Happiness = a new pair of boots but...

[walkin jack]

...REAL happines =2 new pair of boots!

It's great to know that quality is still around and available here and there. About 35 years ago, maybe longer, I was in the Justin Western Wear outlet on I 35 W as it splits and goes around Dallas. I bought 2 pairs of Justin Ropers; one black and one brown. Worn out numerous heels and souls (some of 'em on Gilley's Dance floor for sure). I kept 'em shined up to a high gloss and new heels and souls when needed. They still look good after all this time.

But evidently as you put on weight as the years roll by, your feet gain weight too. I never woulda thunk it but I no longer wear a size 8 in Justin ropers. The last time I wore then I never thought I was going to get them on and decided that if I did I'd wear 'em one last time...and cut 'em off later is I had to.

New Ropers were then on my list...If I could still find then and they were still made by Justin and still the same good fit feel and quality.

I went to a western wear store in Sherman (just up the road from me) Dennards. To my extreme surprise and profound delight They had them. Same colors same quality and with an adjustment in size (up to 8 1/2) the same great fit and comfort.

I know, I know, in the grand scheme of things this is trivial beyond trivial. But still I feel like I hit a great lucky spot in my life. I love my Ropers and can't imagine not having any. I'll get to workin' on that shine asap. I have a secret technique. Consider this pic the before. I'll post up the after in a future Friday Pics. Prepare to be amazed!

 

[bigwheelzip]

Our family are not boot people but there must be something in the air. My eldest daughter, whose never lived beyond the NYC suburbs, is smitten by country western dancing, and got these boots for a C&W dancing weekend last week in Calicoon NY.

I guess three pairs means she is delirious.

 

[StrawHat]

I am not sure about happiness but it makes choosing what to wear a lot easier.

And there is still the pair I was wearing at the time of the photograph.

Kevin

 

[walkin jack]

Looks like you have found your nich in western boots.

 

[eb07]

I prefer an old well broken in pair as well

 

[dasnake]

For me.......

Boots, belts, shirts and hats, I rotate every day with a different setup, quite enjoyable, one old style I've really taken to is bib shirts, just love the look.

 

[spricks]

I was just wondering Jack. What does a pair of those boots cost?
They look comphy.

 

[30-30remchester]

Have worn boots every day for 50 years. Never had a nice looking pair for more than a day or two. Welding cherries, cement, drilling fluids, mud, oil, diesel, gasoline, blood and gore changed the look within days. Many pairs of Wellinton type, rubber knee highs, 8" lace ups, have been worn to nubs and unceremoniously thrown in the dumpster when all used up.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

Walkin Jack maybe you should have bought Nocona's as you like to
dance and Miss Enid dropped out of school in the 8th grade as she had
been suspended for dancing on Sunday, at her brother's birthday party
in their own home. When her dad died the Justin brothers wanted to
move the company to Fort Worth. Miss Enid wanted to remain in Nocona
to honor her daddy, so she open Nocona boot co.
Now Justin industries owns both Justin and Nocona and the plant was
moved to El Paso, probably for cheaper labor.
Do to my bad ankle(old football injury) I've had to go to lace up boots,
I feel like some kind of a dude. But I can easily get them on and off.
One last note the urban cowboy craze back in the 70's caused all kinds
of Western wear to increase in price about 35-50%.
One last note, part 2, Gilley was in Alma, Arkansas Thursday night.
That guy is getting pretty long in the tooth.

 

[Jessie]

I really like those brown ones. I’m a Wellington wearer and those look nice.
The black ones too but that brown pair has just the right “bling”

 

[walkin jack]

I was just wondering Jack. What does a pair of those boots cost?
They look comphy.

My first pair ran about 70 bucks I think. The new black one were 150 bux and the new brown ones were 160 bux.

 

[pawngal]

...



But evidently as you put on weight as the years roll by, your feet gain weight too. I never woulda thunk it but I no longer wear a size 8 in Justin ropers. The last time I wore then I never thought I was going to get them on and decided that if I did I'd wear 'em one last time...and cut 'em off later is I had to.

I have that same problem, 3 nice pairs of Ariat western boots that I can't wear anymore So I need to find a store so I can try on, not sure if going up 1/2 size will help or not. Might need to go to wide width or in men's size. And gotta be round toe and western heel. I hate the women's ones with the square toe!

