are insanely robust and heavier. One item not mention is White’s Arch Ease found on some models. Personally I absulutely love the support which is not found in my Wesco JM or any flat footed RW. Again, Wesco JM is another great boot with awesome fit and finish, but my White’s are more comfortable overall, even their MP with the Barrie last. Sizing, I’m a 12 D in White’s and RW IR and Beckham. Wesco seems maybe a hair smaller. I may have gone 12 1/2 but 12 fits. Don’t get me wrong, still wear my RW but you’ll know and feel the difference of the PNW boots once in your feet.
I have been trying to decide between these two boots for the last couple of weeks. the decision is so difficult! I love them both for different reasons. I suppose I should get both eventually
For me it comes down to Whites being owned by a big corporation (ABC Mart) and Nicks being independent. I've also really come to like Wesco and they have some models Nicks doesnt have like lace to toe and sleek engineer boots.
@@CarlMurawski very great point. After watching the video that nick’s posted for the Falcon boot build I have fallen in love. I also don’t really see why the whites would cost approx. $90 more than the nick’s. The cork layer in the whites seems nice for comfort, but the longevity of having so many layers of leather under foot may make the nick’s last forever for me. There’s definitely something about a pair of Nick’s falcons that I can’t stop obsessing over
Dang it was hard to see you cut these boots. Lol i just got my first Nick's boot's two months ago. Great boots. Thinking about getting the Roberts next or the travels.
I love my dress boots, from Whites and Nicks, but they are a pain in the Airport. The nails in the heels trip the metal detectors every time, and lacing them back up is tedious...I like them so much I still wear them through the airport!
Dang. Im not sure about wearing them in the airport. I wear slip on's or pull on boots for the airport. Just to much wearing lace up boots for how much i used to travel. Lol
will i still wear my custom orthotics or will the fitting process accommodate my high arch? great video! my feet hurt in cheap shoes......i wear Crocs stepping out of bed....
Having owned both, two Whites smokejumper and a nicks hotshot, the build is not a concern for me, the fit is. For some reason Whites Smokejumper fits me better, the arch is in the perfect spot and feels great.
I' think I'm gonna do it fellow work boot fam - I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a pair of Nick's. I'm actually excited about this decision... but damn, they're costly.
Damn it. Carl’s making me spend more $$$$ yet again. Did I mention my wife HATES you??? Ps. Is that the Oris on a rubber strap? Thanks for doing this!!!
So, did you deconstruct the Right foot on one pair and Left on the other? At least that way you could still have a pair of the most expensive, MISMATCHED, work boots in existence. And you could let us know which one you can wear the longest before having to take them off.
We’ll say what you most.. I wore whites for 40 years.. I started in fire and used the wages to go to forestry school.. in my 30’s Nikes showed up.. Folks ways had to have their boots rebuilt every other year if wore Nikes.. as for me the whites were much more long lasting.. Both rebuild the boots. but Whites is still the standard period. better leather and workmanship period..
when your younger, you wanna trounce around in triple sole Daytons and over built 5 lb boots just to go get a slurp at the corner store. I get it , you feel young, tough and can lift the corner of a building by yourself. basically here's the deal.... that ends. you don't see a lot of 50 and up wearing that. you'll be wearing hush puppies- so enjoy
I had a bad experience with White’s. I placed a custom order of the MP Sherman’s, measured my feet, and even followed up the order with a phone call. I heard nothing for five months before calling. I received no information on the order until they showed up on my doorstep a week later. When I opened the box, the boots were not made to the custom order. I suspect they grabbed a pair of boots close to the size and shipped them. Customer support was not good, and I needed to contact my credit card company *even after* returning the boots with White’s prepaid shipping label. The MP Shermans are beautiful boots, and I still jones for them, but I ended up purchasing boots from Oak Street. Granted this was one bad experience, but if you put in a custom order with White’s, follow up every few weeks-it will likely save you a good deal of frustration.
