I've got a pair of their Tactical on order, so should get them by April or May 2023. I really appreciated all the customization options as other boots had some of the features I wanted but not all of them. Of course this comes with a premium price and the wait time but I'm at the point of my life where I want some of the Nice Things (and they're built like a tank).
Im a mechanic and I started wearing thorogoods which I had been wearing a few months before I started working and I could only wear them for a couple weeks before I got a pair of redbacks which were insanely comfortable and wore them for just over a year, then a new guy started with the same name as me but from the south and he was a die hard cowboy boot guy, I then decided I needed a pair of cowboy style boots and decided on doubleH's which were comfortable but they ended up breaking in and becoming fairly roomy unless wearing thick socks, I wore these for maybe another 6 or 7 months. I actually had my Nicks on order before I had these boots. Finally I received my custom pair which are essentially an 8" overlander with logger heal HNW last steel toe (required) which I got a honey v100 sole on. for the first 2 weeks I couldnt even make it to lunch time which is around 4 hours or so wearing the boots, my feet were just killing me, Currently going on 3 and a half months of owning these and they are 100% the most comfortable boots ive ever worn, I still have all my other boots all in pretty good condition and I don't even want to wear them because my nicks are just so much better in every way
That break in is no joke. My Builder Pros took 8 months to really break in, and they are continuing to break in in terms of getting more comfortable the more I wear them. I figure they will be due for a resolve by the time they get there.
@@blackdogproductions2044 I don’t know if that’s completely accurate, but I haven’t been completely happy with the rapid wear of the soles. They gave the the fireproof Red X soles, which I did not ask for. I assumed that was why.
Nick’s are awesome, no doubt about it! I own a pair of Builder Pros (with rough out lowers and smooth uppers) and a pair of Urban Loggers in the No. 8 CXL leather. I never had any pain breaking in either pair. I wear my Loggers almost every day, just because they are so comfortable. Keep up the great work!
After reading lots of comments, I think the main reason for the tough break in was my specific leather choice. In any case, break in or not--- worth it!
I did the W&C bridle veg tan medium brown in a cap toe falcon. Weird thing is that I did the try on fitting process and after sending in all my measurements notes they sent me an 11B for try on. It felt all wrong. I opted for 10.5D which is what I wore in RW’s that I was moving out of but now I wish I would’ve done a 10D. I have to wear a thick sock with it. Break in is a true “investment” no doubt especially with the veg tan leather. Also did the 269 Western sole which I’m very happy with.
I almost made the wrong choice on those YSLs, glad I watched this video. All kidding aside, thank you for all the blood, sweat and tears of breaking in some tough boots. I think most of the high end boots are over built for me. My Red Wings will probably outlive me at this point.
Awesome review., I started my collection of boots with redwings iron ranger. Great boot but still no comparison with nicks boots. I have 3 pairs of nicks. 1) builder pro with classic arch 10inch shaft rough out and smooth leather, lug sole. 2) 8 inch dark olive chrome excel overlanders with moderate arch and lug sole.And 3) 8 inch MTO Maryam toscanello horse rump limited series with moderate arch v-bar sole. So out of these 3 the builder pros were the hardest to break in. The other two are pretty comfortable from the start. It may be due to the arch being less pronounced and the soles being a bit thinner. All three are tanks though. Can’t wait to see how the three age differently.
Do you wear the same size in iron rangers as nicks and was the fit similar if you did. I'm looking at getting a pair but their size chart says I should go up a size from my iron rangers.
I have enough pairs of boots right now that I just couldn't justify getting another. But fast forward some years and I'll get a pair of Nicks for sure. They're gorgeous. And that crazy break-in? That's just a sign of quality, baby. Long break-in = long life of the boot. Great review, Billy. 👍 I like how you put cakes on your feet when you said the IR break-in was a piece of cake. Made me laugh.
I love the look of these I have a couple of pair of Iran rangers I’m intrigued on these Can you tell me other differences between these and the Truman’s I can’t get either in my country If you could just have one of those two brands witch one and why ?
Good review I’m looking at the nicks over lander in this leather it’s nice to see the close ups on how it will look. I’ll be using them as work boots I’m a plumber
I saw in another of your videos that these are not your favorite boots because they are wide. I was wondering if you can make a video comparing these to the falcons, since you mentioned seeing slimmer boots when visiting the Nicks’ factory.
I'm looking at a pair of Nicks. After watching your video of the top 20? 21? American made boots, I chose Nicks. And now after watching this video, they're definitely my choice. Now to choose which pair.
Red Wings feel harsh to walk on. Almost zero shock absorption. Nick's feel better, but not for the first month. Even 3 months in you'll be thinking you made a mistake buying Nick's, but you have to power through. The leather choice makes a big difference. Waxed flesh is tough to break in, but the predator orange, cxl, and 1964 leathers are easy. The nicks soles are the hardest part to break in. Very stiff for a long time, like you taped a 2×4 to your foot. Red Wings soles are not comfortable ever imo. Nick's suck at first and slowly become awesome.
Yeah, I definitely felt that was about the my Iron Rangers, but I find them comfortable now... I think because I got the Iron Ranger as one of my first boots so I was comparing their shock absorption to sneakers. Now my feet are just used to only being supported by leather. And yeah, I could tell that the leather choice is what's prolonging the break in. I mean, it still looks basically new... insane. Thank you for watching and commenting!
