The 3 Tiers of Heritage Boots

[@Bootlosophy]

Terrific analysis William. And I really like the introduction of Truman as mid-Tier, totally agree

[@scottc77]

I agree I’d love to get a pair of Truman’s for weekends but I don’t except them to be as well built as my whites and franks that I wear to work

[@The_Zilli]

I think the number 1 reason that you should upgrade your boots (and shoes) to more expensive versions is oddly, for health reasons. If you're on your feet all day long, you want something that wont cause you have lower body problems down the road. Take it from me, as someone who walks everywhere and doesnt drive, bad boots and shoes really start to wear on your body after a while. Be smart, go online shopping and snag a deal of something that your body will thank you for.

[@megannason3649]

I was on my feet for years and am now driving truck but you are exactly right! When your feet hurt then your knees, hips, and back hurts. Shoes/boots are definitely that one thing you need to spend money on.

[@The_Zilli]

@@megannason3649 was told at a young age, mattress and shoes you should always invest in. Almost 50 years later, starting to take that advice - hey, life aint cheap ;) Take care bud.

[@joewellfair8238]

This is true but even blundstones, in the first category he spoke of, have plenty of support, room and cushioning to support good health.

[@庄大霸]

You might as well get a pair of sneaker😂

[@The_Zilli]

@@庄大霸 great point

[@FlatcapHobbit]

Currently in a pair of Thursday Captains and honestly they’re really good boots. Actually took them on a few hikes in Washington and Oregon and they molded to my feet and kept any fatigue away. Also, they don’t look banged up even though I was not kind to them. I’d really like to upgrade to Iron Rangers someday but Thursday has two advantages, availability-Iron Rangers aren’t always listed in my size- and price. Thursdays were already a bit of an investment for me, the Iron Rangers will take some time as my money’s needed elsewhere.

[@Tyradius]

Spend that money getting your Thursdays resold with thick veg tanned leather insoles, cork padding with midsoles and vibram outsoles. In the end you'll have better boots than red wing more like nicks or jk. This is the advantage of Thursdays, their boots have cheap materials for the footbed but they can be resold. So a $200 boot becomes a $600 after the upgrades, but you're not spending the money all at once.

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

@@Tyradiusbad advice

[@WetWiIIy]

​@@TyradiusYeah the rubber outsoles that Thursday uses are rather soft. The tips of both of my Captains have chipped off. Not meant to be rugged, as far as I am aware.

[@cjk5115]

Very enjoyable and informative video. I think you need a nice job breaking down the tiers and fleshing out the differences in each. Having once been a Timberland guy, I became very disenchanted with them about six or seven years ago when they're prices kept climbing and the dip in quality was obvious. I got my first two pairs of Red Wings about four years ago and, as you said, you feel the difference the instant you put on the boot. Ten pairs later, I'm definitely a Red Wing guy, although I have a pair of Thursday sneakers and am contemplating their wingtip boot. Like another poster commented, boots are very addicting.

[@BootSpy]

Yes they are!

[@luiselapostolfeliz2421]

​@@BootSpyWilliam, will you do a review of Docker's Ransom boots? What is the best boots?

[@short2048]

I think this is an appropriate time to quote Terry Pratchett; "The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles. But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet." Terry Pratchett, Men at Arms: The Play

[@Corson607]

This is an absolutely amazing video. Clearly gave pros and cons of staying or upgrading. Super educational. Love it

[@BootSpy]

best comment ever - I'm pumped you found it helpful!

[@Jackson-T23]

Reasons to stay at tier 0. If you enjoy buying brand new boots every year. Ummmm.....I would be willing to bet the higher end buyers buy more boots every year than the Tier 0 guys.

[@kylemazur1447]

The higher tier guys enjoy the pain that comes with a break in 😂 They’ll break in a pair of boots and as soon as they are starting the get comfortable they will buy a new pair to break in 😂

[@twitchydom8689]

I had a pair of red wings last me 5 years working as an ironworker.. very hard job on boots

[@chevy4x466]

I had a pair of timbos that were decent. But they didn’t last. Looked shitty second season. Not worth the price.