For 100.00 less I’d rather have the build construction on the Nicks forgoing the corner cutting Whites did probably to drive more profit for the mega corporation that purchased them. That is the first step to corporate coming in and tweaking processes for profit and it will continue until they have totally ruined the product all together over time - just ask the folks that work for Alden.
Please Sir, there is an artwork called Comedian. It is a banana duct taped to a wall. It sold for $120k. Why you destroy Nick boot artwork? Surely banana taped to wall deserve death by hungry monkey too?
First, thank you. I heard of both companies, but often confused by the quality difference. Your video didn't help me understand the difference better, but at least I'm not alone. 😁 Seriously, it helped a lot. I was sad to see you destroy two loved pairs, but if it's any consolation you've gained a subscriber.
Nick’s customer service sucks. Charged the full cost immediately at checkout, 7 months later delivered the wrong boots. Another two months for the replacement. With service like this who care about the quality.
My first pair of Nick's arrives this week, I obsessed over them after watching Rose Anvil's video. I feel like I made the right choice by going with Nick's. Thank you for putting this video together and I truly hope you make a ton of money with this video and replace both boots you sacrificed for "science"
Congratulations! I’d love to hear how you like them!
@Mr. Frank 'forever 40' Garret I'm afraid I didn't since I don't know what that is
@Mr. Frank 'forever 40' Garret Thank you for the explanation! I guess l'll just have to tough it out 😔
True story! I have that in the Builder Pros and it’s excellent
@@CarlMurawski They are here and I don't know if I can spend money on any other boots other than dressier office type boots. The videos are very helpful to get someone's interest but until you handle them you just don't get it. I love the heels, the beautiful layers of unfinished leather... I just keep staring at them same way I stare my watch (love my Tudor 58!) The Vibram soles are quite interesting as well, completely different feel than Dainite soles. They are very roomy as well, probably a desired feature for those who stand on their feet all day. So far I am beyond pleased with these boots! Thank you again for introducing great quality products to folks like me!
20 minute video, but I only needed to listen to the first 40 seconds. Once he said Whites was owned by an overseas company and Nick's is still privately owned I was done listening.
I agree.
I think both are quality leather but Nicks is American and seems to still be interested in the product. Once a company goes overseas, I have less interest. One reason I bought Origin boots.
I tried to wear Thorogoods but unfortunately they aren't quite wide enough for me. Most folks recommend Thorogood for extra width, White's are one of few companies that go wider.
thanks for this! I got really excited when you said that White's has women's sizes, but the vast majority of their collection doesn't go smaller than a 7, and I wear a size 5. Nick's stock boots go all the way down to 4, so they have my vote :)
Nicks all the way
I believe White’s will customize any boot for any size foot. You just have to go with the custom boot option
I have two pair of the builder pros I wear to work and one pair of rangers I wear when not working I will not have to buy new boots for years
So Carl, what will you get now to replace the Americana?
That is an excellent question!!!
And the Winner is! Red Wings!
Too painful I can't watch
I know, I’m sorry!!!
It hurt my soul to see a perfectly good pair of boots be destroyed like that
It hurt mine to do it!
@@CarlMurawski Hey Carl, Could you talk about the rolled welt in White's vs Nick's. I think that is important point people should know about.
for Science!
Making me think it’s about time I upgrade from my Red Wing collection...
You will not regret it.
YOU!?? No way Mensch, I never thought I’d see the day!
Do it!!! Been eyeing the americana boots
Red Wing has been too commercial and the quality is not what it was back in the days.. I always see the $$$ when I hear the "Red Wing" name.. I own a lot of handcrafted American boots. None of 'em are "Red Wing"
ng"..
@@charlesbronson240 I second this. I own a pair of Nick's, the Charley boot. Built just for me. Going on 3 months, and breaking in very nicely.
Pulling an Rose Anvil on us huh?
Hahaha so true
Its because of the cat.
