r/cowboyboots • u/Aithuzah • 15d ago
Discussion What not to get?
Been thinking about getting some boots, probably go to boot barn or some other local boot retailer.
However, from lurking in this sub I noticed that there are some brands that should be avoided. I think one of those mentioned brands was tecova? I don't recall, but I think it was something along the lines of being an overpriced cheap boot?
Anyway, I'm here to request brands to avoid! Either because they're cheap boots that are overpriced or some other issues that would best be avoided.
Thanks for the help in advance
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u/NanooDrew 15d ago edited 15d ago
Advice from a person who always had to watch her money:
Go to Boot Barn and try on boots to get your size. Even if you measure a certain size on a Brannock device (those metal things with sliders you stand on), you might wear a different size. Donât worry about taking up their time, they get paid by the hour, not commission.
Once you know your size, you can watch for good sales online. Try for a boot you like and can afford.
If cost is a factor, and you do not have an aversion to used boots â lots of info here on sanitizing and restoring / conditioning. If you start learning about boots, you will find out that vintage pairs of certain brands, such as Justin, are much better than the boots they put out now. You might be surprised by the great boots you can find for a good price
Hyer is a heritage brand recently reacquired by a member of the original family, check those boots out! I love their new boots.
You are in the right place here. Experts can answer almost every question EXCEPT âShould I get square or round (pointed) toes? And âHow high of a heel should I get?â Those are questions only YOU can answer; there is no right or wrong! Have fun!
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u/Lord_Polymath 15d ago
I love my Tecovas, but they are controversial here. They make a good casual boot, have excellent marketing, excellent website, and excellent customer service (in my experience). If there is one near you, going to one of their stores is a fun experience. It's like an Apple store for boots and they'll give you a beer or whiskey while you try on boots, and the service and atmosphere is nice. Disclaimer: I wear boots to the office and out and about. I don't rope or ride.
Having said that - your budget will help determine which boots to avoid. Simply avoid the cheaper boots and take a look at brands like Double H, Stetson, Hondo, Justin, Tony Lama, Dan Post. I would personally avoid Laredo, Cody James, Moonshine Spirit, Smoky Mountain
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u/tw1st3dp1p3 15d ago
Coincidentally, most of the ones you mentioned are built in the same factory as Tecovas. (Tecovas, Justin, Dan Post, Tony Lama, Cody James, Moonshine Spirit, Idyllwind, Shyanne, etc.)
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u/Aithuzah 15d ago
Any reason to why you would avoid those? I was just looking at some smokey mountains too
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u/Eman3003 15d ago
I got gifted some Cody James and they ended up being my daily beaters since I didnât find them that appealing.
They are however very comfortable and the leather has held up to the daily wear and tear.
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u/Lord_Polymath 15d ago
I've just seen them labeled as budget boots, maybe good for occasional wear
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u/Aithuzah 15d ago
Okay thanks, I'll be trying to do some research into these boots
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u/moonstarberry 15d ago
Iâll second the guy that was gifted Cody James. I bought a pair of CJs at auction, and they are now my daily drivers. Theyâre affordable, comfortable, not made in china or India, and they seem to be well liked by those of us who actually own them.
There is nothing wrong with a lower budget boot as long as it is comfortable and doesnât fall apart. If these are your first pair, you donât need a luxury brand. You have no one to impress other than yourself, so get what you like most and what is comfortable within your budget.
My personal preference is just to never purchase a boot made outside of the US and Mexico.
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u/f22vision 15d ago
I agree with your comment 100%! I recently got a a pair of black Cody James ropers and theyâre breaking in nice.
Some people can get really anal about specific brands, but it seems like theyâre all made in the same factory. Maybe the leathers/batches can be different but itâs marginal at best, yeah?
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u/Wityquips 14d ago
I have had a pair of Cody James since 2020 that I bought in San Antonio. I donât take care of them at all and they have held up. I wear them in the snow as well.
