The Company
icks Handmade boots are manufactured in Spokane, Washington. The company is small, but it has a worldwide reputation for manufacturing some of the best and hardiest work boots. While their primary market initially focused on wildland firefighters, they have since expanded. They now manufacture both impressive work boots and almost casual ones. My Nicks Handmade “Ranger” boots have become my go-to boots for outdoor wear when not going into the office.
Purchase Process
They have a bespoke fitting process that includes multiple foot measurements. Based on these measurements, they will send a test pair of boots and conduct a lengthy telephone fitting. Of course, the best solution is to fly out to Spokane, but not everyone can do that. Once the last type and last dimensions are agreed on, the ordering process can begin. These Ranger boots can be customised at the Ranger made-to-order page, and once the selection and payment process is complete, the most challenging part starts – the waiting part. Manufacturing lead times were 4-6 months in 2020 and have gotten longer as the boots have become more popular!
Delivery and first impressions
I waited about 5 months before I finally got my Nicks Handmade “Ranger” boots delivered. Removing them from the box, I thought they had stuffed some metal scraps into them because they were so much heavier than any boots I’d handled before. But they use just leather, about 80 nails, and the Vibram sole – but the leather topsides are very thick, and the sole has seven layers of leather as well!
Putting them on for the first time gave me a snugness akin to old-style heavy ski boots, and my first tentative steps led me to wonder whether the shoes could even flex. I felt like Herman Munster while plodding around at home, trying to balance!
Break-in period
Nicks Boots recommends about 80 hours of break-in, with the boots worn somewhat longer each successive day. I was working in my home office, so I wore them indoors much of the day but didn’t get many steps in. My first 3-mile outdoor walk had to wait until around 3 or 4 weeks of daily home wear had made them sufficiently pliable.
I had thought that breaking in the Red Wing Iron Rangers was difficult until I went through this process. While I never had pain or blisters, the boots just felt too tight, and I’d asked the factory about that, but they said it was normal.
In the end, it turns out that I’d ordered the boots with a removable “comfort insole”, but they had neglected to increase the boot by a half-size as they should have done. Once I removed the insoles, the shoes felt really comfortable, and the break-in finished quickly.
Conclusions
When I put these boots on now, after 2 years, they feel as if they’ve been poured around my foot. They are far and away the most comfortable shoes to wear I have ever owned. The high arch and support initially took some getting used to, but I can wear these and stand all day without wanting to remove them in the evening.
While they are pricey, they are meant to take a beating and last a long time. When the Vibram soles wear down, they can be resoled two or more times before requiring further treatment. Insofar as work boots go, they are meant to last a lifetime. I am delighted with my Nicks Handmade “Ranger” boots.
The build quality is outstanding, and the leather quality is nonpareil. I ordered my second pair of boots after 6 months – this time the Packer model, which has a higher shaft and is even more massive.
December 2023 Update: I had a training accident and hurt my hand. One side effect was that lacing up the boots became impractical, so I had to forego wearing them for a couple of weeks and revert to my Iron Rangers. My hand is healing, and I’m back to these boots again.
February 2025 Update – I’ve been working on renovating a house for a month, and my Ranger boots are finally seeing some heavy-duty use.
July 2025 Update – I’m still working on renovations (I’ve been gone a while), and the boots are still getting good use. I haven’t cleaned or greased them in a while; I really should do this soon. At least I always use shoe trees, so they keep their shape.
