I'm a longshoremen and we use boots like this still. We load log's on ships and they can be very slippery. Thanks for sharing your talent's with us. Honestly your quality in how well you make your boots can be the difference between life and death.
Actually professionally made custom boots are underpriced. True craftsman have traditionally been underpaid. I mean true craftsmanship. These guys have always been underrated since Roman times.
In my lifetime, I have had many boots. But in 1982, I bought a pair that I still wear. They've been resoled over the years and have been we'll taken care of. I'm considering sending them back to Danner boot company for a complete rebuild. This video was amazing to watch. Salutes to all the boot smith's that worked on those boots. Y'all are amazing.
It's been 3 or 4 years now, but I had a set of 8" Acadias "recrafted" by Danner and they turned out great. Obviously not nearly half the boot as a pair of Nick's though. You definitely get what you pay for
It's been so long since I've bought something expensive and felt like it was worth it. I made the trip to have my Nick boots custom fitted and custom made. When I opened the box I could tell the right choice was made. I wore Doc's the first 20 years of my life, watching the quality deteriorate year after year. I love my Nick's Boots and will never need to replace them.
You are an absolute unit brother. I did it for a brief time, first few weeks I was exhausted I had no idea. I did suburban tree work thought it would be the same, nope.
We are in absolute awe of the craftsmanship of NICKS boots ! it’s so refreshing to see the talent of handmade in the year of 2023. Total respect for every worker who is a part of making these boots !
Anyone who has never broken in a new pair of work boots will never understand how much easier this is on your feet to put something back on that’s already broken in
I logged for 7 years in the Idaho and Montana woods and I went to Hoffman boots for my corks and they did it the exact same way thank you for taking care in what you do I wish I could've come to y'all but thank you for your craft that not only keeps our feet dry but keeps us safe and not in pain from the way franchise boots are made
I have always said that handmade boots are better than the factory ones that use glue to adhere the soles. Now I know why. This is truly a craftsman work of art. I try to buy only hand made boots with sewn on soles and triple stitching in stress areas. They are more expensive but last for a long time. Great work y’all.
I don't think you realize most machine made boots are either Goodyear welt or Blake stitch. Only the cheapest Payless boots are going to be cemented. You don't have to drop money on a handmade boot to get a stitched sole... Like 97% of factory boots have them lol
It's like looking thru the looking glass and seeing the and hearing the sounds of a craftsmanship shop in living color from a shop back in the 30's, 40's, and 50's.
My great great grand father back in the late 1800s had a boot and shoe factory. He had a large family and most worked there for him. With the time and all the different process that are used to make forward and the craftsmanship is amazing! I always wonder what the process was. These boots I knew were for the logging industry! Really cool video! Thanks
The work involved is so extensive, it’s really making new boots not so much rebuilding - I’d just have them make entire new ones and forget keeping the old upper probably ready to tear soon anyway.
What I love about my MTOs is when they came there was no break in period, and so if they ever need rebuilding I can trust to have the same unrivaled comfort for as long as I can kick around in em
What a great craftsman. It’s really nice watching a skilled person work their art on a skilled project. I can only imagine how many hours of labor it took to get to that level. Hands most of hurt for months on end. Great video!!
most impressive indeed & yet one can't help but wonder how such strenuous HAND work doesn't result in more rugged looking hands. odd that. also amazing that all that work is cheaper than NEW boots. 🤔
Crazy amount of craftsmanship. Very nice. This ladies boot is about the most sophisticated shoe I have ever seen. It's funny how something that is made by man using tools and machines and meant to be used in rough enviornments is such a piece of art. Really great job!
