I got a pair of these in the exact configuration a few months ago and they're the most comfortable piece of footwear I've ever put on. I'm a mechanic and while a wedge sole may be more ideal for the hangar floor, the arch support you get with these makes even standing on flat surfaces more comfortable than anything else I've experienced for 12 hours at a time. For anyone thinking of getting a pair, I followed Nicks sizing guide and the fit was perfect. Surprisingly snug around the middle of the foot, but I've really come to appreciate that support and my toes have the perfect amount of room. The 1964 leather breaks in real nice and has only looked better and better over time. I'm in no hurry to take them off even after a long shift.
@@UTAH_BLANElol pretty possible that he did… they’re not unattainable. Also in a grand scheme to turn a profit, Nick’s probably made more than the one pair featured in this video…
@@UTAH_BLANE why doubt it? Nick's sells boots, and it's a last they have had fir a long time. And this is a high end boot channel, so is likely to be viewed by people interested in and who get nice boots.
@@NDB469 to add to the not unattainable point, it's worth noting that this boot is on Nick's quick ship page. For a lot of Nick's you have to wait 4 months to even a year, but I got mine in the mail after I think it was 6 weeks. I think right now quick ships are around 8 weeks, probably due to fire season picking up.
@@TheEldestScrollabsolutely, yea quick ship isn’t “that” quick lol, but it’s quicker than the standard waiting period. I suppose they can only make so many boots at a time. Quickest I’ve had was about 3 weeks from the trades program they offer.
Really enjoy these videos but finally had to comment about how much the name of the last makes me smile. When I was a kid I was a NY Yankees fan and whoever decided to name the modified Munson last the Thurman has a sense of humor and a good memory. Thanks for the smile.
The history is just so good to hear. I don’t even wear boots that often and I find it quite fascinating the depth which they want on that Munson last. The build quality in those nicks boots would last me 20 years since I am not in the trades.
Great looking boot. I retired some 5 years ago and wish I had seen videos like these before buying boots. I worked in construction for more than 40 years and am still dropping pine trees in the yard (20- 40 foot trees so far this year) and have three pairs of boots to wear out so maybe I'll need another pair ? Idk. 64 years old now but still moving like 40. thanks for the video. Peace
@@angellover02171 We learned nothing from those boots being cut in half. How many pairs of Nicks has he cut in half? We've known what's in them for a long time. It's just wasteful at this point.
@@noone3734 That's how Weston built this channel was cutting boots in half. Also I could be wrong but I believe in the past he has mentioned that one of the conditions of getting a review pair is that he cuts them in half.
@@bassplayer2011ify Whether it's Weston or the boot company, cutting them in half is getting annoying when we already know what's inside them, it's wasteful
I got builder pro boots as my first pair of Nick’s. I love this boot. Also I got mine custom made for my foot. My boots are sewn all the way through the rubber.
This is why I have spent the last two years almost barefoot after 37 years in heavy work boots! Repairing my feet has been so very important. Now, my Nicks boots are worn only while working for a few hours, then off they go.
I bought a pair of leather hiking boots from LL Bean in the early 70’s. They advertised as being made on a Munson last. Very comfortable boots. Have been on many canoe trips, hikes , hunting over the years. I’m in my 70’s and I’m still wearing them to hike. Original sole shows some wear but very serviceable. Sole appears to be the same as shown on your boot. Quality lasts ! Thanks for a great video !
If you're not watching Nicole Rudolph's channel, this wees's video is a good one to watch. She's a shoemaker, specializing in historical shoes. Ever wonder why shoes from the 1800s look so tiny? She has a video about that. Today's episode is all about foot shapes and how that affects the best shoe types for your feet.
We covered that army manual in medical school while studying the foot. Thank you for reminding me. I am always happy to learn how smart and driven to learn those people were. Now, not so much. You however, always seem eager to learn !!! and teach !
I just got my Wesco ND3's a week or so ago. Have worn them literally all day every day since. They started real stiff, sure, but they are COMFORTABLE. I am very impressed with Nicks. Thanks for getting me hooked, darn it. I also got a pair of Wesco Black Bear collab (after a 19 month wait) and they are also pretty amazing. They were done with the optional custom measurements and frankly, fit no better than the Nicks 13 narrow standard for me. Two killer products, and you are totally to blame. Thanks!!!
These types of boots that are built like this would be good for oil rig work. Just preferably without laces (Wellington /pullon) and a shorter heel. No matter what boot we buy, they get tore up fairly quickly if you are working.. 🤧. We like the wider toe box, that should be an industry standard.
@@sinisterthoughts2896 laces are dangerous for us, they get soaked in oil, mud water or other chemicals and it’s a bother also. Yes I know there are Boot B*** boots, they all are mostly the same. Ariat does now make a Wellington with a BOA system, I may try that. Just hopefully the sole in the front won’t peel apart in a few months from kicking slips or something.
Redwings 2231’s are pretty decent for oilfield work. They come in EE sizes as well. Get about a year out of them then one resole. Keep my back happy on steel grating.