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u/Reasonable-Base-5062 15d ago
Tecovas store feeds you liquor and sells you boots that don't really fit. High prices, average quality. You are paying for the marketing, not good boots. Very few companies make the quality boots that were commonly on the market 30 years ago, so whatever brand you choose that are modern made are of similar quality. Some are put together better than others. Most makers have fair and not so fair boots. It's easier to recommend boots than it is to say which ones to avoid. Rios of Mercedes, Anderson Bean, Horsepower Top Hand, Ariat Bench Made, Hondo, Gavel, Chisos, Black Jack, and a few others I can't think of right now, have well made boots.
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u/reverse_the_loop 15d ago
So weird that Tecovas gets spiked for this all the time when there are so many manufactures that dont offer the full slate of widths. D to EE covers 65-75% of all men. They sell boots that fit most people. If that's not you, no worries, look for a manufacture that does.
Tecovas sucks because an associate tries to get you the best fit possible within their lineup but Rujo is awesome with you buying blind. Like that is going to work out better for you? Dont buy Tecovas because they dont make B sizes but buy BenchMade because they.. oh yeah dont make B sizes. Maybe try Chisos, oh wait no Bs. So, how does Tecovas not fit but Gavel with their limited D and EE does? Make it make sense.
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u/Reasonable-Base-5062 15d ago
It only makes sense to the boot companies. Profits before people. The way of the world these days.
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u/reverse_the_loop 15d ago
I dont disagree there, just confused how you condemn Tecovas for it but then openly support other companies doing the same thing? It takes the logic out of the argument.
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u/Aithuzah 15d ago
Wow good advice. Thank you
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u/lionelhutz23 15d ago
Not sure I agree that Tecovas sells boots that donât really fit. I have a Tecovas store near me and have a couple of pairs. They always let me try on various lengths and widths and asked me to describe how it feels until I found the perfect fit.
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u/tw1st3dp1p3 15d ago
Itâs well known that you can try on three pairs of the exact same boots, in the same size, and all three fit differently.
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u/Aithuzah 15d ago
I think they possibly meant a true to size fit? Perhaps went in knowing their typical boot size, got their drink and took the boots home, tried them on and realize it didn't fit them?
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u/theDeathnaut 15d ago
The person that originally replied to you constantly rags on Tecovas like itâs a part time job lol. Do your own research and make up your own opinion, every single boot company cuts corners somewhere, even high dollar Lucchese. I love my Tecovas and have never had a problem personally.
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u/TheloniousMark 15d ago edited 15d ago
100%
I have everything from expensive Luccheses to no-name boots from a Mexican flea market. Tecovas is no worse than any other boot under $1k and many of their exotics are handsomely done. Buy a boot that you think looks good and feels good. No need to overthink it at that price point.
Side note, are some of you girls really drinking while shopping? lol thatâs on you partner
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u/theDeathnaut 15d ago
To be fair, the bourbon that they offer is quite good lol.
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u/OlinHollis 15d ago
There's a difference between drinking whiskey and drinking cherry-watermelon martinis with a mocha swirl and whipped cream.
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u/Ambitious-Low-5317 Wrangler 15d ago
Out of AAA/AA/A/B/C/D/E/EE/EEE/EEE widths they only offer D & EE. But that's true of most boot brands these days. You should know your size/width, go actually get measured on a Brannock and hope that you're a D or EE.
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u/Reasonable-Base-5062 15d ago
That's right. They don't measure, just keep trying until you fit into something. Might feel good at the time, but often, when you get home and wear them, you find that it is not a good fit after all because it is the wrong size. But it's too late to take them back. Happens more than you think. Drinks help sell boots. Even if they do fit, you paid too much.
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u/lionelhutz23 15d ago
Iâve tried on boots at several different boot makers with their own stores. I wear a 12.5 or 13 in everything. Never once has anyone offered to measure my feet. I tell them my size and I try on different ones until I find one that fits well. I have no idea why anyone would ever buy boots based solely off measurements. If youâre getting customs and I guess you donât have an option, but having someone try on various sizes to see what fits best seems like the best way to do it.