Super informative video so thank you" I have a thing for boots and only question is on a collaboration,something I've never done before , if they think you're going down the wrong road will suggestions to me be made for a better fit and look? And are they true to size? And any suggestions would be appreciated.. thank you so much because there not cheep.
Hey man, awesome Video! Quick question, you say you're a 10D in Boots so are both your RW Iron Rangers and the Nick's in 10D. Do they fit very similarly?
It's hard to say -- both with me well, but they feel completely different on my feet because of the way Nicks constructs their insole. Super supportive, and it took a while to get used to, but I love it.
I have whites perry 8” mix toe, redwing irons, nicks falcon. Each one has its pro and cons. But I love a true cap toe and Mocs are just so comfortable.
I own a pair of Iron rangers but are looking at getting some nicks falcon. Did you get the same size in both and how does the fit compare if you did. Would you change anything about the sizing you chose if you ordered again. My iron rangers are 9.5 and fit really well. I'm not sure whether to order the same size in Nicks or not. Their sizing chart says i should get 10.5 E so I'm confused. Any help would be really appreciated. Cheers
@@SomeoneWhosNearby hi, well I have wide feet and so the nicks are truly wider than iron ranger, I think I could have gotten away with a regular fit with Nicks. In rangers I need a wide other wise I am walking on the welt. Nicks are harder to break in but that's due to the extra leather they use in my opinion. I say I walked in them a mile a day for a month before I even felt a difference. Still took an extra 2 months to break them in proper and feel great. As for the size difference, to be honest I like a little room so go 1/2 a size bigger because of all the movements I do, squatting, kneeling, ladders and so on. So please take that into thought, In rangers I'm a 7 wide, Nicks falcon I'm a 7.5 or 7 1/2 wide. Both leave me the width of my thumb for space and I like that. Also call ahead and place the special order with them its worth the trial pair they send you ahead of time. They sent me a size 8 and I decided to go one down. But the personalized method allows you to try on a boot not in your choice of color and such, but in style and size and it will fit tight but understand with time it gives. ya it coasts an extra $100.00 but you get a trial pair and for sure you get the proper fit. they want you to walk around in them and while you have them on call them and they will adjust your order to your phone call and input. Hoped this helped and the nicks by far are my favorite, now that they are broken in.
@@lexbustamante757thanks for the feedback Lex. It made me go and have a look at my iron rangers. I'm standing on the welt a little so it appears that E width is what I should be wearing. As for the length I've got minimal room at the end of my toes maybe 1/4 in so could safely go up a half size. I don't need the additional room you do so it looks like 10 E should be a good fit. I can't try their special try on service as I'm in Australia. It was why I wanted to make sure I got it right as it would be an expensive mistake if they were a little too big. Thanks again Lex for taking the time to help. I appreciate it. Cheers mate
@@SomeoneWhosNearby NO worries, I loved Australia while I was there for port visits and so on. Northern part, a place called Darwin. I spent so much time there I can still recall the layout from the port to the main strip. I love the burgers with radish and the water falls are and will always be my favorite things I loved about Darwin. I understand you totally about getting a tighter fit if your not into construction like I am. Being able to have a Cobbler ( shoe repair/shoe maker) able to re-soul, good year welt and son on and have your boots out live you is always a wise investment. Wish you all the best over in Australia where you are, from all the way from Texas.
Hello from Germany, thanks for great rewiew. Maybe you can help me. My Iron Ranger 10.5D fits me perfectly, in which size should I order Nicks Americaner?
How do they compare to say the truman 79 lasts? In terms of durability and longevity are they similar or is nicks blowing everyone else out of the water no contest?
Dude, you're crazy thinking the RW's 430 minilug sole is softer. The first thing I noticed with the V-bar sole on my Roberts' is just how much less impact I felt in foot (besides the obvious amazing arch support that instantly cured chronic big toe pain i had for over a decade). I ended up relegating my Iron Rangers to yard work because they never stopped feeling like I was just walking barefoot on wooden floors, and the 430 mini lugs wore down within 4 months which caused bad slipping on tile when it or my shoes were wet. Bar none the worst thing about IR's is that outsole. Either way, I've got almost 1400 hours on my Roberts and they just keep getting better and better. I'm about to buy a second pair so I can properly air them out between wears so i dont rot out the insole too quickly. The Predator Orange that my current boots are in had almost no break in at all. I'm looking forward to the 1964 Chocolate my next pair will be.
I would agree with William. My one strike against Red Wing is their lack of an actual mid-sole. Red Wing’s “mid-sole” in their Heritage boots is the pre-cut cork used to fill in the space created by the Goodyear Welt. When you level the playing field by using an actual leather mid-sole, then you will immediately notice the difference. The V-Bar spread your weight across more surface with the ground. It will always feel softer than the 430 Mini-Lug.
@@thesharpercoder it's beyond being a midsole issue (the cork does suck, though), the actual compound is softer. I can press my nail into the VBar on the Nick's relatively easily when compared to the RW's 430 sole. That being said, and kind of counterintuitive to that, the Vbar soles are holding up WAY better. I honestly think RW uses a "silverline" version of the 430 minilugs to keep costs down, because the difference in the quality of the rubber between the two boots isn't even close.