Impressive history! It's amazing that although medicine has changed so much over the years, we have had the blueprint for healthy shoes for over 100 years now!
Hey Weston, please do a video on the Egyptian, Roman, and Greek foot types, and what shoes are better for different feet. I thoight of this because the foot you showed in the video had a longer big toe, and my feet have the middle toe longer than the big toe.
Morton's toe (also known as Morton's foot syndrome and Greek foot) is a commonly-inherited but inefficient foot shape. As a result, your second toe is longer than the big toe. It's not the actual toe bones that are longer, though; rather, it's an issue with the metatarsal bones they are attached to. Widebox barefoot shoes are good. Also wide minmill boots. SUPER comfortable.
Long ago I gave up on logger style boots and have worn the Danner Quarry for 10 years and loved them. These boots look to offer the same advantages of that wide last and low, wide heel in a more durable construction.
Custom last is the future of high-quality footwear... Now there are 3D printers and foot scanners that can mfg a low-cost last, there should be no reason that a custom shoe / bootmaker can't make footwear that will last for a decade or more, that is if cobblers are still in business to do resoling at a reasonable cost in the future. Great video!
I had a pair of Corcoran Jump Boots from the late 90’s. They were made with this last. They were amazing. Sadly I live in a basement and hadn’t worn them for a few years and they got moldy and I threw them out. I wear certain Keens now that have a very similar shape and am very happy with them.
Same. Too bad Corcoran has lowered their quality and upped the prices. Keen are good, but I wish they could be resoled to make them last longer. They are the best fitting hiking boots and shoes I've worn.
@@Unicorn161If you want quality jump boots. Look up At The Front and SM Wholesale. ATF jump boots are no longer made but they'll maybe be back next year but they won't be US made. SMW makes their boots in Mexico.
I'll have to check out Nick's boots with that new toe shape. Years ago I tried White's boots. Awesome quality and close to Montana. However, they want to force you into a too-small-of-a-boot. And their heels would rub my achilleas - major pain. Wesco boots were cheaper and better but I had to start wearing Keens and square toe slip-ons to be comfortable.
Как же долго я ждал таких ботинок- широких и анатомичных, которые не отклоняют палец. И с учётом того, как они сделали, мне хватило бы их лет на 15-20. К сожалению только, я не могу их себе позволить за такую стоимость, и их невозможно заказать в Россию. В остальном, они для меня просто идеальны.
I live in WA and I spoke with Nick a couple years ago about my frustration looking for a horse riding boot that provided straight space along the big toes. He said he didn't know why no one was making them that way, that all they'd need to do is shift the center of the boot toe toward the inside. Custom wasn't an option at the time because it was at the height of covid and he needed to be able to do an in-person measuring. Perhaps I should call him again! That last you were holding looks great. I wonder if you could turn Jim Green onto it as inspiration for an upgrade of the BF African Ranger last?
@@mss682 Yes, that is the case. And that isn't what Nick was referring to. It was that a boot could easily be built having straight space along the big toe and still 'pointy' for stirrup access by simply shifting the 'point' toward the inside.
I bet someone could make custom shoes today for a “not stupid” price. Laser scan your feet and mold a plastic last. Chances are it’ll be close enough to regular sizes that you could still use standard patterns to cut the material. Levi’s did that for a while. It was like 30 or 40 bucks more than regular. Shoes would be more that than extra, for sure. Might be worth it, though.
@@sinisterthoughts2896 the arch is supposed to support you, you shouldn't need a shoe to support the arch. Maybe you can instead retrain your feet to be self-supporting?
Nick's are about the most affordable footwear out there. I have worn mine every day for 7 years and I am ready for my second resoling. I expect the get at least 2 more resolings out of them, at which point I will be in $1000 ($600 + $100/resole). $71 per year is much cheaper than sneakers.
I’ve got some of these heading to me here in a few weeks and I’m very excited for them. I’ve gone down the more wide and “barefoot” path the path few years, and as soon as I saw these drop with the wider toe box and Munson last I ordered em.
i dont really buy the line that firefighters and loggers couldnt use the munsen last because it was too loose, since it was literally made for ww1 era soldiers who faced the exact same type of conditions (carrying large loads, rought terrain, going long distance on foot, constant exposure to the elements etc)
Love anatomically-correct footwear, so am happy see a Munson last resurgence. I admit to owning Birkenstock sandals and shoes - and I ain't no hippie - and just ordered my fourth pair of Jim Green's (first custom order!) cuz of their wide toe box.
In iraq most of is bought the tennis shoe style boot, they didn't last very long but they were way more comfortable and most of them were zip side so fast to put on
Also, because of industrialization in warfare, we now have general sizing of Small, Medium and Large. Uniforms had been made for the soldier up til Civil War (?) Too many troops made it necessary to generalize sizes.
before the civil war military footware didnt have a left or right shoe. the lewis and clark expedition were issued shoes that didn't have a left and right foot, they would wear the shoes on the left and right foot and then switch the left to right foot and right to left foot every night. they quickly got rid of those shoes during the expedition for mocasins.
