Here's the secret to breaking in new boots ...... wear them. It's that simple. There is no real secret, and there is no short cut. Nick's recommends approx. 100 hours of wear to break in their boots. The thicker the leather, the more sturdy the boot, the more time you need with your feet in them to soften the leather and have it form to your personal foot size & shape.

Slow and steady wear in for the best results. Rome wasn't build in a day, rush anything and you get rushed results.

While working in the oil and gas fields, we wear our boots for over 30 hours at a time, I always take a second pair and a few extra pairs of socks as well. While "Breaking in my Nicks" I'll wear them for a few hours and change them out when I need to, they get, wet, muddy, dusty, the whole nine yards, believe it or not mine are broke in within the first week of owning them, 100+ hours. JUST WEAR THEM, they will conform just fine, no tricks or experiments needed!

Everyone complains about this but this is exactly what we did in the army basic issue boots are painful and my feet had blisters before I went on a ruck march in the rain, one day of soaked boots will not crack the leather it will not rust the nails or shank and it will not give you trench foot, yes you can break in boots by just wearing them and soaking them alone will not break them in but soaking them does speed up the break in process

Nick’s care tags that literally come with the boots: dont soak boots in water to stretch leather Cody: hold my dish soap

Years ago my parents bought me a handmade leather holster when they went out west. The maker recommended soaking it in water to break it in, and it worked! Very nice boots and video...

The method I used, was same method I used for my snowboard boots, which is using 2 long tube socks, fill with rice (or beans), heat for about 10 minutes in the microwave, and place in the boots (no insole) for 10 mins. Then remove, put insole back, wear your boot socks, and put the boots on tight and step on the front half of your boots on a 2x4 and lean back and forth for about 10-15mins, and repeat. Heat and stretching with your foot will quickly break the leather in to the shape of your foot. If after multiple tries you still have pain in certain spots, go on Amazon and buy a good boot stretcher (not the plastic ones), and stretch out the specific spots where you feel pain over night. Imo this is the fastest method, I never had that painful 100 hr break in.

Just a word of caution. I live in a desert so the only time my White's (I also have Nicks) got wet was when I was washing a car or something else and some off and on in the winter (I'm a farmer). Anyway, around 2.5 years in I started noticing a squeek coming from both pairs with every step. It got super annoying and I needed a resole anyway so I sent them in. Turns out some of the nails had rusted on both boots which was causing the squeek. White's took them apart to resole and said they wouldn't be able to do a simple resole because of the rusted nails so I ended up having to do a full rebuild. That cost me almost $400. So, probably not the best idea to consistenly get them wet. Just my experience. In my case, the White's were definitely not worth the money considering I only got 2.5 years out of them before having to spend another $400.

How do you like them so far? I'm im AZ as well, wondering how are they when 120F outside?

I learned this trick years ago in basic training from a dude in my platoon from New Zealand. Can't tell if it helped or not, eventually the boots broke in ok. My new Nicks don't have any hotspots (I'm glad). I'm eye balling a pair of Urban Loggers, guess I'll wait for another sale :)

How do you prevent the leather stacked heel from deforming? All of my leather heels buckle when they get wet.

Does this help you to be able to wear them all day from the get go?

Good looking boot. All my Nicks and White's boots are 8" and I have one 10" pair. I like the look of the 6"-7" Urban Logger.

That’s some badass boots!! Can’t wait to get mine

Does Nicks make a good hiking/backpacking boot? I see most stress work boots and they also have a heritage line.

Really lovely boots! Going to buy these when my iron rangers wear out I think.

This is no worse then wearing them out in rain or snow where they will get wet or perhaps your job may have wet conditions. Boots get wet all the time during normal wear so for those that are shocked by this , it's not really that bad at all . And yes it does take time to break in new boots......LOL

This looks so much like my old neighborhood in Peoria AZ that it's making me feel like I'm back in my old front yard.

It’s a great shortcut For some people that my grow impatient with a long grueling break in it’s a game changer! Oh and rain wet conditions happen

Great video Kimball Cody ! I just ordered them .. Are those the moderate arch or the 55 medium arch Last ?

How's the fit did you half a size down?

Hi mate, Big fan of your channel, especially enjoying the journey of your Iron ranger 8111 boots, its wonderful to see it aging so beautifully, absolutely best I've seen :) Nice to see your new Nicks ! May i please ask, is this 'Nicks Unban Loggers' in same size as your Iron Ranger 8111? if not, what the differences in fitting ? Cheers :)

Been following your channel since I got my iron rangers two years ago. Also just ordered the same pair of nicks last week!