Yeah, honestly, I couldn't tell a difference myself (just by pressing into the rubber). I got that information after doing a bunch of research and I found a video of a cobbler discussing the differences, so I rolled with that because he seemed to know a ton about different Vibram soles.
@@trapperjohn8508 they are definitely heavier, I'm an 8.5e and they probably weigh close to 2.5lbs each, as opposed to less than 1.5lbs for the IRs, and I'm not sure about the Americanas but I'd imagine the heel profile makes a slight difference, but probably not much. Regardless, they're so comfortable and "walk" so well that I don't notice the weight. I wear my Roberts every day for 10-14 hours and I'm never like "my goodness I can't wait to get these off".
@@trapperjohn8508 🤞😬 I think you'll be happy with either one, honestly, but if you're willing to give the heel a try, I don't think you'll regret the Charlie at all. The 55 last really shifts the body weight more evenly across the whole foot, and tends to make me stand a little straighter. One thing I will say is that unless you're REALLY dead set on a cap toe, maybe reconsider. The first thing I notice on my IRs when i have to put them on is that extra leather across my foot, it's just not as comfortable when bending down and whatnot, and the IRs are thinner leather, so I'd imagine that would be even more pronounced on a pair of Nick's. I'm super infatuated with the look of cap toes too, but I don't think I'll ever buy another pair with them. If you're worried about toe box shape you can always get them with the classic toe, though I personally think soft toe is best.
I own a pair of the overlanders by nicks, and they are the most comfortable boot i have ever owned, they are insanely tough... i didnt find the break in painful, but the leather is so tough that for the first week or two it felt like walking in wooden clogs... they are a great all around eveyday boot, they dont look out of place with any outfit besides maybe something super formal... for the cost to wear, they cannot be beat
@@BootSpy I’ve been in the market for a chore coat this past week. My favorite finds so far are from prison blues, LC King, Naked and Famous, and Tellason.
Best boots I’ve ever had in my life. Also the most expensive. Once you get the size right and you break them in properly with a little oil… Man, your feet will thank you. These things fit like gloves. Like bedroom slippers only I can walk on all sorts of terrain. My job has to do with mud and gravel and hills and I’ve never had anything better on my feet. Had some dinners that were comfy for a while, but got all busted up inside of eight months or maybe a year. Not really worth it for the price. But the next? Definitely worth it.
I bought the redwing model 400, they fell about after a yr and a half. I was considering buying the iron rangers and sending my 400s out for repairs, but after seeing this i think I'm going to go with nicks... clearly the better option and will have my cobbler rebuild the redwings 400s instead. [If he is still alive, my father used him for decades even before I was born. so yeah....]
Lovely boot! I love how you leaned in to your meme humor style. It actually works now when you went more in to it. Before I didn't understand it as it was only on thumbnails and it looked so much out of place and context that i would just avoid your content all together though it has good points and content and watch it only when researching the perticular boot. Now when i see it in context all through the video as handwriting of your video it is actually really good. Good work
Another very good video William and you are presentation is getting more and more polished with every one of them...! This Old Timer love's watching your boot video's.... % STARS..Greg
I’ve been going through the process of ordering my own Nicks boots and didn’t know which sole to go with. This video helped my to decide to go with the V-Bar. More durability is what I’m looking for.
I have a pair of Builder Pros and a pair of Roberts. For me the break-in was not that bad. A week or so of wearing them increasing the amount of time I had them on each day and by the end of the first week I was able to wear them all day with no issues. It took me literally years to pull the trigger because of the price, but now I can't believe they can provide so much boot for such a reasonable price.
I have zero problem spending the money on Nicks or Whites. I wouldn’t even blink. There’s no way in heck I would spend $350 on IR. The most I would spend on IR is $200. Most I’ve ever spent on them.
My Nick's builder pros took about a year to fully break in. The first month was painful, it was the first boot ever to break in. I had to wear thick socks for the first few day in order to kinda break them in. After that I switched to thin socks to really start the "break in process". It was very painful. If u can go past those first few months of the break in process your feet will get used to the boots and u don't want to wear anything else. It kinda crazy tbh.
Still NOT worth the 30 weeks (7 months) wait time. Yes that long. At least that's what they emailed back to me, when I didn't hear from them 21 weeks after I placed an order.
Y'all don't even know, I've got the hot shots , and the wait was worth it , put 3 years on them and still wearing them , best boots I've ever invested in. Just wait the time and quit being goofy
I love my 2 pairs of Nicks SIZING Is so important my first pair Travelers I got 1 size to long and to narrow and they took 1 year break in and my Falcons with the closer sizing a breeze to break it LOVE NICKS
It did take me 6 months to break in my boots completely and now that I'm hitting the 2-year mark I will be remaking my boots due to my horribly different sized and misshapen feet. Within the last 2 years my feet have widened and also turned some, so time for a new pair and a rebuild. I'm going to rebuild my Urban loggers into a Tactical Boot due to arthritis in both knees and will purchase a new pair of Albert's. The best part is I will take a trip over the weekend to get my boots and enjoy casino and church. Yeah Casino & Church go hand in hand.
