Cowboy Boots

[Hurricane Jack]

Remember sizing my feet the same way at J. C. Penney. Maybe that's why I have bunions.

LOL!

 

[KY Gentleman]

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/22/arnold-darby-inmate-cobbler_n_4488642.html

View attachment 119947

Great story!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

There was nothing like getting your first new pair of cowboy boots as a right of passage. Harness boots & ropers don't count.

 

[Bamaboots]

Still remember getting mine, probably around the same age as that kid on the cover. Not a lot of kids wearing them where I was going to school and took some heat over them from the "cool" kids. I don't guess it discouraged me.

 

[SHatfield]

Hello all,
Long time member, infrequent poster. I've been scouring the net and looking at all sorts of boots. I currently own a pair of Lucchese that I really do love. I probably paid a couple hundred bucks several years ago as the store was closing them out. I've been looking at Luccheses, Rios of Mercedes and Tony Lama's. Don't know anything about the last two. Can anyone tell me anything about sizing/arch differences. I know my Lucchese's have a slightly high arch which I kind of like. I've heard folks on here say Rios have flat arch supports, but on their video, they say they have arch support in them?
Can anyone give me any recent sizing comparison experience? Thanks bunches.
Steve

 

[Aaronlowe]

There was nothing like getting your first new pair of cowboy boots as a right of passage. Harness boots & ropers don't count.

That and the incredible smell of the leather. These days I often go into the local horse tack shop just to get a "hit" of that leather smell. It brings back so many memories of being a kid and going to the local western store with my parents.

 

[Bamaboots]

These don't turn up in the wild very often.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mens-Vinta...469262?hash=item48ad24188e:g:UKsAAOSwatdbBzgZ

 

[Joao Encarnado]

I have small feet -.-'

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I have small feet -.-'

You know what they say...small hands, small feet, little -.-'

 

[BobHufford]

These don't turn up in the wild very often.
View attachment 120284
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mens-Vinta...469262?hash=item48ad24188e:g:UKsAAOSwatdbBzgZ

Saw those. Wondering how snug that B width might be...

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Saw those. Wondering how snug that B width might be...

Vintage boots run narrow anyway & these will go for big bucks.

 

[Bamaboots]

Saw those. Wondering how snug that B width might be...

Don't know, Bob. I've dealt with that seller a few times and he's spot on about his measurements and description. He's got another pair he says are Lusk boots with a good BIN but too narrow for me. I thought about buying them for shelf boots but I've never seen a Lusk boot with a toe bug though the stitching looks accurate.

 

[Aaronlowe]

Hello all,
Long time member, infrequent poster. I've been scouring the net and looking at all sorts of boots. I currently own a pair of Lucchese that I really do love. I probably paid a couple hundred bucks several years ago as the store was closing them out. I've been looking at Luccheses, Rios of Mercedes and Tony Lama's. Don't know anything about the last two. Can anyone tell me anything about sizing/arch differences. I know my Lucchese's have a slightly high arch which I kind of like. I've heard folks on here say Rios have flat arch supports, but on their video, they say they have arch support in them?
Can anyone give me any recent sizing comparison experience? Thanks bunches.
Steve

Hey Steve,
My experience with all three brands is that Rios and Lucchese are similar in fit but I'd say that Rios is a bit snugger when comparing exact sizes (I wear 11.5B in both brands). TL isn't really the same category in quality as they are a bit more mass produced (before you TL fans start to scream, I have 2 pair of custom TL that were made when I worked in the industry and worked with Justin Brand. They are nice boots, but not the same level as the other two brands). Regarding arch support, traditional cowboy boots have flat footbeds and the claim on arch support is really more about the stiffness in the shank of the boot. Modern boots that use an athletic type insole will really be better for you foot overall (again, traditionalists will scream, but modern footwear is eons better for your feet than traditionally constructed footwear. Go run a marathon in a pair of plimsoles and let me know how that works out for you).

My advice is find several really good stores with experienced fitters and go seek their advice. If you have to make a day trip out of it, so be it. The time investment will be worth it because boots these days aren't cheap. It's better than purchasing a pair that you painfully learn don't fit all that well. I don't know where you're located, but Lucchese has several corporate-owned stores in the US, and Pinto Ranch has master fitters too. You can also make an appointment at Rios with one of their master fitters (that's on my bucket list) too.

I hope this helps and please share with us what you end up buying.

 

[RJR]

Hey Steve,
My experience with all three brands is that Rios and Lucchese are similar in fit but I'd say that Rios is a bit snugger when comparing exact sizes (I wear 11.5B in both brands). TL isn't really the same category in quality as they are a bit more mass produced (before you TL fans start to scream, I have 2 pair of custom TL that were made when I worked in the industry and worked with Justin Brand. They are nice boots, but not the same level as the other two brands). Regarding arch support, traditional cowboy boots have flat footbeds and the claim on arch support is really more about the stiffness in the shank of the boot. Modern boots that use an athletic type insole will really be better for you foot overall (again, traditionalists will scream, but modern footwear is eons better for your feet than traditionally constructed footwear. Go run a marathon in a pair of plimsoles and let me know how that works out for you).