Nah Rose Anvil cuts his in half. This is more like a Trenton & Heath video.
i think my dealbreaker between the two was the fact that whites is owned by some other big conglomerate, and i dislike that. i would rather have a smaller company like nicks. i'd rather help someone live out their american dream so to speak.
That turns off a lot of people. It’s tough because once a company grows to a certain size they can definitely benefit from being owned by a larger firm. Then again worldwide brands like Carhartt have managed to keep private, so what do I know?
I agree brother!
@@CarlMurawski carhartt is also made in china now, so its not like staying Private matters
My last pair of whites was in 2002... now Since they are abc mart.... looking at some nicks instead
Frank’s boots are way better than nicks or whites now
Bought my first pair of Whites in 1972 , Working as a lineman building a powerline between
Aspen and Vail Co. Those were their Over the calf lineman boots . Hardest work I've ever done , working at altitudes up to 12,000 ft . Gaffing up 90' poles . Couldn't have done the work without them . Had them rebuilt many times and logged and built trail in them .
Loved those boots and have always had a set of White's since then . 50 years kids .
Just got my Whites Packers back from a rebuild , probably be buried in them .
I'd like a pair of Nicks smoke jumpers but spend most of my boot budget on high quality
motocross boots .
Are you riding dirtbikes?
@@bassheadlife492 interesting that you ask ! Yep pushing 75 y o and still on the throttle ,
For $600 each, nicks give you the best build for the buck
I agree if you’re looking for durability over comfort.
Carl Murawski on that note, in the video on the nicks builder pro, did adding inserts to your boots affect the way it fits or cradles your foot and can you wear the boots without your inserts and not affect comfort, also can you use 3/4 length inserts, I am in the process of building by boots and included the ability to add inserts
If you are spending $600 on boots they better be comfortable no matter what builder you choose to buy from. Im glad I chose Nicks
Nicks all the way, bought the builder pros when I was 18, going on 21 with over 6000 work hours, they still look great, went with the soft gummy vibram sole and haven’t needed to resole it yet. Break in time took 4 months of part time work at a UPS warehouse. Not a real heavy guy, but now they feel like slippers and have made my posture confuse many as former military.
What a glowing recommendation! I agree, the Builder Pros are fantastic!
On the MP, the lack of stitch-through on the cap toe prevents toe rub against stitching which would be worse given the low profile of the toe. I noticed the interior of the White's MP is very comfortable, if not for the narrow toebox.
No! Don't! Leave the cutting to Rose Anvil you monster! Thank you for taking your time to make this vid.
Like rose anvil vids more
I was a Smokejumper for 20 years and only wore White's but I knew very well about the Nick's brand. In fact I've probably have a hundred hours of conversations about firefighting boots with all the firefighters I've met (that's one of the conversations we have along with what is the best knife; Buck, Gerber, Swiss Army, etc. ect.). So when I needed a new pair I went for the Nick's. Best boots I've ever owned and even though I've been off the fire-line for 5 years I'm thinking about getting another pair for more casual work and hiking. I don't need them but feel like I want to give Nick's another shout out for the quality they provided for all those years.
totally thought you were about to say "just kidding" before cutting those up. too painful to watch
I know, I know. I’m sorry! I hope it was interesting though!
@@CarlMurawski yes very interesting assessment and I completely agree. It's all about the product that suits your needs. That's why there are so many levels of products out there. Personally I went with the Urban Loggers from Nick's simply due to the ability to customize them to be my own.
I'd like to know your thoughts on the Frank's
@Carl Murawski Hey Carl, Could you talk about the rolled welt in White's vs Nick's. I think that is important point people should know about
My god man you have committed Treason! Great Video it’s always great to see the PNW get props in Boot Making, I remember watching your Iron Ranger boots and think man This guy needs a Pair Of Nicks or Whites boots. I would like to suggest Wesco as another Option they make some Bad@ss Engineer Boots.
I can’t wait until I’m old enough to get an awesome pair of work boots like this
Thank you for making this… I had been leaning towards Nick’s anyways, but the clincher was two things:
1) White’s being owned by a big conglomerate.