Nah, as others have said the wait time is BS whether you wanna claim “perfection” or whatever else the fanboys wanna call it. It’s not fair to give 500-600-700+ then wait 6 months to a year. Either pay when it ships or put a down payment or work it out some other way. Or…just hire more people to get people’s boots to them quicker.
Thursday figured it’s not really needed for a dress work boot and keeps the price down. I have a Thursday Captain going on 5 years and still looks great. I wasted thousands on Whites and other boots for no reason 😜
I not only found this video helpful, I found it inspiring. I would encourage anyone who loves heritage boots to try Nicks. William is correct when it comes to sizing. Nearly all of the PNW, Pacific Northwest, boots fit the same way…just like Red Wing and the other brands he named. When it comes to breaking in a pair of boots, I find the waxed flesh to be among the stiffest leathers out there. I love the Nicks Predator Orange and the “1964” leathers. I have yet to try one of their Horween CXL leathers, but I will if I orders a pair of Americana boots.
@@BootSpy My first pair of Nicks were “Ready-To0Ship” 8-inch Officer boots in Predator Orange, which is similar to Red Wing Copper Rough and Tough leather. Their 8-inch boots feel like a pair of those “slipper socks” with the rubber soles that you might have worn as a kid. I love the way their 8-inch and 10-inch boots conform to the shape of your leg. It’s Red Wing 877s on steroids.
Yea, I am eyeing on those grant stone you reviewed, may be I will see what they have on sale during Black Friday. Coz I love a Asia, can’t afford shipping expensive boots back and forth if they don’t fit, especially boots like the nicks, which is super heavy
Nicks are by far the worst boots I’ve ever owned within the first month they hit was coming off, and the soul is pilling after three months told them they only want to give me 60% money back, so I super glue the glue is holding better than their stuff never again
![HARD LESSONS with Nick's Handmade Boots [Six Month Review and Buying Guide]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QYQU_qG3HVo/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you so much. Great review! You summed up well what we are all about 👍🏼💪🏼
Send me a pair 10.5 for review
I've got a pair of their Tactical on order, so should get them by April or May 2023. I really appreciated all the customization options as other boots had some of the features I wanted but not all of them. Of course this comes with a premium price and the wait time but I'm at the point of my life where I want some of the Nice Things (and they're built like a tank).
Im a mechanic and I started wearing thorogoods which I had been wearing a few months before I started working and I could only wear them for a couple weeks before I got a pair of redbacks which were insanely comfortable and wore them for just over a year, then a new guy started with the same name as me but from the south and he was a die hard cowboy boot guy, I then decided I needed a pair of cowboy style boots and decided on doubleH's which were comfortable but they ended up breaking in and becoming fairly roomy unless wearing thick socks, I wore these for maybe another 6 or 7 months. I actually had my Nicks on order before I had these boots. Finally I received my custom pair which are essentially an 8" overlander with logger heal HNW last steel toe (required) which I got a honey v100 sole on. for the first 2 weeks I couldnt even make it to lunch time which is around 4 hours or so wearing the boots, my feet were just killing me, Currently going on 3 and a half months of owning these and they are 100% the most comfortable boots ive ever worn, I still have all my other boots all in pretty good condition and I don't even want to wear them because my nicks are just so much better in every way
That break in is no joke. My Builder Pros took 8 months to really break in, and they are continuing to break in in terms of getting more comfortable the more I wear them. I figure they will be due for a resolve by the time they get there.
8 months? I usually wear out a vibram soul in less than 8 months. Sounds like by the time the boots are broken in they're already due for a resole?
@@blackdogproductions2044 I don’t know if that’s completely accurate, but I haven’t been completely happy with the rapid wear of the soles. They gave the the fireproof Red X soles, which I did not ask for. I assumed that was why.
Lord, I love this channel. Always learning something new.
Excellent...love the detail on midsole/ shank materials...Tx.
I want these boots yesterday ! No chance here in Australia : (
Can I ask about the toe box on this pair is it a soft toe or a Celastic toe.
When in the video did you try them?
Great review and I concur completely. I hope you enjoy your Americana’s. Mine are on the way.
Nick’s are awesome, no doubt about it! I own a pair of Builder Pros (with rough out lowers and smooth uppers) and a pair of Urban Loggers in the No. 8 CXL leather. I never had any pain breaking in either pair. I wear my Loggers almost every day, just because they are so comfortable. Keep up the great work!
After reading lots of comments, I think the main reason for the tough break in was my specific leather choice. In any case, break in or not--- worth it!
I did the W&C bridle veg tan medium brown in a cap toe falcon. Weird thing is that I did the try on fitting process and after sending in all my measurements notes they sent me an 11B for try on. It felt all wrong. I opted for 10.5D which is what I wore in RW’s that I was moving out of but now I wish I would’ve done a 10D. I have to wear a thick sock with it. Break in is a true “investment” no doubt especially with the veg tan leather. Also did the 269 Western sole which I’m very happy with.
I almost made the wrong choice on those YSLs, glad I watched this video. All kidding aside, thank you for all the blood, sweat and tears of breaking in some tough boots. I think most of the high end boots are over built for me. My Red Wings will probably outlive me at this point.
