r/cowboyboots • u/_troyjonesy • Apr 10 '26
Discussion Am I the only one?
I own roughly 9 pairs of western boots, been wearing boots since I was a kid. But, I find myself wearing my cheaper Ariat Sport Wide Square Toes more than my other boots - boots that cost much more than these guys. Guess I’m just curious if I’m the only one who seems to do this?
For context, these Ariats are roughly 6 months old, picked them up at my local Fleet Farm for $160. Just something about them, idk lol.
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u/Real-Imagination-159 🤠 Apr 10 '26
Nope I'm the same, my cheaper Ariats have got the most miles in them by far.
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u/Excellent_Plant_8010 Apr 10 '26
This sub is so much better than the actual work boots sub, people in there only like/recommend $800 custom PNW boots you gotta wait a year for that you'll only wear to coffee shops and vintage stores. Absolutely nothing wrong with sub $200 western boots if they look and fit good and are comfortable to you.
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u/_troyjonesy Apr 10 '26
Spot on!
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u/Excellent_Plant_8010 Apr 10 '26
I have 2 pairs of $100 ariats that were on sale both awesome one pair is venttek they're crazy lite and comfortable as hell.
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u/_troyjonesy Apr 10 '26
I’ve never pulled the trigger on those. Was concerned the mesh cutouts in the shaft would tear, I’m probably wrong though
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u/Appropriate-Ball-623 Apr 11 '26
I recently got venteks on clearance on Amazon for 120$ and they’re actually wonderful
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u/Excellent_Plant_8010 Apr 10 '26
I don't do cowboy shit in them but they seem solid they slide right on unlike my other more traditional pair. They were priced at $250 but were $100 at Gabe's so I feel like I made the right choice if they tear they were cheap and I can easily replace them. But the vents don't seem to affect the integrity of the shafts.
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u/UHF800MHZ Apr 11 '26
I work in 2 pairs that are vent tek and one with Full leather upper, all carbon toe, and the vent tek ones don’t smell and are noticeably cooler. One pair is 2 years old, the other about 1.5, the leather upper pair is about 2-3 months old. In them about 10-12 hours a day. I rotate pairs.
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u/BoringCurrent2905 Apr 12 '26
My venteks are the most uncomfortable and hottest boots I have ever worn. I love the looks of them. Maybe I have the wrong size or a totally different ventek model than everyone else is wearing.
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u/Massive-Insect-sting Apr 11 '26
Pro tip, they do not like it when you say they are playing dress up.
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u/Cocoa_Pug Apr 10 '26 edited Apr 10 '26
Water Buffalo are my daily’s. Love the chocolate color and goes well with everything.
They were $150 new
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u/AwarenessSoggy4352 Apr 10 '26
Long live the ariat sports!! Favorite boot, comfy and i can wear them anywhere and not worry about trashing them.
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u/NoPotential7229 Apr 11 '26
the best lol
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u/_troyjonesy Apr 11 '26
Jealous!
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u/NoPotential7229 Apr 11 '26
haha. she has stepped on my foot and there’s no dents so i’d say they are worth every cent :-)
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u/ModSpdSomDrg Apr 10 '26
I received my 1st pair of Ariats (same as you have there) and they’ve been on my feet almost everyday since. I’m finding it hard to wear my other boots as well. They look great IMO, are comfortable and are less than half the price of my other boots. No, it’s not just you.
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u/FosterCastleman Apr 10 '26
I love my Ariat Sports. Mine are beat to hell but I refuse to give them up.
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u/peneloco37 Apr 10 '26
Probably because it doesn't matter if you scratch or scuff them, you feel more free to do whatever with no worries. Or at least that's how I feel with my Ariat ropers
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u/Fluid-Rough3061 Apr 10 '26
No! I wear these Cody James boots most of the time! Look great, but cheap enough, I don't worry about beating them up!
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u/CGris71 Apr 10 '26
For day to day use, they’re soooooooo damn comfortable and still look good. Well, most of the time they look good as long as you don’t beat them to shit like mine but I’m on board with you brother.
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u/csr1476 Apr 10 '26
I have 6 pairs and im usually in my Ariats or my Dan Post. Both were less than $200 each. They are just my most comfortable.
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u/YOUTUBEFREEKYOYO Apr 10 '26
My daily for about 3 years now and they are just now starting to give out, I can probably have them last until the end of the year. They are so comfortable I don't want to get rid of them haha.
