Boots that lived up to their reputation (despite a few QC issues)

I wore my Nicks as my primary footwear through out the dome. Whether I was walking into town, doing chores outside, running errands, or hanging out, these were my primary drivers. The only exceptions I made were when they were wet, needed a break, or it got too cold, these boots have no insulation so I switched to my snow boots for truly cold temps.

This leather did not change all too drastically throughout the dome. It has gained some luster through conditioning, and darkened with wear in some spots, but it was not drastic. The leather uppers broke in quite nicely, the soles are still a little stiff. I think I have cleaned and conditioned these boots 4 times during the dome, with one time involving saddle soap. I chose the less is more approach with these boots.

The HNW last fits my foot pretty well. I think it is the first time I’ve felt that my boots weren’t too loose on me. I didn’t need to cinch them down all the way. The sizing I chose worked relatively well, 10.5 D, when I normally wear an 11D in red wing and most dress shoes. Not much arch support in this last, I would have liked more, but its also not known for having a lot to begin with.

The design of these boots is fantastic, as is the quality of the construction and materials. I was disappointed with 2 things. 1. The 1964 leather ended up not being as resilient as I thought it would be. I got a gash in the right toe pretty early on in the dome. It did not cut through, or hinder my experience wearing them, but aesthetically it was quite disappointing. This pair of boots is the most expensive I own, and I have never had leather mark up like that in my red wings. 2. The insole became unglued. These came to me with half leather sock liners. From the minute I tried them on for size the half leather sock liner began to peel up. I reached out to Nick’s, who suggested I glue it down myself, or send it back. I did the former, and had no luck. Then I went to a local leather store and had them glue it, still no luck. Finally I had Nick’s send me a full leather sock liner, and I had to have that professionally glued in. During that time I missed out on breaking in the boots, and missed a picture window. That was incredibly disappointing.

These soles are hard, and not as grippy as I would have liked. They were slippery on ice. I would not get again.

Ultimately these boots were a learning experience for me. I ended up not needing everything they had to offer, so I did not benefit from the build like a tradesmen or laborer would. Ultimately they were overbuilt for my needs, and I will probably be getting something like a Grant Stone next time around. Despite the QC issues, they are still a fantastic boot that I will have forever. I would still also recommend Nick’s to anyone looking for a serious boot.