Exactly! Will nicks really last 2x longer? Maybe…will that be in my lifetime? Probably not lmao.
Awesome review., I started my collection of boots with redwings iron ranger. Great boot but still no comparison with nicks boots. I have 3 pairs of nicks. 1) builder pro with classic arch 10inch shaft rough out and smooth leather, lug sole. 2) 8 inch dark olive chrome excel overlanders with moderate arch and lug sole.And 3) 8 inch MTO Maryam toscanello horse rump limited series with moderate arch v-bar sole. So out of these 3 the builder pros were the hardest to break in. The other two are pretty comfortable from the start. It may be due to the arch being less pronounced and the soles being a bit thinner. All three are tanks though. Can’t wait to see how the three age differently.
Yeah they age really well from what I can tell from forums etc
Do you wear the same size in iron rangers as nicks and was the fit similar if you did. I'm looking at getting a pair but their size chart says I should go up a size from my iron rangers.
I have enough pairs of boots right now that I just couldn't justify getting another. But fast forward some years and I'll get a pair of Nicks for sure. They're gorgeous. And that crazy break-in? That's just a sign of quality, baby. Long break-in = long life of the boot. Great review, Billy. 👍 I like how you put cakes on your feet when you said the IR break-in was a piece of cake. Made me laugh.
I love the look of these I have a couple of pair of Iran rangers I’m intrigued on these
Can you tell me other differences between these and the Truman’s I can’t get either in my country
If you could just have one of those two brands witch one and why ?
Have you tried Canada West Moorby boots?
what color hardware did you get and the edging color is that the natural
I’m a 9.5D brannock and 9D Truman, would you recommend 9D for the Americana?
Yes definitely but I size down 8.5D for snugger fit...I had both Truman and nicks
Good review I’m looking at the nicks over lander in this leather it’s nice to see the close ups on how it will look. I’ll be using them as work boots I’m a plumber
I wear Nicks Falcon, and similar to the Americana. Love'm!
Are those the umber mr lous from Franklin and poe??
I saw in another of your videos that these are not your favorite boots because they are wide. I was wondering if you can make a video comparing these to the falcons, since you mentioned seeing slimmer boots when visiting the Nicks’ factory.
I'm looking at a pair of Nicks. After watching your video of the top 20? 21? American made boots, I chose Nicks. And now after watching this video, they're definitely my choice. Now to choose which pair.
Hey man great video….whats your take on bordon boots? Good value for money? Better than grant stone?
Did you go with celastic toe or soft toe for your Americana boots?
Red Wings feel harsh to walk on. Almost zero shock absorption. Nick's feel better, but not for the first month. Even 3 months in you'll be thinking you made a mistake buying Nick's, but you have to power through. The leather choice makes a big difference. Waxed flesh is tough to break in, but the predator orange, cxl, and 1964 leathers are easy. The nicks soles are the hardest part to break in. Very stiff for a long time, like you taped a 2×4 to your foot. Red Wings soles are not comfortable ever imo. Nick's suck at first and slowly become awesome.
Yeah, I definitely felt that was about the my Iron Rangers, but I find them comfortable now... I think because I got the Iron Ranger as one of my first boots so I was comparing their shock absorption to sneakers. Now my feet are just used to only being supported by leather. And yeah, I could tell that the leather choice is what's prolonging the break in. I mean, it still looks basically new... insane. Thank you for watching and commenting!
Super informative video so thank you" I have a thing for boots and only question is on a collaboration,something I've never done before , if they think you're going down the wrong road will suggestions to me be made for a better fit and look? And are they true to size? And any suggestions would be appreciated.. thank you so much because there not cheep.
Excellent work in the video.
Hey man, awesome Video! Quick question, you say you're a 10D in Boots so are both your RW Iron Rangers and the Nick's in 10D. Do they fit very similarly?
It's hard to say -- both with me well, but they feel completely different on my feet because of the way Nicks constructs their insole. Super supportive, and it took a while to get used to, but I love it.
How do both your waxed flesh boots compare side by side (americana vs. truman 79 last)?
I have whites perry 8” mix toe, redwing irons, nicks falcon. Each one has its pro and cons. But I love a true cap toe and Mocs are just so comfortable.
I own a pair of Iron rangers but are looking at getting some nicks falcon. Did you get the same size in both and how does the fit compare if you did. Would you change anything about the sizing you chose if you ordered again. My iron rangers are 9.5 and fit really well. I'm not sure whether to order the same size in Nicks or not. Their sizing chart says i should get 10.5 E so I'm confused. Any help would be really appreciated. Cheers
@@SomeoneWhosNearby hi, well I have wide feet and so the nicks are truly wider than iron ranger, I think I could have gotten away with a regular fit with Nicks. In rangers I need a wide other wise I am walking on the welt. Nicks are harder to break in but that's due to the extra leather they use in my opinion. I say I walked in them a mile a day for a month before I even felt a difference. Still took an extra 2 months to break them in proper and feel great. As for the size difference, to be honest I like a little room so go 1/2 a size bigger because of all the movements I do, squatting, kneeling, ladders and so on. So please take that into thought, In rangers I'm a 7 wide, Nicks falcon I'm a 7.5 or 7 1/2 wide. Both leave me the width of my thumb for space and I like that. Also call ahead and place the special order with them its worth the trial pair they send you ahead of time. They sent me a size 8 and I decided to go one down. But the personalized method allows you to try on a boot not in your choice of color and such, but in style and size and it will fit tight but understand with time it gives. ya it coasts an extra $100.00 but you get a trial pair and for sure you get the proper fit. they want you to walk around in them and while you have them on call them and they will adjust your order to your phone call and input. Hoped this helped and the nicks by far are my favorite, now that they are broken in.