[@CharlesNeuer]

A very good analysis, I think. Unfortunately, I did miss some of the best boots out there: English boots such as Cheaney, Trickers, etc.

[@freedomvan2970]

"DESIGN CENTRIC" is great way of putting great it. It's not a bad thing, it's a choice when adding to a collection. I myself am saving for a certain piece above the Longines budget but still hope to have a Heritage Sector in my future.

[@macstmanj3]

I am extremely hard on footwear, I wear through the soles of converse in about 4-6 months. I got a pair of Thursday's with the storm king lug sole and wore them every single day for over a year. I've gone hiking in them, shoveling snow, just general everyday life, and the soles are worn. But I've got at least another year before I need to re-sole them. For $200, that's a pretty good lifecycle cost that only gets better with re-soling

[@Vultain]

Awesome! Thanks for the video and I am definitely at Tier 3+ now. I own tier 2 dominantly though. Another Tier 2.5 might be Oak Street. Also, their bench made line that are made out of stiffer leathers(not Chrome Excel) due tend to fit my feet true to size. Definitely agree with you that CXL is a half size down though. I have stepped into Tier 4. Frank's for in store customers will offer bespoke if your feet are really screwed up. Go me! Assuming you want a PNW boot maker definitely a way to go. I think they only offer it for those who truly need it though. My Frank's I had built were that way, I ordered the leather myself, was hand measured by Frank himself and ended up with the best fitting boots in my life. Then again with an overall C volume, a 9.5 ball size, 11 left foot and 11.5 on the right, odd shape C volume feet where the inside of your feet curve inward and the outside curve in a C shape, 10.5 waist, and an ankle of a size 16. Not to mention calfs with extremely varying sizes going up, bespoke is probably the way I should always go. Congratulations to those who have Goldilocks feet though. Also I have been a fan of your content since long ago. I always appreciate using your videos as podcasts commuting.

[@Shdzbj3mb]

I love my Redwing Blacksmiths and want a Viberg lol so you nailed it on that one. 😂

[@ponicsgt]

Just watched this video and was wondering why OSBM wasn’t listed.

[@tumbleweedconnection7906]

Love Thursday boots. Have 2 pairs of cadets and a pair of low top sneakers and just got a pair of presidents in the rugged and resilient saddlewood color. They fit great and look so sharp. I'm sure there will be more Thursdays in my future lol.

[@BootSpy]

Sounds like you’ve got a nice collection building!

[@tumbleweedconnection7906]

@@BootSpy learning that buying boots can get a little addictive

[@boots_4_me]

You should look into Grant Stone’s. They are a few steps above Thursday’s. I have 3 pairs of Thursday’s, a pair of Beckett Simonon, and 5 pairs of Grant Stone’s. My first pair was the black CXL captains, then the loggers in cacao, and finally the shadow grey suede Cavs. I have a pair of Elliott Balmoral’s for formal occasions. Followed by a pair of crimson CXL Ottawa’s, dune diesel’s, black CXL Diesel’s and Ottawa’s, then finally the midnight suede Ottawa’s. I found GS while searching for boots that were above Thursday’s and I really wanted a pair of Norwegian split toed boot like the Tankers from Alden and I stumbled upon the Ottawa’s which almost looked exactly a like the Tankers. Then I found the Diesel’s and I fell in love with them but I also ended up going back to get more of the Ottawa’s because they are my favorite style of all time. You should check them out. I bet you money that if you go to GS’s you will never want to go back to your Thursdays. Grant Stone has mostly storm welts and makes the boots much more waterproof. They are also much better boots and will last you much longer than Thursday’s. GS’s are of better quality than Alden’s. It’s 100% leather whereas Alden’s use leather board. They are better than Alden’s but cost half the cost. Good luck!