1:10 I recommend watch Nicole Rudolph's video about historical shoe making. The "doll" shape is actually no more comfortable or uncomfortable than we would classify sneakers or boots today.
Ah, the Munson Garrison last.... The reason why the most comfortable boots I've ever owned are my Corcoran Field Boots. I have owned a few pair over three 30 years since I got out, and in fact they are all still in service even though they have been resolved a few times. Might treat myself to a pair of these.
I know it's just the intro, but water and wind wheels would like to have to have a word with you about "the first automation." You think farmers have been grinding grain by hand until the 1700's? Lol, said the Frog. Lmao.
Have a pair of outdoor boots I bough in the early '90s that I still use. Typical outdoor-mountain boots with red laces, D rings and hooks, except they are high (almost as high as these boots). The sole is the same century old Vibram sole, screwed just like that and sewed all around (single, not double like this). These boots are undestructible. Think the name is Matherhorn or something.
The Munson shaped lasts are cool, but they're not the end-all. Too many of them still have too steep of an angle on the small outside toes. I'm interested in the White's Swing Last where it actually curves out further on that side. Tried Munson. Bzzt. Next order will be on the 11067 last in a wide size. I prefer more vertical room in the toe box, too.
So hard to watch you cut ! Better you then me . Thanks . Nicks are some of the best boots I have owned yet. Just make sure you do your homework on fit up. They will help you out . Mind that the sizing is different with a saftey toe . I wear a 10.5 ee in thorogood and danner and in whites i am a 10 ee in Nick's I am a 9.5 f . Yes the are a little tight,however they will shrink to fit . 3 weeks now and my new outlanders are breaking in just right. I definitely see the difference. Just buy good boots your feet will thank you .
I have a pair of these, they're the best boots I've ever owned, but, I almost never wear them, they are too hard, heavy, and take too long to put on. Make sure you get some GOOD soft insoles if you buy them.
It's wild how long shoe manufacturers have know this and not done anything besides a few bespoke cobblers. Its not like the industry couldn't have changed tastes in a decade or less.
I have super wide feet, I get lots of Fred flint-stone jokes. Looks like im wearing flippers. The pain I have had to endure is fng ridiculous. Thanks for the video
I contacted Red Wing years ago and they made slight modifications to the Munson last and have used it since the 1920s in their workwear. What it is used for in 2024 I couldn't say.
I have extra wide feet. I play field sports and wear cleats. The conventional wisdom is that cleats should fit really snugly. But when New Balance started making 4E cleats, I tried them while playing Ultimate and it was a sea change for me. All of the blisters, foot, ankle and knee pain I normally associated with cleats went away, and my running an cutting measurably improved. So at least for me, the conventional wisdom is completely wrong.
Yes the industrial revolution led to mass produced boots which were not hand lasted. It also made footware affordable to orders of magnitude more people, and even when America was ramping up for WWI and WWII, there were recruits who had never worn shoes on a regular basis, because they were still so expensive that they were unaffordable.
I own 30 pairs of boots Vibergs Redwings JK's Oakstreet Grant Stones Role Clubs Parkhurst and Nicks. The BuilderPro is my most comfortable toughest boot I own hands down. When I am heading out for hard jobs or long overland jeep trips where I'll be facing unknown conditions it's the Builder Pros I grab without hesitation. I had Jk's in Bison that i sold off because I couldn't keep looking down at that fat waited bulbous toe'd boot and the comfort just didn't even compare. The Vibergs and Role clubs are great boots but arent as hardy and really just my going out boots. The rewings rarely get worn the others are just in line...if you want the best boots built from a company using only the best boot leather on the market it's the BP. Nicks uses only the best cuts verses Jk that will use less cuts to squeeze more boots out of one hide. I wouldn't want to get that lesser cut leather would you?
I've never heard any good explanation for why this style of boot is essentially shaped like high heels for men. I'm not trying to be funny, either. I personally wear barefoot style shoes most often, but I wear Red Wings at for work or in the shop. I understand some of the benefits from a thick sole, for example. I have also read (and believe) that a raised space between the heel and mid foot helped capture the stirrup on a saddle when riding (more important long ago, obviously). I have even heard some decent arguments for why the boot goes half way to the knees (though those arguments aren't great and have some pretty obvious flaws). But I have never heard a single good argument for why these logger style boots require such a ridiculously high heel. Anytime I have heard a boot expert offer an explanation, it's not really an explanation at all. It's a very quick, vague sentence along the lines of "well, obviously the heels have to be high because... you know... these are used for logging" and then they move on. They offer no explanation for why logging requires such high heels. To me, it just looks goofy. I would actually be embarrassed to wear boots like this. I would just assume that anyone who saw them was thinking that I was either a crossdresser or that I had some crippling insecurities about my height and was desperately trying to look taller.
mainly tradition, but there is some benefit for walking up and down steep inclines. the raised heel means that you have a less extreme bend in your ankle when walking directly uphill and also provides more of a hard stop when travelling down or over rough terrain but I agree, I think it looks goofy and would love it if there were more of this style of boot with a less extreme heel
@@DuckcuD U are essentially correct with ur reply as to why the logger heel. Retired wildland firefighter here. The logger heel makes it easier to walk up AND down steep slopes by giving ur heel a little lift. I had both flatter heeled boots & “logger lift” boots. The flat heel boots I used for fires in flat ground (plains, marshes, tundra) but would use my “lifted” boots if I had a fire assignment on steep mountainous areas.