@@lexbustamante757thanks for the feedback Lex. It made me go and have a look at my iron rangers. I'm standing on the welt a little so it appears that E width is what I should be wearing. As for the length I've got minimal room at the end of my toes maybe 1/4 in so could safely go up a half size. I don't need the additional room you do so it looks like 10 E should be a good fit. I can't try their special try on service as I'm in Australia. It was why I wanted to make sure I got it right as it would be an expensive mistake if they were a little too big. Thanks again Lex for taking the time to help. I appreciate it. Cheers mate
@@SomeoneWhosNearby NO worries, I loved Australia while I was there for port visits and so on. Northern part, a place called Darwin. I spent so much time there I can still recall the layout from the port to the main strip. I love the burgers with radish and the water falls are and will always be my favorite things I loved about Darwin. I understand you totally about getting a tighter fit if your not into construction like I am. Being able to have a Cobbler ( shoe repair/shoe maker) able to re-soul, good year welt and son on and have your boots out live you is always a wise investment. Wish you all the best over in Australia where you are, from all the way from Texas.
I really appreciate how you're the only TH-camr pronouncing 'Vibram' correctly.
Hello from Germany, thanks for great rewiew. Maybe you can help me. My Iron Ranger 10.5D fits me perfectly, in which size should I order Nicks Americaner?
10D or if you want a snugger fit 9.5D but that's going to be painful in the start
I had to go back and leave a like! Awesome review! I wanted to order the Urabn Logger but now I want these! Thank you so much!
Thank you for watching! I appreciate the like -- it surprisingly does a lot to help!
What are the differences with the Americana & Falcon ?
Can you maybe review Gaziano & Girling, Edward Green or George Cleverley boots?
I'll look into them!
So the fit of these aren’t similar to Whites at all? I’m a 10D in RR and 9.5D/E in Whites. Cheers.
Which last is this? It almost looks like the Thurman/Munson
Dude, those are some absolutely beautiful boots. Love them!
I have the YSL Wyatt and now I want the Americana. Horses for courses.
How do they compare to say the truman 79 lasts? In terms of durability and longevity are they similar or is nicks blowing everyone else out of the water no contest?
I love your channel. You do a great job giving Al the info we need on the boots, without overwhelming us with info.
Wow 4 months. I hate waiting. I ordered from White's boots in December, and I know it will arrive in June or July. I’m hoping sooner 😊
did you go down a half size like they suggest?
Dude, you're crazy thinking the RW's 430 minilug sole is softer. The first thing I noticed with the V-bar sole on my Roberts' is just how much less impact I felt in foot (besides the obvious amazing arch support that instantly cured chronic big toe pain i had for over a decade).
I ended up relegating my Iron Rangers to yard work because they never stopped feeling like I was just walking barefoot on wooden floors, and the 430 mini lugs wore down within 4 months which caused bad slipping on tile when it or my shoes were wet. Bar none the worst thing about IR's is that outsole.
Either way, I've got almost 1400 hours on my Roberts and they just keep getting better and better. I'm about to buy a second pair so I can properly air them out between wears so i dont rot out the insole too quickly. The Predator Orange that my current boots are in had almost no break in at all. I'm looking forward to the 1964 Chocolate my next pair will be.
I would agree with William. My one strike against Red Wing is their lack of an actual mid-sole.
Red Wing’s “mid-sole” in their Heritage boots is the pre-cut cork used to fill in the space created by the Goodyear Welt.
When you level the playing field by using an actual leather mid-sole, then you will immediately notice the difference.
The V-Bar spread your weight across more surface with the ground. It will always feel softer than the 430 Mini-Lug.
@@thesharpercoder it's beyond being a midsole issue (the cork does suck, though), the actual compound is softer. I can press my nail into the VBar on the Nick's relatively easily when compared to the RW's 430 sole. That being said, and kind of counterintuitive to that, the Vbar soles are holding up WAY better.
I honestly think RW uses a "silverline" version of the 430 minilugs to keep costs down, because the difference in the quality of the rubber between the two boots isn't even close.
Yeah, honestly, I couldn't tell a difference myself (just by pressing into the rubber). I got that information after doing a bunch of research and I found a video of a cobbler discussing the differences, so I rolled with that because he seemed to know a ton about different Vibram soles.
@@trapperjohn8508 they are definitely heavier, I'm an 8.5e and they probably weigh close to 2.5lbs each, as opposed to less than 1.5lbs for the IRs, and I'm not sure about the Americanas but I'd imagine the heel profile makes a slight difference, but probably not much. Regardless, they're so comfortable and "walk" so well that I don't notice the weight. I wear my Roberts every day for 10-14 hours and I'm never like "my goodness I can't wait to get these off".