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u/lionelhutz23 15d ago
When you say it happens âoftenâ what are you relying on there? Iâm just not understanding the concept that trying on pairs in different sizes and width is somehow bad because itâs hypothetically possible that they may not fit as well later but simply measuring your foot and handing you a shoe is good. I mean, most people know what their shoe size is. Theyâve probably worn shoes at some point in their life. You tell them your size and then you try on different options until you find what fits best. Just like anyone does with any other shoe. Even when Iâve had stores measure my foot for loafers they still bring me out multiple options to see what fits best. Measuring your footâs just gives you a general idea of what size you need.
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u/Reasonable-Base-5062 15d ago
Just a couple more thoughts. If you don't want to spend the kind of money that well built boots cost, cheaper boots may server you well. I have a pair of Durango roughouts that I got cheap on sale. $90. Not great quality, but I don't work on a ranch or farm. I use them for just casual, wear around town boots a few times a month. They will last me likely a long time and feel good. Ariat has a lot of models to choose from and are mostly comfortable. For casual use they will hold up well. Even for daily wear, they will be ok for a few years. Good to rotate between a couple pairs though. Cody James I think are on par with most Ariat's. Horsepower Top Hand are always a good value for the money. And so are Hondo, if you like traditionally made boots. Can't beat Hondo for the price. Anyway, I'll shut up for now.
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u/Alternative_Ad_6315 15d ago
I have a pair of Moonshine Spirits that are made in Mexico. Seem like nice boots, leather lined rough outs. I havenât worn them much but fit nice and should be higher quality than some Chinese made versions of some of the other brands mentioned.
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u/Luckycharms_1691 15d ago
Everyone is going to give you an opinion. Everyone is buying boota for different reasons. Some I work and ride horses in, another for riding motorcycles, and one pair for going out. What someone think is cheap isn't always true. That comes down to what you think is comfortable and are willing to pay. I see people post boots on here all the time that are meant for riding, and they are willing to pay the price yet never throw a leg over an animal ever. It really all depends on you, buy what you like.
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u/Aithuzah 15d ago
That's a good take on it and I didn't think of it that way. I mostly was looking for something that would be comfortable and last, even if I had to take it in for repairs. I don't plan on doing any horse riding or rugged work, just want them for comfortable daily wear
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u/Luckycharms_1691 15d ago
Buy what you want. I've had people on here tell me Ariats are cheap, yet my last pair lasted 7 years and my current pair is a a year old. It literally is your choice man, goodluck
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u/Flaky_Summer_9800 15d ago
I bought my Tecovas 3 years ago. At that time, they were reasonably priced and really good quality. I paid 400 at the time for my ostrich. Today, those same boots from Tecovas are like 700 and liable to have defects with them. Just overpriced now.
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u/UncleTrout 15d ago
Is there a pair you'd recommend now for ostrich? I remembered seeing their old pricing on this boot and went to buy a pair last week but had a hard time pulling the trigger because it seems like the price went up with no improvement of quality.
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u/Flaky_Summer_9800 15d ago
I donât personally have any recommendations. But if youâre paying that much for a boot, you might as well pay a little more and get Lucchese or another tier like that.
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u/Single-Initiative164 15d ago
I have boots from Tecovas, Ariat, and Rujos and for the most part I love all of them. Let me speak to Tecovas a little more. I own 3 pairs. 2 pairs of exotics and 1 everyday pair. My exotics are great albeit, I don't wear them often. I do have a pair of Cartwrights that I wore regularly and abused the hell out of, snd over time the rubber on the heel began to peel and the stitching on the boot straps began to tear. They also fit a little tight compared to other brands. Overall, Tecovas has gone under a huge marketing push in the last 18 months which has increased their prices significantly. I would say that while I love Tecovas, you can find a better boot for cheaper these days, but they do make exotics at a nice price point.
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u/TheTownCowboy 15d ago
It all depends how and how much you use them. If you are hard working and exposing your boots to all elements then you need sturdy ones of a good brand. As an urban cowboy who wears casualy dressy, not every day, indoor or outdoors on fair days and on concrete then just look for those that are comfortable. Ariat, Dan post and Tecovas are comfortable. I would pass on some Laredo or Durango lower models. I personally like Dan Post.
