the Boots Authority - Your Personal Guide To Boots

Cowboy Boots/Western Boots

The cowboy or western boot is an American icon born of necessity and thoughtfully refined into a unique and highly functional fashion statement. A modern cowboy boot may have a variety of toe styles mostly for looks, but the classic cowboy boot started with a protective toe box shaped for easy insertion into western style stirrups. A high heel created a nice notch for the stirrups and allowed for attaching spurs. A tall shaft provided protection against chafing and brush. Pull straps made the boots easier to pull on, which was especially important since most cowboys preferred their boots to be fairly tight.

More modern refinements from innovators like Sam Lucchese have resulted in the cowboy boot being not only a unique and very comfortable fashion statement but one of the best designed types of footwear for proper posture. Cowboy boots are made from an astonishing variety of leathers and skins in every color of the rainbow. Designs range from conservative to radical. There is a cowboy boot style for just about every taste imaginable.

Roper Boots

Ropers, or wellington boots are a western style riding boot appealing to those who don't want or need the higher and taller cowboy boots. Ropers typically have a smaller heel and shorter shaft than cowboy boots. The classic roper profile is a semi-rounded toe, a short heel that is straight at the back, and a ten inch shaft. Leather types and colors are nearly as varied as in their taller cousins.

Horseman Boots

In between the classic cowboy boot and the roper is a category that has become very popular in recent years. The rodeo crowd are often seen wearing this style of boot these days as the boot makers have produced very high quality designs that meet their needs. These boots are often available with variety of outsoles including flexible crepe designs similar to athletic shoes. I suppose if your life depends on getting out of the way of an angry bull it would be nice if you had some traction on the bottom of your feet. The current offerings of horseman boots are a good blend of tradition and modern innovation.

Lacer/Packer Boots

If a cowboy rides far enough toward the west he may need to adapt his boots for crossing the mountains. Lacer and packer boots are a modified western riding boot that is more suitable for occasional dismounted wear in rough terrain. The typical lacer looks much like a classic cowboy boot with the addition of laces. Packers usually have a more rugged outsole and styling reminiscent of a logger boot while retaining some horse riding characteristics.

English Riding/Equestrian Boots

The tack and saddle for English riding styles are very different from western riding so it stands to reason that the boots are very different as well. Typical English riding boots are a very tall design in glossy black leather. A conservative semi-round toe slides through the stirrups easily. Heel height is fairly low creating a compact stirrup notch for the small metal stirrups. The boots may be laced or plain and the top of the shaft may have gussets to help with donning and doffing. Fitting English riding boots is much more exacting than with shorter boots and usually requires some customization -taking into account the customer's foot size, calf size and calf height.

Paddock Boots

If you drop by an English riding stable on any given day and see riders exercising horses they will most likely not be wearing the tall equestrian boots. The preferred daily footwear of the English riding enthusiast is the paddock boot. It bears similarities to the dress and show boots in toe and heel but that's where the similarities end. The top of the boot is just over ankle height. Paddock boots are made in slip-on, laced and zippered varieties. These ankle boots often wander far away from the paddock as well due to their dressy appearance and comfortable wear. A set of half chaps can be quickly strapped onto the lower leg while riding for chafe protection.

Muck Boots

Go inside a stable on any given day and most folks won't be wearing leather footwear. There's stuff in there you don't want to step in wearing leather boots. Muck/stable/barn boots are rubber boots designed for cleaning up the barn. The mode of transportation housed in barns produces a semi-solid exhaust that must be disposed of properly and it is unpleasant to step in without some waterproof protection.

Motorcycle/Biker Boots

The iron horse is ridden by a different kind of cowboy and requires a different breed of boots. Dangling your feet around machinery just inches from the road can humiliate wimpy footwear in a hurry. Early pioneers of motorcycle riding looked around for boots that would hold up to the task and found some rugged work boots that did the job pretty well. Engineer and harness boots are still very popular among bikers. Engineer boots are typically a round-toe boot made with black oil-tanned leather, a rugged chemical-resistant outsole rides underneath and a medium height shaft (usually with a small adjustable leather side strap at the top) provides lower leg protection. Harness boots are usually a square toe design similar to the engineer boot in most respects but with their distinctive harness strap around the ankle attached to metal rings on the side. Nowadays there are a wide variety of shoes and boots made especially for bikers and companies like Harley Davidson are jumping in to the market with branding.

Snow Boots/Winter Boots/Snowmobile Boots

For people crazy enough to live where it snows a decent pair of snow boots are a matter of survival should you venture outdoors into the winter wonderland. Desirable features are a light weight design that is adequately insulated, waterproof, and with an aggressive tread. For deeper snow a higher boot is a plus. Another nice feature found in some styles is a moisture-wicking lining like Gore Tex™. This helps to eliminate moisture build-up inside the boots.

Combat Boots/Military BootsJump Boots/Jungle Boots/Desert Boots

Military footwear has come a long way since the wretched things they used to call boots in the past. The modern combat boot is a versatile and comfortable work boot and hiking boot. Available in variations for different climates, the basics of a combat boot are a rounded toe, laced and/or zippered closure and an aggressive lug outsole with steel shank and mesh protection against sharp objects. Jump boots typically offer more shock absorption for impact with the ground after parachuting. Jungle boots came along during the Viet Nam war era with canvas sides rather than leather to reduce weight and heat. Desert boots abandon the traditional polished black leather for a more practical unpolished light brown.

Work Boots/Logger Boots/Steel Toe Boots

The type of work boots you need are largely determined by the type of job you do. General characteristics would be a boot made tough enough for the anticipated conditions but comfortable enough to wear all day. Additional safety features like ANSI rated steel toes are sometimes required for different jobs. If you are required to wear steel toe boots make sure that what you get has the same or greater ANSI rating as the job requirements. The American National Standards Institute spells out very specific standards for various things including safety shoes. If you job doesn't require steel toe boots they certainly aren't a bad idea anywhere. In cold temperatures additional insulation is necessary because the steel can help carry the cold through to your feet.

Hiking Boots/Hunting Boots/Fishing Boots/Walking Boots/Snake Boots

Shopping for hiking boots can be rather perplexing for the uninitiated. It's a little like looking for a simple pair of athletic shoes. Who knew there could be so much involved in something you just strap to your feet? There are good reasons for this, however. It's not just marketing. Not all of it anyway. A decent pair of hiking boots can make an enormous difference in your enjoyment and safety while off-roading with your feet. If you are venturing into snake territory a pair of snake boots will incorporate the features of hiking boots with additional protection against fang penetration. A proper fitting boot designed for the type of terrain you plan on exploring will provide the right protection and support for your adventure. Shop wisely and don't under spend.