A bunch of you guys hit the nail on the head. This boot was so hard to “rip the guts out of” that I am going to have to make a separate video on just that. Also the construction is so intense and complicated that it really needs a stand alone video to cover it. Plan on seeing it on Monday the 11th... if I can get it torn apart by then.

The companies who sponsor Rose Anvil are the ones who have balls to deconstruct their product. These boots look like tank!

Never skimp on things that separate you from the ground - Footwear, tires and mattresses...

Never in my life did I think I would be considering saving up for a pair of $500 boots, yet here we are

As a forestry worker and firefighter in North Idaho i went through 2 pairs of Whites and one pair of Nicks boots in 9 years of very hard use. I loved all 3. My first pair was $95 in 1977.

Dude, the fact that you can admit you can't be 100% unbiased alone shows you're doing the best you can.keep up the content 🤙🏻

I am currently wearing a 17 year old set of Nicks. The were originally black with smooth leather over the whole boot. The lowers were rebuilt 10 years ago and changed to rough out leather. The soles have been replaced 5 times. Initial investment $385. First resole was $95.00. 2nd resole and new lowers was $175.00. Third, fourth and fifth resole totals are $355.00. New laces $50.00 Total over $17 years is $1060.00 or $63.00 per year. Imagine standing all day and routinely lifting /carrying 100# door slabs and not wanting to take your boots off when you get home. Broken in properly, these boots feel like slippers with fantastic arch support! They are worth ever penny!

"Not trying to sell you these boots" continues to perfectly sell me Nicks BuilderPro Boots, in a totally good way.

I love how they have several different problems they fixed with leather. P: shanks cause discomfort A: oak tanned leather P: cork breaks down over time but you still want a material that molds to your feet A: add more leather

I don’t believe anyone who knows leather and boots can say you’re a sellout. You’re promoting probably one of the best if not the best work boot available in the market. There’s no negatives... that’s a beauty right there.

My heart hurts more seeing you cut these than the 1k jordans.

Old timer told me when I was a teenager " Your going to be on your feet your whole life. Take care of your feet, don't cheap out on footwear "

Bruh never seen work boots THIS STYLISH I want 10 even tho I work in the office

Keep promoting good products, I think you're really helping give a lot of exposure to brands and products that deserve exposure to unfamiliar audiences.

You know a company is proud of their product when you walk in their store and they have an example of all their boots cut in half on their wall.

Your review of Nick's Boots was what convinced me to order them. It took 6 months to receive them because of covid but I am 100% happy with my decision. I love them! Thank you for your reviews.

One trick I learned in the Army. Have two pair of the same boots if you wear them everyday. That is why they issued us two pair of boots back in basic training. The day for letting one pair rest, is they air out. + clean pair of socks everyday. Never a foot problem for 3 years.

As a shoe maker all those levels, quality of materials and custom builds would justify a high price point. Would have been interesting to see the upper discussed a bit more. Other than that great video and boot brand. Keep it up 👍

I don't know anything about shoes but listen if sneakerheads will pay insane amounts of money for shoes that aren't even great quality then $500 for custom work boots with like 10 different layers of leather sounds reasonable to me 🤷🏾‍♀️

When I stepped up to a high end boot for firefighting I was shocked at how it changed my performance. It literally felt like I had 4 wheel drive and traction control. I felt how much fitment affected my stability on a hillside with a 30 lb. hosepack, 25 lb. webgear and a hand tool. It was actually less fatiguing and my knees and ankles took way less abuse. Nicks or Whites are worth every penny in wildland firefighting situations.

This video led me to buy a pair of Builder Pros back in January. When I first put them on the high arch made me question my decision. Took about two months of wearing off and on to get them broken in, now my feet and the arch support have made friends. Now I wear them all day with no complaints.

Omg! these boots are like the hulk of boots

You should do a pair of Whites Smokejumpers next! And compare the 2. These 2 are the big boot companies here in the pnw with a ton of history would make a cool video!

Since these boots are built on the 55 last, it would be really awesome to see the original 67 last version cut in half as a comparison. I think a lot of people struggle trying to decide which last will work better for their foot. Awesome video as always!