Too late for me, I'm retired, but I'd like to know how long they last when exposed to auto trans fluid; most boots rot away after 9 months to a year. And how they fare in a welding shop; with abrasive grinding dust, cutting torches sending sparks and slag all over and sparks from welders. And do they come with steel toes? I know what worked best for me, and they were a lot cheaper than 250$.
4:02 did I miss some of the “really good reasons” for a narrower last or is it just about the aesthetics? There’s a very brief mention 9:35 of the need for a “more anatomical last” as the boots became more widely used, but I thought the Munson last was the more anatomical boot…I’m confused by the explanation.
when i bought my boots for wildland fire i went with JKs. I have a slightly wide foot and walked out the door with a 7ee, not the 9 i usually wear or the 10 they recommended. I can’t figure out why people buy such narrow boots and then upsize to fit the ball of their foot. I guess this is why.
I went in to Nicks to buy boots and the salesman wouldn't give me the time of day... as they say. There was no other customers in the store/ factory in Spokane so I went to JK and bought 3 pairs. 2 custom sized for my thin legs. I would love to try NIcks but the JK's will probably last a lifetime. Maybe in 20 years I will need another pair and will try Nicks. The thing about these Spokane boot manufacturers is that they are so comfortable you want to buy more and more to try out. I got tired of Wolverines falling apart after a year.
@RoseAnvil Can you do Hondo boots? They say that they are a boot that is only made of leather (i'm assuming aside form the steel shank) and they are built for actual cowboy work. Thanks!
Get some of the best boots in the world here while they are on sale for $60 off til the end of May! - nicksboots.com/builderpro-60th-anniversary/
Do you offer Police style boots ??
I can't get into the website. Is it US only?
I got a pair of these in the exact configuration a few months ago and they're the most comfortable piece of footwear I've ever put on. I'm a mechanic and while a wedge sole may be more ideal for the hangar floor, the arch support you get with these makes even standing on flat surfaces more comfortable than anything else I've experienced for 12 hours at a time. For anyone thinking of getting a pair, I followed Nicks sizing guide and the fit was perfect. Surprisingly snug around the middle of the foot, but I've really come to appreciate that support and my toes have the perfect amount of room. The 1964 leather breaks in real nice and has only looked better and better over time. I'm in no hurry to take them off even after a long shift.
sure you did
@@UTAH_BLANElol pretty possible that he did… they’re not unattainable. Also in a grand scheme to turn a profit, Nick’s probably made more than the one pair featured in this video…
@@UTAH_BLANE why doubt it? Nick's sells boots, and it's a last they have had fir a long time. And this is a high end boot channel, so is likely to be viewed by people interested in and who get nice boots.
@@NDB469 to add to the not unattainable point, it's worth noting that this boot is on Nick's quick ship page. For a lot of Nick's you have to wait 4 months to even a year, but I got mine in the mail after I think it was 6 weeks. I think right now quick ships are around 8 weeks, probably due to fire season picking up.
@@TheEldestScrollabsolutely, yea quick ship isn’t “that” quick lol, but it’s quicker than the standard waiting period. I suppose they can only make so many boots at a time. Quickest I’ve had was about 3 weeks from the trades program they offer.
I'm glad to see the munson last being more widely used. I actually think it looks better. I also have extra wide feet.
Me too. I wish they had a safety toe that matched this last.
Same on both accounts.
Yup narrow boots look too fem often
yea i hate the modern super pointy toe look that most mens boots are going for these days. it looks extremely dainty and affected
@@hiramesensei3112 I wear square toe boots for this reason. Pointy toe boots just look like women's boots.
I am a custom shoemaker, and this information is spot on.
I make lasts for bespoke work as well as ready to wear footwear.
Can you put your info in here? I work on my feet 16 hours some days. I need the most comfortable boots possible...
Really enjoy these videos but finally had to comment about how much the name of the last makes me smile.
When I was a kid I was a NY Yankees fan and whoever decided to name the modified Munson last the Thurman has a sense of humor and a good memory. Thanks for the smile.
The history is just so good to hear. I don’t even wear boots that often and I find it quite fascinating the depth which they want on that Munson last. The build quality in those nicks boots would last me 20 years since I am not in the trades.