[@kosta2177]

@@tumbleweedconnection7906especially when you follow a few guys on the KZbin and aware of deals and discounts that happen from time to time. I just wanted to buy something slightly better than my timberlands (which I actually liked) but somehow in just two years ended up with Trumans, Whites, two Grant Stones, Allen Edmonds and Iron Rangers 😅

[@Hrangue]

My go-tos are Taft Dragon 2.0 (3yrs), Taft Jack MTO (new), and Wolverine 1000 Mile Russell Gentry (13 yrs).

[@jacielsalgado4172]

For me my tier 0 boot that was my gateway drug to the bootworld was the Timberland greydon boot in brown. I wore them through two years in highschool and even took them to work building and repairing garage doors to this day three years since I bought them. To this day they don't look like they'll fail anytime soon and i thank them for giving me a chronic addiction to Thursday boots (I'm already at my fourth pair in less than a year).

[@SneakyMezz]

Living in Europe and being fan of rugged style boots it's quite difficult. I found very limited, lots of dressy option :( Berwick, Loake and finally Meermin which I went for. Great stuff for price and MTO program!

[@chrishildreth9239]

There's a lot of focus on American makers online, but there are really great makers in Europe! I really love Tricker's country line of boots, they have some wonderful rugged offerings. Pricey but their outlet store has great deals. I have a pair of William Lennon PTBs, William Lennon is a really unique heritage maker that makes really rugged boots. Oh another one I know of us Urban Shepard, Portuguese maker that makes rugged styles.

[@someoneusedtobe6655]

@@chrishildreth9239 thanks. I looked on Urban Shepard boots. They look nice. I'm newby into this.

[@gary8306]

​@@chrishildreth9239Chesney military style boots are nice, also Aero leathers do so fantastic footwear.

[@sunnyrachelsson3169]

Ive had my blundstones for 6 years and they are holding up great but its time to upgrade to a better pair of Chelsea's what would you recommend?

[@sunnyrachelsson3169]

@meiko_kaji ill have to check those out i was thinking maybe rm williams or the grant stone ones as well

[@hankhillsnrrwurethra]

I'm working with Junkard from Indonesia on a pair now. My 60th birthday gift to myself. These are literally 'rest of my life' boots so I hope they fit, lol. Re: thrill of the chase, today I got an email "We're doing the hand stitchdown now, should ship next week" just gives me a chill and makes me go Homer drool. Is that what you mean?

[@bjjrhino]

My first pair of Trumans boots arrived today, they are amazing thank you for bring this brand of boots to attention

[@SlickSlack4pac]

Great choice! How long did it take you to break in your Trumans? I just received my pair of black waxed flesh a few days ago. Man, these Trumans are built like a tank.

[@bjjrhino]

@@SlickSlack4pac Well done hopefully you got them on sale. It took me a month to break in. So much easier then my red wings which took about 3 months.

[@AutoReflexAR]

Bootspy, truly this is an extensive explanation on boots. My biggest concern is what type of jeans I should get? I ordered two pairs of Nicks, two of Whites, one Russell Mocs, one Solovair, and a pair of Redwings Heritage purely based off of this video and a few others that Rose Anvil has up. I expect them all within the month but, I do not own a single pair of jeans AT ALL. I have like 12 pairs of khakis that I cycle through however, it's safe to say that none of them would go with a boot of any variety. TLDR; What jeans brands and/or types would you recommend?

[@ianbrinkley5968]

I bought some redwings for work, and I like them so much that I decided I want some heritage boots, never had shoes as comfy as my work boots are and I really like how they get comfier the longer you wear them and get that patina

[@berndr4650]

I have 2 pairs of vibergs (service boot and trench boot) - frankly they are a tank and sometimes I am asking myself whether the boot is not wearing me rather me wearing the boots. Overall impressive peaces. However if I look what I am actually wearing - Red Wing is the winner. I have a couple of iron rangers and a couple of moc toes - easy to put on and wear. To 90% they are on my feet. And the rough out versions are my favorites. I am in Europe and like the British style as well - so some Trickers are a good option (they fall in the top of the top layer) - and I think the craftsmanship is the best you can get - if you like the more sophisticated style.