I own a pair of custom Builder Pros, which I wear daily for 12-14 hours, and I can say they are without a doubt worth every penny. Not only is the craftsmanship and comfort unmatched in a heavy duty work boot, but Nicks is an absolute pleasure to work with. I went through their custom fit process by mail, as I'm on the east coast. Much to my surprise and delight, part of their fit process involves a phone consultation with one of their fitters. You actually get to speak to a person! I view boots as a tool, and I find value in investing in my tools. I look forward to many years of enjoyable service from my investment, and will certainly be ordering another pair(s) in the future.

This boots are 90% leather, that’s dope!

It’s definitely worth $500. Women spend like $1,200 or way more, on a purse they will only wear a few times with 1 specific outfit. My ex wife had purses she bought that were like $700 and when I was cleaning the closet, they still had the tags! For a boot you’re going to WORK in for years, YES it’s absolutely worth the money!!

I can't imagine the feeling the person that hand crafted this boot, only too watch it get cut in half..... had. I imagine it'd be heartbreaking.

Isn’t it nice seeing a quality product still made in the US. I don’t think I could wear them daily, particularly with so many laces, but the craftsmanship is beyond words. I’m an Aussie, but I’d wear anything made in the US with pride over those brands now made in Asia. Well done mate.

You're definitely not selling out. It makes total sense that the companies who would want to sponsor you know what you do in your videos- cut stuff in half. If there's anything about their product that isn't good quality, they won't want people to see that. The companies that decide to sponsor you are going to be ones with high quality products and nothing to hide. Keep doing what you're doing!

I almost cried when you started cutting 😢 Seriously, you’re spot on in your estimation of these boots and just make me that much more certain I’m going to get a pair, sooner rather than later. As for selling out, no worries there.

I am currently waiting for my builder pros, I can say that between Nick's videos helping through the ordering, and your videos helping justify the cost, I cannot wait for them to show up. I found your channel about 2 weeks ago and by the end of today I think I will have watched all your videos. I thought I knew some things about good boots but your videos have blown my mind in showing how many companies rely on the brand name itself. I really enjoy being truly educated on the products I spend my money on, no matter the item. anyways keep up the great content, love your honest comments and sarcasm, and toaster too.

3:55 that reminds me of this Terry Pratchett passage i see a lot on the internet "The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles. But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet. This was the Captain Samuel Vimes' ‘Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness." and this also reminds me that i need to read more Terry Pratchett.

I own a pair of these boots. Full smooth grain leather throughout the whole boot instead of the rough out that yours has. Bought them in 2017 and they are still going very strong. A couple of notes based on my use of them that may help some others. 1.) I do not wear them daily. Shortly after I ordered them my job description changed and I'm not on my feet that much anymore. 2.) They were murder to break in (my experience), it took me right about the full 100 hours or so before they started to feel truly comfortable and about another 30 to 40 (yes, I was actually keeping track of the hours) before they felt REALLY comfortable. 3.) They are stitched, glued and screwed together, so everything stays and feels very tight. Once they were completely broken in they simply feel like an extension of my foot, and still do. I have never once worried about the screws coming through, I do not believe that they are long enough to do so. 4.) I live in upstate New York where we get brutal winters and although they are not not technically graded as waterproof, due to the very thick full grain leather I have never had wet feet in them. Let me reiterate this is my specific experience with them. I have heard of others having little to no trouble with break in time but I do believe that is the exception. My 2 cents: I believe even if you are not on your feet working 12 hours a day, that these boots are a good investment for the same reasons that they are a good investment for the hard users of them. Comfort, ankle, knee and back support. Finally, if a hard user (12 hours a day) gets them resoled every 18 months or so, how long will they last a casual user (so to speak). I hope this helps those who may be on the fence. Looking forward to the follow up video. Thank you for the great videos. Keep it up my friend.

I wear Nicks boots now, this exact boot in the video. I’ve worn Whites for years, Wesco & others. Nicks have quickly become my favorite! I transport heavy machinery. I’m climbing up and down iron all day long. These boots are amazing!

Ive gotta say, this content is such a huge need in things like the sneaker community and informing consumers. Im more into sneakers than boots and I still watch every video lol. What strikes me the most is your humility, even in dealing with the trolls or people who don't know much of anything about leatherwork. You still remain so humble, unbiased and open. That is a huge testament to you and part of the reason It was an easy decision to subscribe a couple months back. Now I just wish you would make more crazy Nike Swoosh Jordan 1 wallets lol Bifold please and you can take my money haha

Don't forget about the rest of the teardown with the thickness measurements and all. I believe you're genuinely doing your best to be unbiased.