They will last you 20 years if you’re in trades. They will last a lifetime if not
I think the shape looks great! The more comfortable it looks shape wise the better it looks as well
Great looking boot. I retired some 5 years ago and wish I had seen videos like these before buying boots. I worked in construction for more than 40 years and am still dropping pine trees in the yard (20- 40 foot trees so far this year) and have three pairs of boots to wear out so maybe I'll need another pair ? Idk. 64 years old now but still moving like 40. thanks for the video. Peace
It actually hurt to see that boot cut in half.
It's for the best. We can learn so much
@@angellover02171 We learned nothing from those boots being cut in half. How many pairs of Nicks has he cut in half? We've known what's in them for a long time. It's just wasteful at this point.
@@noone3734 That's how Weston built this channel was cutting boots in half. Also I could be wrong but I believe in the past he has mentioned that one of the conditions of getting a review pair is that he cuts them in half.
@@bassplayer2011ify Whether it's Weston or the boot company, cutting them in half is getting annoying when we already know what's inside them, it's wasteful
@noone3734 it's far less wasteful than alot of things that happen
Just received these exact boots in a different leather, but AMAZING for us wide footed folk.
Tell me everything I am cursed with EEEE
I got builder pro boots as my first pair of Nick’s. I love this boot. Also I got mine custom made for my foot.
My boots are sewn all the way through the rubber.
This is why I have spent the last two years almost barefoot after 37 years in heavy work boots! Repairing my feet has been so very important. Now, my Nicks boots are worn only while working for a few hours, then off they go.
This is the way.
Munson's book is really well written. I recommend it to enthusiasts
I bought a pair of leather hiking boots from LL Bean in the early 70’s. They advertised as being made on a Munson last. Very comfortable boots. Have been on many canoe trips, hikes , hunting over the years. I’m in my 70’s and I’m still wearing them to hike. Original sole shows some wear but very serviceable. Sole appears to be the same as shown on your boot. Quality lasts ! Thanks for a great video !
If you're not watching Nicole Rudolph's channel, this wees's video is a good one to watch.
She's a shoemaker, specializing in historical shoes. Ever wonder why shoes from the 1800s look so tiny? She has a video about that.
Today's episode is all about foot shapes and how that affects the best shoe types for your feet.
I was thinking the same thing!
We covered that army manual in medical school while studying the foot. Thank you for reminding me. I am always happy to learn how smart and driven to learn those people were. Now, not so much.
You however, always seem eager to learn !!! and teach !
I just got my Wesco ND3's a week or so ago. Have worn them literally all day every day since. They started real stiff, sure, but they are COMFORTABLE. I am very impressed with Nicks. Thanks for getting me hooked, darn it. I also got a pair of Wesco Black Bear collab (after a 19 month wait) and they are also pretty amazing. They were done with the optional custom measurements and frankly, fit no better than the Nicks 13 narrow standard for me. Two killer products, and you are totally to blame. Thanks!!!
These types of boots that are built like this would be good for oil rig work. Just preferably without laces (Wellington /pullon) and a shorter heel. No matter what boot we buy, they get tore up fairly quickly if you are working.. 🤧. We like the wider toe box, that should be an industry standard.
The wellington can't give the ankle support these kinds of boots are designed for.
@@sinisterthoughts2896 laces are dangerous for us, they get soaked in oil, mud water or other chemicals and it’s a bother also. Yes I know there are Boot B*** boots, they all are mostly the same. Ariat does now make a Wellington with a BOA system, I may try that. Just hopefully the sole in the front won’t peel apart in a few months from kicking slips or something.
Nicks has safety toe Wellington and Chelsea boots
Check out their tanker boots
Redwings 2231’s are pretty decent for oilfield work. They come in EE sizes as well. Get about a year out of them then one resole. Keep my back happy on steel grating.
Impressive history! It's amazing that although medicine has changed so much over the years, we have had the blueprint for healthy shoes for over 100 years now!
Thanks for getting straight to the content without wasting our time with BS intros. Great job.
Almost a million subscribers. Your channel deserves it.
I feel a bit better knowing there are at least a million fools as crazy as I am...
@ 7:15 . . . "Thurman Munson inspired last . . ." Lol. Thurman Munson was the catcher for the Yankees in the '70s.
Maybe his brother inspired him!
Bandsaw said it all
Hey Weston, please do a video on the Egyptian, Roman, and Greek foot types, and what shoes are better for different feet. I thoight of this because the foot you showed in the video had a longer big toe, and my feet have the middle toe longer than the big toe.
@AliceBowie- do you by chance have the Greek foot type?
Morton's toe (also known as Morton's foot syndrome and Greek foot) is a commonly-inherited but inefficient foot shape. As a result, your second toe is longer than the big toe. It's not the actual toe bones that are longer, though; rather, it's an issue with the metatarsal bones they are attached to.
Widebox barefoot shoes are good. Also wide minmill boots. SUPER comfortable.
Long ago I gave up on logger style boots and have worn the Danner Quarry for 10 years and loved them. These boots look to offer the same advantages of that wide last and low, wide heel in a more durable construction.
Custom last is the future of high-quality footwear...