2) The fact that the toe cap on the White’s was not truly double stitched… anything done should be done right… attention to detail…
Again, thank you for making this, it helped me make a final decision!
Nick's makes an really great boot no doubt about that, but if you care about real customer service from a small family owned business JK'S is better and in my opinion they make a better boot, also their leather is thicker than any other name there in Spokane, I went there just to check it all of them out, but then again you can't go wrong with Nick's I just think JK's are better
Also if you go to the whites store they usually gives you a 10% off and free false tongues but you have to go to the store to get it as many times as you go
@@javierhernandez215 I purchased a pair of new jk boots last year and their stitching was so sloppy I was extremely disappointed, the leather was extremely supple and made for an easy break in period. I think they have gotten better since, judging from some pictures they post on Instagram
@@arthurbarrios888 thanks man I been really debating if Jk can make me a boot identical as the bounty hunter from White's i think it's best to just wait or order from White's, although my Jk work boots are really well built.
@@javierhernandez215 jk definitely makes a beautiful boot, but then again whites makes a badass bounty hunter. I recently got their bounty hunter in burgundy horsehide with liner and that good stuff, just bitchin’ man. You can go wrong, they even have 20-25% off if you order through bakers right now
Very painful to watch but informative. I currently own 2 pairs of whites boots and love them but I still wanna try Nick's whenever I get enough money to buy a pair so im always interested in seeing how the compare against each other. Thanks for taking the time to make this video and sacrificing over a thousand dollars for our entertainment. 👍😃
Anytime! Well.... probably not ANY time
Lots of videos on UA-cam about Nick's & Whites boots. NONE come close to the production of this one. Good stuff!!
I appreciate that! Thank you so much!
I lived in Spokane and I own several pair of these boots. The Nick's builder pro is not the equivalent to the White's Smoke Jumper. The Nicks Hot Shot is the competitor.The White's SmokeJumper and the Builder Pro are tougher than anything I know of...except the HotShot. When putting my feet in a pair of HotShots the difference was dramatic, it isn't even close. It is NOT for everyone, Your break in time for all of the above will be in months, probably a month longer for the Hotshot than the other two.
So much respect on splitting those beautiful boots and analyzing the build qualities.
It pains me to watch this video even though it is very informative
It hurt to do it!
Bought some custom nicks boots a couple years ago, the left boot was to short and the right boot had bulge near he ball of the foot. Tried to do a long slow break in, close to a year, and they never worked. Nicks offered to rebuild at my cost....nope, $550 down the drain...
Ouch
Yeah, while we are in the business of making a customer for life, it can be tricky to resolve fit issues under warranty when too much time has passed. In your case, it looks like you purchased in June of 2017 and then reached out to us in June of 2019 about fit concerns. We try to handle issues that are outside of our warranty period on a case by case basis. Many times, we will do a full rebuild at a resole price, etc. I am sorry things didn't work out.
2 great boot manufacturers! Been great learning about these brands as we open up in the US. Love the history and following they’ve created. Great video
Thank you, my brother from SA!
Sometimes more does not mean better. Love the review on those boots!
I’m ….(was) leaning hard toward nicks from 26 years of Red Wing because they’re getting away from their old tradition of quality.
I walk mad miles, climb crazy amounts of metal ladder cages and spend a fair amount of time standing on grating as a qc in refineries.
My boots get nasty stuff on them and absolutely must be water proof.
EDIT: After 22 weeks of waiting and lame excuses I canceled my order from nick’s boots.
Any boot is worthless if I never get them. I just refurbished my 2408 Redwings I’ve been wearing for six years. I truly wanted the boots but even that and 650plus dollars wasn’t enough to get them on my feet.
I completely understand that they make them to order, but this is why I never ordered a pair. I don’t want to pay $600 for a pair of shoes and have to wait 6months for them and may still not even come yet. I’d rather buy an equivalent boot from a store that has them in stock or come in a month or so. That’s just me though.
