Better Than Redwings? [Nicks Handmade Boots] Ultimate Guide and Review 4K
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- This video covers some considerations to make before purchasing your own pair of Nicks boots. I also give my Builder Pro boots their first oiling.
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I’m a construction field manager and I also drive truck/haul heavy equipment. I have always worn Redwings but they’ve never fit quite right. I ordered a pair of Nick’s Packers last June that just went into production this week. I’m really looking forward to them.
Brother you chose a wise place to spend your hard earned money. Thank you for your comment. Let me know how you like them once you get ‘em on your feet.
Just got my boots. I’m in awe as to the build quality and finish. And they fit perfectly. Stiff as Hell but that’s to be expected.
@@jnarcher1 hell yeah, enjoy friend.
I found out I have a very "wide" foot not typically wide but got meat on it and I probably will only be able to wear boots that can ride out to size f
@@Shaboomquisa I believe they do accommodate all the way to F or even wider.
Such a great, honest review. I'm learning a lot before I get my first pair of PNW boots. Thank you.
Hey I appreciate the feedback. I’ve got a few more PNW boot reviews on my channel if you’re interested.
I got my first pair of nicks and this is the best review i have found. Pretty much my same experience. You can tell they are built like tank. Quality is unmatched in any boots i have worn. But honestly save yourself the money and strap some 2x4s to the bottom of your feet cause after wearing them all day thats what it feels like. It took 8 months to get mine and i have now worn them everyday for 8-12 hours and have put an additional 15-18 miles on the treadmill trying to break them in and still feels like a piece of wood strapped to my foot.
Thank you for checking out my review! I’ve hade mine for over 6 months now and they’re still breaking in. Pretty amazing how durable they are.
Bahahaa!! I just sent this vid to my wife and told her to start at 9:30 ! “If it werent for my wife, who’s essentially a rational person…”.
Im grateful to have fellow fanatics to help me feel sane about my ‘boot thing’
Ok I forget I had ever even said this on a video. I read your comment and then played back that part of the video for my wife and she just rolled her eyes at me! I laughed, she did not. Thank you for that.
There's a lot of Nick's boot reviews put there, you made one of the best! Well done sir!
Wow, I really appreciate that, thanks for tuning in!
@Evergreen Organics Your channel has potential, I think if you keep at it you will do well!
@@raphael9749 thank you for the words of encouragement. I definitely intend on continuing to make videos…hopefully better ones over time too.
I have the wedged sole moc toe they track very little mud, I absolutely love them
Thanks for your comment! Yes they definitely are better suited for the indoor/outdoor transitions.
Ya me too, have a pair of Wedgeworkers in Tan Teton and they are great. Got them one size wider and they take extra socks so perfect for the cold winter. All the best 💚
I own a pair of the builder pro and agree they bring a smile when wearing them even when they are not broken in. Have a pair of urban loggers on order and waiting for them to be built.
They sure do bring a smile, thanks for watching!
Nick's, guns, fishing rods, all big addictions lol
Haha, Im going down the handmade boots rabbit hole. My gateway was the JK forefronts which are awesome, but my curiosity will make me buy some Nicks or Franks eventually..LOL!
It’s bad man. I’m already eyeing up a pair of Drew’s or a pair of Nicks mock toe wedge soles.
Great info in this video. Thanks!
I saw another reviewer that got the thicker sole and regretted it because it makes the boot so stiff. I can't wait to get my pair.
You’re gonna love them.
Great video! My first pair of Nicks was the Urban Logger, and they were my daily driver for a little over 5 months. After about month 3, it was like someone flipped a switch, and suddenly they were the most comfortable boot I owned, and kept getting more comfortable every time I wore them.
Thanks for the comment friend! I’ve check out those urban loggers, pretty sexy boot if I do say so myself. 😉
I keep my higher end boots for myself and I wear that exact pair of thorogoods as my work boot. Nicks and the like are too nice for me to get paint and drywall all over but I love them for personal use!! Those thorogoods are great
I think that’s a great game plan. It is hard to deal with looking down at those beautiful boots and seeing them covered in glue and whatever other crap ends up in a plumbing trench. Thanks for checking out the video friend.