Now there are 3D printers and foot scanners that can mfg a low-cost last, there should be no reason that a custom shoe / bootmaker can't make footwear that will last for a decade or more, that is if cobblers are still in business to do resoling at a reasonable cost in the future.
Great video!
I had a pair of Corcoran Jump Boots from the late 90’s. They were made with this last. They were amazing. Sadly I live in a basement and hadn’t worn them for a few years and they got moldy and I threw them out. I wear certain Keens now that have a very similar shape and am very happy with them.
Same. Too bad Corcoran has lowered their quality and upped the prices. Keen are good, but I wish they could be resoled to make them last longer. They are the best fitting hiking boots and shoes I've worn.
@@Unicorn161If you want quality jump boots. Look up At The Front and SM Wholesale. ATF jump boots are no longer made but they'll maybe be back next year but they won't be US made. SMW makes their boots in Mexico.
I have the same and they are my go too boots when I ride my motorbike
Amazing video! It’s so incredibly interesting the history of footwear. I find it fascinating. You’ve inspired me to find out more.
I'll have to check out Nick's boots with that new toe shape. Years ago I tried White's boots. Awesome quality and close to Montana. However, they want to force you into a too-small-of-a-boot. And their heels would rub my achilleas - major pain. Wesco boots were cheaper and better but I had to start wearing Keens and square toe slip-ons to be comfortable.
Как же долго я ждал таких ботинок- широких и анатомичных, которые не отклоняют палец. И с учётом того, как они сделали, мне хватило бы их лет на 15-20.
К сожалению только, я не могу их себе позволить за такую стоимость, и их невозможно заказать в Россию.
В остальном, они для меня просто идеальны.
Nice comment.
I live in WA and I spoke with Nick a couple years ago about my frustration looking for a horse riding boot that provided straight space along the big toes. He said he didn't know why no one was making them that way, that all they'd need to do is shift the center of the boot toe toward the inside. Custom wasn't an option at the time because it was at the height of covid and he needed to be able to do an in-person measuring. Perhaps I should call him again!
That last you were holding looks great. I wonder if you could turn Jim Green onto it as inspiration for an upgrade of the BF African Ranger last?
Pointy goes into stirrups easier? I've heard that's how pointy shoes became popular in the first place.
@@mss682 Yes, that is the case. And that isn't what Nick was referring to. It was that a boot could easily be built having straight space along the big toe and still 'pointy' for stirrup access by simply shifting the 'point' toward the inside.
This is the video I didnt know I needed. Excellent job!!
I bet someone could make custom shoes today for a “not stupid” price. Laser scan your feet and mold a plastic last. Chances are it’ll be close enough to regular sizes that you could still use standard patterns to cut the material. Levi’s did that for a while. It was like 30 or 40 bucks more than regular. Shoes would be more that than extra, for sure. Might be worth it, though.
I would buy a nice pair of boots if my feet weren't so damn big and wide
@@notnoaintno5134 the struggle is real. Mine are wide with a lot of arch. And if it doesn't get supported I quickly get to where I can't walk.
@@notnoaintno5134Nick's (and others) can fit you precisely!
@@sinisterthoughts2896 the arch is supposed to support you, you shouldn't need a shoe to support the arch. Maybe you can instead retrain your feet to be self-supporting?
Nick's are about the most affordable footwear out there. I have worn mine every day for 7 years and I am ready for my second resoling. I expect the get at least 2 more resolings out of them, at which point I will be in $1000 ($600 + $100/resole). $71 per year is much cheaper than sneakers.
I’ve got some of these heading to me here in a few weeks and I’m very excited for them. I’ve gone down the more wide and “barefoot” path the path few years, and as soon as I saw these drop with the wider toe box and Munson last I ordered em.
The munson last makes a huge difference. I sold my HNW last Nicks and I now only wear munson lasted double buckle boots.
How do you find the addition of arch support? I have a low arch and typically find this to be too high in anything other than barefoot styles
I love my Nick’s boots! It kinda hurt seeing these cut up.
I wish some company would come out with a safety toe for the munson last
I've wanted a Munson Last pair for a good minute now honestly
Thank you I have a vast collection of Boots and shoes and I love watching your channel
i dont really buy the line that firefighters and loggers couldnt use the munsen last because it was too loose, since it was literally made for ww1 era soldiers who faced the exact same type of conditions (carrying large loads, rought terrain, going long distance on foot, constant exposure to the elements etc)
Munson and the Shoe Board sounds like and amazing band name
Love anatomically-correct footwear, so am happy see a Munson last resurgence. I admit to owning Birkenstock sandals and shoes - and I ain't no hippie - and just ordered my fourth pair of Jim Green's (first custom order!) cuz of their wide toe box.
We really do need modern combat boots built like this.
