First Pair of Cowboy Boots - Help me out

Hello,

I’m looking to get my first pair of cowboy/western boots. I live here in Arizona and I love the western culture. I’ve been living here for 29 years (my whole life) and I’ve never owned a pair of cowboy boots.

I’ve done some research online to figure out what I may consider specifically. But I also figure I’d ask here.

What are some things to look out for especially since this is my first time? I’m looking for something that I won’t be afraid to get dirty but also something I could wear out to special occasions. Maybe not super formal like suit and tie but more so a pair of jeans and a nice shirt. I’m thinking leather cowhide versus some of the exotic skins. Are ropers something to consider as well?

Thank you!

 

Find a store that specializes in cowboy boots or at least boots in general, which shouldn't be impossible in Arizona and try on everything in the store. You will quickly narrow down what you like or don't like. Stay out of the corporate chain stores if possible and buy American made if you can. Buy once, cry once.

 

Best piece of advice is to go out and start trying different brands on to see what fits your foot well. In the style you like.

Back in my real cowboy days I wore ropers on the daily and while competing in rodeos. Had a couple more formal boots for going out to nice dinners etc.

Now I'm more of a square toe guy so really just find what you like and go with that. Definitely agree with the buy once cry once aspect and get a decent pair that will last.

 

Never gave any thought to cowboy boots, but was in Kalispell, MT a few months ago and stumbled upon a store. I think half of it was Boots, was pretty cool. They had nice little signs to help explain how a boot is supposed to fit, slide on your heel, etc, and that was super helpful for someone who had never tried one on before. The folks were super knowledgeable as well. I'd definitely try to find a store like that, assuming they exist elsewhere. As @TCB2020 said, i'd think a place like that would be best rather than any sort of chain. I didn't buy any, cause I wasn't expecting to shell out 2 or 3 hundred bucks when I walked in, but if I'm ever back there, I just might have to do it.

 

The Houston livestock and rodeo show is the single best place I’ve ever seen to vet the most options in one place. Their website seems to be a bit sparse in the vendor section but the show is best in person anyway!

edit; if’n you are into the cultural aspect it’s a must do at least once kinda event.

 

Please do not get these but i do hear these are great for walking around at home

 

Gotcha so stay out of Boot Barn? Haha

 

That’s hilarious! I’m a strong hater of crocs lol

 

Get fitted at the end of the day when your feet are a little bigger. Get a walking heel, not a riding heel. You should not have to endure pain to break them in. I’ve had good luck with Tony Lamas.

 

Great looking boot. Details?

 

Ariats aren't bad for being a huge brand, they come in wide and have options for commercial nonslip soles. I've had a pair of square toe Ariats for close to 10 years and I wear them 3 seasons.

Shitkickers are absolutely worth the money for a good pair - cheap ones and even some of the expensive ones are mostly glued together and use the thinnest leather possible - Justins for example have gone to complete shit. I had a pair that went 10 years of hard use, and replaced them with the same exact pair which went a year and a half before they blew out at the heel and toe.

Also, as an unasked-for style tip - black cowboy boots are for them rhinestone fellas and church clothes. Go with the brown and let the welt stitching get dusty.

 

Another vote for square toes and a 2nd for the " Ariat isnt bad for a big brand "

I own 3 pair of Ariats myself. All in the 2-300 range. They have been great boots.

As i write this im wearing a pair of Justin square toes.

 

I have 2 pairs of Justin square toe boots, pretty comfortable,no complaints. I got them from Boot Barn, I tried some Ariats also and I like those too but haven't bought yet because they didn't have my size at the time of the one's I like. I regularly wear size 10 but 9 in boots so it's good to go in and try them on because they run big.

 

I'm sure I'll catch shit for it but I don't care. They're Tecovas Docs. Legit one of the most comfortable boots I've ever had. Tried on a bunch of different ones found styles I liked in brands that were more authentic but none really agreed with my feet. One day wife drug me into the Tecovas store by her work and I'll be dammed they fit like a glove

 

Tecovas are good, no reason to catch shit.

To the topic at hand,

Been wearing boots for 50 years, square toes are fine for knock around but in my opinion (just my opinion by the way) they dont make good dress boots. I moved over to ropers years ago because they can match up to about anything from suits to jeans. Black make better dress boots, brown works well for more casual. I noticed someone said let the sole stitching get dusty, fast way to wear them out. Square toes look good with jeans.

These days I dont do exotics, you can chase a fad on them, but fads change, calf skin, shrunken shoulder, kangaroo and conservative colors dont. Having said that, cigar ostrich look pretty damn nice.

As I have gotten older, my youthful activities have betrayed my body by really screwing my feet up with bone spurs (plantares fasciitis). Main thing, buy what you like, pointy toed, wide round, roper, snip or square, you make the boot, it doesnt make you.

 

Makes sense, what about the soles as far as leather vs rubber? I kind of like leather with the option to get them re-soled but I feel like the rubber soles might be more of what I’m getting the boots for.

 

All good advice. For sure get sized later in the day and your first time, don't just roll solo and buy a pair. Get sized.

I would recommend roper boots personally for your first pair as they tend to be more comfortable. Generally the higher the heel, the less comfortable they are.

My first pair were Irish setter (red wing). It's been 6 years but they've been great. I wear them year round from +30 to -35. Winter time they get a bit stiff though but very comfortable still. In the winter I replace the insoles with a wool insole

Unfortunately the rubber sole is worn fairly smooth now though on them but I plan to get them resoled when my insulated pair show up which will be Ariats.

 

The rest of that environment is more interesting than the boots.

Lots of monitors doesn't always mean much, but the 3 lock (or more) lock box bumps the interest level.

 

I think its more a personal choice. I've had both, rubber is more comfortable on concrete all day (in my opinion) but leather looks dressier. If you get rubber with leather welts they can be resoled about the same as leather. And you can get leather with a rubber inset into the wear areas.

I had 3 pair of ropers for work back in the early 90's, a pair of grey, a pair of black kangaroo and brown kipskin. I had the brown resoled 4 times I think, rewelted and soled 2 more times. The grey got 3 resoles and the leather vamp started cracking. Blacks didnt get worn as much. I rotated between brown and grey every other day. Sweat them up and not let them dry and they wear fast. The welts got toothbrushed every evening I wore them and they got a light polish weekly. My attire was khakis or jeans, button down and sport coat. Polished ropers took me everywhere from weld shop floors to meetings with CEO's, never felt out of place.

You can buy square toe stockman boots and be just as comfortable as ropers, will just have the toe bug instead of smooth toes.