[@cjanquart]

While I'd like a pair of Vibergs, it's really the expense that's stopping me, but the construction looks bullet-proof as well. Your perspective of "whether the boot is not wearing me rather me wearing the boots" is spot on. Still, I'd still like a pair for my rotation.

[@gordonfreeman4491]

Great idea to mention WHY you should update, really interesting to hear about your thoughts.

[@tucki666]

My blunnies are pretty tough, nothing to complain about, same with MIE docs. Might upgrade to a pair of red wing blacksmith cos the docs seem a little clunky

[@jieelyuu]

Thanks for the info. Your jacket looks really nice too. Can you share where you got it? Thanks!

[@davidbarnes7711]

Thursday Vanguard boots stand well above the other boots offered by Thursday boots. They feel close to my Truman boots but far less costly- too bad they are not offered in a wider variety of leathers.

[@jameslarue2878]

A sharp overview of the choices. You show a lot of smart picks. Thanks.

[@olegilena]

Thank you for your work William! Your videos opened up “Boots world” for me! Keep it up!

[@illcodino]

Great video, becket simonon is 1.5 Remember small batch, stock becket $300 or $350. I’m in tier 2 red wigs, Wolverine 1000

[@kisstheforest2463]

I bought a pair of used Marlboro boots which were bought in 2008. They look like World War II shoes. Build like a tank and a very good sole. I put some new arch supports in it and now they are running smoothly.

[@Heimdall-hb5it]

Searching for a Chelsea Boot currently. I have very special feet. The Iron Ranger fits in 11.5 but I was not able to find a Chelsea yet (the Red Wing are not available in Europe currently)

[@NijeBitno72]

Not just Indonesian, Japanese bootmakers have some of the most exclusive and bespoke options for boot connoiseurs :)

[@Coleone139]

Funny you chose to mention Indonesian, as a hardcore heritage boot head that’s where I went. It was just the most sensible. Obviously there’s a ton of brands in China, Japan, etc. You’ve probably seen my Sagara, got a killer Boondocker from them and it didn’t crush my bank account lol. I definitely recommend them if you can find your vibe 😎💯

[@MRIVERA4396]

The problem people need to be careful with Indonesian boots is getting your measurements right! Having to send boots back to Indonesia is a nightmare between the cost and waiting for it to get through their customs. Also I think their local leathers not as good quality as US leather

[@Kingfisher1215]

“Find my vibe”? Spoken like someone who wears boots on their weekly pub crawl.

[@Chiller11]

@@Kingfisher1215Good boots are critical for consistent pub crawling. The vamps wear considerably on the crawl home and are a common point of failure. Furthermore high quality lace hooks are a requirement as you will be incapable of untying a knot upon your arrival at home plus god knows what you’ve encountered to get there. In that vein a fully gusseted tongue is an absolute must to keep the urine and vomit (at the very least) you’ve crawled through, some of it your own some not, from getting into the boot. As you can see I believe you’ve totally underestimated the durability and attention to detail that is required of pub crawl footwear.

[@jeremyszekeres2327]

what jacket are you wearing if you dont mind me asking, looks really nice

[@BootSpy]

It’s flint and tinder waxed jacket. I have a link in the description

[@chadgraber4575]

Hoped to see Whites and Oak Street included here. Good vid as usual, man.

[@alexschultz4714]

If you want to dip your toe in the custom boots without going one on one with someone halfway across the world look up Frank's boots. They have all kinds of cool leathers and a fair number of boot styles plus if you go to the shop they will measure you and make a custom last if needed.

[@CatTurd01]

Did you cover Allen Edmonds or did I miss that?

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

No, they suck

[@sschon31]

No mention of White's boots?

[@kitsadventures1321]

No Alden Indy?