 

[Grayfox]

The best boots I ever owned were a set of Dan Post that I bought back in the 1970s. I wore 'em everyday for I think about 16 years. (?) Really comfortable and tough as nails. Had 'em re-heeled 4 times and re-soled twice. Sadly, the insides finally gave out and I let 'em go. Wish I could find another pair like them.
I also wore lace up work boots for my entire career.I was a boot kinda guy.
When I got older, I finally realized that plain old tennis shoes were more my current speed and that's what I wear daily now.
But I do still have a couple of pairs of western boots for when I need to dress up.
I haven't owned a pair of regular shoes since the Army issued me a set of low quarters.

 

[snubbyfan]

I know, not the same kinda boot and they definitely have no where near as much style but the last pair of boots I bought were 5.11's.
I worked warehouses and factories for most of my adult life and needed comfortable, supportive boots that didn't weigh too much. Plus, since they're leather, I can keep them polished and shiny.

 

[GB]

Many of us here have reached the time in our life when many of the pleasures of our youth are no longer wise or practical. If new boots ring you chimes, good on you!

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

My last two years in the Navy I wore a pair of black, what I call cowboy
ropers, plain black round toe. They met all Navy regs for enlisted foot
wear. Had a couple chiefs and one officer type said they weren't regulation
which I happily showed them they were. Not many guys can say they
wore cowboy boots in the Navy. I did have one pair of issued shoes that
I wore for inspection.
Those boots and my flared sideburns were, I guess, my way of rebelling.
Still have the sideburns, topside hair has left me. Sideburns were due
to Admiral Zumwalt's Z grams which changed Navy regs in 70-71, he
was the enlisted man's Admiral. It took the old salts a little time to
adjust.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I have that same problem, 3 nice pairs of Ariat western boots that I can't wear anymore So I need to find a store so I can try on, not sure if going up 1/2 size will help or not. Might need to go to wide width or in men's size. And gotta be round toe and western heel. I hate the women's ones with the square toe!

I agree with you on the square toe boots. I don't like them for
men and for sure not for the ladies.

 

[quikdraw67]

I've worn the same style of Red Wings since 1990.

They are good for concrete floors as well as winter and hunting.

Last time I checked they were approx. $290 , but they last and are still made in the USA.

I don't wear them as much now that I have a desk job, but I do a lot of walking, and the New Balance walking shoes serves me well. They're also American made.

 

[crazyphil]

Walkin Jack - I thought my feet were getting bigger too as I grew older
and put on weight. But I found out that my problem was I was retaining
fluid and it was swelling my feet. The Doc told me to go on a low sodium
diet. Not more that 1,500 mg of sodium a day. I did, and my feet are
back to normal size now. It had got so bad that I only had one pair of
shoes that I could get on. Now, I can get them all on again.

By the way, I had a pair of those popular Justin lizard hide in
peanut brittle brown. I really like them. When they got worn
out I went looking for replacements. Went in to a boot store
downtown. A young man came up and asked if he could help.
I told him what I wanted. He asked what size. I said 13B.
He laughed and said we don't carry any of those oddball sizes.
I told him he better look for a new profession because he would
never make it in sales. Went to the next boot store. The old
gentleman that waited on me, said I don't have those in stock
but I can get them in less than a week. Big difference.

 

[Cdog]

In my teens and early 20's I wore western boots. Mostly Justin's and Durango.

After a sliding motorcycle crash into the broadside of a camper trailer at age 25 I have screws in my still oversized and limited right ankle I couldn't wear boots for a couple of years.

The Doctor that fixed my ankle told me I'd be lucky to get a year or so use before I would have to have it fused. I worked hard to gain range of motion. After a couple of years I finally regained most of the feeling in my foot.

I was in the Sand Hill community of Carroll Co. and decided to stop at a small western boot shop to see what they had. An older fellow asked what size I wore, I replied it was 11-11 1/2 D, but I don't know now.

He measured my foot and told me there's no way that I had ever required an 11-1/2 traditional pointed western boot. He enlightened me and made boot wearing more comfortable than ever.

I wear 10-1/2 3 sometimes 4E.

I was so proud to get on a pair of his boots that felt so good that I wore them out of the store.

I no longer wear boots everyday, but they stay in my rotation.

The two pair I have now are than tan Roper's. The Black are the most comfortable boots I've had since the ones I wore out of the old fellows store more than 30 years ago. They're Dan Post.

The Roper's see the most use. The Dan Post are more dressy than I prefer for daily wear.

Seems western boots make a lot of us happy. Brings back memories too.

Maybe it's the leather?