I' stopped buying white's when they sold out to Japan. I like the Nick's but they're so tough that they're a bear to break in. I had a pair for 4 years and they still hurt my feet. The White's never did that.
Nicks sold out too. Wesco and Frank’s are still family own PNW boots
@@wolfandkitty7848 What do you mean they sold out?
@@HisLostSheep they got bought out by a bigger company and aren’t family owned. The company that owns Lacrosse footwear I believe.
Nicks went hipster I know that.
The main issue here is price. If nicks makes a boot more heavy duty than whites for the same price, that’s a problem. Whites can’t just downgrade the toughness of a boot (because they think you don’t need it) and charge the same price as the better built pair.
Great dive in. Whats the weight difference, a weigh in would be cool..Heavy boots fatigue u faster moving and climbing around. I wear boots for work and play like many do.
My Whites are fully gusetted, hand stiched, basically built like a tank ... On the fireline boots are important ...
Carl murawski x Rose anvil Video collaboration?
Nooooo!! You did not need to cut them. Nicks and Whites have videos of how they make the boots. Every step, construction method, and material is in those videos. You did not need to sacrifice these wonderful boots. Oh it hurts so much😢
Now Carl... When Are you going to cut up a Builder pro and a Smoke jumper? We assume they Are built the same but until they are tore apart we won't know
P.S if you don't do it I'll survive I don't condone boot cruelty 😂
Another great video as always brother!
Reviewers need to stop saying “custom made” or “custom built” in regard to fit because it’s very misleading. While the companies do make boots to order based on custom preferences, this has nothing to do with the comfort of the boot being custom made to your foot. They offer a custom “fitting” which means that they will look at your measurements and your tracings and recommend a size based on that. They MAY suggest two different sized boots, but for the vast majority they will just send you a size off the rack. It should also be noted that Whites doesn’t make nearly as many (if any) excuses on their website or UA-cam videos for a dip on quality control as Nicks does. A $580 pair of boots should not have really any of the issues that Nicks claims are normal of a handmade boot. A boot being handmade should be the epitome of quality craftsmanship, not be an excuse for why there are so many mistakes.
I like the nicks a little bit more, since if I want style, I probably would go for something else like the viberg may be
Yes, there are some incredible Viberg models for sure!
Sorry Carl have loved your channel for years the first time it’s been hard to watch destroying these amazing works of craftsmanship.
Let’s leave this to rose anvil for next time please buddy!
Agreed, it hurt my soul to do this.
@@CarlMurawski haha love your work sir !
Probably just going to jump in straight away and skip the Timberland, Danner, Red Wing bs
I work at whites boots! Best Job ever 🤘
On another note, I mentioned it on another one of your video, Nicks originated from Whites that's why you see similarities in their legacy lines
I cried inside watching you cut them.
I did the same while doing it!
I like your whites smokejumpers. wheres the video on those?
I ended up ordering the White's because their lead time is 8 -12 weeks as opposed to Nick's 16 - 20 weeks. Yes, it seems Nick's is built SLIGHTLY tougher, but both are more than tough enough for the demands of my job, anyway.
Another awesome video! You've seen my dressjumpers, but this was a really well rounded unbiased video!
Now im just curious, does John Lofgren do customs? I'm wanting some pull on/engineer style boots and im eying some wescos, unless I could get something in whites since they already have my fit sheet lol.
If my Iron Rangers ever fail - and they show no signs of it after 6 years of near daily use - the NIck’s Americana will be the replacement, based on your reviews.
I think you'll be blown away!
After watching your video, you should compare apples with apples vs the smoke jumpers not the casual, I looked at my whites about the double stitching that must be something new they are doing because the stitching goes through on all rows of my Whites, or its because it is a causal you are comparing
Great comparison, but OH MY GOD that was so hard to watch. Should've asked each company to send you a single factory reject boot 😭
Those were wonderfully crafted boots and as much as I hated the part where you cut them in half , the information was invaluable. Thank you Carl
Here I am can’t afford a pair of MPs and you’re tearing them apart..must be nice
I have one I can sell you for a quarter of the price.