[@nickmccaslin1]

plz send link for 100-150$ blundstones

[@cjanquart]

I'm an "advanced beginner:: Captain and Stomper from Thursday, Dowler from Beckett Simonon (as well as a Silva on order/construction), 300X from JK and Tactical from Nicks. My favorite/go-to are my Nicks because they're my work boots (security guard) and while the wait and lack of communication were not fun, they boots themselves are amazing. Least favorite are the 300Xs because the leather wasn't quite right and they had some heel slip, which was solved by wearing thicker socks before I found a thin insole that once I cut it to size worked fine; they are good about responding to emails (and I got a bunch of thumb's down responses to my 3-star review on them). Eventually I'd like to get some Grant Stones (Brass or Field and Diesel), Viberg (service boot, because Viberg), and finally for some bespoke boots Caswell (Garrett) and Schmitt's (bootmaker in Wyoming; his service boot and I really appreciate his sizing). JK has quite a few options for their custom line but then again you have a long lead time like Nicks but you can get them "expedited" for an extra $100; that said my dream Forefront in black bison with black hardware and black Christy sole would be $700 (more than my Nicks). At least this hobby has the benefit of purchasing durable goods. 😆

[@BuenoReviews]

Love your videos, dude! Still waiting for you to cave and get a pair of Whites MP service boots. They’re my all time favorite.

[@edwinmondragon3762]

I love my whites and redwings, but spend most days, especially serious work days in affordable running or skate shoes. Running are great for high mileage but the skate shoes are the best for climbing on equipment or working on cuttered job sites.

[@jimmieshrem953]

what brand and colorway boot are you wearing at 3:10 with the olive green pants?

[@DMorgan77]

This was very well done, William. Great video

[@chasingepicmtb]

What do think about the Tom’s Navi TRVL Lite Ranger Tan Water Resistant Boot?

[@timothylynch937]

Where do you put trickers

[@rc3398x]

Where would you rank Alden, The Real McCoy's, White Cloud?

[@DaLoopDiggerz]

Well timberlands premium 6inch here in europe cost 220€, and i'm seeing $198 on the us shop, that is very expensive for a tier 0 boot that you replace every year.

[@patohara175]

Yup, it would be if they didn’t last, Timberlands are not tier zero for durability at all. If you take care of them, they last for years. It’s a very durable brand

[@rastislavstanik]

I love truman boots, got 4 boots and derbies from them..super solid and proper GYW

[@SilkStorm_101]

I wouldn't say that Truman are better made than Parkhurst or Grant Stone (about the same) Its their leather choices that have distinguished them over the years. If you are starting out then thursdays are a good choice, and red wing are also a good starting point for the next level up since everyone seems to have a sizing comparison to red wings on their sites, and Red Wing have plenty of stores to visit and try them on, since a lot of brands are online order only. Also these prices are from a US point of view, and prices may vary depending on your country, e.g. In the UK we pay 30% import tax, so brands that sell in the UK are cheaper here than brands that don't e.g RM Williams are cheaper here than importing Grant Stone.

[@Mr_Ja3]

I just picked up a pair of Thursday Diplomats in AA. I have 3 pairs Dayton Boots(West Coast Canadian legacy brand), 1st pair I bought in highscool 29 years ago, they're still going strong! I resoled them 3 times already. I wore these religiously all throughout highschool, and post highschool. I picked up 2 more pairs, probably 8-10 years ago, but didn’t want to put my feet through the dreaded breakin period. I've been stuck in the sneaker era, but want to step back into boots but not the crazy breakin periods. I have a feeling I'm going to break back into boots. 😂 *My next pair will be Japanese or Indonesian!

[@josephburton3232]

What jacket are you wearing in this video?

[@markopolo9936]

White cloud, Kreosote, John lofgren and Role club on tier 4 too, if only I had that amount of money to blow on boots 😂

[@uncannyfox]

What width and size did you go with on the JK boots? I got a pair last year, and I selected what they said was "Average Width" and they were way too wide. I immediately noticed it when I pulled them out of the box and my foot was swimming in them when I put them on. I've heard that they recently revamped their sizing because of that issue, that's why I'm curious what size and width you went with, because yours don't look too wide. Btw I am also a 10.5 on the brannock device.

