I have 0 interest in boot cobbling but I find the quality of the work combines with no music makes these very enjoyable videos, thanks for the ride along in the process and the time it takes to make, edit and UL these for me to enjoy!
I just got my Nicks tactical boots today. I've had a pair of Urban Drifters for about a year, and I wear them most days. For some background, I teach auto mechanics. I'm on my feet on concrete all day, and have been for three decades. I also have extremely wide feet. Normal boot brands don't fit width wise unless I buy them several sizes too big. I bought my Nicks because I wanted boots that wouldn't wear out in six months, and that actually FIT me. I ordered 9 EE as per their fit guide. They fit well, but they were pretty snug before they were broken in. They're also MURDER on my soles. The veg tanned leather insole coupled with all of the other leather and hard outsole make them pretty rough on concrete. I wear them almost every day though, and now that they're broken in, they're much better. Move to last week when I see a pair of 9F tactical boots with speed hooks and leather on the padded collar on the ready to ship list. I snagged them, and boy am I happy I did. 9F is definitely my correct size. These things fit like a glove right out of the box. Oh, and they feel absolutely fantastic on the soles of my feet. Even with the leather insole. I was pretty sure I'd immediately take those out and put in some comfy insoles, but after wearing them for an hour, I'm leaving them just as they came. These boots are absolutely fantastic, and they were worth every single penny.
Awesome boot! Question - are you guys sourcing some coyote brown work leather? Military guys like me will buy these up in spades if you offer in coyote brown.
They tend to use black or dark brown boot gussets, and as of yet it's not an option for customization so for now I cannot see them making an Army or other service approved pair. You would probably have to source the tan eyelets too, but I guess it's to be seen what it turns out like. I would have liked a resole-able pair when I was in instead of paying 80$ for basic bricks or 300$ for some nike garbage.
@@TheDagraner4576 You make good points. Not sure what Army regs say, but I’m confident that Air Force regs are broad enough to allow for some variation in the trim and sole. Coyote brown boots and sole under 2” are the only requirements.
The only thing bugging me is the lack of stitching through the outsole. Probably unnecessary between rubber and polyurethane, but every glued-together boot I've had came apart where the outsole delaminated from the midsole. Usually right between one and two years of daily wear. The cheaper boots came apart in under a year. Granted, the nicks can be resoled several times if/when they do come apart.
I’ve been wearing Danner Acadias for 21 years. Three different pair, multiple resoles, all still kicking. There is NO issue with this type of construction. If I wasn’t 11 months from retirement, I’d be ordering a pair of these Nick’s.
The only reason I’ll be picking a black pair of something else is the whole not nailed or screwed sole. I wonder if they’ll do this same design with a different sole.
I have been waiting for you guys to make a Tactical boot...and now i am saving up for a pair! Rose Anvil sealed the deal for me with his review! Been wearing either RedWing or Mid Grade Tactical US or NATO boots for decades, and none come close to this quality. A pair of these should last until i Moonstomp off this mortal coil!
@@waynedub1167 I was hoping the same construction on the rest of nicks boots. i got a custom boot from another pnw brand with a two piece sole construction, a vibram cristy and newporter on the bottom for slip resistance. it's starting to separate at the edge of the two soles hopefully it lasts till i can resole. Unfortunately they can't stitch or nail the entirety of the sole as the heel is too thick.
What kind of question is that, 🤣 the only boots you can buy currently are all glued together as it is, do they fall apart on your 20 milers? My garmont T8's never have that's for sure.
modern synthetic boot manufacturing uses vulcanized forming around the upper and midsole carcass. cant pull it apart without a chainsaw. this is barge/renia style hammered together. the reason for the outsole stitching/nails and screws is for super hot environments like asphault in the blazing sun / forest firefighting and desert applications
@@TheSynchronizer hey I'm using Garmont t8 bifida for 2 years and counting . It held up. Vibram bifida cupsole does improve durability. It's a practical question. If shown outsole can come under off heat, nicks might able to consider to stitch the outsole as usual.
Retired now but... Drove one of those brown delivery trucks. We would wear the black NB cross trainers for 6-7 months and then mostly wore some brand of tach boots through the winter... Every three years you would destroy two pairs of $70 cross trainers and one pair of $150 tach boots... Im buying a pair of these just because,,, the boot I should have had for 40 years...