I crack myself up!
The video I was waiting for someone to make. Thank you!!!
Been waiting all day for this!
I hope it didn’t disappoint!!!
Big homie Carl, can you please review Thursdays’ Diplomat model?
Sure! I just got their Cavalier boots so that will be coming soon too!
I second this request! 😉
Buy from the family-owned company, not the mega-corporation...
Great video Carl. Hopefully one day I can get a pair of the nicks. Thanks for doing that to your boots.
I see you cutting the boots in half and I'm screaming nooooo!!! But I thank you because you are truly providing a service to those of us who choose to buy these footwear. I am waiting for my next 8'Urban lager which I got in the Brown waxed flesh, with a 55 last composite toe and the Honey vibram souls.
I do like the fact that whites has the Hawthorn line of boots which you're less expensive then they're custom made boots.
I agree!
are they built the same? i dont care about automated welt stitching but the whole upper shape looks very different.
@@rogerr.8507 the sole of Hawthorne is not attached with screws like the. You are getting a $300 factory fit boot instead of a $500 custom fit boot but after wearing the hawthorns all summer the far outshine an boots that are ready to wear right out of the box. My boots still have a few summers left in them where as the boots my coworkers bought were eaten by the rugged white mountians in a summer.
just got my Nicks. i want to order more Nicks. best i ever had
Both pairs of boots are a work of art, sad to see them go like that
True story man. It pained me to do it
I've been saving up to get a pair of custom wesco boots, and I cant wait to finally pull the trigger on them
And later that day, Carl's wife says: "Honey. We're going to the neighbors for dinner. Why don't you wear those Whites MP or Nick's Americana I bought you?"
Carl: 😳
This breakdown is very helpful, thank you Carl!
Thanks for getting me started in the Bison's Carl!! Now I'm off to order the Travelers in Burgundy!! Dang you Brother!! Haha, gonna be a looong 20 week wait!! Great video Brother!
Hahahaha
Congratulations man! And I’m sorry
“What if I wanna use casual looking boots as work boots?” That’s why I go with Nick’s. For my job it’s a coin toss if I’m standing doing warehouse work or driving for deliveries but I will say the days I’m standing my feet basically are screaming at the end of the day. I wanted to get red wings but I watched UA-cam videos of people who work much harder jobs than I do say that they tested both boots for about a month each and 100% of them say if you have the money get the Nick’s.
Disassembly was difficult to watch. Thanks for bringing us such honest & detailed reviews! As for which boots... both!
Thanks for watching!
NICKS ALL DAY USA COMPANY THE LAST OF ITS KIND!
Got a pair of Whites smoke jumpers I've had since 03. Destroyed a pair of redwings in one fire season.
Good info. I've been wearing White's and Nicks boots for years. Currently I own a pair of Nicks Hot Shots, White's lace to toe Smoke Jumpers, White's Packers and Whites Smoke Jumpers that were rebuilt by JK Boots. JK Boots did an excellent job on the rebuild. I think anyone looking to spend $500+ on any pair of boots should do as much research as they can because it's a big investment. Having said that I think the construction and durability of a pair of Nicks or White's boots is exceptional. However, I have seen some of the White's boots come out of the factory over the last few years that don't appear to match up to the quality of the older White's. Nicks quality has not changed from the older to new boots. Food for thought.
I recently purchased two pairs of their custom smoke jumpers and the quality hasn’t changed, having said that my oldest pair is only 10 years old, I’m not sure how more robust they were built back in day
@@arthurbarrios888 Thanks for the info. I think the leather may have been a little thicker in the older White's Smoke Jumpers and I've seen some stitching defects in few of the newer boots. I don't think these issues will effect the durability of the newer boots, but I do see a value in buying the older boots if in excellent condition.