You are going to have to do a Part 2 for this boot because you left out a lot of details and discussion you usually do.

Great video, Weston! Really appreciate the effort you put into this years ago. Excited for the $100/mo of anticipation for their arrival!

I watched this video when it first came out and it really turned me on to handmade PNW boots. It took me a while and many pairs of sub standard work boots to finally pull the trigger. My Nicks Rangers showed up today and they're awesome. Thank you.

Seeing such a sophisticated boot makes me think what a handmade cowboy boot would look like cut open.

You're doing good. Do not stop. This channel is exposing the good and the not so good. People should be able to come to there own conclusion no matter what your opinions are anyway.

I find you very trustworthy. The videos where you've reviewed boots I have personal experience of have been on point and fair. You make boots interesting (!!!) and have made me consider spending more to GET more! Best of luck!

Placed an order after watching this and bingeing your other videos. Thanks for the hard work.

The Iron Rangers look absolutely pathetic compared to these.

I have been checking out Nicks for almost a year and you (and the discount code) finally made me pull the trigger. Got the urban loggers, mix between work boot and casual. Keep up the great work dude! Haters gonna hate, there;'s no way around that.

You do an amazing job. I sell boots and I've learned so much from watching your videos, so far there has only been a couple we don't carry. I've passed on some of that knowledge to my fellow co workers as well. Thank you sir

You are not a sell out, you are just working, doing what you enjoy, which is cutting footwear in half.

Wow really looking at the Iron Ranger compared to everything else it really doesn't look like much haha. Basically walking on a thin layer of cork. Pretty amazing what Nicks put into the construction of these boots.

Ah yes, finally some good boots. My favorite bootmaker in italy made me some boots built like these (with an additional layer of foam between the vibram outsole and the rest of the boot), unfortunately the pandemic forced him to cease operations. Support your artisans!

Great video! Love seeing the inside of boots. As a son of a shoe cobbler, I value quality shoes and like to see what inside of the shoe looks like. Forget the people who say you are selling out. If a company is willing to send you boots to critique them, I say that is a good indication of a company willing to constantly improve their products.

Just got mine, wore them 8 hours or so with zero discomfort. My White's took weeks to be comfortable. Awesome boots! Awesome video!

Happy you're getting more sponsors! It's good that you addressed the naysayers, but I would say keep trucking and don't feel like you have to keep justifying yourself. Some call it "don't water the weeds", I hope the sentiment gets across. Always great to find out about other shoe/boot companies. I tend to beat the heck out of anything I own, so I'm always keeping an ear out on finding info on ones that can take a beating.

well done their site is down because of the trafic you generate

You are awesome and your videos are straight to the point! ALSO, I'm totally getting Nicks Boots after seeing your video! Thanks for doing what you do!

The music that played when you did the reveal was PERFECT.

Thanks for the vids. I live in New Zealand and we don't have the range of the US so it's great to watch what you do to see the boots out there. At the moment every other week you're putting up a new boot that I'm wanting.... with our exchange rate I might need a second job!

Excellent review. Had a quick peek at their website and was interested to see how many different styles there were. Also noticed that there were different 'gradients' of arch support to choose from which is something I've not seen before.

Started fighting fire in CA 25 years ago. My first pair of boots were Redwing but all I heard about were Whites. Over the years we had Nick's and Drew's come along. As soon as I saw the video I stopped looked over at my wife and said 'this guy's cutting a brand new pair of Nick's in half.' She looked at me in disbelief.......... Just wanted to add to my post about something you mentioned. My wild land boots were mostly a fire season staple, that being said, there main use was 6 months out of the year. I started with Redwing but went to Drew's. After 25 years I only had 3 pair of boots and never got them resoled I still have them sitting in my closet. Now I'm 5 '11' and 160 lbs so I'm not heavy in my boots. Which may explain not having a sole issue, as far as my uppers. I took them down to the leather every year at the end of fire season, some times during fire season and smothered them in mink oil. These boots are the best you can buy. Work them hard and treat them very well and they will last a long time.

this is one of my favourite channels on KZfaq. And I've only come across your channel 2 months ago.