@@trapperjohn8508 🤞😬
I think you'll be happy with either one, honestly, but if you're willing to give the heel a try, I don't think you'll regret the Charlie at all. The 55 last really shifts the body weight more evenly across the whole foot, and tends to make me stand a little straighter.
One thing I will say is that unless you're REALLY dead set on a cap toe, maybe reconsider. The first thing I notice on my IRs when i have to put them on is that extra leather across my foot, it's just not as comfortable when bending down and whatnot, and the IRs are thinner leather, so I'd imagine that would be even more pronounced on a pair of Nick's. I'm super infatuated with the look of cap toes too, but I don't think I'll ever buy another pair with them. If you're worried about toe box shape you can always get them with the classic toe, though I personally think soft toe is best.
Now this is what I’ve been waiting for. I’m on the cusp of ordering a pair of Nick’s.
Its worth the money and wait
Yep, you can get them now in time for next boot season. Your other new boots will be looking a bit haggard at that point haha
I own a pair of the overlanders by nicks, and they are the most comfortable boot i have ever owned, they are insanely tough... i didnt find the break in painful, but the leather is so tough that for the first week or two it felt like walking in wooden clogs... they are a great all around eveyday boot, they dont look out of place with any outfit besides maybe something super formal... for the cost to wear, they cannot be beat
Dude I love the boots but that jacket is beautiful, where is it from ?
It's a discontinued piece from Everlane. I want to find something similar and when I do, I'll share it with y'all!
@@BootSpy I’ve been in the market for a chore coat this past week. My favorite finds so far are from prison blues, LC King, Naked and Famous, and Tellason.
I’m stuck between the Americana and the Robert!
What brand is that denim jacket?
It's a discontinued piece from Everlane. I wish they didn't discontinue it though...it's awesome
Hah I was just watching your 5 year Thursday boot video and found this-literally just bought my first Goodyear an hour ago
heck yeah! I bet you're going to love them! Let me know when they arrive. What did you end up getting?
It's D or E width?
By the time you get to use those comfortably (wait time plus break in) you wear off a redwing sole and resole with a leather midsole.
Yours leather color is brown waxed flesh?
Loved your detailed review! Very thorough! Those boots are gorgeous!
Thank you so much!
@@BootSpy do you know the weight of ur boot?
Best boots I’ve ever had in my life. Also the most expensive. Once you get the size right and you break them in properly with a little oil… Man, your feet will thank you. These things fit like gloves. Like bedroom slippers only I can walk on all sorts of terrain. My job has to do with mud and gravel and hills and I’ve never had anything better on my feet. Had some dinners that were comfy for a while, but got all busted up inside of eight months or maybe a year. Not really worth it for the price. But the next? Definitely worth it.
I bought the redwing model 400, they fell about after a yr and a half. I was considering buying the iron rangers and sending my 400s out for repairs, but after seeing this i think I'm going to go with nicks... clearly the better option and will have my cobbler rebuild the redwings 400s instead. [If he is still alive, my father used him for decades even before I was born. so yeah....]
50 to 60 weeks to delivery,im 65 years old, i be dead by the time
Not going to lie that boots the same price as my 89' Camaro RS. I own a 8111 Iron Ranger, Wolverine 1,000 mile and Chippewa Service Boots.
Williammmm what jacket is that my guy? 😍
Amazing boots
Lovely boot! I love how you leaned in to your meme humor style. It actually works now when you went more in to it. Before I didn't understand it as it was only on thumbnails and it looked so much out of place and context that i would just avoid your content all together though it has good points and content and watch it only when researching the perticular boot. Now when i see it in context all through the video as handwriting of your video it is actually really good. Good work
Another very good video William and you are presentation is getting more and more polished with every one of them...! This Old Timer love's watching your boot video's.... % STARS..Greg
How much more comfortable are the Nicks boots compared to Truman's or Redwings in the long run (post breakin)?
Awesome review might have to try nicks now always looking for the next best IR lol!
I’ve been going through the process of ordering my own Nicks boots and didn’t know which sole to go with. This video helped my to decide to go with the V-Bar. More durability is what I’m looking for.
I have a pair of Builder Pros and a pair of Roberts. For me the break-in was not that bad. A week or so of wearing them increasing the amount of time I had them on each day and by the end of the first week I was able to wear them all day with no issues. It took me literally years to pull the trigger because of the price, but now I can't believe they can provide so much boot for such a reasonable price.
What is a veebram sole ??????
Are you a 10 in thursday boots also?
I am, yes
I've got Frank's. Love my pnw boots.
I woulda picked Wesco, or Whites or Franks boots
I agree all PNW makes are great even JK boots make a good boot
I do have some Wescos and Whites. I absolutely love the Wesco Mr Lou
I have zero problem spending the money on Nicks or Whites. I wouldn’t even blink. There’s no way in heck I would spend $350 on IR. The most I would spend on IR is $200. Most I’ve ever spent on them.
You got a lot better
My Nick's builder pros took about a year to fully break in. The first month was painful, it was the first boot ever to break in. I had to wear thick socks for the first few day in order to kinda break them in. After that I switched to thin socks to really start the "break in process". It was very painful. If u can go past those first few months of the break in process
your feet will get used to the boots and u don't want to wear anything else. It kinda crazy tbh.