I think when they’re being harshly used is when they’re at their most beautiful. My builder pros last me through framing suuuuper well.
@@Ives1776 they are a DAMN tough boot.
@@evergreenorganics thank you for making the video good information!
I know you said you’re a Nicks guy, but if you ever need the same style and quality and not have to wait 6 months I recommend JK Boots. I have 4 pairs of them and love them like you love Nicks. I have 1 pair of Whites too. Also awesome. I bought 1 pair of Nicks Moc Toe, but haven’t received them yet. Thanks for the video, sir!
I’ve looked into JK boots and also Franks and Drew’s boots. I bet all of those companies make a killer boot. The lead time on Nicks is a bit long I think. But hey I guess boots that good are worth the wait! Thanks for checking out my vid!
Always appreciate a good honest review! Thanks man, just subscribed!
Hey thank you friend. I really appreciate the feedback.
I went with White’s for my first purchase of PNW custom boots. 6 months to make, and they were not made correctly so they didn’t fit. Got them rebuilt for free (Thanks Bakers boots) but took another 6 months to get them back. Wish I had just gone with Nicks hah! Next time I will be. Great review!
Thanks for checking out my channel. From all the feedback I’ve gotten it seems even Nicks boots have major sizing issues when ordered online. After 6 months of breaking these in the pair I have I can confidently say is a half to a full size too big. I’m going to order a second pair and when they come I’m going to send the first ones in for a a rebuild and resizing. I’m glad those Whites are finally working for you.
I just ordered a pair of Builder Pros. Before I ordered. I emailed Nicks about sizing questions. I gave as a reference the size I wear in a Red Wing Iron Ranger. They replied that they don’t give advise on size based on what you might wear in another brand because too many variables. They just recommended that I get my Brannock measurements and go down one half size from there. That , for me, came out to the same size as my Iron Rangers, which is a full size smaller than any of my other boots (Ariat, Justin, Double H) so hoping for the best.
I think you did the right thing.
I received my Nicks this week ( exactly 3 weeks after ordering!) and the size is spot on . Was almost afraid to try them on, but worked out fine.
@@SuperDuty23XL that's great man. I also have iron rangers and they are a full size smaller than my other redwings. thanks for sharing your experience with us!
Great video! My builder pros may be here tomorrow and I've been waiting since may... like yourself I went for the extra thick leather mid sole but on the honey vibram outsole. Interesting to see they flex on them compared to the standard V-100...
Will do a video when they arrive 💚
Nice guitar sounds dude looking forward to the next one,
all the best💚
Hey thank you friend! You’re gonna feel like a little kid on Christmas unboxing those bad boys. I look forward to your video. Would you drop a link in the comments here so we can all check the video out once you upload it?
@@evergreenorganics For sure bro thanks for your message, all the best💚
I have 4 pairs of Nicks Falcons ,Travelers, Urban loggers and I love them I brush all the time !! I have a belt from Nicks too when order the belts size 2 to 4 inch from the paints size or the belt will be to long !! When breaking in boots from Nicks its a right of passage after and they will be with you for decades to come and when its time to resole or a rebuild (Rebuild is they keep the upper part of the boots and replace the entire boot like new for $340 ) Nicks was the first into to PNW boots co and love the feel of support I never had and Im 54 years old and my feet have never felt so good now
I’m planning on getting a second pair to rotate between rebuilds. Thanks for watching!
I completely agree with you regarding sizing. Go to a store and get sized on a Bannock Device for both length and width. Then contact Nicks with the information.
I wish I had done that. Apparently I had the time to spend 16 hours making and editing this video but couldn’t be bothered at the time of ordering to spend 1 hour insuring I had the right shoe size!
Just ordered a pair of Nick's ND4 and White's Drifter 3.0. The wait time is going to kill me.
It’ll be worth it when they come.
My boots get that natural hydraulic oiling. Adds a nice sheen and makes them a little extra waterproof haha. Good video, I am definitely considering these for my next pair. Vibram souls are always nice too.
Heck yeah! Thanks for watching friend.