Weston, your integrity is a beautiful thing. Cuddle Toaster for me! I watch every video you put out😎

Thanks for all your ongoing efforts to remain as impartial as possible. It is appreciated seeing how concerned you are about disclosing issues. Personally, buying a pair of Nick's is a bucket list/grail boot. Only boots I'd consider flying to 5he shop to get their custom fitting experience. Quality costs.

I’m going through the made to order process with Nick’s right now for some Urban Loggers and let me just say after being a plumber for 5 and some change years you really start to consider the boots that you wear to work. I finally started looking at boots like tools that you use to get your job done. Although I am not wearing my Urban Loggers for work and plan to get some Builder Pros in the future, I know that my Urban Loggers will last me a life time and to me that is worth the $500. I’m not going to go out and say that Nick’s boots are the best boots out there because there are plenty of handmade boot companies out there that will do custom made boots, but I will say that according to Wranglerstar Nick’s are some of the best boots out there. I don’t believe you are a sell out because you didn’t say anything bad about these boots because I did my research before buying a pair of Nick’s and no one NO ONE on the internet has said anything bad about them so keep doing what you do and sometimes people need to understand that there isn’t always something bad to say about a pair of boots.

This video was a major selling point on my purchasing Nick's builder pro boot.

The question of whether or not they are worth it comes down to what you do in an average day. If you work in an office and sit down at a desk all day, and then never do anything that requires wearing boots on the weekends, then all these boots will be to you is a fashion piece. If you work on a construction site, out in nature, in a warehouse, workshop, or any other place where you are moving around all day in a rough environment, then they are worth it. If you are somewhere in the middle, where you work in an office, but every weekend you are out and about doing work out in nature or whatever, then it is a little more hit or miss.

Never thought I’d see this day. This channel has gotten so far!

Just did it, spent $604 on these boots. Thanks for the discount code saved me $$

Not only are the boots ridiculously high quality, but they're also an incredible looking shoe. Labor workers and fashion heads alike love these boots.

The proof is in the teardown... Nicks is by far the best boot you have broken down to date... perhaps not the most attractive(perspectively), but the best built thus far...

I really appreciated how you went through the lifetime cost for the Nicks boot vs. Cheaper options. It was eye opening. Their construction is amazing.

I like how you are passionate about your job and I have learned so much about shoes by watching your videos. For what is worth, keep up the good and thank you for you hard work and dedication; have a wonderful day.

I’m getting a pair . I’m going to drive to the showroom in Spokane and get it fitted . And I’m excited

We should get rid of the idiom “fits like a glove” I’ve never had a pair of gloves that fit well. We should change it to “fits like Nicks”

Really nice to see some of the high quality items being cut up as well :)! Even better that you are not having to pay for the boot to cut.

I’m on day two of the break in of my Builder pros and you’re right they’re already pretty comfortable and I could tell from the first time I laced them up the support is far better than the Thorogoods I’ve been wearing for many months.

Bro, I love your videos. I post them all the time. Keep up the amazing work. Thanks.

Man that’s a lot of money to cut up lol love the wallet ya made looks great...

How did you not talk about the custom fitting process!?! That's the main thing that makes them worth it. They make a wooden last specific to your foot, that they keep in their warehouse, and when you need another pair of boots, or need a rebuild, you don't have to wait.

After long hard day at work I had the worst heel and lower back pain for years. Saw doctors, physical therapists, specialists..... to no avail. Then I went to see the guys at Nicks boots and they changed my life. They measured my foot and 6 weeks later my boots came. Not only were they a perfect fit on my feet, but they realigned my body and that agonizing dull lower back ache went away as well. To me it was well worth the price and I’ve only bought three pair over the last 20 years. I won’t hesitate to order another pair when I’m ready.

You do great reviews. Just ordered a pair today !!! Thankyou. !

These boots are worth every penny. I work a lot on my feet and these boots are the most comfortable things I have ever worn. Plenty of guys at work think I'm crazy for paying that much for a pair of boots and I'm over here thinking they're crazy for not wanting them. These videos really highlight the effort and justify the price on them if comfort alone wouldn't get you to buy them

Great review and analysis of Cheap v. Quality. Fitting is such a misunderstood thing. I have worn size 10 shoes since High School, in everything from Tennis shoes to cowboy boots. Then I started firefighting and got my first quality boot (sorry, not Nicks, but the other guys that is the opposite of black). Imagine my surprise when I'm told my size is an 8 1/2 - F. What is an 'F' ? She says I have Fred Flintstone feet and that's why I went from a 10 to an 8 1/2. Thanks for this great review.

