Moderators: carlson1, Charles L. Cotton
Anyone with a 2-steppin' past, present or future is very welcome here. Looks like I'll need to post some more pictures though, not enough boots in here so farapostate wrote:Do steel toed Red Wing boots count?
OK... I do have Justin ropers and a pair of semi-custom Nocona boots from back when I went two-steppin' at least one night a week in the late 90s.
THANK you! This will really help me make an informed decision on my first boot purchase! It is really appreciated!Carrots wrote:Good info, thank you Joe. These days (from what I have seen and what I know) the heel styles are pretty interchangeable across the "roper" "cowboy" & "buckaroo" styles. I prefer the look of the high under slung riding heels, but if my day is to involve a lot of walking then I do myself (and my feet) a favour and pick something else.
Modern Justin, Tony Lama & Nocona boots are just about OK. Not things that I would buy, but I appreciate that we all have our budgets. All of these makers put out a good product 20-30 years ago and a reasonable one as recently as 10yrs ago, but like so many things quality has gone down with the search for increasing revenue. Holding a new pair of Tony Lama in one hand and an old vintage pair in the other will tell you all that you need to know. The old Nocona boot factory is still up in Nocona (I stopped by when I was in the area) and now they make jeans and baseball gloves there. Who knows where they make Nocona boots now? Got to be either Mexico or the Far East. Foam insoles, sloppy stitching, low grade mismatched skins and made to last as long as your average pair of Nike trainers. No thanks! If you want a good pair of off the shelf modern boots look at Black Jack. They are not cheap, but they are not that expensive either when you consider the cost of these Vs the top tier of true handmade custom boots. Of course they are not going to be the same as made to measure customs, but they are well made and properly built, and they make for a very good comfortable boot that will wear well and provide a lot of service. Black Jack make their boots here in Tx, and if you can live without fancy exotic skins (I have trouble here) then they won't break the bank to much. Lucchese "Classics" (not the "1883" or "2000" or mad dog" or "resistol" lines that Lucchese make) are also about as good as you will get when it comes to off the shelf. Same kind of money as Black Jack, but whilst Lucchese is A "bigger" name in the boot world, the Black Jacks have the edge IMO. Actually the folks who started Black Jack worked for Lucchese but left when the big L "diversified" and started putting its name on sub-par product. Everyone needs at least one pair
You're welcome. As long as you get a good fit to begin with breaking them in is not such a big deal. Spend some time trying a few different sizes and widths on at the store (several stores if you can) and do not be afraid of having a big ol' wander around their establishment with them on. Different brands will fit and feel differently even if the marked size is the same, and so of course it is best to try on the brand that you are looking at and not just the competition where possible. Chances are that you will not be same size in boots as you are in sneakers/loafers. The socks that you wear can make a big difference in overall fit as well. Most places will be happy to measure you up and steer you from there. DO NOT be in a hurry even if the salesman is, as once you wear them outside they are yours and you'll be sorry if you drop $500+ on a great pair that you hate wearing. If in doubt go a bit big, as you will have more options to rectify that (insoles/thicker socks) if necessary, although with all of the available choice most folks will find a stock size that fits well straight off of the shelf. A bit big means a bit though, boots will stretch slightly with use and wear to conform to your feet and so if you start off loose they will only get looser which is not what you want. A boot with a round toe will measure up a little smaller than a pair with pointed toes, and so expect to go bigger if you choose the latter. Of course all of this assumes that you have a local shop that has the brands, sizes and styles that you are interested in. I usually buy my off the shelf boots direct from the maker and cut out the middle man, but to do so you will need to know what works. Most boot shops will be OK with you just trying on a bunch and doing some touching and feeling and then walking away if you are upfront as to what you are doing and leave the guy a small tip. Then you can order exactly what you want, either from that store, another store, online or directly from the maker. Most good shops will have a decent enough selection that you will be able to get a good enough handle on what's what even if they do not have exactly what you want . Of course if they do then you are in business. Black Jack is stocked at Cavenders which is not a bad place to dip your toe into the water. They have a reasonable selection and usually enough customers to keep the hawks away for the most part. I buy my boot care products there, and other accessories but never the boots themselves as I have quite particular taste. As far as actually breaking them in just wear them a little (a few hours at a time) and often and you'll do fine. A lot of the "cheap" stuff will not need it at all, but it is worth the smidge of effort that a finer pair will require. Happy hunting!pbwalker wrote:THANK you! This will really help me make an informed decision on my first boot purchase! It is really appreciated!
Any hints on the best way to break them in?
That made me smileFangs wrote:Mr. Exotic Cowboy Boot Wearer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiKBT0kDPUY
"If your feet are bare, every species is endangered..."
