I drive by Frank’s, Nick’s, JK’s, and White’s at least once a day working and yearn for the day when I can afford to stop and buy a pair of the best boots on earth from one of the fine makers.
Great followup. It’s cool that Franks did this around the time that Drew’s started offering their $350 PNw boot made in Mexico. I don’t see anyone else doing this who isn’t selling amazon costume boots dressed up as logger boots. The fact that Frank’s found a way to do this and keep it American made without compromising on quality is amazing. There’s only so much of a loss leader that they can afford I would bet. I believe it’s the Maxwell House Ranch channel that is really obsessed with the Drew’s boot doing follow ups over a year. Maybe you could be the other RU-vidr covering the Patriot over a year of hard wear. Even Carl Marawski doesn’t wear his as hard anymore with the size of his boot rotation. Keep up the great content 👍
I went into Franks today. Was sized in person. Ended up spending $900+ for my boots. Custom 14” uppers, metatarsal guard, comp toes, yellow stitching etc. Jk boots I’m a 8.5 3E, Franks I’m a 8.5 right foot and 8 left foot with a wider toe on right foot due to broken toe. If you get PNW boots make sure you contact the boot company over the phone or emails. Don’t go by your original sizes. I always wore a 9.5 in thorogoods and Nicks also
I think you fully convinced me to pull the trigger on one of these. I’m a “technical engineer” so basically a trades worker and some days it’s chill but other days it’s hell. Iv been running through boots about every 6 months. I just walk so much that I wear out the tread a lot. I went from no name work boots to Timberland 2 years ago but found buying new boots at 200 every 6 months rough. So I recently got into resoleable shoes last year. So was looking to Franks so that I can send my current pair to get new soles.
The patriots are a phenomenal deal. If you spend all day on concrete though I would suggest a pair of the highlanders with the honey vibram soles. Easier on the bones for long days of standing. The highlanders are $575 but you can expect to get at least 5 years out of them. I really appreciate you checking out my video. Please keep me updated on your boot journey!
Yeeaaa baby!!! Been waitin on this follow up. Your reviews helped me pull the trigger on some custom boots but i ended up going with the JK OT and Forefront since their 2/3rds length leather midsole struck the perfect balance between solid support for my arch, heel, and ankles and flexibility for the ball of my foor and toes. Sizing was perfect no hot spots so far after 3 full days of work and are finally starting to feel alittle less like casts. I dont think ill ever buy another boot that isnt built to this level of quality. Edit: Forgot to mention Im a manager of a LineX bedliner and truck accessory shop but we also do industrial coatings (think warehouse floor coatings, commercial paint, roof coatings, ect) so in the day to day i spend alot of time kneeling and working on my knees in truck beds and on a concrete floor. But ill also find myself working on new construction and remodels which is why i got the forefront and the OT with the lug sole.
I’ve not had JK’s before but I bet they make a great boot. Thanks for checking out my follow up video! That flexibility in the ball of the foot is one of my favorite things about these Patriots with the 3/4” sole. It’s a great balance between support and flex.
Good review. I had the same thing on the top of my foot and inside of my ankle during break in. Tried the 2-1-3 lace method and it made a ton of difference. Went back to normal lacing once they were broke in.
I usually skip either the first or second set of hooks and that works for me to prevent that bite at the front of the ankle. Everyone has different feet though and I've seen a lot of lacing tricks over the years
I also agree with you about “Made In The USA” products. We have all the resources here but it’s all about the profit margin. We have to support MITUSA products especially now more than ever.
Absolutely. Every time I see my buddies in the trades wearing Carhartt I just think, “you know that’s just cheap Chinese garbage right?” If we don’t revive American manufacturing we will only become more dependent on foreign, subpar products. It really all boils down to corporate greed. It’s the biggest downfall of capitalism…profit margins take precedent over ethics.
I have two pairs of Franks and two pairs of nicks and in my experience Franks nailed my fit better. I did the build to order with all my boots because my feet are so wide. Though both manufacturers make a high quality product and customer service was great from both with the edge going to Franks.
@@evergreenorganicsmy nicks are FFFFF width. It’s really the main reason I tried the PNW builders because production boots are usually too narrow. Danners sometimes fit depending on the last and thorogood would sometimes fit but they stopped making wider widths.
Have only had Red Wings, but the last pair I got, i loaded up thw inside with petroleum jelly or else mink oil and it really helped soften up that leather and help pretty much eliminate rubbing my skin to hell
Great review. I got a pair of Patriots, a pair of T1s and a pair of Drew's lace to toe loggers. (The American made product Drew's offers.) Break-in was easy with my patriots, took about two days unlike the T1s. Those took about a month to be comfortable. They're a great product and for the money it's impossible to beat that deal. It would be wonderful to see you do a one year review to see how they perform. Keep it up, really enjoyed this video
So what your saying is get a pair b4 they raise the price lol just bought my first pair of soft toes in corks it is a different game my fee are sally's my toes are used to a toe box and don't like to be messed with lol breaking in has been extremely rough there Vibergs
@@evergreenorganics honestly I think they went the way of the hipster these were found brand new old stock bought off eBay from a PVT seller. Id love to do vids like this im just a bit of a spaz pal I cant sit still if the suns out not to mention the editing kills me for time but Ill get better I just record a bit then throw it up
@@evergreenorganics as far as nail down I'm not shore I know the old from early 90s or late 80s thick as hell and are breaking my feet but I can now limp up a tree I love them lol
I’ve had mine for about 1.5 months. They’re for the most part great and comfortable. The only issue I have is my right heel hurts if they’re laced tight for some reason. That foot could be a different size from the left.