[@TR_1923]

You missed my primary reason for moving to tier 3. Nobody in tiers 1 & 2 make a boot in my size. After years of suffering in boots that are to narrow I finally broke down and bought a pair of Nick's. First pair of decent leather boots in my life that truly fit.

[@WaltBellona]

I never had that experience buying that many boots nice boots and that good for all you folk👍

[@ReapersKnivesandMore]

Thursday were my first "High end" pair of Boots and I'm loving them! they're the Diplomat moc toes.

[@ReapersKnivesandMore]

​@@whereRbearsTeeth Well yes they're definitely not PNW boots, But they we're the first pair i spent over $100 over, Should i put high quality instead of High end, Yes.

[@ReapersKnivesandMore]

@@whereRbearsTeeth Alright, I've never owned or wore a boot over 250. So what you what would you call high quality?

[@JK8]

Def not high end

[@andrewrife6253]

Did he call converse hightops boots?.... aside from that, i have no issues with the video. Id say iron rangers are one of tour best options for a first time "nice boots" purchase. They are well known enough to be taken seriously, well built enough to hold up, comfortable enough to be worn regularly, and versatile enough to be worn in a variety of applications. You can shine them up and wear them for dressier occasions or you can wear them while doing work that doesnt necessitate a safety toe. Rose anvil is another channel to check out in regards to deep dives in shoe and boot construction if you are new and want to know what each material type or construction style actually means and how it will affect the feel and life of your shoes. It gives a really good visual to know where your money actually goes when you pay up for more expensive footwear.

[@bluesman3794]

You didn’t mention Russell Moccasin Co. very high quality boots.

[@ajepsen9392]

Do you have any opinion, good or bad about Russell Moccasin boots ?

[@BootSpy]

My only opinion at the moment is that I’d like to try them. I can see camping in their Moc boots.

[@petetroglodyte1860]

blundstones for $150? what? where do you get that

[@Trex100]

I have stayed in tier 2 for a long time. I guess if I was a logger, or lived in a shack in the woods I’d need on of those hefty boots. I think at this point, I would be more inclined to buy one of the tier 3 city boots that doesn’t look rugged at all, but is insanely well-made.

[@Ikari777]

Check out custom Indonesian boots! I have several. Tahura are amazing and you get some amazing amazing stuff and you choose EVERY single detail. Construction, leather, soles, Midsole(s), stitching color, hardware, and they make them based on tracings and foot measurements.

[@Trex100]

@@Ikari777 Interesting. I wanted to find out about Tahura, but they don't have a website. How did you order from them?

[@javzee2315]

I want to get into some real boots but…….. I have been wearing Lems daily for the last 8 years. I don’t know if I can go back to normal narrow Toe box boots.

[@dcstiger]

Check out Oak Street Boots. The Elston last that they use on their trench and field boots has a very wide toe box. I have a couple pairs that use the Elston and they are extremely comfortable.

[@andrewreisinger6860]

Bed-stu Protégé is also a great tier 2 boot.

[@bettercall_ayush]

Hey man I was thinking to buy Red Wings Blacksmith 6inch boots as my 1st pair, i wanna know if it's worth it

[@thedirtygot9570]

I love mine, got the black prairie! I think I like them better than my iron rangers! Cleaner look!

[@azkarusydan6039]

I'm not from the states, but $150 for a boots that last a year is mindboggling... 3-5 years maybe, but 1 year is wild

[@davestevens4193]

Nice video. Another reason for Tier 4 is if you are hard to fit.

[@MrSloika]

Why no Allen Edmonds or Alden?

[@JRRob3wn]

I don’t think he intended to give a comprehensive list of every single boot brand on the planet, just a high level intro for newbies.

[@auggieheschmeyer7333]

I would add Oak Street Bootmakers to Tier 2.5

[@ProductionsFromBeyon]

I’ve been living in “tier one” for the last few years and enjoyed it. But I’ve had an increase in employment and I want to move to tier two.