In iraq most of is bought the tennis shoe style boot, they didn't last very long but they were way more comfortable and most of them were zip side so fast to put on
Also, because of industrialization in warfare, we now have general sizing of Small, Medium and Large. Uniforms had been made for the soldier up til Civil War (?) Too many troops made it necessary to generalize sizes.
before the civil war military footware didnt have a left or right shoe. the lewis and clark expedition were issued shoes that didn't have a left and right foot, they would wear the shoes on the left and right foot and then switch the left to right foot and right to left foot every night. they quickly got rid of those shoes during the expedition for mocasins.
Prefer a straight last. Medial longitudinal arch should not rest on a side wall of shoe. Goal is to keep that foot on the ground as much as possible.
I'd like to see Franks Rainiers made on the 55 Thurman last, it's surprising that only one PNW outfit makes a high arch last on a wedge sole.
Dude. THURMAN Munson was a ballplayer. LYMAN Munson was the the boot guy .
Hey you can't forget Roy Munson....
I got a $ 280 pair of Redwing boots I've been working on cimnent floors for 47 years and they are perfect for me ❤ 🎉
William Lennon boots here in the UK are another serious boot. Still made in the factory in the traditional way.
1:10 I recommend watch Nicole Rudolph's video about historical shoe making. The "doll" shape is actually no more comfortable or uncomfortable than we would classify sneakers or boots today.
Yeah I'm buying these right now.
Ah, the Munson Garrison last.... The reason why the most comfortable boots I've ever owned are my Corcoran Field Boots. I have owned a few pair over three 30 years since I got out, and in fact they are all still in service even though they have been resolved a few times. Might treat myself to a pair of these.
the name of the foot analog is the "læst", from anglo saxan. Sneaking is still called "liste" in Denmark
I know it's just the intro, but water and wind wheels would like to have to have a word with you about "the first automation." You think farmers have been grinding grain by hand until the 1700's?
Lol, said the Frog. Lmao.
Have a pair of outdoor boots I bough in the early '90s that I still use. Typical outdoor-mountain boots with red laces, D rings and hooks, except they are high (almost as high as these boots). The sole is the same century old Vibram sole, screwed just like that and sewed all around (single, not double like this). These boots are undestructible. Think the name is Matherhorn or something.
The best boot ever was the M1967 black all leather US combat boot by Ro-search with the Chevron sole :) Also the M1976
"The great toe" love it
They remind me of WW2 Jump Boots.
Love this channel.
FINALLY remembered to subscribe!😂
Best channel ever. That guy always tells tru
Fascinating history! If you google the book title and Munson, it is available as a free pdf download from the Library of Congress.
I love my Redwing 899s built on the munson last, comfortable, and my feet are indestructible in them.... unfortunately, they aren't made any longer.
I am so damn stoked to get my bear slayers, will be my first pair of pnw style boots
The Munson shaped lasts are cool, but they're not the end-all. Too many of them still have too steep of an angle on the small outside toes. I'm interested in the White's Swing Last where it actually curves out further on that side.
Tried Munson. Bzzt. Next order will be on the 11067 last in a wide size. I prefer more vertical room in the toe box, too.
So hard to watch you cut ! Better you then me . Thanks . Nicks are some of the best boots I have owned yet. Just make sure you do your homework on fit up. They will help you out . Mind that the sizing is different with a saftey toe . I wear a 10.5 ee in thorogood and danner and in whites i am a 10 ee in Nick's I am a 9.5 f . Yes the are a little tight,however they will shrink to fit . 3 weeks now and my new outlanders are breaking in just right. I definitely see the difference. Just buy good boots your feet will thank you .
I have a pair of these, they're the best boots I've ever owned, but, I almost never wear them, they are too hard, heavy, and take too long to put on. Make sure you get some GOOD soft insoles if you buy them.
it would be awesome if you coulkd get your hand on current German army issue boots. They are very good and very comfortable, absolutely great boots
I'd love to see a cut in half Lunghags boots. Think the Swedish military boot, but new, with different technologies and such
Cutting up a Nick's boot is just wrong. They are art.
One Nick's Boots BuilderPro ruins band saw blade for good. Need a 'blade rating' for the boots.
It's wild how long shoe manufacturers have know this and not done anything besides a few bespoke cobblers. Its not like the industry couldn't have changed tastes in a decade or less.
I have super wide feet, I get lots of Fred flint-stone jokes. Looks like im wearing flippers. The pain I have had to endure is fng ridiculous. Thanks for the video
I contacted Red Wing years ago and they made slight modifications to the Munson last and have used it since the 1920s in their workwear. What it is used for in 2024 I couldn't say.
Love the history of these!!
Munson's book is available on Amazon and other book sellers.
I have extra wide feet. I play field sports and wear cleats. The conventional wisdom is that cleats should fit really snugly. But when New Balance started making 4E cleats, I tried them while playing Ultimate and it was a sea change for me. All of the blisters, foot, ankle and knee pain I normally associated with cleats went away, and my running an cutting measurably improved. So at least for me, the conventional wisdom is completely wrong.
Great review
Sheesh, you should set up a deal with a water-jet cutting company.
love your vids!!!
