So these are my every waking moment boot ( outside of the house) I have used them for everything. I went on a hike with my family to a see a full masonary bridge that has been submerged since 1880, anyway my oldest daughter got stuck in the much and I had to go in an “rescue” her and got all of that smelly decaying vegetation much on my boots which left some pretty wild stains where the muck was caught between my jean and the shaft. I also for everything else possible Christmas shopping at the mall, cleaning up my yard, riding the kids around on my dirtbike, holiday parties so on and so forth.
The break on process with this leather was easy. I expected the break in period to be fairly uncomfortable and lengthy. But I was wrong, the leather was fairly stiff at first once on the leather felt very pliable. Although trying to get my jeans over the top of the shaft was no easy feat for the first 2 weeks. It was difficult to drive my stick shift vehicle for the first week and a half until the leather on the shaft stated to break in a little bit.
It’s a looser fitting boot but not loose enough to warrant sizing down in either length or width. It does have heel slip but If you have worn pull of boots such as Chelsea’s, cowboy boots, wellingtons etc., then it’s no worse than any of those. I could still run in them ( and I have).
This is an excellent quality boot. The construction and finishing of the boot really is the best I have ever experienced.
Everyone that I messaged with and read threads about said the v-bar was a better sole but traction wise this is a way better option and I find the rubber to be forgiving and pliant in cold weather and in weather above 40 the rubber provides some pretty good shock absorption from a fairly thin piece of rubber near the ball of the foot but also great heel impact absorption. They also have far better traction in that slick snotty mud than I had anticipated as well as the treads not getting clogged up with mud or snow because the tread depth is far less when compared to the v-100 sole.
I like the block style heel.
I think for the fit finish and craftsmanship quality and customer service I thinks Nicks is the way to go. This is a great boot with great design.