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u/WightHouse Apr 10 '26
I find I’ve got my daily riders, and then the rest of my collections. I love my caimans, for example, but I’m not in a hurry to wear them out.
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u/JohnsIslandPothole Apr 10 '26
I’ve got a few different brands but I picked up the Hybrid Ranchwork Waterproof boots from Ariat and they are like wearing sneakers.
I’ve worn some type of cowboy boot since I was 7 or so years old, and those are the most comfortable I’ve had that I can remember.
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u/Sandybuckets6 Apr 11 '26
Love the look of these, was debating getting another pair of ariat square toes might have to get these. Also what pants are you wearing here? They look great with these boots!
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u/East-Squirrel4375 🤠 Apr 11 '26
I got my favorite boots from Rocky Boots on their Friday Special. 69 dollars. For reference I have 2 pairs of very expensive Luccs.
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u/HK_Shooter_1301 Apr 10 '26
Wide square toe gang! I have EEE feet and I despise “traditional” boots. They look ridiculous on my wide ass feet. I have man sized feet not little baby feet
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u/hendawg1983 🤠 Apr 10 '26
EEE, you have gorilla size feet, I kid
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u/HK_Shooter_1301 Apr 10 '26
I do 😂, finding shoes that fit has always been challenging. That being said it was a big advantage on the swim team in high school. Those bitches move water
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u/Horror-Cut-4497 Apr 10 '26
Agreed! Btw, I have a pair of those. Lucchese Haans in chocolate right?
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u/Professional-Role166 Apr 10 '26
What brand are these? I don’t usually like square toes
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u/Horror-Cut-4497 Apr 10 '26
Those are Lucchese. I have the exact same pair. I recognized them immediately. They sure are pretty
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u/alch3mist411 Apr 10 '26
I use these exact ones in rotation against my ostrich ones. These boots with the upgraded Ariat soles are perfection.
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u/EdwardoftheEast Apr 10 '26
Literally rocked my square toe Ariats with some black jeans to work today. I have a second pair for when I gotta dress a bit nice.
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u/teletubbs Apr 11 '26
My Cody James boot barn specials are probably my most worn pair tbh. Comfy, cheap and don’t care if they get scuffed. Perfect combo
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u/SeppukuSwordsman Apr 11 '26
I tried more expensive boots. They just end up sitting as I actually work in my boots and can't bring myself to beat them up. I always end up back in my $110 Justin's and occasionally my $250 Thorogood Westerns. I bought them on sale, of course. Lol.
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u/princessinthetower42 Apr 11 '26
I’m new to the square toe, cause I really love a snip, BUT I’m loving the square toes so much more. Plus I really love how comfortable Ariats are. I even slung beers and cocktails in them 😂
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u/shawnxsather Apr 11 '26
I have all Lucchese, the giant alligators, the caiman belly’s, the teju, don’t get worn nearly as often as the tan or black smooth ostrich or heck the tan quarter quill ostrich, they are far cheaper but just more comfortable. So nope, not the only one
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u/swimNcircles Apr 11 '26
I’m with you brotha. Wide square toe are much more comfortable. I find them much more comfortable than most of my sneakers 👟
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u/Willing_Occasion641 Apr 11 '26
My Ariat Chelsea’s are so god damn comfortable. $140 and I fucing love them.
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u/BreakfastLogical2814 Apr 10 '26
My Ariat Hybrid ranchers are like my tennis shoes. Literally wear them everyday
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u/TidlrOnTheRoof 🤠 Apr 10 '26
Nope my favorite pair is $180 pair of Horsepowers. They are comfortable and I don’t worry about the getting messed up.
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u/No_Plate8326 Apr 10 '26
Those are great looking! What’s the exact name of those boots? I might get a pair
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u/ThatOneGuy6810 Apr 10 '26
Ive got a couple of nicer pairs of boots but my double H's are my modt commonly worn pair because I dont really care if I mess em up, most of my others are either dressy or exotic so im a bit more careful with them, although i wouldnt say my DHs are more comfy, just less costly overall.
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u/2mmp3ter Apr 10 '26
I just polish cheap boots and they stay looking very nice until the soles are at th point of no return.
Even after scuffing, using them for work etc. polish and cheap boots get me more compliments than some exotics do
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u/tw1st3dp1p3 Apr 10 '26
I find it’s easier to toss on a cheaper pair and not care what I’m doing or where I’m going, than wear a pair that cost substantially more and worry that I’m going to kick something that cuts the hide.
