Pacific Northwest bootmaking is in many ways the antithesis of “minimalist” or “barefoot” footwear. PNW workboot makers love tons of leather, crazy arch support, and heavier builds. So when Spokane’s own Nicks Boots put out a lighter, zero-drop boot, there was certainly some intrigue over here.
That boot is the Strider, and it’s built around an all new last, the Thurman-ZD, suggesting that we might see other zero-drop boots down the line. So how did Nicks decide that zero-drop was the right move for them? And who is a heavy-duty zero-drop boot for? Let’s go…
Not a zero-drop sole on this one—but still built on what Nicks is terming their “zero-drop” Thurman-ZD last
You Dropped…How Many Times? None??
First things first: “drop” refers to the difference between the height of a shoe’s heel, and the thickness of the sole at the toe. A shoe with a 20mm thick outsole and heel height of 30mm would have a 10mm drop. Zero-drop, then, describes a shoe where the ball and heel are the same distance from the ground. That means a flat sole and a flat last, unless something really crazy is happening.
In contrast, most standard boot soles from likes of Vibram, Dainite, and Dr. Sole clock in around 7mm, and come with rubber heel blocks in neighborhood of 20mm. Once you account for the insole, midsole, and heel stack, the boots we cover generally feature a drop somewhere between 10mm and as much as 50mm on cowboy or packer boot. Boots built on the HNW last, previously Nicks’ lowest arch, typically have a drop of around 20mm.
To hit the zero-drop mark, Nicks took their Munson-toed Thurman last and eliminated the arch, and then tweaked the silhouette to accommodate the change. It’s definitely not a full anatomically designed last, which often look just more…extreme…and allow basically unlimited toe splay. But it will certainly offer the most forefoot space within the Nicks’ last lineup. In addition, they’ve removed the normal leather shank and arch insert to flatten out the footbed.
Not the Vibram you’re used to!
Why Does it Matter?
The short answer is that different people find different footwear setups more or less comfortable, and depending on who you ask, there may or may not be health tradeoffs as well. One big caveat though: we aren’t doctors! So no medical advice.
But as best we can tell, the people who these days care most about drop are runners. Their advice usually goes something like this: lower drop shoes concentrate more force on (and conversely strengthen) your feet, ankles, and calves, while high drop shoes transfer more force to your knees and thighs. What works best for a given person depends on their natural gait and if a particular joint or tendon is prone to pain, so (as always) it’s best to try a few things out in a store and see what feels good. This strikes us as fairly level-headed, but do see the not-a-doctor caveat above.
There’s also something of a following for ‘barefoot’ shoes (and boots). Generally, barefoot boots have a wide toe box, minimal padding, and low or zero drop in order to approximate the experience of being (surprise!) barefoot while still providing a bit of extra protection. Here the health claims can be a lot more varied, but the consensus seems to be that minimalist footwear can increase your strength and stability although can require a considerable training and adjustment period (see, among others, this study and its references). It’s worth noting that just about all of the scientific literature studies running, which you probably aren’t doing work boots?
Zero Drop, Lots of Leather
So where does the Strider sit in relation to all this? With thick veg-tan leather at the insole and midsole, it’s definitely a different beast than most super-minimalist “barefoot” footwear, and we’re pretty confident that you don’t need to worry about the more extreme risks or benefits that come with that sort of shoe. Still, you might want to ease into these if you’re coming from a more standard boot.
Nicks also offers a version of the Strider on Vibram unit lug, if you’re looking for a boot with no interior arch but a more normal drop. As for the uppers and construction, you’re getting a standard Nicks build: heavy uppers available in the full range of Nicks’ leather choices on a 6″, 8″, or 10″ shaft, and double row stitchdown construction. If you want a zero-drop sole rather than the aforementioned unit lug, your options are Vibram’s Voyager or Kletterlift. The Voyager looks fairly similar to regular outsole except for at the heel, while the Kletterlift has lugs running the full length of the sole.
The Strider isn’t the only resolable option in the zero-drop space. There are two main current alternatives. The first is Bearfoot, which offers Blake stitched and stitchdown boots with leather uppers and midsoles, but a lighter build. The second comes from Jim Green, which offers “barefoot” versions of their African Trooper and Stockman Chelsea. Both of these are cheaper and lighter than the Strider, but neither can touch it in terms of durability or (as far as we’re concerned) on looks. A newer player is Texarado, launched in 2023. Their last is a bit more extreme in foot-shaped-ness than Nicks Thurman, and their patterns are actually pretty darn spot-on; thing is they’re just less available currently, with zero stock as of this writing, but an apparent upcoming pre-order window.
Most of the other zero-drop footwear out there is cemented and lighter still. Your priorities and your mileage may vary. But if you know you enjoy zero-drop boots and need something rugged for hiking or work, the Strider is certainly worth considering. We’ll certainly be keeping an eye on feedback and reaction to the Strider boots, and are certainly intruiged to see where Nicks takes the platform in the future.
