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Nicks Boots

cathpah

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There's been a lot of talk about Nick's Boots in other threads, and I recently ordered a pair for myself...but I just can't find a lot of info out there about them, either in a forum that cares about style, or in English. Seems like it's time to start a thread here on SF to gather some more information.

Here is the link to the pair that I ordered from Vermillyea Pelle in Dark Olive CXL, however Dustin (owner of Vermillyea Pelle) is customizing them for me so that they'll be a 6" boot with a different (non-black) tongue...the color of which has yet to be determined (waiting to see if Nick's can/will split down the dark olive CXL into a thickness appropriate for tongue leather. EDIT: They can. My boots will have a Dark Olive CXL tongue.). The sole will also be just a touch thinner, and the heel will be lowered just a tiny bit.

Looking at the Nick's site, it appears that they don't offer a traditional stacked leather block heel, so I believe it's Dustin at Vermillyea Pelle who is either doing it himself, or he has been helping Nick's incorporate that style/process into their workflow. Dustin apparently has many years of leather repair/cobbler work under his belt prior to opening Vermillyea Pelle, and I think it really shows, given how nice that block heel looks (I prefer it to White's offering in block-land.

Aside from Vermillyea Pelle (and dealing with Nick's directly), I know Baker's also sells Nick's Boots, so hopefully Kyle can share some images of builds that he's seen come through his store, too. I imagine he probably has a pretty good knowledge of available options for customization and leathers, too.

After wearing White's for a while (very similar to Nick's), I'm really looking forward to seeing how Nick's offerings will differ. Nick apparently worked at White's way back when, and left the company (1964?) out of frustration towards corner-cutting to start his own boot company, and used a lot of the same techniques and build elements as those used at White's. The company is now owned by a different Nick, who I believe is unrelated to the original Nick.

From what I've seen, the stitching looks beautiful and the reviews that I read on logger/smokejumper forums were very positive (even in direct comparison to White's), so it'd be nice to get a thread going so that people can share photos and thoughts/knowledge about Nick's.

Whatchya got?

Looking forward to receiving mine:

 
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the shivman

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I have been yearning for a pair of Nicks for a while. These aren't my pics/boots, but these are just a couple of builds from Japanese sites that have especially piqued my interest.


 

Mutombo

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Subscribed, looking forward to your impressions.
 

misterjuiceman

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Has anyone ordered non-standard leathers on a boot directly from Nick's? Not a fan of the standard-fare leathers, but I'm intrigued by the boots.
 
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I will be visiting Nicks tomorrow to go over production on our existing boots and to start sample making on FW 14-15 boots. I will try to get some factory shots as well as pick their brains on leather and last options [sprung toe]. Someone on the Whites thread asked about Horse Hide... Any other leather requests?
 

anrobit

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I will be visiting Nicks tomorrow to go over production on our existing boots and to start sample making on FW 14-15 boots. I will try to get some factory shots as well as pick their brains on leather and last options [sprung toe]. Someone on the Whites thread asked about Horse Hide... Any other leather requests?
Bison, chromexcel in various colours, roughouts, some suede, horsehide, and maybe...shell cordovan?

Thank you for looking into this, by the way.
 
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misterjuiceman

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I will be visiting Nicks tomorrow to go over production on our existing boots and to start sample making on FW 14-15 boots. I will try to get some factory shots as well as pick their brains on leather and last options [sprung toe]. Someone on the Whites thread asked about Horse Hide... Any other leather requests?
How does a boot straight form Nick's differ from one through VermilyeaPelle in terms of construction? Is it done entirely at Nick's or are some parts done in your shop. I think cathpah mentioned that you may be doing the heels? Are these standard Nick's lasts or do you have your own?
 
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How does a boot straight form Nick's differ from one through VermilyeaPelle in terms of construction? Is it done entirely at Nick's or are some parts done in your shop. I think cathpah mentioned that you may be doing the heels? Are these standard Nick's lasts or do you have your own?
The boots I do with Nicks are custom heights with no top facing (the strip of leather up around the top of the boot). This helps to keep the boot from biting at the top of the shaft on 6" and shorter boots as well as creating a more clean, less stitched up panel of leather. All the boots I'm doing with them will have a block heel, either in a full leather stack and a toplift or with a short leather stack and a 4/8 Vibram half heel (as pictured). All the boots pictured on my site and this post were soled, heeled, and finished by me. I will find out tomorrow if I will still need to do the soling and heel work or if Nicks will be able to. All the edge finish work will still be done be me. Nicks x VP boots will mostly feature Horween and Charles F. Stead leather, as I bring Nicks the leather I use for my other goods.
 

cathpah

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I will be visiting Nicks tomorrow to go over production on our existing boots and to start sample making on FW 14-15 boots. I will try to get some factory shots as well as pick their brains on leather and last options [sprung toe]. Someone on the Whites thread asked about Horse Hide... Any other leather requests?
Horsehide, roughouts (especially a dark brown, which White's doesn't offer), shell cordovan (which White's charges a $500+ upcharge for over their CXL versions), and more of that waxed flesh/similar unique leather and treatments. I'm not huge into exotics, but interesting treatments like that provide a lot of uniqueness and intrigue without me feeling like a wannabe Crocodile Dundee. Also more of the rarer CXL colors (dark olive is great, and you're one of the few places that uses it...or certainly that "stocks" it) would be nice. Oh, and maybe something in Chromepak, if that's even possible (I know it's usually used for handsewns, but Viberg did a boot with it a while back).

I should add that I'm not really familiar with Charles F. Stead leather, so I'd be interested to see what interesting offerings they have...particularly pull-up leathers, or any really thick leathers for extra-rugged workboots, like White's' "smooth distressed."

Really excited to see what you're planning for FW 14/15.

Edit: As an aside, I really love the pure leather stacked heel over the short stack, but I know it's not always possible (I do love a Vibram 430 outsole). If you can find a way to keep the all-leather stacked heel an option--especially with any half-soles like the commando--I think that'd be ideal.

Edit2: Woah, just took a look at the Stead leather website, and it looks like their waxed Kudu is actually Kudu (unlike Alden's "kudu"). I have no idea if it's any good, but that kind of thing would intrigue me, too. My aversion to exotics is more aimed at crocodile/lizard/ostrich type thing...but a good functional/non-show-off leather with different characterstics than a traditional cow-leather is very much welcome.
 
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ben2t

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hey Shivman are those the 4" oxford or the regular 3"? I am really digging for Nick's oxford.
 
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ben2t

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They might consider making a repro of Army Service Boots!
 

JVK1

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I'd love to see a pair of Army Service Boots. Can we ask about that?

As far as leathers, I'd be interested to see if they'd offer Chromepak or a black leather with an interesting finish, and would like to hear about the Charles Stead leathers offerings in general. What exactly do they provide? Thanks so much!
 

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