Nicks
Moc Toe
Nicks Handmade Boots
Last summer, Nicks boots did a limited run of the Tobacco WC in a Moc toe. At the time I was missing my 875 Red Wings. As luck would have it Nicks boots had my size so I ordered a pair.
I followed Nicks sizing guide as listed on their website. I went to a running store in town to get my brannock size, used a tailors measuring tape to measure foot circumference with a sock that I would generally be wearing. In my situation I was between two sizes so I called customer service to get a recommendation on what size to choose. The customer service rep recommended the following advice. If you want a snug fit go with your current measurement. If you want to have some extra room go a size up. Take good measurements down and call customer service with prepared questions. There were no modifications to the last.
Ordering experience was typical. I have all my last and boot measurements written down, so all I had to do was check to make sure the boots can be made to my measurements.
I’ve been wearing these Moc toe boots everywhere. Everyday to work, outdoor maintenance on the house, gym, hiking, and recently long rides on my e-bike. These boots have kept my feet dry during a rain storm, cold day, and even the snow. On the snow day I was a bit more cold than normal.
As I mentioned in a previous review the break in process was hard. The leather was incredibly stiff at first. I followed the care guide instructions on Nicks website, so no oil was initially applied during the initial break in process. I would say 1.5 months during the break in process is when I applied oil. This is when I noticed the leather just fit like a glove. My care routine for this leather is to deep clean once a month. Horse hair brush to remove dirt and other grime from the surface. A mild leather cleaning agent to remove the dirt I cannot see. Then two coats of Bick 4 oil. If there is a deep scratch I will use mink oil paste to fill in that space. I use the mink oil very sparingly to preserve the color of the leather. Once of the more remarkable aspects of this leather is its ability to make small scratches go away. I can usually rub small scratches out.
Currently the fit for the lower section of the leather is great. I have my orthotics inside so my arch support is perfect. The Thurman last gives plenty of space for toes. What doesn’t fit great are the uppers. My calf’s are so big that it makes it hard to lace up my boots. At the time of ordering these I wish there was an option for custom uppers. Sizing guide on Nicks was accurate. I’m at an awkward size between FF and FFF so I just called the store and they helped me pick the right size that would accommodate my feet with a slightly bigger sock.
The design is awesome. These boots are an upgraded Red Wing 875. All of the stitching is great, the finishing is flawless, the hardware isn’t holding up too great but my local cobbler can fix it.
They are much lighter than my red X soles but the trade off is I can feel everything on the ground. They have been holding up very well to the elements.