Cowboy boots
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Cool. I'm totally in favor of going secondhand when getting a pair of cowboy boots. It's one of those rare products where the 20 year old version is often better than the brand new version. The fact that you can score plenty of nice ones for <$75 is just the icing on the cake.
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Mulling over getting my first pair of cowboy boots, and hoping the experts here can help me out.
I'm after something pretty simple, something that may, for the more dedicated enthusiasts, probably not be considered much of a "cowboy boot" at all. Perhaps somewhere between a cowboy and a pecos, if that makes sense. Would like to get them in brown roughout.
I was first considering a custom order for something like the Wesco Morrison or the Viberg Stallion, and was wondering how these boots would compare with more traditional cowboy boots in terms of fit, but also in terms of quality for the price?
But I also found a pair of used RRL Ridgeway Roper boots that fit my specs pretty well. Pics on Rakuten.
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/quarter/item/10000930/
I like the simple style of these, and they are also in my preferred leather (brown roughout). So, what do you think? Are these worth 250$? How would these compare with other cowboy boots available for a similar price? Any ideas on the fit of the RRLs?
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I think in general the style you're after would be considered a roper style boot (generally lower heels, rounder and roomier toe). The working ranchers I saw in Oklahoma all seemed to wear ropers. I think the Viberg and Wesco models you mentioned are aimed at that group of working cowboys as the toe is more of a fuller roper toe and the heel is lower than that usually associated with a cowboy boot.
That said, I like the RRL's. They appear to be well made and at the $250 price point they are attractive. Other opinions may differ but RRL is generally high quality. The RRL's appear to be rebuildable and they have a Vibram sole. Taking a quick look over at bootbarn, at that price you are really finding things at an equivalent range from 1883 Lucchese, Tony Lama, and usual suspects like Justin and Frye. I am by no means recommending those brands, I'm just saying that seems to be the comparable range at that pricepoint. As you will undoubtedly find out, Justin and Frye used to be reputable USA made brands but are now produced in mass quantities overseas; quality has suffered for it.
At the Viberg and Wesco pricepoint you could very well snag a custom pair from some of the great boot makers that gbougard and Chris highlighted a few pages back.
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I think astrogoji covered it pretty well. At $250, I doubt you'll find a better looking, better constructed boot than the RRL one you posted. If you like it, I'd say go ahead and buy it.
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Thanks guys! Really appreciate the help. You're right Chris, astrogoji did cover it well, and his comments (and yours) confirmed, more or less, what I was thinking.
I'm in Japan, and it's impossible for me to buy shoes here due to the size of my feet. I'm not opposed to spending more money for boots, but I like to be sure about the sizing etc. when I do. I'm more willing to take a gamble at 250$. And, anyway, the RRL's pretty much check all the boxes for me.
I also quite liked the look of these from Rios of Mercedes. I guess these are less roper and more cowboy. Perhaps as much cowboy as I would be willing to go. Thoughts on how these would compare to the RRLs?
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I love Rios of Mercedes, but I really love their cheaper brand, Anderson Bean. I'm in no way a "working cowboy," but I did grow up on a ranch in Oklahoma.
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Lucchese has very nice ropers, and the one pair I bought from them is very satisfactory.
http://www.lucchese.com/collections.php?prod_id=17&page=all&restriction1=mens
They are not nubuck and have leather soles, which may be a no-no for you. But they're made in the USA, if that counts for you.
Also, be aware that the sole construction of a roper is totally different from a cowboy boot. A roper is closer to a shoe than a cowboy boot as far as the sole construction is concerned. Therefore the feel is different when you wear them.
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Seul, he's "distressed!"
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Been meaning to post these for a while, but didn't dump the pics into my Photobucket account until today. These are my newest acquisition- custom built by Dave Wheeler, one of the finest bootmakers in business today.
(click on the pictures for larger version)
Hand hammered steel shank arch support in the instep attached with two rows of wood pegs on each side
Varigated stitching done on vintage single needle machine, one row at a time
Lovely shrunken shoulder bullhide
Fully lined with a reinforced heel slide
Really, really happy with them…
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About 14 months, which was shorter than the initial estimate of 16 months. We first discussed the boots back in October '11, then did measurements and confirmed the order specs this October. He called to let me know they were done and ready to be picked up a week ago.
He's got a pretty hefty backlog of orders, but it could be worse…
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Chris, you have a fabulous collection.
I just got this pair of M.L. Leddy's this weekend.
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Chris. I love those boots. They are absolutely beautiful. BK those are damn nice boots, too.