Thanks for the information brother. Be safe on the job site out there.
Thank you for checking out my video. You were right about the wedge sole heel. It just didn’t seem worth me trying to take the time to explain when what I was trying to talk about the tread. I had actually tried on the wedge sole Thorogoods when I bought the ones in the video but I was so damn used to wearing loggers I just needed a little heel! Stay safe brother!
@@evergreenorganics I enjoyed it. I wear the Carolina version of those thorogoods. My Carolina boots are union made as well. I would prefer a wedge sole but, a company I worked for recently required boots with a defined heel. I would love to get a pair of PNW boots ASAP though.
Great review ! Unfortunately here in Australia it's almost impossible to get a pair of Nick's . I so much wanted a pair of Americanas.
Oh no! Is the shipping cost prohibitive? If you do end up ordering a pair I highly recommend using a brannock device for the length and a tailor’s tape for the width. They have a sizing chart (not their sizing guide) that shows all the widths in correlation to the boot size number on their website. Their Reddit page is extremely helpful too.
I don’t know if you’ve tried a brass suede brush on them to get the PVC glue off of them but it works on the waxed flesh
Hey thanks for the tip! I’ll have to give that a try.
I used Redwings measurement machine for an accurate width, bannock device for length. I stuck with redwings width and went a half size down. It was pretty accurate, but I need a wider toe box. I have been looking at the JK line being the offer a wider toe box in the soft toe, but I will give these builder pros sometime to break in before I buy JKs.
Great tip, thanks for sharing.
Nicks has the Munson last now.,its supposed to offer a roomier toe box.
Good video. You should try an insole in your Nicks. It will feel much better throughout the day. I bought a pair of Nicks 5 years ago and all I wear now are handmade boots. I also own White's, Wesco and JK boots (different styles). You can't beat the fit, feel, comfort and durability in a pair of Nicks as well as the other brands I mentioned.
I think you’re right, I believe Nicks even sells insoles on their website. Thanks for watching!
Your breaking would have been a lot faster and easier if you started oiling day 1. Try the olbanoffs oil for break in, the boots will take many coats. Once they get full of oil the wax goes on top.
Why wouldn’t the boot makers suggest that then? They suggest using rubbing alcohol mixed with water in a spray bottle.
I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on a pair of these. I'm almost 20, getting into the trades, I figure I can either spend a couple hundred bucks every year or so experimenting with different boots that likely won't last very long, or I can just spend 600 up front on these boots that should be a perfect fit and should last at least 5 years if not 10
Seems like a much better investment
I think that’s a wise choice. Just make sure you get your foot measured so you don’t have to wait a year to get the right sized boots.
@@evergreenorganics I'm actually planning to go out to Washington this summer so I'll probably just swing by there and get custom fit in the store
@@LukeA_55 that’s awesome dude.
my brannock sizes me out to size e and d but I need a nicks size f. the tape measurer around the ball of the foot was a better measurement than the bannock device
That’s great information! Thanks for sharing.
Man I can’t decide whether to get the Station boots for work or the cutter pros. Great video
Just get both! Make sure you know your brannock shoe size before ordering.
I got Overlanders in walnut, size 11. I also felt like I could go down a half size but I think it will be OK. Next time. As to the insole issue, when they were new I felt like the boots were too big too, but I heard someone explain that until that inner leather insole forms to your foot and allows your foot to sink into it, it will feel not right. I've had mine about 3 months too, and I try to wear them every other day. I feel like that insole is just now starting to form to my foot better and my foot feels more planted and the boot feels more solid on my foot. I have added leather insoles just to pick up any slack on my heel, but it's coming. Just takes time.
They definitely take time, but well worth it. Thanks for your comment and thanks for checking out my channel. I apologize for the late response, youtube for some reason flagged your comment as needing approval. Gotta love bots.
Get some Obenauf's for your Nicks.
That’s what I use. The stuff in the Nicks jar is just Obenauf’s put in a jar with a Nicks sticker that they give out with each pair of boots.
@@evergreenorganics Ha, I was not aware of that. I have Nicks Rangers and Hotshots that I wear year round in Montana and swear by the stuff.
