Whites or Nicks?

[quadrafire]

I am seriously looking at some custom fit work boots. Anyone have any experience with these  spokane companies?

[beagledog]

Ive got two pairs of whites never tried nicks. Either way do yourself a favor and go in and have them measured at the stores.it is a lot of money to spend if you don't have them fitted

[Fishing Fool]

Hey Quad, for what it's worth, I've been allowed to walk, unassisted, since 1969, courtesy of Whites Boots. Both lower legs, ankles, feet, "rearanged'", in 67, made to measure Whites have allowed me to walk without canes/ crutches. If you go to Whites, Mr Bob Putt will take good care of you. As an aside, my last trip to spokane, I stopped in at Nicks Boots, I was very impressed with their whole program, make the customer happy. Made-to-measure, either store, you will be amazed. Good luck.

[Bshiftbc]

I have a set of Whites I wear for wildfires and love them. In the wildland firefighting community it would probably be a toss up...
You can't go wrong.

[spookgus]

No experience with Nick's but I love my White's. Although when I first got my White's I couldn't wait for the end of the shift to take them off. After a couple of weeks they became my favorite boots.

[go4itlab]

whites 

[boonerboy]

maybe check out Hoffmans also. Not Spokane but I hear they are the bees knees.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I believe nick used to work at whites and I hear he has top quality stuff.  I had the same pair of whites for 10 years, rebuilt a few times, but I wouldnt hesitate to try nicks as well.  I might if these whites I have ever wear out

[high country]

I have multiple pairs of whites, nicks and hoffmans. Hoffmans are the ticket if you are working in hooks, but are slightly heavier and lower quality leather (their pacs are top of the class) in the work boots. Between nicks and whites, I feel my nicks have better leather, but I just had whites rebuild another pair.....so I support them both. I would and do work in both happily.

[quadrafire]

Hey all, thanks for the replies. I will check into both a little more.
High Country, what do mean by hooks?

[Doublelunger]

I have a lot of experience with both.  I have been a wildland firefighter for 11 years.  7 of which have been on a hotshot crew, which means we put our boots through more than most.  My first pair of boots ever was a pair of whites, and they were awesome. my next two pairs were both whites and the quality went down significantly with each pair.  The last pair was horrible. They had several manufacturer defects, when I brought this to white's attention they basically told me tough sh1t.  Its a general consensus among everyone that I work with(guys that know their boots) that whites boots are not what they used to be, their product and customer service has gone downhill a lot in the last few years.  I would strongly recommend not getting whites!

The last boots I bought were a pair of Nick's, they are awesome.  They've held up way better than any pair of whites I've ever owned. They broke in super fast.  I've never had a blister or even a hot spot since the first day that I put them on.  Everyone I know who has tried Nick's has loved them.  A lot of the guys I work with have switched from whites to Nick's.  They're not cheap though, mine cost me $500.  Its seems pretty steep but if you really need to take care of your feet then their is no question about it. Go with Nick's.

[runningboard]

I am a former wildland firefighter, was a Hotshot sawyer for 5 years out of 15, had both and prefer White's. I know the owner of Nick's was a former employee of White's who got out when they started to cheapen their quality, but I believe they got it back on track.
My Nick's had several problems, 1st they didn't fit, even though I sat in their shop & was measured, 2nd they rebuilt 'em no charge because of the guy who measured me being a goof, 3rd they came apart due to glue that had frozen (their claim) 4th they rebuilt again for 1/2 cost but again didn't fit, I got disgusted & didn't take care of 'em, wore them out & tossed 'em. went back to white's and still happy.
probably icing on the cake for me was my company getting Nick's on as a vendor then coming to an employee discount fair & the owner of Nick's claiming that none of what I experienced ever happened. kinda soured me.
many swear they're better than White's but I don't. good luck

[high country]

quad, "hooks" is a term used by linemen for the spurs. hoffmans have way tougher halfslip (bottom leather/shank)

I saw the same thing as doublelunger, whites were king....then they bought all the competition (buffalo, hathorn) and started saving money. things went downhill big time when they tried to become the mini cabelas and sell fishing and hunting stuff. they have turned it around.....but things happen. the last pair I sent in for a rebuild they did not get right till the third try and I was getting worried that my uppers would be garbage before they got it right. in the end they treated me right and the leather used is much better than that from the late 90's. I still feel nicks gets the nod for leather quality......but either will make you happy as long as you get a good fit. be warned, the first few days in a new pair are kinda rough....but after that, you are ruined.

the story on nicks that was told to me by gary at nicks is they did work for whites way back in the 70's or 80's. they used to have a shop on sprague back around 1985 so I know they have been building at least that long.

[Biggerhammer]

I have only worn Whites so I can't speak for the others as a work boots. I just had mine rebuilt for the 2nd time. I do know one thing, they are great for work but suck when it comes to packing out a elk, by the end of my third trip. I felt like I had concrete strapped to my feet, HEAVY!

[firefighter4607]

I love my Whites!!!! I need to send them in to get rebuilt after 5 years of wildland, ranch, and pavement wear and tear. If you get Whites the best way to break them in is soak them in water then wear all day til they dry that was the way myself and half the other people whom I knew broke them in.