@@legalsolutions07 you might have a point, I actually just used my gauge to measure the smoke jumpers and they are btw 7-8 ounce, I have a used pair of nicks from 78’ I bought near new from eBay and the leather seems a bit thicker, however it seems Ike quality control sucked back in the day as mine have vein traces all around the right boot. I remembered frank saying veins can tear. All in all I think tanneries have changed as well over the years.
I have 5 whites, (1 bespoke custom,) and 1 nicks, 1 drews, 1 franks. All excellent boots.
My first pair of true work boots was White's. I'm born and raised in Spokane. I'm a Welder by trade, 20 years. 10 years of that was in a foundry and that first year I burnt through 4 sets of regular so called work boots, then I bought White's. I wore those for the whole time working at the foundry. I liked them, they did the job but they never did fully hold up. I finally got a pair of Nicks. I've been wearing them for almost a year now and I can tell a huge difference. Nicks for life
Hi. I am a welder by trade and I have an upcoming project on a shipyard (shipbuilding) can you please tell me what your boot model is so that I have a baseline in choosing what model I'd purchase in the future. Thank you
Can I trust a guy that wears ring on his index finger? The jury is still out but I appreciate your great video sir!
Edit: With a utility knife... All of this has become very painful. Cute cat!
Edit#2: Thank you for cutting the boot in half for us. This is GREAT video. Thank you buddy!
Carl is right. Never thought that much money spent would be wise but I scored my first pair of Whites off Ebay and they put my RW in the closet. Don’t have Nicks but 4 pair of Whites and 2 Wescos. I will say the MP and SD from Whites are more casual and use less robust leathers than my 2 Bounty Hunters. My LTT BH are insanely robust and heavier. One item not mention is White’s Arch Ease found on some models. Personally I absulutely love the support which is not found in my Wesco JM or any flat footed RW. Again, Wesco JM is another great boot with awesome fit and finish, but my White’s are more comfortable overall, even their MP with the Barrie last. Sizing, I’m a 12 D in White’s and RW IR and Beckham. Wesco seems maybe a hair smaller. I may have gone 12 1/2 but 12 fits. Don’t get me wrong, still wear my RW but you’ll know and feel the difference of the PNW boots once in your feet.
I have been trying to decide between these two boots for the last couple of weeks. the decision is so difficult! I love them both for different reasons. I suppose I should get both eventually
For me it comes down to Whites being owned by a big corporation (ABC Mart) and Nicks being independent. I've also really come to like Wesco and they have some models Nicks doesnt have like lace to toe and sleek engineer boots.
@@CarlMurawski very great point. After watching the video that nick’s posted for the Falcon boot build I have fallen in love. I also don’t really see why the whites would cost approx. $90 more than the nick’s. The cork layer in the whites seems nice for comfort, but the longevity of having so many layers of leather under foot may make the nick’s last forever for me. There’s definitely something about a pair of Nick’s falcons that I can’t stop obsessing over
@@CarlMurawski I haven’t looked at many pairs of Wesco boots. May have to start a new obsession
Dang it was hard to see you cut these boots. Lol i just got my first Nick's boot's two months ago. Great boots. Thinking about getting the Roberts next or the travels.
Yeah man, it hurt to do it. I love the Robert in predator orange
Ya that would be the leather i would go for. I like it as well. Look like it would age well.
I love my dress boots, from Whites and Nicks, but they are a pain in the Airport. The nails in the heels trip the metal detectors every time, and lacing them back up is tedious...I like them so much I still wear them through the airport!
Dang. Im not sure about wearing them in the airport. I wear slip on's or pull on boots for the airport. Just to much wearing lace up boots for how much i used to travel. Lol
I almost reported this video for cruelty 😭💔
Oh no! hahahaha I'm glad you didn't!
will i still wear my custom orthotics or will the fitting process accommodate my high arch? great video! my feet hurt in cheap shoes......i wear Crocs stepping out of bed....