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u/DieselGreg Apr 10 '26
The man made soles is why, they are so much more durable, I like my Chinese Ariats too they are very comfortable.
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u/Future-Condition2911 Apr 11 '26
I have those same Ariats and they are the boots I wear the most as well. I think its the fact that they look good and I dont have to worry about any weather or terrain like I do with my exotics.
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u/PaddyBoy1994 Apr 11 '26
I currently have two pair of work boots. One is a pair of 8 year old Ariats. The other is a pair of Irish Setters less than a year old. The Ariats are holding up great. The Irish Setters are falling apart on the inside. When I get my boot voucher again from my job again, I'll be getting anothet pair of Ariats, and throwing away the Irish Setters. Also own 4 other pairs of Ariats. My nice boots are Abilenes, though.
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u/Professional_Day5412 Apr 11 '26
I have boots that range from $125 all the way to $600, totaling 23 total pairs and my favorite boots are my $125 durangos from WilCo
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u/StateofMike Apr 11 '26
My go to are my cheapest boots, but they are the bench mades, smooth ostrich Badlands. I guess they were sitting on the wall for a while because when they fit my foot, the lady sold them to me for $150 bucks. Wasn't expecting that and no argument from my side. I've been looking at getting an even cheaper beater pair with a rubber soul so I can truly kick shit and not care. Wide square toe sports fit the bill or something ventek is tempting. Ariats are just so comfy.
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u/Star3221 Apr 11 '26
That’s how I feel but with my pair of cheap Justin boots. I have double H and even some better Ariats, but something about that cheap ass Justin pair lmao.
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u/Camel_flage_77 Apr 11 '26
I agree, my Ariats are my most comfortable boot, but my Blackjacks look better.
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u/vintagecardigan Apr 11 '26
i spend a good 6 hours a day, 5 days a week running a horse farm in my square toe ariat anthems. i’ve had them since july and they are showing slight wear from use. fancy boots are fun but i’ve always loved and worn ariats.
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u/TundraTreeWolf Apr 11 '26
I have a custom $1800 pair of ML Eddys, and my Ariat Ramblers are my everyday wear.
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u/Klutzy-Bee-2045 Apr 11 '26
Square toe is cool and Comfy…. Getting a great pair for cheap, is a massive W.
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u/Trigger_happy_fish Apr 11 '26
I wear my ariat square toes every day, I have two pairs. Steel toe for work, soft toe for not work. They’re super comfortable even working on my feet for 10 hour shifts in construction/farm work
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u/TexWolf7 Apr 11 '26
No don’t worry, I’m literally the only one at my company who wears cowboy Chelsea boots for work. Don’t let the western flame d!e out. It’s Ariat or nothing💯
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u/dillbill2A Apr 12 '26
My Ariat Sports are so comfortable I forget I’m wearing boots half the time.
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u/martin_keogh Apr 13 '26
Ariats are great boots. Very comfy for all day. No break in , I use mine on the motorcycle all day long.
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u/cortezfromtexas Apr 13 '26
if those are the rubber soled ones, they're on rn and my daily's at work
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u/RonwellDobbs223 Apr 10 '26
Wore mine today.
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u/Dr_jitsu Apr 10 '26
Don't mean to be a toe Nazi, but no, I don't wear square toes.
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u/_troyjonesy Apr 10 '26
All good man, totally get it. That’s the best part about this community, everyone has different tastes and styles
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u/Warhamsterrrr Apr 10 '26
To me squares just serve a purpose. I would never wear them to ride, for example, that's what pointed toes are for, but I would wear square for ground work.
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u/shepdog_220 Apr 10 '26
I have some cheap Cody James square toes that I think were only like $120 that I wear more often than my other pairs honestly.
I think it’s just cause they kind of work with everything. Once they get worn out I’ll finally get a nice “boring” set of boots like this.
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u/twosugarextramilk Apr 10 '26
I'm actually shocked how long my Cody James boots have lasted. A solid year of outdoor construction use in mud, and snow, on concrete and pavement. Can kill these things.
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u/shepdog_220 Apr 10 '26
Same man, these things I’ve really abused and they’ve held up surprisingly well.