Thurman Munson, he was the catcher and captain of the Yankees in the late Seventies, early eighties.
Yes the industrial revolution led to mass produced boots which were not hand lasted. It also made footware affordable to orders of magnitude more people, and even when America was ramping up for WWI and WWII, there were recruits who had never worn shoes on a regular basis, because they were still so expensive that they were unaffordable.
Still got my jump boots for stomping out fires.
world class content
funny how you didn't mention the Corcoran boot that also builds upon the Munson last
I own 30 pairs of boots Vibergs Redwings JK's Oakstreet Grant Stones Role Clubs Parkhurst and Nicks. The BuilderPro is my most comfortable toughest boot I own hands down. When I am heading out for hard jobs or long overland jeep trips where I'll be facing unknown conditions it's the Builder Pros I grab without hesitation. I had Jk's in Bison that i sold off because I couldn't keep looking down at that fat waited bulbous toe'd boot and the comfort just didn't even compare. The Vibergs and Role clubs are great boots but arent as hardy and really just my going out boots. The rewings rarely get worn the others are just in line...if you want the best boots built from a company using only the best boot leather on the market it's the BP. Nicks uses only the best cuts verses Jk that will use less cuts to squeeze more boots out of one hide. I wouldn't want to get that lesser cut leather would you?
I want a pair of FD boots in this more comfortable last.
Rose anvil is the hero we don't deserve
I've never heard any good explanation for why this style of boot is essentially shaped like high heels for men. I'm not trying to be funny, either. I personally wear barefoot style shoes most often, but I wear Red Wings at for work or in the shop. I understand some of the benefits from a thick sole, for example. I have also read (and believe) that a raised space between the heel and mid foot helped capture the stirrup on a saddle when riding (more important long ago, obviously). I have even heard some decent arguments for why the boot goes half way to the knees (though those arguments aren't great and have some pretty obvious flaws). But I have never heard a single good argument for why these logger style boots require such a ridiculously high heel. Anytime I have heard a boot expert offer an explanation, it's not really an explanation at all. It's a very quick, vague sentence along the lines of "well, obviously the heels have to be high because... you know... these are used for logging" and then they move on. They offer no explanation for why logging requires such high heels.
To me, it just looks goofy. I would actually be embarrassed to wear boots like this. I would just assume that anyone who saw them was thinking that I was either a crossdresser or that I had some crippling insecurities about my height and was desperately trying to look taller.
mainly tradition, but there is some benefit for walking up and down steep inclines. the raised heel means that you have a less extreme bend in your ankle when walking directly uphill and also provides more of a hard stop when travelling down or over rough terrain
but I agree, I think it looks goofy and would love it if there were more of this style of boot with a less extreme heel
@@DuckcuD U are essentially correct with ur reply as to why the logger heel. Retired wildland firefighter here. The logger heel makes it easier to walk up AND down steep slopes by giving ur heel a little lift. I had both flatter heeled boots & “logger lift” boots. The flat heel boots I used for fires in flat ground (plains, marshes, tundra) but would use my “lifted” boots if I had a fire assignment on steep mountainous areas.
So informative, thanks!
Too late for me, I'm retired, but I'd like to know how long they last when exposed to auto trans fluid; most boots rot away after 9 months to a year. And how they fare in a welding shop; with abrasive grinding dust, cutting torches sending sparks and slag all over and sparks from welders. And do they come with steel toes? I know what worked best for me, and they were a lot cheaper than 250$.
4:02 did I miss some of the “really good reasons” for a narrower last or is it just about the aesthetics? There’s a very brief mention 9:35 of the need for a “more anatomical last” as the boots became more widely used, but I thought the Munson last was the more anatomical boot…I’m confused by the explanation.
I was wondering the same thing. Did I miss something? Have worn Nick’s Hotshots & Alaska Tundra (64 last) in the past.
when i bought my boots for wildland fire i went with JKs. I have a slightly wide foot and walked out the door with a 7ee, not the 9 i usually wear or the 10 they recommended. I can’t figure out why people buy such narrow boots and then upsize to fit the ball of their foot. I guess this is why.
Corcoran boots still got it.
Whites has been using a Munson last for years before nicks ever thought about it.
I cried when you cut them in half
I went in to Nicks to buy boots and the salesman wouldn't give me the time of day... as they say. There was no other customers in the store/ factory in Spokane so I went to JK and bought 3 pairs. 2 custom sized for my thin legs. I would love to try NIcks but the JK's will probably last a lifetime. Maybe in 20 years I will need another pair and will try Nicks. The thing about these Spokane boot manufacturers is that they are so comfortable you want to buy more and more to try out. I got tired of Wolverines falling apart after a year.
For what you get, $589 isn't very expensive. Nike sells some of their sports shoes for 250-300
Heck to the yeah
I really hope you do a russet shoe at some point
@RoseAnvil Can you do Hondo boots? They say that they are a boot that is only made of leather (i'm assuming aside form the steel shank) and they are built for actual cowboy work. Thanks!