Happiness = a new pair of boots but...

[Muley Gil]

Years ago, I wore square toed harness boots. With the harness straps cut off, I wore them with a Civil War uniform.

I used to have a pair of very comfortable lace-up Ariat boots, but they disappeared after a divorce.

Mostly, I have worn combat boots, first as a Marine midshipman, then as a peace officer, then as an international police officer in Kosovo, a police advisor in Afghanistan and then as a security officer.

Some of the most comfortable boots I have worn were the Converse desert boots I had in the sandbox. They had suede and nylon uppers, a side zipper and felt more like tennis shoes. They made good work boots when I got home. I just bought a pair of Bates desert boots and I hope they wear and fit as well as the Converse ones.

 

[TX-Dennis]

My current favorite boots are Ariat Groundbreaker work boots. Very comfortable, but they are HEAVY. Steel toes and VERY waterproof even after wearing them for over a year most every day. Sadly the model is discontinued. Now if only I could find something just as comfy but lighter. I walk an average of 7-8 miles a day at work. Sometimes a bit more. Sometimes a bit less. I really need boots for the ankle support. Steel toes are nice but not essential, although I have broken a few toes over the years without them. Comfort is essential (obviously), and I don't want to give up on waterproof. The other big issue is that they need to be black. Black work boots are not that easy to find. I tried Bates duty boots, but they just don't fit my feet right.

By the way, Bruce, those ostrich boots are magnificent. I had a pair of Nocona ostrich many years ago. Very pretty boots, but not as nice as those Tecovas ( EDIT: Oops - Luccheses).

 

[Doug M.]

I am not going to critique anyone's choice in what footwear works for them. If your feet hurt, everything is likely to. My feet grew, too - from roughly 9E in the early 90s to 11.5EE now. Running shoes, which are what I wear the most, are a real pain in the backside to get in wide widths.

 

[dasnake]

For me.......

With all the boot talk I was flipping around the music channel last night and found a shania twain concert in Vegas, pink cowboy knee highs, nuff sed.

 

[Eric300]

An oldie, but a goodie....

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbyAZQ45uww[/ame]

Or, the Corb Lund cover....

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saDhPpU3Cws[/ame]

 

[ACORN]

I friend had a pair of hand made boots made in Mexico when he was stationed in Texas. He loved the boots but only wore them on special occasions. Had them for years. One night he comes home from work, his wife has a fire going in the yard burning trash. All he could see were the charred leather shafts of his boots through the flames. His wife said he never wore this old boots so out they went.

 

[Nevada Ed]

In post #35;

I don't much care for Nancy's song since,

I had to sit in my car as a policeman wrote me out my first ever ticket. listening to it.

True fact.

Sort of funny though........... Bummer.

 

[Muley Gil]

I friend had a pair of hand made boots made in Mexico when he was stationed in Texas. He loved the boots but only wore them on special occasions. Had them for years. One night he comes home from work, his wife has a fire going in the yard burning trash. All he could see were the charred leather shafts of his boots through the flames. His wife said he never wore this old boots so out they went.

Was that his wife or his EX-WIFE that did that?

 

[walkin jack]

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.

Sadly, My dancin' days are all in the past now. But back in the day we ran around with 2 other couples and we would burn Pasadena down to the ground 2 or 3 nights a week. I'd sure like to have all that money back but it was worth it to have those memories.

I don't feel like any kind of dude. In my ropers I feel more like a "good ol' boy".

My daughter went to high school with Mickey Gilley's son. I know Mickey well enough to know what a stuck up gas bag he is. And by daughters report his son is a chip off the old block.

Johnny Lee is 10 times the singer and musician and 100 times the good guy. I have had a many a beer with Johnny. Mickey never went around on his break talking to folks like Johnny did. And there at the end of that time he only came by for the last set. Played 3 or 4 songs and left with out a word to anyone.

 

[walkin jack]

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.

I have a kidney condition that causes my body to waste electrolytes and salts. Doc says eat all the salt you want to. and I take a potassium/magnesium supplement....Lots and lots of that.

I think my feet are actually getting fat. In any case I must keep up with the salt.

 

[walkin jack]

I got a new pair of Lucchese a couple months ago. Waiting now on a new pair of ostrich, that should be ready by December.

Sent from my SM-S506DL using Tapatalk

Beauty!! Double likes for that post!

 

[CH4]

I am down to two pair, Nocona full quill ostrich and Justin anteater, which I believe were added to the "endangered species" list and no longer legally available. FWIW, I prefer pointed toes on my cowboy boots; square toe boots are for pilgrims and pirates.

 

[walkin jack]

I am down to two pair, full quill ostrich and anteater, which I believe were added to the "endangered species" list and no longer legally available. FWIW, I prefer pointed toes on my cowboy boots; square toe boots are for pilgrims and pirates.

