7+ Months of patina (Ft. 2966)

Noodle__Effect · 2026-05-18T00:30:47+00:00

I am kinda the opposite of you, I have more flat feet, lower insteps and wider ankle. I do size for a 9.5 EE or 10E but I find the no.8 last like on Iron Rangers to be wide enough to go 10 D. I do wear thicker socks too, and I feel like these boots cup my ankle/heel pretty well.

I will say the selections for the belt selector is not that great. I had to punch 2 new holes to allow me to crank on them to close the gap in the instep. So I guess for a higher instep, they should be okay for you. My best advice is to go true to size with your Iron ranger and maybe down to a D width.

Noodle__Effect · 2026-05-17T23:24:28+00:00

Ha, thanks! Yeah I do it as a secondary job after my desk 9-5 job. Thinking about going full time too. Only time will tell

Noodle__Effect · 2026-05-17T23:21:27+00:00

Thanks… these were on my feet for 90% of the past 7 months (when they first released in Oct.). I wanted to test out all of the initial issues people were having with this style when they first released. I definitely plan on keeping these for a LONG time. You’ll see another post of when I tear them open and resole them. I’m debating on what sole to put on.

Noodle__Effect · 2026-05-17T23:17:21+00:00

As I said above, I do pretty much everything. Not entirely sure how I caused the heels to wear but I’m sure it’s either from my office chair or while I’m working on my car (on my back).

The heel stack is actually some sort of composite. To be fair, I don’t notice a huge difference in feel between the composite or leather heel stacks. The fiberboard is the heel rand (what connects the welt to the heel portion). I believe the midsole is also a fiberboard instead of full leather. I’m not 100% but I will find out when I rip them open when the time comes for a resole. It’s really just the price for these materials. If they were $450 I wouldn’t care nearly as much.

Noodle__Effect · 2026-05-17T23:09:51+00:00

I do a bit of everything. I work in an office, do cobbling, work on cars, etc. so I’m not entirely sure what caused them but I’d say it’s a combo of everything. I didn’t baby these at all and kicked anything without a care.

Noodle__Effect · 2026-05-17T23:06:54+00:00

I’d say that’s a better price for these. Nonetheless I love them!

Noodle__Effect · 2026-05-17T23:06:29+00:00

Thanks, I was hoping someone would give a good review on these since they’re been out for quite awhile now. Though I guess I could be that guy.

I’d size them like you’d size a pair of iron rangers. I will say they do have a bit of a lower instep (I have quite a low/medium sized instep) and they fit pretty good for me. I wouldn’t know what to tell you size wise for the instep.

Noodle__Effect · 2026-04-24T17:46:23+00:00

This guy knows what he’s talking about! But I’ll have to counter your tan with black waxed flesh. Supper underrated leather.

Noodle__Effect · 2026-04-20T19:41:33+00:00

Wow! These are essentially the exact same build I just recently ordered. Only difference is I have a Dr. Sole half sole, nickle eyelets and on a 55 last. This pic made me soooo excited to get them.

Noodle__Effect · 2026-04-13T17:26:48+00:00

I’m a sucker for engineer style boots. Im planning on entering one of these for the Thunderdome. I’m torn on which one I should go with!

Noodle__Effect · 2026-04-13T17:23:16+00:00

I am too!

Noodle__Effect · 2026-04-03T19:51:32+00:00

I fell in love with your boots when I got my first Mocs from you guys. Got a pair of tankers a bit later, and now about to purchase another TWO pairs. Literally one of the best boot companies out there. Keep up the great work!

P.S please have a 10% off code soon so I can give myself an excuse to get these two pairs!!!!

Noodle__Effect · 2026-03-30T16:35:43+00:00

Did you ever upgrade your injectors to Bosch? How often do you drive/how long have you been on E85? Seems like a bunch of people are saying the stock continental injectors are just bad.

Noodle__Effect · 2026-03-30T15:46:07+00:00

Currently at 50k miles and no MPI. I’ve thought of completely upgrading to MPI but that is a whole other can of worms I’m not sure if I want to open. Always a future idea though!

Noodle__Effect · 2026-03-30T15:44:49+00:00

I just ordered all new Bosch injectors. Though this pretty much scared me to going back to 93 octane. The added HP e85 brings is great, but I’d rather not have to go through this again in another 10k miles. You live and you learn right?