I think few people have exactly the same size feet. I get a bit of heel rub on my right heel from time to time too. Could be that I needed to get a wider size.
You need to get you a big stiff hard bristle brush with the handle on it and brush the living hell out of them and get all that dirt off of them before you oil them. Wrangler star makes a great video of dry brushing your boots before you apply oil or LP
Yup, exactly the kind of perspective I want to see. How's it hold up? And how does it work for you in your line of work? It's like reading Amazon reviews except most working guys only have the time to maybe write a review, vs the mostly fashion guys who have the time to make videos and hype products etc.
Seeing that impact on the top of your feet might be from a similar issue I had. I have Whites, and quickly learned to pay attention to the lower part of the gusseted tongue when lacing up. I need to ensure I avoid a wrinkle down where it’s sown to the sides and control the fold across the top. I couldn’t see the wrinkle, but get a few strides in and it’s clearly present. I’m hoping with further break-in time it’ll naturally fold in the right place. But as of now 2 months, I still need to pay attention each time. One boot is definitely more prone to it than the other. Also per your thoughts on eyelets, the instructions in my Whites clearly said not to oil the hardware area and the heel stack.
Thank you for your input. You could definitely be right about the wrinkle. Now that they are fully broken in, they are super comfortable but getting there was a chore. They are holding up well though. I think one other issue I had with break in is I went with a D width and I probably could have used an E width. Which Whites did you get? How are you liking them? I would really like a pair of their hand sewn stitch down smoke jumpers.
@@evergreenorganics I went with a Whites Drifter black collab casual/dress boot as my first PNW pair, because the sizing made me super nervous and I didn’t trust going straight to steel toed work boots. I realize when working around the property or shop how often I intentionally take advantage of the steel toe by say setting a 4x8 plywood sheet edge on it while I then grab from the bottom. I’m currently on an assignment where I’m walking a little over a mile each way to the factory office, so easy math says I’ve logged 40+ miles in them in addition to many full days in them (alternating days with spongy Merrell shoes). I love them, but it’s such a different fit than any prior footwear; a firm handshake all around. I oddly measure a true 10D, but I think my foot gets wider than normal in the toe area (duck feet?) which is beyond the Brannock device measuring point for width. I need steel toes for work boots. I’m on my 3rd or 4th soles on a pair of Red Wing steel toes from ‘07 or ‘08. I kept them well conditioned until about 2 years ago when I was lax and drywall dust sucked the moisture out and caused fine cracking finally. I bought those off a local general shoe store’s shelf and later realized they were an H width (9.5). Super comfortable and no problem tightening, but not normal at all. I also have a newer pair of Worx Chelsea steel toes by Red Wing for quickly slipping in before going to a factory floor. Those are 10E and my toes aren’t cramped, but do just touch the sides more than I prefer. My Whites’ toe box has flattened and conformed to the width nicely, but that tells me the same size 9D as the Drifter wouldn’t work in a steel toe. My next work boots will be one of the PNW brands, but I’ll wait for the coffer to refill before another splurge since my old RW are still hanging in there. And I’ll probably make a phone call to get the sizing right.
I would recommend you call Franks up with a tailor’s tape measure in hand so you can give them the exact circumference at certain areas of your foot. They can build a boot to those exact specifications including the upper. Nicks used to do this but no longer does, so Franks is, I believe the last of the PNW bookmakers that will still do this level of custom sizing.
For new boots, I usually apply a few coats of oil. Mink oil and/or neatsfoot oil. After a week, or 3 or 4 layers, the leather is softer and easier to break in.
Looking on franks website, too, they recommend a 50/50 mix of water and alcohol to help the break in. I usually do mink oil for break ins, too, though.
I’m inbetween an 11.5 and 12 on the brannock, E width. So I went with the 12 measurement and according to JK sizing I am an 11 E for their OT boot. Ordered it and they fit excellently. Everything locks right in where it’s supposed to, the arch, big toe joint, pinky toe, etc… the boots are super comfortable right out of the box because they fit so well, no pressure points anywhere. There is a gap between the end of my big toe and the end of the toebox, about 5/8”, (a thumbs width) but that is considered proper according to JK. What matters is that the arch, pinky, big toe joint, etc… all fall exactly into place and fit like a glove. The 11E in JK is longer than other brands, I have a pair of Chippewas in 12EE and the length of those is similar. The JK OTs are my first pair of PNW boots and by far the best fitting and most comfortable boots that I’ve owned so far, and they have the honey sole which makes them feel broken in right out of the box. I’m not a logger, I just do light construction, mechanic and landscaping and basic “chores” so they should serve me well. That being said I’ve worn out quite a few pairs of Red wings and Thorogoods so I do put my boots to use. Hope this comment is helpful to anyone considering, nice video thanks 👍🏻
my word of advice , if you can, find a good used pair after someone else suffered the break in, i buy my wildland boots this way , you can usually get a boot in 80-90% condition for 40-50% of original price , sometimes cheaper ....