I really liked that you mentioned the terms of the sponsorship before you started. I’ve always wondered why many people don’t do that when I suspect they’re still being objective. Very clever

Seem like a very honest individual telling us how you see it period. Thanks for your professional opinion 👍

I am currently waiting for my builder pro pair. I wish I could get one of those wallets you're going to make from them too.

You missed how the boot is attached to the outsole.. looks like a Goodyear welt but it also has like screws at the bottom?? Are those decorative only?

Just got my Builder Pros a couple of days ago, just wanted to say thank you, this video definitely helped me to decide to pull the trigger. Now, I have to go break those things in. That’s going to take a while 😆😆

Thanks to this Video, I purchased a Pair of Nick's Builder Pros. Worth every Benjamin!! It really is surprising how comfortable the high arch and heel are... I work for a Manufacturing Company and am on Concrete and Asphalt 60% of my day...these boots are great and my feet feel great at the end of the day. Getting ready to order a pair of Nick's Riverfronts...something a little more "dressy"....Thanks!

When you buy a boot like that, it's like getting married. It's for life.

After watching your videos, I ordered a pair of 1964 medium arch Builder Pros in May. Due to me, they arrived in October. I started wearing them full time immediately. Office/driving 50% of the time, construction field inspection 50% of the time, so not a true work boot killer. Break in has been a bit rough, but 8 weeks in, they are all I want to wear. I wear them to work all week and hike in the mountains of northern Utah in them on the weekends. The leather laces rock and they look awesome all the time. Narrow 10B. Finding footwear is a nightmare for me. I am normally a 10.5B (Red Wing, Irish Setter, Thorogood), but 10B Nicks fit perfect. Problem is...I want to order the Moc Toe cream vibram sole boots now...Thanks Weston, love the work boot dissection and analysis, and no, you cannot have them in a year to cut apart!

this was the video that made me subscribe to you. keep up the great work man someday ill get a pair aswell.

I live within driving distance of spokane and I have been hesitant to buy a pair of nicks, but now I'm seriously thinking about it. I have put out well over $500 in ariats and redwings in the last five years. This video has just sold me on getting a pair.

I’ve had a pair of White’s for seven years, and a pair of Nick’s almost just like this one for four years. I always recommend these two boots over Red Wings.

this craziness would be proud to own a pair!

No way you are selling out...! These boots are worth more than $500, easy...! Quality through out.... You are doing a great job and you can't get more factual than a boot cut in half and you can literally see what is in these boots...! Excellent video... 100% Factual..!

I’ve been wearing a pair of Builder Pro Nicks boots with composite safety toe and custom uppers for a year now. That’s six days a week as a flatbed truck driver, loading, strapping, tarping, and driving roughly 16 hours a day. They are the best I’ve ever worn. Stock boots never fit me correctly, as I have very narrow heels and ankles. I like them so much that I can’t stand to be parted from them when I send them in for resoling. So I recently ordered a pair of the Hotshots just so I can have them well broken in by the time the first ones need to be sent off. For me, the custom fit upper (slight upcharge ~$75 on the first pair and half that on the second pair) was totally worth the higher price over a $300 pair of stock boots that don’t fit well.

Talking about the stitching on the uppers would have been nice. That heels so thick you'd feel like a giant walking in them!

I don’t think you’re a sellout because of the way you are being honest about the materials. I agree that the companies that are sponsoring these videos are obviously good quality and they are aware that their boots will be cut in half! The price of these are completely a deal without having the 10% discount - the custom made aspect alone, then they have such a great foundation of leather in the sole. Would love to see you try to rip these apart lol!

Thanks for doing these videos!! helps so much when decided what to lean towards.

I love this channel, I thought my Danners that cost 200 at the time had been expensive, but though worth price for comfort durability, however I found out that they fell apart quickly and my combat boots lasted 20 years and still kicking, while the Danners at twice the price are in the garbage.