[@any4003]

What about JK 300X?

[@Kingfisher1215]

I predict Parkhurst will be a casualty as soon as the hipster boot thing ends. Plus any other brands that just sell fashion boots, hello Truman? Grant Stone will be fine, they sell dress shoes and continue to evolve. Redwing and the PacNW have their core work buyers.

[@XiaNingTian]

I don't buy Converse because they're cheap. I buy Converse so I can have lighter shoes when I'm at a friend's house or if I'm traveling. Otherwise I wear my Aldens and Grant Stones. I tried Thursday. They're great for starting out, but they're just not built for my personal needs as I had two pairs fall apart after about two years.

[@spbeckman]

Every time I see a video from this channel I think, "I wonder what people do in these boots?" I mean, the people that need quality boots, e.g., men in construction, ranching, or forestry, do they have a dozen different $500 boots to chose from in the morning?

[@dcstiger]

Some of them actually get used for real work. Some of them probably never leave pavement and are worn purely for aesthetics. Ideally you would want a 2 pair rotation for work. PNW boots are built like tanks and you could wear them for years every day with zero problems. Plus they can be fully rebuilt. However if you let them rest every other day it will greatly increase their longevity. A day of rest allows the leather to dry fully. The outsole will also get a lot less wear and tear over the course of a year.

[@xThemadpoet]

I think you miss out on one of the real reasons you may end up in tier 3 right from the start - if you have wide feet or very narrow feet tier 3 is the only place to go. Most boot makers just don't have much options in terms of size - Red Wing for example has 'Medium' and 'Wide' - no sizes under 6 or over 14 - medium and wide aren't even real sizes (for reference I believe they translate to a D or E) - just the most common foot size and if you are outside of that - tough - and that's most boots these days - they setup the machines to make these and don't want to invest in running any of the odd sizes as it's not profitable enough. Where with Nick's you can get what you need - including (for extra cost mind) mismatched feet (people have this) and ankle/shaft sizes that are much narrower or larger than the foot size for those with big feet but skinnny legs or vice versa - the cost is much more - but getting boots that actually fit is such a joy.

[@KevinKuzo]

It’s hard to talk about heritage footwear without at least mentioning Alden and the “Indy” boot. Many leathers and styles across the whole Alden line.

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

Alden Indy is a massively overpriced boot for what it is. It’s built like a $200-$300 boot.

[@christopherhomer3937]

What is the jacket your are wearing? Flint and Tinder trucker? Is that Forest or Moss coloured?

[@Ikari777]

Then the Grail God-Tier boots like White Kloud!

[@ahill209]

I'm rather surprised you didn't mention White's Boots, which are considered top end by many who desire tough, well-made working boots. Especially for forest fire service. Same logic about Thorogoods, which are US made, almost no break-in, and less than $300/pair.

[@whereRbearsTeeth]

Nicks > whites and redwing > Thorogood. That’s probably why

[@mattgriser]

The Converse aren't boots tho, don't understand why they're included.

[@rudepickle2665]

My first jump into better quality footwear came from playing Red Dead Redemption 2 lmao 🤣 the wingtips in that video game inspired me to find a decent pair irl and I ended up w some Thursday’s haha recently bought my first Red Wing Iron Rangers and I’ll never buy cheap shoes again. Why waste $100 a year on garbage? Throw in another $100 and you’ll have something you can keep for many years to come. Spend even more and have a pair of boots for the rest of your life

[@hackn3y199]

franks and drews sell $600+ boots for ~$350, also whites

[@RMS12.2]

I wear Red wings and I will say aside from my New Balance they are more comfortable than any other sneaker I wear.

[@tonymoore2100]

Those Converse high-tops aren't what I'd call boots 😄

[@closinginonclosure]

You're categorizing Converse as "boots"? Aren't they high top sneakers originally designed for basketball? My Chuck 70s even have the "player name" box to write your name just like the originals did. I wouldn't consider them boots.