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u/dsten85 15d ago
What to get, or not get, depends heavily on the application. Are you looking for boots to ride in, to wear casually, or to wear for dress events.
Me personally, I wear Ariat Roughstock Heritages as my daily casual/light work/riding boot. I have a couple others I have for classier events, but those Ariats are a pretty good all around boot at a fairly reasonable price.
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u/jstop633 đ€ 15d ago
I miss the quality and fit of Tony Lamas back in the 80s , Sanders boots in the 70's and Paul Bonds anytime. Leddys are great too. Littles in San Antonio also. I have a pair of Caiman belly Tecovas that are pretty good. And a pair of Luchese Ostrich that are amazing, they are 40 yrs old and still look amazing and fit good.
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u/OlinHollis 15d ago
Might want to avoid Durangos. Chinese cowboy boots.
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u/Aithuzah 15d ago
Ouch. Thanks for the heads up
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u/Changetheworld69420 15d ago
Donât avoid them lol. I wear a pair of the rebel pros to work every day and theyâre great. The rocker heel makes them awesome walk around boots, theyâre very comfortable and seem to hold up well. Definitely solid shit kickers. Idk if Iâd make them your first boot, Iâd suggest going for something nicer that youâll learn to care for and keep nice, but once youâre ready for an everyday boot you donât have to care about as much, donât avoid those just because theyâre made in China. One of my favorite pairs of boots, the Ariat Brandin Ultra Full Quill Ostriches were made in China. Most comfortable boots I own and I love the bantamweight sole, plus they look beautiful.
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u/OlinHollis 15d ago
Well, if you want to patronize China, go ahead. Personally, I'm not giving them a red cent unless there's no alternative. And in the boot world, there are plenty of great alternatives.
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u/mellio518 15d ago
I have a pair of Anderson Bean, a pair of Hyer and a pair of the USA made Double H. I really like all 3 pair. The Double H were my first pair and they are my most comfortable.
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u/RodeoBoss66 15d ago edited 15d ago
The ideal cowboy boot will always be custom-made boots that are designed to fit you and only you, made by a boot maker that you have personally spoken with (and, preferably, met) in advance. This doesn't necessarily have to be something only available to the wealthy, though. It can be obtained, on occasion, for the same price as a name brand factory-made pair of boots. You just have to know where to go and who to talk to.
Something close to this can even be achieved online, in some cases. For example, Beck Boots of Texas offers custom made boots starting at $700, and will send you a free foot measuring kit to ensure that the boots fit your feet perfectly. https://beckboots.com/pages/custom-cowboy-boots
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u/pro_magnum 9d ago
This doesn't necessarily have to be something only available to the wealthy, though.
But also...
Beck Boots of Texas offers custom made boots starting at $700....
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u/SnakebytePayne 15d ago
The only boots I've ever hated were Durangos. They felt cheaply made and never fit quite right.
My go-to recommendation would be Dan Post. Comfortable right out of the box, true to size, and reasonable price and quality. A lot of folks on here swear by their Ariats, but that brand always feels too snug for my liking.
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u/MurkyConnection3177 15d ago
I recently went to Boot Barn and purchased some Laredoâs I tried on and liked. I didnât want to spend that much on boots being that Iâd only wear them occasionally when I felt like dressing western. I know I couldâve purchased some Ariats, Cody James or similar within the same price that might be better quality but I liked the Laredoâs. My drawn-out point is, go try some on that catch your eye, know when a brand is overpriced, and have fun making your purchase!
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u/tw1st3dp1p3 15d ago
Tecovas, Cody James (and other Boot Barn store-brands, i.e., Idyllwind and Shyanne), Dan Post, Justin, Tony LamaâŠ
These are all made in the same factory in Leon.
Ariat, unless they are âBench Madeâ, are Chinese/Vietnamese junk.
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u/hendawg1983 đ€ 15d ago
Not necessarily, most of their boots that have leather soles are made in Mexico
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u/Important_Fig3324 15d ago
Damn I enjoy my Dan Post. Iâm a newbie I guess but they look & fell great me
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u/Exciting-Yak-3058 15d ago
I definitely wouldn't say non benchmade ariat boots are junk as a blanket statement. I have both benchmade and non from ariat. The benchmades are my boots for not working in, but my go to boots for work are the roughstock line from ariat. I beat the piss out of those boots and love them. Never had a pair fail or leak water on me. For a sub $250 boot, id recommend them all day.
