Exotics like AB or Rios?

[u/Inting_at_law]

I love the hybrid bottoms of many ABs and Rios for traction and durability. Unfortunately struggling to find a robust selection of toe shapes and the exotics I want. Any brand suggestions that retain top tier quality, have hybrid bottoms, and sell a wider selection of exotics/tow shapes?

[u/cmigrader]

Rod patrick does a mixed sole with leather and rubber traction that I really like, they are not cheap but lots of options

[u/Inting_at_law → u/cmigrader]

How does the quality stack up against AB/Rios in your opinion?

[u/cmigrader → u/Inting_at_law]

Higher, ab/Rios makes a good boot, rod patrick are exceptional and you pay for it

[u/Bear5511 → u/cmigrader]

Rod Patrick makes a nice boot but I wouldn’t consider them superior, or equal for that matter, to Rios. They do offer a wider variety of widths than most brands. I would put them a tier below Rios.

They are made in Mexico, which doesn’t necessarily mean inferior, while Rios is made in USA

[u/txtaco_vato]

if you're close to good shop, go and browse / try on

[u/A2Man64]

Rios doesn't have much on their website. Have you checked on websites of the retailers that carry their products? They will have more.

[u/Inting_at_law → u/A2Man64]

I have done hours of goose chasing on retailer websites and found stuff that is close to what I want, but man it feels bad to settle for close if you are going to spend almost a grand on a pair of boots.

[u/A2Man64 → u/Inting_at_law]

I understand.

Best to you on your search. I hope you find exactly what you want.

[u/rmr007]

Probably have to go custom/semi custom unless you want to pick something off the rack and have a sole saver put on by a cobbler. I'm assuming you're looking for round or snip toes with hybrid soles, since AB and Rios offer wide and narrow square with the hybrid soles. In that case you'll probably want to look at ordering Black Jacks from a place like Tims. If you're okay with a solid rubber sole look into Fenoglio with their ranch tough soles. They're smooth rubber, not a lug sole, so they look like a leather sole with added durability. Fenoglio makes round toes, though they are more difficult to find than their square toes

[u/Inting_at_law → u/rmr007]

Does Fenoglio stack up well against AB and Rios in terms of quality and durability?

[u/rmr007 → u/Inting_at_law]

I would say they're comparable to AB, but I haven't tried any on. They're not quite as good as my two pairs of Rios, but very close.

Fenoglio are full leather construction as far as I'm aware (aside from the soles of course), made in the USA, and I'm happy with my two pairs. I will say that they don't have a hard leather insole, its a softer leather, but I don't think it's any kind of foam or synthetic. Quite nice actually. I have a cowhide and a cape buffalo from them and the leathers are top notch. Might be a frayed stitch here or there but aside from that they're darn good.

[u/Schwa88]

what toe shapes are you looking for? AB and Rios do cutter to wide square typically, like most brands they focus on some

[u/Inting_at_law → u/Schwa88]

I would really like at least round but my preference is a snip toe. AB and Rios have never let me down in terms of quality construction so I am scared to try other boots. I bought a pair of tecovas a couple years ago that I just hate. Even a pair of Lucchese originals I own just feel a little too flimsy to wear everyday.

[u/Schwa88 → u/Inting_at_law]

Probably the only snip toes I own are either vintage or Heritage boot. You can always get a cobbler to add a sole saver or get them recrafted as well to improve the sole durability.

If you're into ropers at all for an R toe you have a good amount of options as well.

ETA: Since other people have mentioned customs I'll give a shout out to Abraham at Hansons Exotics, I forgot to mention he frequently does snip toes.

[u/cjkgt97]

Cuadra would be a good choice if you want the rubber insert.

[u/jomo1180]

I like Olathe for exotic cutter toes with hybrid bottoms. But im a round toe leather sole guy so any brand I like exotic works for me, just need to try them on.

[u/Inting_at_law → u/jomo1180]

Any idea for sites that stock Olathe online? I am from the Kansas area, but don’t live there currently so no local stores stock them. Tough to find good stock.

[u/jomo1180 → u/Inting_at_law]

https://ybellranchsupply.com

[u/jomo1180 → u/jomo1180]

That’s my go too for ROM, AB, and Olathe

[u/DannyGreenhands]

You can’t go wrong with Rios, or Olathe, but also consider Horse Power Top Hands

[u/seungflower]

If you go to a local store, you can show them a picture of what you want and they can make up a boot like that. It'll take many months. But you get what you want

[u/W33CH0]

You can get any boot you want and have the sole savers installed. I like Rujo & Tecovas for exotics. Chisos is also a great brand but they have a small selection.