[@Jebro439]

Great breakdown . I'll stick with T1

[@dennisclanton5342]

John Lofgren, and at mid 600s MIYAGI KOGYO

[@paulhopkins1905]

In what world is a Convers Allstar a boot?

[@DanielJohnson-ec8rk]

Feeling my boots “snap” onto my foot is what I absolutely have to have

[@robertvazquez7806]

I think grant stone is better than Truman and you didn't mention White's boots. What's up?

[@Pshen2p]

Brand new pair every year haha....what do you do when you buy every month or so...Clinch?

[@hunger993]

Also tier 2 you get Made in the USA

[@zachattack-b6t]

I disagree on the vinbergs. I even have the cordovan that were almost 2k. I think the parkhurst and grant stone are similar. Nicks are cheaper and better in my opinion. Service boots are a commodity when everyone is using the same horween leather. My experience says don’t get viberg. Look at grant stone, parkhurst and def NICKS. I also like the red wings. Just my experience

[@johnsambo9379]

Thank you!

[@miclovin9927]

I'm in the two category.

[@patohara175]

You make very detailed content, I like all your vids; but, Timberland is nowhere tier zero for quality! I had a pair of leather Timbs from high school in the late 90’s that lasted until around 2012 before they needed new soles. The uppers showed zero signs of breaking down. Recently, I’ve had a pair of their hiking boots for the last 8 years I’ve taken all over the cascade mountains on hikes and backpacking trips and wear as daily drivers that show zero signs of breaking down. There’s no way you own a pair of Timberlands and think to yourself “I’m gonna have to replace these in a year.” In my experience, they last for easily a decade or more if you take care of them! 🤙🏼😎

[@deepstarsix]

Cool... here's my tier list: Tier 0: Unknown brands, sub $100 variety etc. Might last 6 months worth of heavy wear. Tier 1: I would actually put Blundstone and Timberlands as Tier 1, as I think they’re fairly decent cement construction footwear. I have a cobbler in town who resoles Blundstone's, I don’t know what he’s doing, probably sands them down and glues on a new outsole, but either way it tells me that Blundstone uppers have a decent chance of out living their outsoles. Probably 2-3 years + worth of wear. The minimum tier where people actually consider resoling. Tier 2: Thursday. Nuff said. Everyone’s stepping stone boot. The redoubtable sneaker boot. The I finished college, got a job and need to up my foot wear game boot. The I just started watching boot-tubers and don’t know where to start boot. The I should’ve saved up and got a nicer boot, boot. I still have my Captain’s from 2019. Can’t decide whether or not to resole it. The probably not worth resoling category. Tier 2.5: I would put Wolverine 1000 mile, and Red Wings offerings in this category. Although the Iron Ranger and Wolverine do not have a midsole, like Thursday, I still think they’re better construction. Especially the Iron Ranger with it’s super thick leather insole. The maybe worth resoling category? Tier 3: I would put Meermin here. The poor man’s Carmina. As they have veg tan insoles, veg tan midsoles, they use a lot of the same tanneries as Carmina. Solid construction. And I think offer finer finishing then the lower tiers. The starting point where actually resoling your boot is probably worth it. Tier 4: This is where I’d put the bulk of the popular youtuber boots out there. Parkhurst, Grant Stone, Allen Edmonds come to mind. I’d also put Oak Street and Truman in this category as well. They’re notable more money, but I don’t think they’re better than Grant Stones construction or finishing. In fact I would argue Grant Stone leads this category. The definitely worth resoling category. Tier 5 and beyond: Carmina, Alden, Viberg, and many other fancier and custom boots that I either can’t afford or at least can’t justify buying. The category where resoling is practically obligatory.

[@petetroglodyte1860]

Do Visvim

[@whitefreeman5798]

the problem with these boots is that most of them are just shoes that kinda look like boots.. much like new trucks.. they are built to look good not built to work

[@lgroves336]

great video....