*Great work and truly amazing to see the effort that goes into making hand made boots. It took some force to pry those boots apart and it’s a testament to the quality of the original build.* *However; after watching the whole process from start to finish. I cannot, understand, for the life of me, why someone wouldn’t just buy a new pair.. as there’s only the upper left of the originals. Surely a new pair wouldn’t cost a whole lot more..!* *I hope one day, to be the proud owner of a pair of ‘Nicks Boots’… myself, as I know that they’ll be built like a tank and could out last me over a lifetime..!*
It's said that the clothes don't make the man. This is true. But a pair of boots well made, then worked in, toiled in, wounded in, bled in, trialed in, tribulated in... they become a part of you. They become a part of the the experiences that make a man what he is. Like a loyal dog, or a good horse... they become dear friends. That's why we rebuild them: To love something to old.
That's what I thought; it seemed like there was barely anything of the original leftover. It reminded me of that saying (question?) If you replace all the parts of a boat, is it still the same boat?
@@RisingDimond… Goofball talk. Just find another comfortable high quality product to wear and keep working and going about your business. The footwear is not you and you are not it. This over romanticized boot talk is silly. Men built the GD HOOVER F’ing dam with crappy worn out footwear on their feet.
Being retired military, who was issued the black leather boots back in the early 90’s, can attest to having your “favorite pair” rebuilt or resoled. Once they fit like a glove, it’s almost worth it to just rebuild the pair. I had one pair that wore well into my second decade of service. Thousands of miles on marches and patrols, hundreds of hours on the feet and at that point, they’re like family. Lol Well done gentlemen! Amazing workmanship! Thank you for what you do! 🦾👍💯
I’m so glad when I was younger being a wild land firefighter I bought my 1st pair of Nicks Roughout boots they lasted me my career fighting fire which was 13 yrs before moving onto another job. Thanks guys for great work and very comfortable boots. When I bought mine they were only $300 not sure what they cost now? 🇺🇸👍🏽
With so much of the boot being replaced, it almost seems like you might as well replace the upper while you're at it. Is there a specific reason why it's more beneficial to rebuild rather than just make new ones?
There is nothing like a new bottom on an old upper, that’s why. They are far more comfortable than a new pair, and when you work in them for 12 hours a day, that break in time can be painful.
Both my father and grandfather immigrated from Italy Ann this was their craft. When my father retired he said the gym shoe / trainers killed tbe businesses. Carry on Nick it brings back great memories for me .
Nice to see what great craftsmanship goes into Nick's boots. Got turned onto your boots a few years ago. I've wore quite a few different brand boots in the past. I can personally guarantee, after being on spikes all day Nick's are the most comfortable out there and they last. My feet thank you. 👍
Wow I didn't know it was that labor intensive. I used to have my Redwings done every few years when I worked construction many years ago now. Amazing craftsmanship, very talented workers.
MY grandfather worked timber in Salmon Arm British Columbia 100 years ago. Later he came to Seattle where he worked the docks for some 30 years. I remember boots like this and of how he showed me to lace them with one hand. I think he could lace a boot , from the time he got his foot into the boot until he finished the laces at the top, in under 10 seconds.
Those are the scariest boots I've ever seen. You do beautiful work! I've worn logging and/or lineman boots for years, so I know good looking, strong working boots. Your craftsmanship is excellent!!
@@dustinhaynes2617 leather sole as in no rubber. I have a pair of Nicks Prospectors with a leather sole. Never seen them do a video manufacturing them.
Used these while bucking trees, they are absolutely nessicary. You lose a footing you can lose a leg or worse. Amazing work restoring these, nowadays new isnt always better.
It was killing me in the beginning to watch those boots be torn apart like that, but I knew if I kept watching that I would witness something magnificent happen, and sure enough it did. It was a beautiful thing to watch these boots come back to life, and I give huge props to everyone that have mastered such an art form.
Those must be Mr man's lucky boots or his dad's old boots to go through the trouble of refurbishing them. Looks like it would have been easier to make whole new boots.
Ehhh…. Wearing boots everyday for the past 20 years. The most headache part about “breaking in” are the ankles. Especially if ya gotta do a ton of walking, climbing or crawling. Think if ya have the money, it would be worth refurbishing. Comfort has no price.🤙🏼.
Love the channel and amazed by boots you guys produce but your boots are not hand made they are hand built. Honestly this footwear is seriously well engineered. Next time I'm over in America I'm going looking for somewhere that stocks your boots. All the best from Scotland.
