A Beloved American Brand May Have Accidentally Built the Ultimate Heritage Moto Boot

Nicks teamed up with Parkhurst to craft some exceptionally high-end custom leather footwear sneakily steeped in motorcycle history.

Closeup of toe of Nicks x Parkhurst Brakeman engineer boots

By Sean Tirman

Published March 25, 2025

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Engineer boots have a long and storied history. Originally based on English equestrian boots, they were designed for firemen working on steam locomotives around the turn of the last century.

Eventually, they’d find their way into the worlds of welders and metalworkers. Finally, they’d find a home among motorcyclists of the post-WWII era.

Nicks Handmade Boots and Parkhurst have harkened to this rich history with the release of their collaboration Brakeman boot. However, this isn’t just a well-made heritage boot. It’s a modern evolution.

Nicks x Parkhurst Brakeman engineer boots on concrete — The slip-in style wears easy but is still rugged and handsome.

A classic, made modern

Nicks’ Brakeman was combined with Parkhurst’s iconic 602 last (a type of foot mold template) to create a more comfortable, modern version of the classic engineer boot. The boot still boasts the same traditional styling but with a much more contemporary focus on how it wears.

The change to its fit comes in two parts. First, the heel is designed to be more snug and form-fitting to help prevent slippage. Second, the forefoot is more rounded than traditional boots to offer more all-day comfort.

The rounded yet low-profile toebox allows your feet to splay more naturally, while its tapered arch ensures the shape follows your feet’s natural curves.

This take on the Brakeman is an evolution of the original boot style that better serves modern sensibilities—especially in regard to foot health and well-being. It makes for a pair of heirloom-quality boots that will remain comfortable for years and years.

Closeup of Nicks x Parkhurst Brakeman engineer boots — This boot eschews laces for a more traditional buckle-and-strap system.

Heritage construction, customized

Apart from the boots’ overall styling and the aforementioned synthesis with Parkhurst’s 602 last, Nicks’ Brakeman is just as customizable as ever.

You can choose from 15 different lengths, two widths, a couple dozen different leather styles, a soft or celastic (semi-rigid) toe, about a dozen different sole styles (including Vibram) and more.

Keep in mind: These aren’t “true” modern motorcycle boots. They lack the armor, structure and safety ratings of many contemporary styles. Nicks is very transparent about this — there’s a chart denoting its safety ratings (and lack thereof).

However, the wide range of custom options and the overall quality definitely call back to the classic styles worn by old-school bikers. And you can’t beat the overall construction and stylistic quality of heritage boots like these.

Man on Harley wearing Nicks x Parkhurst Brakeman engineer boots — Although not explicitly made for motorcycling, this boot is inexorably tied to moto history.

Pricing and availability

The Nicks x Parkhurst Brakeman engineer boot is now available on Nicks’ website starting at $689. However, that price will rise the more you customize it.

Remember: Each pair of Nicks’ boots is made to order, so lead times can be rather long (18-34 weeks, to be exact).