A truly beautiful boot!

What size and width are these?

Kimballcody's a lumberjack and he's OK!

Are those moderate of medium arch?

Nice! Those are sweet. My Hotshots took a few months to wear in. Nicks are the best imo.

Very informative vid too. Thanks a lot!

I got my Urban Loggers just over a month ago and I've just been wearing them to break them in. They feel about there. I don't think they need quite the amount of time to break in as the workboots or wildland boots as the leather isn't quite as heavy. I thought Nick's said not to submerge them? I guess if it works for you though.

1st point on the breakin tag attached, DO NOT soak the boot.. pinky toe and big toe rub is normal

I use boot oil on the inside of the boot. Then put them on and wear them. Everyday for the first week I use small amount of boot oil on the hot spots inside the boot. That usually works for me

"What works for me." = your input on my methods is not required. Great video. Keep doing your thing your way.

Great video! & you are blessed with a cute kid. All the best!

I don't know if this is the correct method judging by the comments, BUT HOLY moly those boots look good. Can't wait for mine.

After breaking in 5 red wing boots with zero pain...I feel like these might show me some resistance due to the 5+layer oak tanned leather insole.

Cool boots! Neat tips

Hydraulic fluid in the 90s Most amazing boots i ever owned

Breaking bad location?

Various KZfaq Recordings (9 @ 9 Segments from WGN Morning News Only)

Cute baby!! 😍

Wish I had a pair of loggers. Don’t get them where I live

Great stuff man! Love the channel. Just ordered my first pair of Nick's. I have three pairs of whites and love them so I'm hoping my new Hot Shots in the rough out black are everything my whites smokejumpers are

Looks fun ha ha

I put on a pair of wool socks that are a little damp, rub a bit of saddle soap on the socks, then slip them into my boots, and wear them a few hours. done.

600-800$ boots, ten dollar pants. Teasing… Great looking boots man.

I prefer just to pee in them and leave it overnight. Wash thoroughly after, if you wish to avoid the hobo vibe. I will say the stand in a water tub holding a baby has merit too.

SIX KIDS! HOW THE HELL DO YOU AFFORD BOOTS LIKE THIS?

Noooo! I can’t watch! 🙈. Tell me when he’s done

I really dont know if this is such a good idea. Nicks specifically says not to do this. I think the best way to break in boots is to just wear them.

I just ovenaufs them up and put them by my heater

Have you given anymore thought to dancing for our LGBTQ group. We here feel an affinity with you through your videos, especially our trans men who have had a hard transition 💜 . Look forward to hearing from you again, thanks for your continued support.

Please don't soak them in water. Just wear them in the right way.

STF - Shrink-to-Fit Nick’s boots 😉

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Ugh just wear your freaking boots people

This is useless, wear them with wet socks an go for a 2 hour hike if you want them to break in quickly. Mink oil on the outside will help also to make the leather more supple.

Boots can totally rott inside doing this.

Are you definitely coming to dance for our LGBTQ GROUP ??? We will massage your sore feet. Thanks for supporting us x

What NOT to do during a break-in...

Don't do this.....

This is not good break-in advice.

Looks like a bunch of nonsense 🤣

DO NOT DO THIS!!!

OK...What if our LGBTQ group came to dance for you ??? How would that be ?

Oh my gosh people. It's leather, the world isn't going to end because he put his EXTREMELY DURABLE WORK BOOTS which are made of leather in water lol. Drop the elitist mindsets. The fact is, leather can get wet and be ok (even if the leather kind of looks like a shoe). All one has to do is labor tirelessly and ferociously before the boots explode from being so dry the molecules heat up and cause the atoms to split inside of the leather and explode for 2 minutes to rub some oil back into the shoe lol. Oh and, praise the Lord boys! God has not abandon us even though mainstream society wants us to be mindless zombies and think God isn't real. I'll tell you what isn't real, this fairy tale world we live in lol. God bless and be nice to other people, even if you don't agree with them. It takes a bigger man to not continue in futile debates and keep your mouth shut to let someone else have their hell bent opinions even though you know the truth. Love your neighbors boys and God bless.

Dude, use Hubbard Grease...I’ve used Hubbard Grease for years. Your just destroying your boots...