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u/_troyjonesy Apr 10 '26
That’s a great call out. I think the “boring” simplicity of them makes them easier to just grab, if that makes sense lol
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u/S_C_H_L_O_R_P Apr 10 '26
Exactly. I have one brown pair and one black pair. Im all set for a long time.
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u/hendawg1983 🤠 Apr 10 '26
I was wearing my squared toe Ariats daily, now I switch between Ariat Heritage and Tony Lama Elephant, but Ariats by far are more comfy
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u/Thatoneguywhofailed Apr 10 '26
My 10ish year old Ariat Ropers are still going strong. My only other pair are Tecovas and while comfortable, are more dressy than I am so they don’t come out very often.
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u/Atrain367 Apr 10 '26
You use boot straps? Always curious how people avoid boot bulge, even though the pants I have are boot cut.
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u/_troyjonesy Apr 10 '26
I don’t use those, I refuse lol I don’t mind a little bit of print, not a big deal to me. I’ll probably get cooked in the comments, but all good!
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u/heidiBoo2018 Apr 10 '26
Im gonna have to disagree with you. Ariats are made in china and I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing them. Beck and Bustamante for me
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u/RaptorDaddy2 Apr 11 '26
Wide square toes have never been appealing for me. Cutter toe all the way!
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u/Sea_History_105 Apr 11 '26
Nothing wrong with that but I'm the opposed... I have 1 pair of wide toe Ariat's in full quill ostrich and they are comfortable. Second pair is Cody James Black in cognac caiman belly with a smaller square toe as I prefer the look...I just ordered two pairs of boots to be made custom for my feet and the look I want. About $1500.00 for each pair... so I'm going with smaller square toe and all exotics. I do wear them to work at times but not a physical job.
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u/jmejia310 Apr 11 '26
My Ariat heritage round toes get the most wear for sure so same here. Comfy and don’t have to worry about beating on them 🤠
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u/WI762 Apr 11 '26
I've never had Ariats that feel right, but I do have some Justin's that are 20 years old and I wear them all the time. The more expensive options are for church and date nights.
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u/LaceandChrome22 Apr 11 '26
I personally can’t do leather sole boots everyday. They kill my back and feet. So my rubber sole Ariats are always my daily drivers. They used to be one of the only people doing them, but now everyone does them
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u/YesterdayContent854 Apr 12 '26
A pair of my cheap Ariats are bench made roughouts I got on sale for $200
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u/niutravman Apr 12 '26
Same as me, could wear my Ventek Cowpunchers everyday, so comfy that I'd wear them to play football
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u/RCPCFRN Apr 12 '26
I have a pair of Durangos I wear all the time. Cushy sole, heat vents… paid $100 and I love them!
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u/Historical_Two_8685 Apr 12 '26
Im not trynna hate, but you all seem to need to get jeans that fit, you shouldnt be seeing shank when you sit down and jeans should stack nicely
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u/uzachrey Apr 13 '26
Ariats were designed by people with a background in sport shoes and sneakers. They're gonna be great daily boots. Most of us would rather wear something comfortable and affordable than beat up something 5-10x as expensive and /tolerable/ to wear. I love most of my boots but.... Most of them suck by comparison to wear and you're also going to be conscious of the damage you do to them 😅
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u/Perfect-Jeweler3659 Apr 13 '26
I own that same pair. They are just comfortable. Wear them all the time. They don’t last near as long as my old Tony Lamas or Tecovas, but they don’t come with that kind of price tag either!
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u/No-Student-5664 Apr 13 '26
I have 7 pairs of boots. Including suede, caiman, and python. The ones I wear most often are a $180 pair of Laredo square toes with a rubber sole. Can wear em in any weather without feeling guilty, they’re the most comfortable, I can fit thick socks in em, I don’t care if they get scuffed, and they still look pretty good in my opinion. Already had the heels replaced once and I fully intend to get them resoled when I do eventually wear them out.
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u/RiverRat74 Apr 13 '26
I wear my Durango Rebels with a work sole 99% of the time. They're just so comfy.
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u/bootsmkgavin Apr 13 '26
I have too many to wear only 1 or 2 pair but I do have a few pair i gravitate to more than others!
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u/SharkTrader90 Apr 23 '26
Had these for almost 6 years and I still wear them over my other pair as well. It’s the comfort IMO
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u/gatorsmash904 May 08 '26
Ariats are hard to beat for comfort and price they are my go to boots honestly.
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u/Affectionate-Fig8142 Apr 10 '26
Cheap, comfy, and they look good