Enjoyed your video.
I found a whole size down gives a better fit
I just got a pair of Franks in 10D and they fit like a glove.
If you want to get the glue off the toe use an abrasive wire brush. Then re oil the leather to lay the nap back down
I’m definitely going to have to try that.
I love your hat..where can I find one.
www.stormykromer.com/
Rangers with the Vbar sole is the way to go. They don’t track mud at all hardly.
Do you mean like Redwing Iron rangers?
I ordered a pair of Nicks Roberts, and have a pair of Wesco Jobmasters....
What do you think about JK boots? Are they good build quality?
Thanks for your comment. I don’t have any personal experience with JK’s boots but I can only imagine any company that makes a handmade stitch down boot is going to be proficient at what they do. I know a lot of guys have commented on my videos saying they have JK’s and really like them.
I also wear 12s in off the shelf boots but all 6 pair of my whites are 11s
I found out after some trial and error that I’m actually a 10E on the 55 last.
A toothbrush works a hell of a lot better FYI. Great video man love the channel.
Oh my god the rag method was amateur hour for sure. I did my iron rangers with just my fingers after I shot this video and it worked better than the rag! I’ll have to try a tooth brush. Thanks for watching.
Great review!!! Just curious what's your thorogood length? And how is the width in the nicks?
I’m glad you brought that up, my Thorogoods are size 11 D which is the same size as I ordered my Nicks in. I purchased my Thorogoods after I had already ordered my Nicks. I could definitely have ordered my Nicks a half size down from my Thorogoods and it would have fit perfect. The width is great but I don’t have perticularly wide feet.
@@evergreenorganics thanks for the quick response!!
Anytime, and thank you for checking out my little channel!
@@evergreenorganics it's the little channels that make this platform worth something lol
@@F.R.G317 dude I agree!
Regarding the sizing, Nicks in fact recommends to go a half size down from Brannock not from your mass produced boots.
Brannock being a standardized scale, in comparison with brands that are using their own measures vs lasts, resulting in a variety of sizes per each brand.
For example, I do have a pair of shoes in a 9 UK or 10 US from an Italian brand, which in fact doesn't correspond to anything, as if I'm going to buy a Red Wing, White's or Nicks in 10 US or even worst in 9.5 US, I will definitely need a lot of grease to be able to slide my foot in.
So if you wear 11.5 in Red Wing, that definitely means you're at least a 12 Brannock (heel to ball or heel to toe), so size to go with Nicks should be in fact 11.5 not 11.
I'm a Brannock 12 D, so in Red Wing Moc Toe or Iron Ranger I'm a 11.5 D and that's the case also with White's and Nicks with their 55 last. 11 in fact should be a tinny small for you, reason why the breaking period seems painful.
The best sign that the boot fits you correctly is materialising by ;
- no blisters or hot spots while wearing since the very beginning,
- no small spaces between the shafts (eyelets) while lacing them (rule of a thumb),
- enough space in front of your boot between your longest finger and the end of the toe box (rule of a thumb).
If you experience pain or can't wear them all day long that means boot is either too small or too big.
I wear my boots like 12 hours a day and never had a blister, a hot spot or any excessive pain while wearing them and this since the very first day of wear.
Thanks for checking out my video. These boots ended up being too big on me. My brannock is 10.5 so my Nicks size is in fact 10E. I’ve got another pair being made right now of the HD builder pros. I’ll be posting videos of those boots as soon as they arrive.
@@evergreenorganics No worries mate all pleasure mine...! Glad to hear you've sorted out your Brannock size... Normally your Builder Pro should fit you good this time. Let me know how it goes once you receive them.
@evergreenorganics Could you explain your sizing thoughts again? I'm a 10.5 and ordered a 10. Really nervous I got too big of a size
You should go get your foot measured at a shoe store. I cannot strongly recommend this enough. A 10.5 is many different sizes depending on the brand of shoe. Use a brannock measuring device at a shoe store and go down a half size from that. You can reach out to nicks and change your boot size if they haven’t started making your boots yet.