I love the look of the pointed toe western boots with the western heel.(those posted by Bruce are my exact taste) But my feet could no longer tolerate them. That's why I went to the Justin Ropers. They look great too and feel good to the old feet.

 

[bruce5781]

Some vintage Tony Lama elephant that I picked up on ebay for 49$, then sent to El Paso for a re-last to have them custom fit to my feet.

Sent from my SM-S506DL using Tapatalk

 

[Onomea]

Hey, that's very cool, Bruce5781!

 

[dasnake]

For me.......

I bought these a few years ago, saw them on the net, went to my local and tried the same pair but 200.00 cheaper, tried all different ways to make sure of my size through the mail, 12.5, fit perfect and did my sole treatment another half inch on the heel and had the boot shafts triple stitched to the boot, still saved 50.00.

 

[hsguy]

I have to admit I have never owned a pair of "cowboy" boots but these might change my mind. Pointy boots, Boots, Boots

 

[dasnake]

Well well well.....

I have to admit I have never owned a pair of "cowboy" boots but these might change my mind. Pointy boots, Boots, Boots

Taking in a game at Wrigley would be a hoot!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pawngal]

Yes, happiness is a new pair of boots! Spent hours search online for what I wanted, found the perfect ones. But what size? My feet got fat so my old boots didn't fit. When I was in Missouri on vacation I stopped in a huge western store, found the boots, tried on., but didn't have the color I wanted in the right size. So I immediately ordered online direct from Ariat. Fresh out of the box I wore them 13 hours yesterday, feet didn't hurt, back feels great, Winner!
picture snagged from website

 

[Nevada Ed]

Pointy boots are nice for show and dancing..............

but at work I had to wear Redwing or White's for 33 years.....

and yes, it IS all about comfort.

 

[Imissedagain]

Me, I'm a Sperry/no socks kinda guy. A lot mo betta on a boat.

Always had a spare set of Sperry's best, that were never worn except on vessels, in the truck.
Barefoot boat workers often got lotsa stitches when jumping aboard and getting sliced on a genoa track etc etc.

Carbon toed tall Ariats are worn when doing wood work with overalls on top.
Easier to remove than tall lace ups.
Will get some tall Timberlands as lotsa walking, in the Ariats, was not fun when last in the Wintertime Rockies

Wore my Stetson to the Aquatic Center on Friday and said, " thank you Cowgirl," many times in response to .... "nice hat".

 

[Justin T]

I was a Justin roper-style boot man for many, many years. The walking heel suited me just fine.

A couple of years ago I went shopping for a black pair and a brown pair. It was impossible to find a plain black pair with a round toe. Everything was either a snip toe or a square toe.

Side note: bootmakers will tell you that square toed boots are easier and slightly cheaper to make. Round toe construction used to be an expression of craftsmanship.

Anyhoo, the guy helping me had a pair of Tony Lamas stashed back for himself, the tops were black and the lowers were dark gray bullhide. Wasn't too sure about the slightly taller heel but I tried em on and really liked them. To date, those boots are the most comfortable pair I've owned and I will never hesitate to buy Tony Lamas again. Quality all the way.

They are a dressy, good looking boot that will go anywhere and look good. Love em.

 

[walkin jack]

Hey Justin, We'd love to see a pic of those Tony Lamas. They sound like my kind of boots.

 

[Justin T]

Hey Justin, We'd love to see a pic of those Tony Lamas. They sound like my kind of boots.

Much obliged. The lowers look black in this picture but they aren't. Put em with a pair of black dress slacks and they are darkest grey.

 

[walkin jack]

Thanks for the pic. Them's some sharp lookin' kicks!

 

[Bugkiller99]

Worked my whole life on my feet. I'm a cheap son of a gun, but when it comes to footwear, money is no object.
I can't wear "cowboy" boots, I've got a high instep. Got to be some kind of lace up.
But when I get off, I'm in my sandals instantly. Florida winter wear is sandals wid sox.

 

[Imissedagain]

In four decades of Marine Electronics, jumping on and off boats, Sperry and Harken grip best.
Yacht boots they be.

Would go thru a pair of the best sneaker style every couple of months.
Leather moccasins not worn everyday.

Might be some new players these days.

 

[prairieviper]

You guys have some nice looking boots. I have owned a few pairs of nice western boots but I have to say they just don't work for me. In fact, I gave a very nice pair of boots to my brother after only wearing them a few times. The only boots that I can say that are comfortable for me and that I really like are police/law enforcement boots like offered by Bates or Rocky.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I have to admit I have never owned a pair of "cowboy" boots but these might change my mind. Pointy boots, Boots, Boots

Lots of "hunting" boots and Uncle Sam issue, but never "cowboy boots". I'm to old to break in a new pair now.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[pawngal]

Quick question for you boot people, what is the best thing to weatherproof my new boots? Don't remember what I've used in the past.

edit to add
I recall using Sno Seal. Want to avoid the staining from the salt & chemicals used around here on the ice and snow in the winter.