I've worn these for nearly 24 hours in a single go. Hours in the office. Nearly a whole day driving and walking around the city. Multiple hikes through the woods. Lots of yard work.
Breakin was easy for me. After the first two weeks, they were fully broken in. I used VSC after the first month and then again every month with a few spot applications as some areas were experiencing heavier wear. The leather went from a bright light green to a much dark mostly brown with green highlights. Probably one of the most extreme changes I've ever witnessed. The leather has held up well to scratches and minor gouges. It shows each one, but the leather itself has not lost any of its intended function.
Perfect for my feet. This is my third pair of Nick's in the HNW last and all have been perfect for me.
For Nick's "lesser quality" leather product line. These are near perfect. I would recommend the Free Range line to anyone.
Good sole. It has worn a little but still has plenty of life left. It has good grip on wet surfaces and is easy to clean mud off of.
No issues. I sealed the edges with beeswax this month. After six months, the original sealing was mostly rubbed off.
The Nick's W&C free range is a fantastic value and I really like the look with v-bar sole and block heel. I have had a great journey breaking these in and caring for them. These will be in my everyday rotation, but to preserve the look and leather, I will be using these primarily as walking boots. No more high wear tasks when I can avoid it.