Falcon - Quick Ship!

(Falcons and limited run Tanned Waxed Flesh) I want to address a few things but before I do, I would like to state that I currently own over 10 pairs of boots from many different brands.



Quality - Without a doubt these are the most robustly built boots I've ever worn. The build quality is literally the best you can get. I've had my boots for almost a year now and they are still like new. Finishing was much better than a certain pair of boots from another PNW brand that I own as well. The stitching and clicking were top notch. These are considered casual/life style boots for Nicks. They are still more robust than any other brand I've owned.



Break In - Look, they aren't that bad to break in. Thing is they still haven't gotten soft and super comfortable. But you have to understand that it probably takes years when worn casually for these boots to be fully broken in. I see people sayng they couldn't wear these all day on concrete. Well I most certainly can. That being said there's a reason they aren't easy to break in and I believe that's obvious. Still, I had no real hotspots or points of concern. The boots are simply still just like brand new. That's not only a positive IMO but also a testament to how well these boots are built.



Aesthetics - These boots are simply beautiful. The Waxed flesh is amazing, stunning actually. The lasting and shape were extremely well executed. They are IMO the best looking boots I've ever owned. Stitching isn't sloppy, the 430 Mini Lug sole looks nice and clean as well.



Summary - Look, if you want a squishy, easy to break in boot? Well these might not be for you. But if you want a pair of casual weekend boots that look absolutely amazing and will last a lifetime? Well, this is a great option. I am convinced that you won't find a sturdier built, more well crafted, boot. This is my second pair of Nick's and at this point, they are far and away the best PNW boot brand around IMO.

So even though I gave these boots a four star rating I'm really hoping people will read this review because it isn't so much a review as it is a collection of things I think people should know and take into consideration before they order a pair of Nicks.



First off I'll start by saying the selection of materials and build quality is second to none, I would never try to say anything negative about them nor do I feel the need to.



However there are some things I think people should be aware of. My intent isn't to make them sound good or bad because what may be a negative in my mind could be a positive in the mind of someone else. So make of them what you will.



1. Perhaps this was a misunderstanding on my part but even when you pay for a fit sheet Nicks does not tailor make the boot to the dimensions of your foot. They select the standard last that they think most closely matches your measurements. Through e-mail correspondence I have inquired about things like possibly pairing a B width vamp to an A width upper and was told they could not do that.



2. They bill the Falcons as having “moderate” arch support but based on my experience and comparing them to other boots I own I would consider them as having little to no arch support. So if you are on the fence about how much arch support you need get off and order a pair made on the 55 or 67 last.



3. It's not the break in period for the uppers that will get you, its the insole and mid-sole. I found the uppers of my Falcons to be acceptably broken in in not much more than a few weeks. However, I am now 6+ months on with these boots and it still feels like I'm walking around with pieces of 1x4 strapped to the bottom of my feet. That Oak tanned leather is tough to say the least.



4. Related to item 3 above. There is not a smidge of cushioning in these boots. My boots have the Vibram V-Bar sole and I would describe them as “tolerable” when worn on carpet and dirt/grass. But there is no way I could get away with wearing these for 8-10 hours if I had to stand or walk on a hard floor and pavement the whole time. In addition to this there is a row of stitching around the perimeter of the insole not covered up by the sock liner I can feel and after a period of time starts to irritate the bottom of my foot. My next pair will most definitely allow space for an after market insole.



5. They don't stretch as much as some would have you believe and even the little bit they do stretch tends to shrink back between wearings. As mentioned I've had my Falcons for 6+ months and I always use a set of cedar shoe trees in them when not on my feet. They were quite snug when I first put them on out of the box (like a firm hand shake I'd say) but even after 6+ months of wear and being diligent about using shoe trees, they still hug my feet in the toe box about the same as they did when they were new. Which is quite tight. So size accordingly.



That's it. Again the point of this review isn't to encourage or discourage anyone from ordering a pair of Nicks as we all know Nicks makes great boots. It is simply a list of things I wish I would have known before I ordered mine. Hopefully someone will find it helpful.

I ordered a pair in February and received them towards the middle of July. The build time was listed as 6 weeks at the time of the order, so patience was necessary.



When I opened the box the smell of leather was strong and the boots looked as well as any picture from Nick's website. After lacing them up using some other kevlar laces, on they went. They were quite tight but I could move my toes and they weren't exactly uncomfortable. After 5 months and more than 20 wears, they fit like, well they fit like custom boots. I wasn't concerned with the cost but I was concerned with the fit as I've never even seen a pair of Nick's boots in person. The staff nailed the fit even though I thought a full size smaller than my dress shoes could possibly be correct. Well, the staff know their boot fit. These things are heavy when you pick them up but don't feel heavy on my feet.



I may just buy a pair of Officer's boots while they're on sale.