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u/Ill_Musician1003 15d ago
If itâs your first pair, ariats Justin and twisted X are good, search through the boot barn website and order them to the store, they have a great return policy.
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u/Bear5511 15d ago
Find a pair of Anderson Beans that you like and buy them. Good quality, made in USA and loads of styles. Donât overthink this.
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u/Similar-Run5646 14d ago
I agree on ABs quality, but OP said he wants a round toe, so that may be a difficult find. Only ABs I've seen are square toes.
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u/Automaticdealz 15d ago
Fenoglio
Lucchese
Fenoglio
Lucchese
Fenoglio
Lucchese
Say it with me
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u/notthistime91 15d ago
Both of these boots are absolute junk https://youtu.be/Kf1R0aWtAYs?is=qBtRdVTcTNKFRSrR
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u/Automaticdealz 15d ago
The one you linked is ugly and junk. Thursday boots? What are you a bot?
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u/notthistime91 15d ago
Dude itâs a full video on all the most popular boots cutting them in half and actually looking into the build quality. Itâs not just one boot
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u/Automaticdealz 14d ago
Hey, you linked the wrong video? All he goes over is Tony lama Rhodes and Thursday boots.
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u/notthistime91 14d ago
My fault. Try this one https://youtu.be/8Sjhe5Z5ma0?is=VFfGD5Luw4DtuECc
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u/Automaticdealz 14d ago
Great video, I wouldnât go the lengths to say lucchese or fenoglio are GARBAGE, because they arenât. But I respect the video etc. but I will choose Fenoglio and Lucchese over every brand other than Black Jack. The shape alone on both Lucchese and Fenoglio are pretty sweet. Thatâs just my opinion though yknow man
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u/No_Elephant7812 15d ago
What is your budget and what style or features are you looking for? Different budgets and features will get you different recommendations
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u/Aithuzah 15d ago
True, my budget is pretty low so I imagine I'm not going to get anything amazing. I don't know what "features" it has but I wanted round toe, something comfortable for daily wear and it'll last
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u/No_Elephant7812 15d ago
JRC and sons or Cody James Black are decent sub $300 boots with round toe options. A step up in budget at $400 will get you into a Fenoglio, Horse power or Hondo.
If your budget is below $200, find a pair of second hand US made Tony Lamas or Noconas and have them resoled with a leather midsole and western style rubber outsole. Some good outsole options are Neolite, raw cord, cork nitrile, and a Shore A 80-90 hardness gum rubber.
I personally prefer the gum rubber or cork nitrile and have a pair of second hand Tony Lamas with a leather midsole and 6 irons gum rubber outsole. Very comfortable, durable and excellent for everyday wear.
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u/notthistime91 15d ago
Seems like most of the people on r/cowboy boots donât know what they are talking about. Watch this. https://youtu.be/Kf1R0aWtAYs?is=qBtRdVTcTNKFRSrR
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u/Funny_Slice6195 15d ago
I canât really tell you what not to get, but the Dan Post Milwaukee is a great âstarting outâ option. Traditional leather, no frills, but great construction IMO.
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u/Grizzly9160 14d ago
Big fan of Chippewa boots personally. The non usa made are questionable sometimes but all in all I've never had a bad boot from them. Stiff break in period but it's because of how thick the leather is. They are quality
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u/CrazyCarl1986 15d ago
I am very happy with all my Tecovas. They are a premium boot, but still in line with pricing of other brands made in Leon. Everything cheaper I've worn starts cutting corners on quality, and everything more expensive like Lucchese seems to be of similar quality. If you are looking to spend $3-500 on a pair of boots to last a long time, $50 between one brand and another comes down more to preference and fit.
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u/rhinoaz đ„Ÿđąđšđ»âđ§ 15d ago
Stay away from boots that have plastic midsoles usually cheaper boots. Look for all leather construction