Only boots to compare to arch support? You forgot to mention Frank’s or JK boots. Both of which are located in Spokane as well.
I haven't had a chance to try Franks or JK, though I'm sure they're awesome
Fantastic review I have been looking into the Americana and the packer. Super hard decision.
The Robert is where it's at, IMO. I literally don't think I could live without the arch support they offer now that I've experienced it.
Need a pair of them tanks! Great review
nicks uses seidel leather
The brown waxed flesh leather is from Horween. I own a pair of Nick's boots with Seidel chocolate work leather ( 8 ounces of goodness).
What would you go with if you could only choose one nicks, whites or vibergs?
Still NOT worth the 30 weeks (7 months) wait time. Yes that long. At least that's what they emailed back to me, when I didn't hear from them 21 weeks after I placed an order.
I’ll easily wait 8-9 weeks for the quick ship boots but definitely not 6-7 months
Being completely hand made from scratch. Perfection takes time
bro a year later and it’s 16-35 week lead times 😂. no boot is worth me giving you 700 today for a boot next year
Y'all don't even know, I've got the hot shots , and the wait was worth it , put 3 years on them and still wearing them , best boots I've ever invested in. Just wait the time and quit being goofy
Ppl who own a pair know the wait was well worth it lmao. Any other pair of boots I put on feels like cheap Chinese garbage now
I love my 2 pairs of Nicks SIZING Is so important my first pair Travelers I got 1 size to long and to narrow and they took 1 year break in and my Falcons with the closer sizing a breeze to break it LOVE NICKS
Nice fart at 2.40 hahaha
I think narrow boots/shoes look like trying to go back to Louis the XIV... Like thinking Chinese foot binding somehow looks good.
It did take me 6 months to break in my boots completely and now that I'm hitting the 2-year mark I will be remaking my boots due to my horribly different sized and misshapen feet. Within the last 2 years my feet have widened and also turned some, so time for a new pair and a rebuild. I'm going to rebuild my Urban loggers into a Tactical Boot due to arthritis in both knees and will purchase a new pair of Albert's. The best part is I will take a trip over the weekend to get my boots and enjoy casino and church. Yeah Casino & Church go hand in hand.
looks like you have to go with Viberg next...
it must be done...
Nicks don’t have a rubber insole. Just to be clear.
law of diminishing return. Is the boot actually worth twice as much as a RW Iron Ranger? IMO opinion, no
I think they do, just the amount of leather used to make a pair of nicks is enough to justify the price
Which boots are these and how would you rate them against whites? Edit. I don’t know if you said that in the video.
Nah, as others have said the wait time is BS whether you wanna claim “perfection” or whatever else the fanboys wanna call it. It’s not fair to give 500-600-700+ then wait 6 months to a year. Either pay when it ships or put a down payment or work it out some other way. Or…just hire more people to get people’s boots to them quicker.
Also worth noting that Nicks does a real toe cap whereas Thursday does a false one for aesthetics.
true, true
Thursday figured it’s not really needed for a dress work boot and keeps the price down. I have a Thursday Captain going on 5 years and still looks great. I wasted thousands on Whites and other boots for no reason 😜
@@strengthandbulkMadness My Thursdays got trashed pretty quick. Nicks is just way more worth the money.
I not only found this video helpful, I found it inspiring. I would encourage anyone who loves heritage boots to try Nicks.
William is correct when it comes to sizing. Nearly all of the PNW, Pacific Northwest, boots fit the same way…just like Red Wing and the other brands he named.
When it comes to breaking in a pair of boots, I find the waxed flesh to be among the stiffest leathers out there.
I love the Nicks Predator Orange and the “1964” leathers. I have yet to try one of their Horween CXL leathers, but I will if I orders a pair of Americana boots.
Thank you for watching! Yeah, the quality difference when you get to this tier is insane. Unfortunately, it only makes you want more boots haha
@@BootSpy My first pair of Nicks were “Ready-To0Ship” 8-inch Officer boots in Predator Orange, which is similar to Red Wing Copper Rough and Tough leather.
Their 8-inch boots feel like a pair of those “slipper socks” with the rubber soles that you might have worn as a kid.
I love the way their 8-inch and 10-inch boots conform to the shape of your leg. It’s Red Wing 877s on steroids.
Am i the only one who see the exposed stitching on the outer sole.?
Nice boot, a little to pricey for me ATM
yep, totally understand. Thankfully there are a lot of other amazing boots at lower costs, too. Thank you for watching!
Yea, I am eyeing on those grant stone you reviewed, may be I will see what they have on sale during Black Friday. Coz I love a Asia, can’t afford shipping expensive boots back and forth if they don’t fit, especially boots like the nicks, which is super heavy
Why would you force yourself to wear shoes that cause you pain (for any amount of time)?
They use veg tan not oak tan
Oak bark tanned insole, midsole, shank and wedge
@@jmarth523 is oak bark a vegetable?😂
Nicks are by far the worst boots I’ve ever owned within the first month they hit was coming off, and the soul is pilling after three months told them they only want to give me 60% money back, so I super glue the glue is holding better than their stuff never again
They make great work boots , but their heritage styles are ugly as hell .. I’ll pass .
Not nearly enough boot for the money. WAY way way overpriced.