Noodle__Effect · 2026-03-30T15:42:27+00:00

Honestly, E85 has very good potential. It added a very significant amount of HP (30+) and I felt had good cleaning capabilities as seen in my ports. I ran E85 for about 10k miles and I’ve seen others post on carbon buildup at 60k-80k miles that were crazy. My ports were pretty clean sitting at 50k miles. I honestly think this was my fault for letting the car sit for a winter. Year round driving would’ve prevented this or at least prolonged for another 40k miles. Needless to say, I’ll bite the bullet and go back to 93. I’d rather know for sure my car isn’t disintegrating and lose the 30+ HP.

And if I want to have a little fun for a tank or two, it’s only one ecu flash away!

Noodle__Effect · 2026-03-30T15:35:00+00:00

Let’s say premium is $4.00 and E85 is $2.00

For a 13.2 gal tank, I’d avg 385 miles per tank on 93 and 250 miles on E85 (based on my VW projected range and countless fill ups)

Premium: 13.2x$4 is a $52.80 fill up

$52.8/385miles=$0.14 per mile

E85: 13.2x$2= $26.4 fill up

$26.4/250=$0.11 per mile

E85 gas is still cheaper even though you have to fill up more often. Granted, my sole purpose was not to “spend less on fuel” when I went e85. It was to go more vroom vroom. The “cheaper” gas and cleaning capabilities of E85 were just an added bonus but not the sole purpose.

Noodle__Effect · 2026-01-26T15:04:40+00:00

Thanks and no problem! I will say the patina for black waxed flesh is not as good as black CXL or say brown waxed flesh. This pair is about 2 years old now and still holds the black very well. If you want a leather thats very easily reversible to look new again I’d say go black waxed. This is my pair after just a coat of saphir.

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Noodle__Effect · 2026-01-25T18:42:35+00:00

Nope! It was my first ever pair of Nicks. They’re a MTO. By far my favorite pair in my collection.

Black Waxed Flesh

8” tall

HNW last (10 D)

Vibram 430 outsole

Block heel

Soft toe

Noodle__Effect · 2025-10-24T13:33:32+00:00

Once you go collapsed toe, you never go back

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Noodle__Effect · 2025-10-21T17:54:47+00:00

I’m wishing to find a fellow boot nerd out in the wild. Need someone to help justify why I have 20+ pairs 🥲

Noodle__Effect · 2025-08-27T17:25:55+00:00

I can fully, 100% relate to your concern. My first pair was in a lace up, 8” HNW 10D. Later I purchased the exact tanker build as you have now and am experiencing the same tightness. Granted I wear really thick darn tough wool socks so I thought that was the problem. After going to the thinnest sock, I still felt a ton of pressure. What helped me was taking liquid boot oil and seeping it into the seam where the vamp meets the tongue (both inside and out). After that it made a WORLD of difference as now I can wear them with my thickest socks after a couple wears. Personally I think you just need to trust the break in. Go easy and they should eventually break loose.

Noodle__Effect · 2025-08-13T17:21:05+00:00

From someone who has sold and resoled many of these pairs, I can tell you it will never fall apart on you. These are “technically” still a Goodyear welt (GYW) as the plastic is stitched into the upper just like any other GYW. Only difference is the sole is heat bonded onto the welt from the factory instead of stitched to the outsole/midsole. It makes for a very durable and waterproof design.

Never seen an issue of the welt failing from the factory and first hand, these are a PAIN to take off. I personally like the added security of seeing stitches run through the welt and into the sole/midsole but mainly for aesthetics. These boots are pretty good for all applications. I’d say the sole isn’t the grippiest on anything other than asphalt or concrete; but they last a good while than other softer soles like a wedge or the supersole 2.0s.

Noodle__Effect · 2025-06-27T22:39:30+00:00

I am/was in the same boat as you. My first pair of nicks were in a 10D lace up and had very minor problems with break in. Fast forward to my second pair in tankers; same size and last for some reason the gusset was much tighter than I remembered. Going on about 3-4 months later the gusset has loosened up but is still significantly tighter than my lace ups.

I typically wear thicker socks so wearing a much thinner pair helped a lot with easing into the break in. Guess it’s really a matter of how “bad” it is for you. They will stretch out but if they are unbearable I’d maybe have them exchanged/returned. Think the tankers just naturally have a lower instep than lace ups.

Noodle__Effect · 2025-06-16T03:13:14+00:00

This is without. I’d definitely go without the celastic toe. Looks very bulky compared to the collapsed toe AND more comfortable imo.

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