My advice is find several really good stores with experienced fitters and go seek their advice. If you have to make a day trip out of it, so be it. The time investment will be worth it because boots these days aren't cheap. It's better than purchasing a pair that you painfully learn don't fit all that well. I don't know where you're located, but Lucchese has several corporate-owned stores in the US, and Pinto Ranch has master fitters too. You can also make an appointment at Rios with one of their master fitters (that's on my bucket list) too.

I hope this helps and please share with us what you end up buying.

+1

 

[SHatfield]

Aaron and Bob thanks for the input. After what I considered much online research, and after talking with the folks at Pinto Ranch on the phone, (they seem to have an excellent customer rating) I ordered a pair of TL Signature Series Boots with kangaroo vamp and heel for about $700(my price range), with the understanding that I could return them for sizing issues. It was between this pair and a pair of Lucchese Classic baby buffalo's at about the same price point. I was torn, but I wanted to try TL.

The Lucchese's that I own are the 2000 series in calf. Pretty old. They are a 10 2E. I bought them as they were pretty close back then and they were the only pair the store had as they were closing them out.

The fella I spoke to at PR said there were many problems with the 2000 series Luccheses with a lot of returns.

I had also considered Rios, but he said he'd be hesitant to recommend a size without an actual measurement when it came to Rios of Mercedes.

He recommended that I start by ordering my "normal" shoe size to start which is a 10D.

That's what I ordered in the TL.

If they don't work out, I may opt for the Lucchese's.

There is "very" little recent information on boot brands, boot reviews, YouTube, etc..

Hard for folks to investigate accurate recent information.

Thanks again

Steve

 

[Joao Encarnado]

You know what they say...small hands, small feet, little -.-'

My hands are not small... and I don't think my feet are small, but comparing with most of you... Hobbits seems to exist xD

 

[Aaronlowe]

Aaron and Bob thanks for the input. After what I considered much online research, and after talking with the folks at Pinto Ranch on the phone, (they seem to have an excellent customer rating) I ordered a pair of TL Signature Series Boots with kangaroo vamp and heel for about $700(my price range), with the understanding that I could return them for sizing issues. It was between this pair and a pair of Lucchese Classic baby buffalo's at about the same price point. I was torn, but I wanted to try TL.

The Lucchese's that I own are the 2000 series in calf. Pretty old. They are a 10 2E. I bought them as they were pretty close back then and they were the only pair the store had as they were closing them out.

The fella I spoke to at PR said there were many problems with the 2000 series Luccheses with a lot of returns.

I had also considered Rios, but he said he'd be hesitant to recommend a size without an actual measurement when it came to Rios of Mercedes.

He recommended that I start by ordering my "normal" shoe size to start which is a 10D.

That's what I ordered in the TL.

If they don't work out, I may opt for the Lucchese's.

There is "very" little recent information on boot brands, boot reviews, YouTube, etc..

Hard for folks to investigate accurate recent information.

Thanks again

Steve

Hey Steve,

I'm glad you ordered a pair that you like and you think will work for you. All we ask are that you post pics once you receive.

 

[SHatfield]

Here they are. Appear to be well made, Kangaroo is very supple. My left foot is a tad smaller than my right so heel slip is a little more. They're very comfortable.

 

[Bamaboots]

View attachment 120569 View attachment 120570 View attachment 120571 Here they are. Appear to be well made, Kangaroo is very supple. My left foot is a tad smaller than my right so heel slip is a little more. They're very comfortable.

Good looking. I've been a fan of TL boots for a long time but only of their boots from a long time ago. I only own two pair now, one pair of el Rey's from the 80's and another pair from the early 60's which are also kangaroo with a calf shaft so I am very interested in these newer offerings. What they've offered up since the 90's has been junk. Judging by the shaft stitching on yours, with the unevenness of some of the stitching, they appear to have been stitched one row at a time. Always a good thing. The arch shape looks good with good pegging. I am interested if these come with the traditional leather foot bed or did they add one of their cushioned insoles as they do on their lower end boots. I'm a fan of the traditional foot bed where the leather conforms to the wearers foot. Also, yours appear to be made of what they call the Alabama kangaroo, (I get a kick out of that) named in honor of the tannery where they used to get kangaroo from a Birmingham, England tannery.

Thanks for posting them.

 

[SHatfield]

Good looking. I've been a fan of TL boots for a long time but only of their boots from a long time ago. I only own two pair now, one pair of el Rey's from the 80's and another pair from the early 60's which are also kangaroo with a calf shaft so I am very interested in these newer offerings. What they've offered up since the 90's has been junk. Judging by the shaft stitching on yours, with the unevenness of some of the stitching, they appear to have been stitched one row at a time. Always a good thing. The arch shape looks good with good pegging. I am interested if these come with the traditional leather foot bed or did they add one of their cushioned insoles as they do on their lower end boots. I'm a fan of the traditional foot bed where the leather conforms to the wearers foot. Also, yours appear to be made of what they call the Alabama kangaroo, (I get a kick out of that) named in honor of the tannery where they used to get kangaroo from a Birmingham, England tannery.

Thanks for posting them.

Bamaboots, they have the leather footbed and liner. It is the Alabama Kangaroo. I found conflicting info regarding the quality of modern TL's and Lucchese or I might have gone with Lucchese. I don't have much boot experience and these are the most expensive boots I've ever bought.