I can't imagine what trade those boots are for, but I do know those cletes used to be in golf shoes until the golf industry changed to plastics. That was a very sad day. Long live steel cletes!
I play cricket and golf, and my boots for both these sports still uses metal spikes... I cant think of any players who would trust plastic round here....
Very little of the old boot was actually reused, it’s more like the old boot was a template for the new one, at this points it’s basically a brand new hand made boot copying the design of the old one.
It's wonderful to watch the transformation and incredible craftsmanship, but my goodness, I couldn't imagine how much it costs for this repair. How much are the boots new, compared to repaired?
😂 i was thinking the same thing but I see you posted this over 9 months ago and they never responded. I did just Google a pair and seen them selling a pair similar for $800 dollars so I'm really curious what a repair like that would cost now. I would assume probably half the price so around a cost of $400 to repair a pair of boots like this.
Not to undercut these guys, but for my fellow Midwestern people, there's a small shop in Peoria IL called "Fred's Shoe Repair." It's been around for a long time, and is now run by the (I believe) Grandson of Fred. Most of the staff is young, under 30, and I'm always amazed by the amount of skill and knowledge they have. Maybe it's ageist on my part, but I didn't expect 20 somethings to be passionate about an art that was basically gone even before I was born. I'm just thrilled to see skilled craftsmen keeping these trades alive. If you're in the Midwest, Fred's may be an option for you, but again, I'm not trying to take business from anyone, just spread awareness and enthusiasm.
because we hear so much these days about these 'influencers' & other relatively useless types, people are unaware that there are MANY skilled working people 20yrs & up, from auto mechanics (& BUILDERS) to forestry service to carpenters & instrument makers, tattoo artists, loggers, surveyors, map makers (yeah, people STILL make maps), iron workers, boat builders, animal vets & on & on. may the gods save us if humans ever stop working with their hands.
@@OuroborosArmory Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. I can now understand why someone would refurbish instead of buying new.
In the 6 minute mark has changed my perspective on what to buy for hardware and how to mount it...big help!! I build boots and have been asked to build lace ups...now I have confidence to mount all the hardware for laces...next thing to tackle is a how to actually incorporate a safety toe
It all takes time, glad we can be an entertainment and a resource! (And if you don't get it perfect on your first try, neither do we, we have lots of mess ups in bins in the back lol)
And looking at these boots, you now know why so many loggers coming into the diner or bar after work, are wearing Romeos or slippers, "no corks allowed" lol.....loved your craftsmanship, detailed shots and the sounds too.
I learned, after mmy years of sore feet and ankles, properly fitted boots go a long way for a comfortable fitting boot. The length of the foot is measured from the heel to the ball of the foot. Not heel to toe. All of those years I was wearing boots and shoes a size and a half to short. Love the video Nick! There was a shoe store in my home town for oer 40 years. He'd selll ypu a pair of boots and resole them when you thought they were worn out.
A friend of mine who lives in Alaska has a set of boots like this. He uses them when working out with various geologists and stuff so as to not slip around on the ice. Occasionally, he also uses them when working as a logger in the summertime.
I'm only 3 minutes into the video, but damn, wouldn't it make more sense to just buy a new pair...? Reminds me of Trigger in OFAH saying he's had the same broom for 15 years; just replaced the brush 5 times and the stick 3 times... 😆 Either way, amazing craftsmanship.
When i was a kid in the late 70's early 80's my parents would ship me off to Forks Washington where my Grandparents live. I remeber at the end of the day when Grandpa would get home before he kissed my Grandmother he'd have to take his boots off on the front steps. She wouldnt even let him on the porch wearing those. Im the only one in my family who has never worked in the Timber industry. I went on the Army right out of Highschool and never looked back until i retired. Ive always told people those loggers I knew as a kid were the toughest men ive ever been around. Missing fingers, Arms, Toes, hands yet they still got up wvery morning and hopped in the Crummy and went up in the woods.