Thanks for the effort Carl. These topics and quality are what make your channel so interesting
I appreciate that!
Having owned both, two Whites smokejumper and a nicks hotshot, the build is not a concern for me, the fit is. For some reason Whites Smokejumper fits me better, the arch is in the perfect spot and feels great.
I' think I'm gonna do it fellow work boot fam - I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a pair of Nick's. I'm actually excited about this decision... but damn, they're costly.
Please try out franks lets us know what you think ive been looking at them
Based upon your last video at least now we know which ones you deemed worthy of tearing up.
True story
Damn it. Carl’s making me spend more $$$$ yet again. Did I mention my wife HATES you???
Ps. Is that the Oris on a rubber strap?
Thanks for doing this!!!
Yes indeed it is, and the rubber smells like vanilla!
Please apologize to your wife for me!
Same here brother... #Carlmademedoit
@@CarlMurawski I have the exact same watch without the rubber band. Maybe I need a new strap... lol. Great video!
So, did you deconstruct the Right foot on one pair and Left on the other? At least that way you could still have a pair of the most expensive, MISMATCHED, work boots in existence. And you could let us know which one you can wear the longest before having to take them off.
I almost couldn’t watch the video of you cutting them apart. It hurt.
Maybe I should have put a NSFW tag... lol
I'll go with Nicks. They didn't sell out to a over seas company. Hang in there Nicks.
It would have been interesting to weigh the boots before tearing them down. Weight definitely counts for something when putting on mileage.
We’ll say what you most.. I wore whites for 40 years.. I started in fire and used the wages to go to forestry school.. in my 30’s Nikes showed up.. Folks ways had to have their boots rebuilt every other year if wore Nikes.. as for me the whites were much more long lasting.. Both rebuild the boots. but Whites is still the standard period. better leather and workmanship period..
Great video, I have both pairs of boots and Nicks has the better build quality in my opinion, I would never go back to a mass produced boot
when your younger, you wanna trounce around in triple sole Daytons and over built 5 lb boots just to go get a slurp at the corner store. I get it , you feel young, tough and can lift the corner of a building by yourself.
basically here's the deal.... that ends.
you don't see a lot of 50 and up wearing that.
you'll be wearing hush puppies- so enjoy
I had a bad experience with White’s. I placed a custom order of the MP Sherman’s, measured my feet, and even followed up the order with a phone call.
I heard nothing for five months before calling. I received no information on the order until they showed up on my doorstep a week later.
When I opened the box, the boots were not made to the custom order. I suspect they grabbed a pair of boots close to the size and shipped them. Customer support was not good, and I needed to contact my credit card company *even after* returning the boots with White’s prepaid shipping label.
The MP Shermans are beautiful boots, and I still jones for them, but I ended up purchasing boots from Oak Street.
Granted this was one bad experience, but if you put in a custom order with White’s, follow up every few weeks-it will likely save you a good deal of frustration.
Great sacrifice! !!!! Don't think I could ever commit such a tragedy
For 100.00 less I’d rather have the build construction on the Nicks forgoing the corner cutting Whites did probably to drive more profit for the mega corporation that purchased them. That is the first step to corporate coming in and tweaking processes for profit and it will continue until they have totally ruined the product all together over time - just ask the folks that work for Alden.
Please Sir, there is an artwork called Comedian. It is a banana duct taped to a wall. It sold for $120k. Why you destroy Nick boot artwork? Surely banana taped to wall deserve death by hungry monkey too?
First, thank you. I heard of both companies, but often confused by the quality difference. Your video didn't help me understand the difference better, but at least I'm not alone. 😁
Seriously, it helped a lot. I was sad to see you destroy two loved pairs, but if it's any consolation you've gained a subscriber.
big help for a question i have had for a long time
bonus that you informed my decision on the two i was eyeing!
Happy I was able to help!
Nick’s customer service sucks. Charged the full cost immediately at checkout, 7 months later delivered the wrong boots. Another two months for the replacement. With service like this who care about the quality.