BuilderPro® - Classic Arch

My first, my last, my everything. Fit like a glove from day one.

I bought the standard 10 inch Builder Pro with rough out lowers and smooth uppers. The fit process went smoothly and the boots were perfect out of the box. Yes, the break in is lenghty...get over it. The leather is 7 to 8 oz. At first they will feel like a ski boot, but not for long. If you want to break them in, wear them....a lot. You have a hot spot? Pinky toes hurt or the ball of your big toe? No problem. Rub the leather with a little water/alcohol mix and then stretch the leather from the inside with a smooth rounded wooden dowel. Put the boots back on and you're good to go. You may have to do this more than once. I have had these boots now for a year and a half. I'm telling you they just get better and better. It's like the break in has reached a whole new level of comfort. I have high arches and I've never had a boot or shoe that supported them properly until now. The money you spend on a boot like this is more an investment than an expense. You are not just buying a great boot, you're also getting great customer service and I'm not sure you can put a value on that. At the end of the day when your feet don't hurt and your back feels great you'll wonder why you waited so long to buy a pair of Nicks boots. I've just ordered a custom pair of 8 inch Roberts in the 1964 brown leather as my go to dress boot. I can't wait to open THAT box. If you are still trying to decide to invest in custom boots from Nicks, trust me.......just do it!

I bought the standard Builder Pros 10 inch with roughout lowers and smooth uppers. The fit process went smoothly and the boots were perfect out of the box. Yes, the break in is lengthy....get over it. They are 7 to 8 oz leather. At first it will feel like a ski boot, but not for long. If you want to break them in, wear them...a lot. You have a hot spot? Pinky toes hurt or maybe the ball of your big toe? No problem. Rub the leather inside and out with a little water/alcohol mix and then stretch the leather out with a smooth rounded wooden dowel. Put the boots back on and you're good to go. You may have to do this more than once. I have had these boots now for a year and a half. I'm telling you they just get better and better. It's like the break in has reached a new level. I have high arches and I've never had a boot or shoe that supported them properly until now. The money you spend on these boots are more of an investment than just an expense. At the end of the day when your feet don't hurt and your back feels great you'll wonder why you waited so long to buy Nicks boots. I've just ordered a pair of custom 8 inch Roberts in the 1964 brown leather as my go to dress boot. I can't wait to open that box. If you are still trying to decide whether you should invest in custom boots from Nicks, trust me.......just do it.

Absolutely the best piece of footwear I've ever worn. Deciding exactly what features to choose took awhile, and I originally bought these for working in a supermarket pushing carts and stocking shelves. The floors there are concrete and I was having difficulties with other types of shoes and boots. I have virtually zero foot pain/fatigue after working full shifts and much walking, lifting, etc. These boots are extremely versatile for outdoor and indoor, summer and winter. Also, the leather is gorgeous and takes dyes and polishes well. Mine I shined them up so that they would look nice when I was cashiering or doing customer service.



Because of my abnormal measurements, I needed custom uppers, and the staff was very responsive and accomodating. I originally ordered a ranger after being suggested it, but then changed to a higher arch boot despite being told elsewhere that I am somewhat flat footed. I had to have several try on boots shipped out. When I finally received the finished boots, I was concerned that they were too long and too wide. ( I measure at a 12b on the plate and that is the size we picked also). Because of the pain around my ankle bones I worried that the uppers were cut incorrectly also. Then after about 50 hours of use, and spraying with alcohol the leather began to crease and shrink and I then thought they were too narrow especially in the toes. Now after they are fully broken in months later I see that they are exactly the right size. The heavy leather takes a long time to adjust, but it formed very well to my foot. I really couldn't imagine a better fitting boot. I originally ordered the honey lug soles, which I disliked because of the look and feel, and had to send them back to get black lugs put on. I noticed that with these boots, they began to correct foot problems I was having because I was placing too much weight to the inside of the foot ball. Now I tend to distribute more weight at the outside of the ball, and the arches in my foot have began to change with this. They continue to be very durable and beautiful.



My only regrets are that I might have ordered a 12" height instead of a 10" for a workboot. Originally I would have saved myself the trouble of dying the boots and just ordering them in smooth black, which I believe is the most versatile color for working in a city. Also I regret that I likely gave Nick's staff a headache (and probably still do) with my picky orders, but hey in the long run it will be worth it.

A super boot in my opinion, and well worth its price. I would likely be willing to pay more, but don't tell that to Nick. All components are replaceable if you are able to get them back to the shop. Also I would recommend getting your own dye from Fiebing's because the dressing which is put on the midsole and heelblock tends to rub off quickly in rain and snow. This is virtually the only flaw I am aware of.



I sincerely hope this type of business is able to stay afloat in this market, and especially because I and others will continue to require custom boots. I will likely return here to buy more boots and will be recommending them to others. A thank you to Nick's staff and all others who make this thing possible.