Purchase
As I’d already been through the fitting processing with Nicks, ordering my second pair was much easier and certainly less stressful. But they’d added another month to the build time, so I did not have the pleasure of immediate gratification, and I think that for most people this lengthy lead time is difficult. But returning customers like me know that the wait is going to be worth it.
Breaking them in
I knew what I was getting into for this pair, and even though they are 2 inches higher in the shaft that the Rangers I think that the break-in was easier. It took several weeks of daily wear at home before I felt ready to go on my first long walk in them.
Wearing them
This pair was customized to my feet a bit more than the Rangers. It turns out one of my feet is a half-size larger than the other (or that one foot is a half-size smaller than the other, depending upon one’s perspective) and these boots have had the last adjusted accordingly.
They are even more comfortable than the Rangers, the extra height gives them a glove-like feel and even in summer they don’t feel too hot.
I still walk a good 10K to 20K steps daily and I prefer these over hiking shoes. While the extra weight of these monsters is noticeable, they are so comfortable that it more than makes up for that on lengthy hikes. And I when working on machinery I’d much rather have these protecting my feet than a flimsy pair of glued plastic and cloth shoes.
Conclusion
Paying over US$600 for work boots sounds crazy. But I tell myself that having comfortable boots that I can wear all day, any day, in any conditions is worth some money. And shoes that are as comfortable as those fluffy house shoes (after the lengthy break-in) are worth good money as well. And since these can be resoled and even rebuilt multiple times for a fraction of the new cost while remaining comfortable for many years is worth even more.
This is a case where buying quality is well-worth the price.