@evergreenorganics I was gifted a pair of custom-made ostrich boots from a friend of mine. He's gotten abit older and his feet have widened abit so they were too tight for him. It was weird at first but just like with new boots they eventually molded to my foot just fine. That being said if you get a pair and the foot bed is already dried out at cracking you may need a rebuild before they're comfortable.
Good video, glad your supporting goods produced in you country rather than Mexico. I'm on the East coast of Canada and use mink oil to help waterproof my loggers and hunting boots. It helps but a leather boot is never totally water proof.
I know it bud I’ve been slacking. It’s the busiest time of year for me right now so I’ve been struggling to make time for videos. I’m thinking next review will be on my waxed canvas vest.
@@evergreenorganics great time of year for that one for shore and im just picking on you you vids are high quality mine are thrown together easy to upload just reaching out hope all is well
If I have a really dusty or dirty pair of boots, I start with a stiff brush, but too stiff. And when I'm done brushing I take a damp towell and rub the ingrained dirt off, let dry for fifteeninutes or so and then oil the boots. I like the idea about avoiding the hardware so the eyelets don't pop out. I do oil the seams. Someone said av oid oiling the thread. Does that cause thread rot? Boots are cool
Just bought a pair of redwing logger a month ago. They are a little uncomfortable in front of heel were arch start, it feel like theres not the arch support there should be. Im think of getting the franks, wonder if the franks have better contour for arch. Just wondering if u had this problem or just me thanks
I have pretty low arches so I didn’t notice that with my redwings. BUT keep in mind my redwing logger size is 11.5 and my franks are size 10. So if you order your redwing size you will be swimming in those boots. I would have been comfortable in a franks 10.5 also so really the choice is up to you. Definitely go a full size down from your redwing size though.
Redwing just opened an upper factory for their work boots here in my town in the same factory a Hanes plant was supporting companies who are dedicated to USA manufacturing is the only thing we can do to hope to see USA product 20-40 years from now
Prison blues are the way to go! I sewed some rough out leather on the knees to make them triple knee but any other brand (Carhartt, key, etc) only lasts me a few months.
Well I was just typing out how if you need water resistance the Obenauf's is probably the best conditioner you can get, then I got to the part of the video where you are using it. Ive only ever used the heavy duty though but Im not sure how much of a difference there is with that. If Im really concerned with preserving the color though I will use bick 4 until I give up on that. Should really go back to black boots so that isnt something that bothers me, and black boots just stay looking good for so long
I gotta have steel toes. I wear size 12 and my toes are sensitive and gotta have some room to move around. I have weird feet and my middle toes sticks out.
@@evergreenorganics yeah Iv had very little luck with the leather laces always break them so Ill grab some red wings and there to long so snip and burn
I loved mine but after just a few months of landscaping in the northeast the leather on one boot is almost shot. The leather on the other is tough and hardly no wear. Strange it's like 2 different leathers. The other seems like a lighter,cheap porous leather to me. I lube them up when needed but the leather on that one was so soft and loose when i got them. Hard to explain but there was was no break in required on that one. The other was a much rougher break in. Sucks because the boots were the nicest ones I've ever had and fit well. $400 was the most I've ever spent on boots and these probably wont get me through a whole season. i was hoping to get two years for the price.
I know one of the biggest reasons that they cost less is because they less desirable areas of the hide to make them. That really sucks that you got one good boot and one not so good boot. I guess I would suggest shelling out the cash for a pair of the highlanders so you know you’re getting premium cuts of leather.
…man, and Franks just bumped the price up $30 too 8% increase in just a few months this year. I figured the patriots are priced low to get you hooked on the brand and they slowly bring them up to a rate they make some money on. To be fair they are the same price as Drews now. I dont like thst drews are make in Mex but the modified 55 last with a bit bigger toe box sounds perfect. Have a good one, boot buddy!
JK uses a softer temper leather than the others. To make for an easier break-in and save money. That could have contributed to your buddies problem. (oil where it shouldn't be like you said could also certainly be involved.) Also, if you want a non-steel toe without the toe falling on you, Frank's 1977 last is the tallest of the PNW's. (not available in the Patriot though)
The Drews boots are still contribute to American jobs and manufacturing because they use all american hides and hardware (so I believe). Its just labour that is outsourced.
Source? On their website it says handmade in Leon, Mexico using the world’s best components. The only mention of an American made material for the boot is the leather for the upper, which constitutes about 10% of the material in the boot.
