You moved to Texas, I get that. Like cowboy boots, hats? I get it.

What I never understood is feeling like you have to "be in style" or whatever you want to call it.

Just maybe don't get the chaps?

I can't understand how anyone can get the things on an off. I use a shoe horn on a lot of my foot-ware.

I was always told they come in handy for stomping bugs in tight corners.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I was always told they come in handy for stomping bugs in tight corners.

And for quickly climbing up chain link fences

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
I have lived in TX my whole life. Cowboy boots are definitely not a requirement. IN the cities few wear them. They are big in Ft. Worth, San Antonio and out in the country. You don't need a cowboy hat either and nobody commutes to work on a horse.

What!?!? I just bought a horse, I figured it would be quicker than 121 at 0800

Guess I am the odd ball, I grew up in WPA and have been wearing boots since I was 15 and bought my first pair with my own money.

I just bought a pair of Anderson Bean with a crepe sole....very nice
https://andersonbean.com/

And since my normal hat was looking worst for wear I recently picked up a nicer cheapy cowboy hat...since as my wife says "You would sunburn at midnight" it's nice for picnics and such

Hiking boots and boonie hats way more practical and you don't look like an extra in a John Wayne movie.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
I'm up to three pair. I'm entertaining the idea of buying a pair of these, come fall: Tecovas The Cartwright

I recently bought a pair of them and like them a lot.

quote:

Originally posted by yanici:
I can't understand how anyone can get the things on an off. I use a shoe horn on a lot of my foot-ware.

You use a Boot Jack.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
Hiking boots and boonie hats way more practical and you don't look like an extra in a John Wayne movie.

I've never received complements on my hiking boots or my boonie hat, but I sure have received more than my fair share on my cowboy boots and hats.

Yeah, I'm happily married and well out of "the market," but it's still gratifying to have an attractive woman half your age, or less, up and say "I like your hat" or "nice boots." It's not a question of being vain. It's a question of liking to look good. Yeah, I know: Outmoded concept. A throwback to an earlier place and time, I guess I am. Back to a time when people cared about their appearance.

Btw: I you like cowboy boots, but want something with traction, that's waterproof: Dan Post Men's 69681 Waterproof Boot

I wear those essentially all winter long. In addition to the lugged sole, they have roper boot heel, which is much lower than a typical cowboy boot. I've found them to be very stable on all surfaces.

Word of advice from someone who's been fitting running shoes on folks for years: Make sure you get fit properly.

I had a pair of Nocona snakeskin boots I bought in Albuquerque years ago. They were comfortable after I got used to them.

But my feet didn't like them. I developed Morton's Neuroma, a pinched nerve in the metatarsals. The likely culprit: shoes that were too tight in the toe area. This is one reason high heels are horrible for women: they cause the foot to be jammed into a pointy toe with weight pushing on them.

Trust me, you don't want Morton's Neuroma.

A good fit is imperative! Nothing worse than boots that start to hurt in the middle of the day. Sales guy’s question was prob directed towards wheather you’d be better suited with a walking boot (lower heel) like a Roper or a higher heal. I prefer a more rounded toe as I don’t try to chase roaches into corners for the kill enabled by pointy toes. I have wide feet and fit is hard to find. Good heel fit is important to much vertical movement makes for blisters. Still need enogh grip in body of boot to keep foot from sliding forward into narrow toe thereby jammong toes together. Get an experienced salesperson.

Yeah. That is a good looking boot.

quote:

Originally posted by maxdog:
Good heel fit is important to much vertical movement makes for blisters. Still need enogh grip in body of boot to keep foot from sliding forward into narrow toe thereby jammong toes together.

Unfortunately, these two requirements make for a boot that can take a degree of effort to remove.

Hint: If it takes an unusual amount of effort to get a boot on, may be best to find other footwear that day. If it was difficult to get on, it'll be hell to get off.

I like boots, for the most part, but find that I don't like my own appearance in them when I'm overweight/portly/fat. Look like a pig on stilts. I therefore am not currently wearing mine, but when I do I prefer the square toed and low heeled version to roach stompers.

A couple thoughts:

Breaking in boots: While in the army our standard practice to break in a new pair of boots was to wash the oil out of them by throwing them in the washing machine and run a wash cycle. Put the on wet and walk them dry. Of course, that required a new treatment to replace the color (black) washed out. But they were comfortable, and after drying were easy to re-color and spit shine. Quit buying issue boots in favor of Corcorans.

May not want to do that with an expensive pair of western/cowboy boots.

I have very sensitive feet due to getting them frozen when I was 14.

Heel selection on cowboy boots is also a consideration.

I have a pair of Luchese (sp?) that I bought down in the SW quite a while ago. Have to check and see if they still fit.

A couple years ago, I was in town, wearing the boots and the expensive "cowboy" hat. Several people commented (favorably) and wondered where I live in Texas.

I grew up with western boots. We didn't call them "cowboy boots." Just boots. Or maybe work boots. Everyone wore them. When I was a kid I was taxiing a piper cub and as I made a turn onto the gravel runway, the heel of my boot stuck under the rudder pedal. The cub uses heel brakes, and I sat there in the back seat going in circles, around and around. I stopped the airplane, pried the boot out of the rudder pedal, took the other off, and threw them out the door. I never wore them again, and still won't to this day.

They do make slim rubber stick on for the soles.

First thing you do when you buy your first set of boots is beat the hell out of them, roll them around in cowshit and mud, maybe run them over a few times with your truck and buff them up with a rock.

Then, clean them up and wear them. They'll be some of the most comfortable footwear you've ever worn (if sized correctly).

Otherwise, you'll look like Jim Carrey in Dumb & Dumber. A look we see around here quite often with people moving here and trying to "fit in with the locals".

I once worked with a doc who had moved up here from FL I believe. Black fella, which is out of place in these parts to begin with. We had a department get together at a local sports bar one night and he walks in decked out in brand new boots, skin tight Wranglers, a southwestern patterned jacket, and a cowboy hat.

I felt bad for the guy and pulled him aside.

Speaking as a CA transplant, welcome to Texas

I'm also looking into my first pair, custom made pair by JL Mercer, recommended by friends. But damn, the price and waiting time (up to one year) is daunting . Met one of the guys there, really friendly folk.

Congrats on your escape.

If you don't know why you need boots, you really can't be helped.