NIck's boots should make a boot that have a mix how a nicks tanker pro and engineer boot in one ,it could be the solution for ankle support for pull on boots for wildland firefighting ?
Just ordered me a pair of TankerPros! I do have a question though. In every build video I've seen, there's a piece of black foam glued on like at 10:46 with the shank, what purpose does it serve because I've no clue. Awesome looking combat-style boots!
Not for nothing but these are work boots for first responders and law enforcement, right? Any reason they aren't stamped like other work boots instead of being tagged like the heritage line? Nothing functional and they'll remain top tier either way, but I was curious to the rationale.
@@aureycorreia I bet you will be. I received mine on friday and they are outstanding. Literally only one negative and that is that they're HEAVY. Like 38oz per boot heavy. Super comfortable, very supportive. Wouldn't mind using them in the field.
Ive been wearing chippewa for almost 19 years as a leo because the boots the department gives us are garbage but I might have to bite the bullet and get a pair.
One advantage of handmade boots and long lead time is like you almost have all the tools and material for any new product design, so keep the sunk cost low. I personally think a pair of tactical boots shouldn’t build like this. But I am sure be interested in how customers react.
Wait I’m confused. On the other video they said that these are supposed to have a rubber insole but here it looks like a leather and rubber insole combined
The shoe locks great but is not for Military Equipment. The Sole is to thin for 30 Kg Packs for sure. Waterproof never. Walk 10 days on a Glacier in Switzerland, Canada, Russia you get wet for sure. Compare to Hanwag Yukon. Hanwag produces for the Military.
As someone who wears tactical boots WTF was that - its got no waterproof membrane so um you just learn to live with wet feet ?Its got no safety toe so if you drop an amo can you just learn to live with broken toes ?Its got no puncture resistant material in the sole like say Kevlar or spectra so if you step on something sharp you are just out of luck ? No speed hooks or nato loops for getting them on or off fast and no side zipper either . No toe cap to protect against wear when you crawl through gravel ( yea we do that) . What kind of tactical activity are these for ? I am trying to think of how these boots do not make you a liability to your team mates who will have to carry you out of danger because your boots cant stop even a board with a nail ?
As someone who has served, you're so full of shit. The leather is silicone impregnated so it's very water resistant. Safety toe is an option, but most modern best selling tactical boots don't have steel toes. Don't drop shit on your feet butterfinger. Puncture resistance is a good point, but again, most tactical boots don't have that. Zippers are cancer. Speed loops are an option. If these boots make someone a liability then they would still be a liability with different boots on. So cry some more.
@@woltews And there ate still claims and A LOT. With these, ankle claims might go down since that 8oz leather is super supportive. There are punji traps that don't even penetrate from the bottom. Everything you claimed to be super important isn't found on the shoes or boots that the best warfighters use. Not saying they can't be useful, but thinking that they're necessary is laughable.
It's because there not going to stay in. It makes them easier to take out when there sideways. If they were all the way in we could damage the boot with the nail pullers
As someone who wears tactical boots at least 10 hours per day, I can appreciate the thought that went into these. I like the lighter weight design and the 360 degree stitch down construction with just a glued on unit sole. That will make multiple resoles much easier before having to reconstruct the boot. I prefer a leather midsole for longevity, but I understand the practicality of the rubber midsole for water resistance. The one thing I would prefer is some speed hooks instead of eyelets all the way up, but I'm sure that's something a customer could request with their order. I would LOVE a pair of these. Unfortunately, my employer won't pay that much for boots and I can't afford to buy my own on my salary, but I love that you made them and it's nice to imagine owning a pair.
They were targeting this at a very specific use. Weight reduction and water resistance. Thus the 360 stitch down, lack of nails, and omission of the usual leather/rubber midsole sandwich. The break-in on these will likely be a lot less as well. These won't be for all or even most of their usual customers. It does open the door for some new customers though.
Just seeing how much is involved with assembling the uppers should tell people why it's easier to rebuild the boots than it is to completely replace them altogether. That cutting, trimming, and stitching all adds more time.
While I am extremely pumped for the tan version and will still buy them, I am curious of the longevety of the rubber insole and leather vamp contact since there doesn't seem to be a McKay stitch in the boot.
And do real SF guys buy them for work or are the people buying them civilians wanting to be tactical. This a a real question not trying to to say that your boots are build for that stuff I’m just new in the boot game and would really like to know