I’m probably going to end up having to send mine in to be rebuilt as after six months of break in they are still too big for my feet.
Great vid!
Thanks for watching!
I love my Nick’s
They make a stellar boot indeed.
What kind of hat are you wearing? I love it
www.stormykromer.com/the-waxed-cotton-cap/ Made in the UP of Michigan. I have several. Best hats on the planet.
Badass beard bro!!
Thanks man! Now that spring has sprung she had to go but she comes back every fall.
Thick sole + lineman shank is literally for the guy that spends 6 hours+ a day on spikes. It makes the boot one rigid piece and extends breakin time.
My current PNW work boots
10" Shaft
Standard Leather Shank
3/4" Soles
Handles post hole digger and shovel fine.
For your current gig.
8" Shaft (Subject to your preference)
3/4" Sole
Tapered Midsole (Enhances Flex)
Christy Wedge
I’m now drilling wells and doing septic systems for a new company so I quick picked up a pair of the Frank’s Patriots while I have my Nicks rebuilt. Gotta say the 3/4 sole is perfect, even for kicking a shovel all day. Thanks for checking out my videos!
Jyst got my builder pro HNW last.
How was your fit in the heel counter?
Was it lokse or snug?
Mine was a bit loose in the heal. But these boots were too big on me.
@@evergreenorganicsMy boots are snug and comfortable but my heel lifts off the counter with boots not laced up.
I read somewhere that heel should fit snug in counter,to the point that one can walk with no laces ,and boots should not lift off counter.
I decided not to contact Nicks because i dont want to wait another six months ,or possibly get a pair that would fit too tight.
Thanks for the reply.
More importantly go to your local cobbler with the Fittings Sheet and have them to the measurements.
Also its important to know all these companies have a wedge sole version. And get creative and frisky, Do both!!!!! Wedge sanded down with a Lug on the bottom........
Are those brown or walnut?
Walnut
I have five pair
Then you get it.
Subbed! Check out Smiths Leather Balm for your next conditioning, made in the USA and the shit is great!
I’ll check it out, always on the hunt for a good USA made product, thanks for the recommendation, and thanks for subbing!
Why don’t you buy a nicks boot with wedge sole?
Once those Thorogoods are shot that’s what I plan to do.
Just ordered. 9 month lead time! $641.00. Seems a bit excessive, especially if they don't fit one would be looking at a year and a half.
If you need to exchange sizes it doesn’t take the same lead time to get your second pair, just fyi.
Asking if Nicks are better than Redwings is like asking if a Ferrari is better than a honda civic sport.
Thanks for watching
I think we need a better measure of car to boot. The civic is extremely reliable. A Ferrari (most European hyper cars) are known to have issues and breakdowns and are impossible to work on.
Lol
Lol
Lol
Are Nick's better than Redwings is like asking if Mercedes is better than Hyundai.
But you still clicked on the video didn’t you.
IMO, Nick's are a better pair of boots but NOT DOUBLE the price. I will stay with RW.
Have you ever worn Nicks? If not you are only speculating and not speaking from your own actual experience.
Have 2 pairs worth every penny
Agreed. Thanks for watching friend.
I know what mean I own 6 pair of whites
Whites makes a great boot.
There’s a guide? Why is there a guide? You literally just choose a pair and buy it.
You can have them custom ordered for a literal perfect fit
Maybe that’s what you do. Good for you. That’s not how everyone makes $600 purchases. Those of us that work hard for our money might like to gather information before making such a large purchase. I’m glad you felt compelled to comment though as it helps spread my content.
I do like this comment and @nicksboots and other manufactures need to team together. And all make one standard to normal shoes lasts. Sadly this isnt the case yet and theres tons of problems with bad fittings.
Others would scoff at this comment, but they are wrong. There is a reason you can buy off the rack shoes in your size and 99% of the time they fit. This where we need a trade organization that sets standards and fixes this problem. You cant expect a lineman, plumber, etc to know about lasts, fittings, and all the details. Sure you can, but if I buy a pair of Nikes or Merrels generally they will fit every time.
Anyone could have told ya nicks are better
That’s a helpful comment.