Who here wears nice boots?

Wearing a pair of grey lizzard Tony Lamas right now, wife gave 'em to me ~25 years ago. I don't wear them every day, and they're still on the original soles & heels. They're soft and shine up real nice.
 
Originally posted by pbslinger:
Bassamatice- Those are some beefy manurekickers! They don't look like they are but a few months old. I thought Buffalo boots were made by White's. They do look similar.

Hah! Buffalo Boots and Whites Boots are two different companies that competed with each other for years.

I screwed up though. I just have too many pics on Photobucket I guess. The boots shown above are not my beloved Buffalo's. They are Whites.

I'll straighten this up here once and for all. The boots below are Buffalo Boots bought by me in the early 80's. They are 12" leathers that have been hunted with very hard.

Here's a story. One year I went up the Salmon River to a drop camp like we had been doing for years. I ran into a guy from another drop camp a few miles from us. It was getting late and this guy was lost as hell. I recognized him and told him if he wanted to get down off the mountain we only had an hour to do so before dark. He was more than willing. The bad news was we had to drop of a rock shale slope that went straight down to the river about two miles I figured. He was wearing some kind of hiking boot that looked to be canvas. I was concerned, but he did not want to spend the night up there. I would have, done it many times, but he was adamant. Long story short, when we got to the bottom, his boots were so sliced up I could see his socks...and there was blood. His hunting was done for the week but those Buffalo's did their job and got me down just fine.

My old Buffalo's:

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Ok, these are a pair of Whites I had made around 1990 or so because I was scared they might go out of business as well. 10" leathers.

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Whites: I wear a 10B with an A heal. You don't buy off the rack.

I bought my first pair in 1962 age 14 with my first wages from a bucaroo job outside the family.

In this country the bucaroos have pretty much always worn lace up boots rather than slip ons. Just to darned rough in the lava rock for pull ons, no ankle support.

I think I currently own 4 pairs of "work" boots"
and 6 pair of fancier dress boots. They have a lace up "Packer" meant for more walking and a "Thoroubred" line of dress boots, line with non Vibram soles and cut narrower for riding"

Your $300 would get you a real nice pair of bull hide Packers. Predicated on just how much you want to spend they also offer French Calf, the softest boot you'll ever wear, along with the standards, Ostrich, Lizard, Shark etc.

They don't really make a flat heeled "Roper" in the traditional style

My "babies" are black Sting Reys with red stiching.

Since Jess crushed my leg 5 years ago I've gone to lower tops and had a few more pairs made.

I broke down last year and had a pair of "little Old Man" "Semi Dress" shoes made. Their about chuka boot height and easier to get on and off to just go do chores. They are a bit ugly for going to town so I had them make me a pair "Semi Dress" cowboy oxfords in Medium Browm Caiman for my birthday this year.

Their address, www.whitesboots.com they will send you a catalog for free.

If you happen to wear a standrad size and don't need hand made they do offer Hawthorns, "The best production boot made in America" at a lower price point.

the best

Ross W Thomas
Great Basin Ranch
Owyhee County, ID

Of course if you have nothing but money and 3 years to wait, Dwight Fromme over in Redmond, OR makes a heck of a boot in any style, leather, color, toe, heal, stitching etc. you could ever want. I'm picking up my second and what will be my last pair in May. The down side is you have to buy at least one "El Presidente" 500X Stetson to wear the darned things. ;-)
 
Whites even the Hawthorns are like comparing a 1950's Vintage Smith & Wesson to a H&R top break.
 
Another experience question:

Lots of people giving high marks to White's, particularly the lace up packers.

Does anyone have experience with White's Hathorn Dress Cowboy? They look pretty good to me, I'd just like to see if anyone has any first hand experience.

Thanks

'alp
 
For stepping out on the town I wear a pair of Lucchese hand made elephant skin with a square toe. Yea, I know it's not politically correct, but I've had them for over 25 years. The elephant skin is almost impossible to scratch. But the elephant skin is way above the $300.00 limit. Although, they are the most comfortable pair of boots I have ever had on these dogs. For dressing down a bit I wear a pair of Lucchese buffalo hide square toe. For general wear a pair of Nocona (Lizard) or Tony Lama (Natural color bull hide). For work, a pair of Red Wings. All of the above have been resoled and or reheeled at least once.
 
I ended up with Larry Mahans from Cavenders because they were the only ones in the store that fit. I had a pair of JL Mercers custom made for me that I just couldn't get to fit. Including a visit to San Angelo, which I recommend anyway. It's a great place to visit. Where else is the museum staff carrying a Colt revolver in a cavalry holster, or letting you handle a 150 year old rifle?

And the Pecan store outside of town sold me the best tasting pecans that I have ever bought.

But the boots never fit right.
 
Check out Tony Lamma and Luchese. Both companies have a wide variety of boots and you can sometimes save alot on a style number that is being discontinued. Companies often liquidate discontinued styles on their sites, and on Ebay. Best of luck to you.
 
Well, bringing it back to life, I did end up with the White's Hathorn Dress Cowboys. Req'd photo:

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I went with the mini lug Vibram outsole. With the heavy leather slip and insoles, they still conform to my feet, but give enough traction to be comfortable.

Initally (as expected) they were very tight. After a week, they really felt great. After two weeks, I didn't want to take them off.

I'm a happy camper. Thanks for all the advice!
 
Rios of Mercedes half-quill ostrich. Mine are now on their second re-sole, and with a good polish, the uppers look almost new. Thought I paid too much when I bought them 3+ years ago, but they are turning out to be some of the least expensive I've owned.
 
Interesting thread. I have no earthly use for a pair of Whites, but now I find myself lusting after a set!
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Sammi's point above about one's foot size changing sure is true. I have a pair of boots -- Billy Martin brand but I dunno who made 'em -- iguana, I think, that I paid $250 for in 1988 in NYC. Used to wear 'em all the time. Had 'em resoled at least once.

They're 11 1/2. It took a doc to tell me in the middle '90s that my feet had grown, which is why I had a planars wart or whatever it was, messin' up the bottom of my foot, me limping around with a cane. I'd been 11 1/2 since high school, and I never realized my feet could get bigger. I was a size 12 and my shoes were a size too small! Then I realized last year that I am now a size 13. Shoes or boots that fit sure are a lot more comfortable than a size or two too small!

Say, maybe if I lose about 50-60 lbs my feet will shrink and I can climb back into my old boots?!
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Them thar lug soles is cool as coyote crap until you don't take them off and leave manure imprint in the pattern of the sole on Momma's carpet.
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You kin scrape stuff off of the smooth ones a whole lot better.
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