Have you ever thought about if cowboy boots can be too warm to wear in the summer or if there are warmer boots that you can wear in cold weather?
That’s a great question and I want to take the time and talk about the right boot to choose depending on the temperature you are in. What should you look for when wearing cowboy boots for summer conditions or cold weather like say in Wisconsin?
From my experience I think there are six things that make cowboy boots warmer or cooler. First and foremost what determines if a boot is going to be to hot is how it fits. To tight and it’s gonna be hot. Second is the insole and third is the outsole. Fourth is the lining. Cloth will be warmer and leather would obviously be cooler. Fifth would be the type of leather the boot is made from. Ostrich would be cooler since it’s thinner than say a cowboy boot made from suede or a rough out boot. Last but not least is the sixth way your boot may be warmer or cooler is the height of the shaft. A taller shaft definitely helps to keep the heat in then say a shorter shaft.
Let’s talk about all 6 of the ways mentioned below in a little more detail from Jeremiah Craig’s video.
Are Boots Too Warm For Summer by Jeremiah Craig
The Fit Of Your Cowboy Boots
The first thing most people will tell you hear is that if your boot is too tight, it’s gonna be hot. The leather is pressed right up against your foot and there no room for your foot to breathe at all. Yes, I do agree with this, but that is if you are wearing it in the summer when it’s really hot outside. If you’ve spent anytime in cold weather, you know the exact opposite is true. Let’s say it’s 32 degrees outside and you have a tight-fitting cowboy boot on. In my experience your feet are going to be freezing. When it’s cold outside you need layers that fit loosely. I know you don’t want to have loose fitting cowboy boots, so I really don’t recommend them when it’s freezing outside. At least not for an extended period of time.
A tighter boot in the summer is probably going to be really hot. A looser boot in the summer will result in cooler feet because they can breathe. This is why getting the proper fit of a new pair of cowboy boots is so important. As a boot wearer, I want the perfect fit which really isn’t hard to achieve. If I had to pick between too tight or too loose, I would error on the side of too loose. I can always put on another pair of socks lol.
Leather Insoles Or Removable Insoles
If you are wearing your boots with insoles, it’s just more insulated. Your foot is going to be much warmer if you have more material in the boot. That’s why I like hard leather insoles in the summertime. The less you have in the boot the cooler it’s going to be. The hard leather insole also allows for a lot of airflow throughout your entire foot. In the winter time you may want to get a rubber or foam insole which will keep your feet warmer. Do this unless you live in say Florida or Indonesia (Indonesians love cowboy boots by the way) where it’s pretty warm all year long.
Leather Outsoles Or Rubber Outsoles
When it comes to outsoles, rubber outsoles are definitely warmer than say leather outsoles. If you mix a pair of boots that have a rubber outsole with an insole, you are definitely gonna have a warm pair of cowboy boots. If you are in a hot climate I would go with a leather insole with a leather outsole. A leather outsole definitely results in a cooler boot and what you want in warmer climates.
Cloth Lining Vs. Leather Lining
This is definitely a no brainer. The type of lining really matters. A cloth lined boot is going to be warmer. It just holds that heat more. It doesn’t breathe as well as a leather lined boot. I know what you’re thinking. How does leather breathe better than say a cloth or fur lined boot?
Technically cloth or fur would allow air to pass through it easier, but that’s not really what I mean when I say it doesn’t breathe as well. A leather lined boot will be thinner which allows more space between your leg and the leather. This allows for better air flow than a cloth lined boot. Better airflow means a cooler boot in the summer time but a cloth lined boot will also mean a warmer boot in cold weather.
Type Of Leather Your Cowboy Boot Is Made Of
There are leathers that are cooler to wear in warmer climates or during the summertime. Ostrich leather is thing and supple and feels great because it is so lightweight. Full quill and the smooth ostrich boots are perfect for the summer. The ostrich leg is going to be a little different because it’s thicker and a little more rigid. You might not be as cool in an ostrich leg boot (that is leather actually made from the leg of the ostrich rather than from the body of the ostrich) as you would be in a full quill or smooth ostrich cowboy boot (like these ostrich boots for women).
I also like just a regular cowhide or bull hide boot as long as you also have a leather outsole and leather insole. A boot that you don’t want to wear during the summertime, but would be great in cold weather would be a rough out or suede cowboy boot. They are usually much warmer which would be great for the late fall or winter in cooler regions.
Short Boots Vs. Tall Boots Make A Difference
The height of a boot is also another key factor when it comes to how a pair of boots can effect either the heat it holds in or the heat it lets out. In the video above Jeremiah has a boot with a 16-inch shaft. It’s an awesome boot and does run very warm. This boot just keeps all the heat inside because it’s so tall. Also, when it comes to your boot shaft, a deeper scallop (kind of a slit or opening at the top of the shaft on both the front and the back) will result in better airflow and acts as a vent. This scallop will help to keep your feet cool and obviously would be better in warmer climates. No scallop would obviously help to keep the heat in and would be better in cooler climates.
Let’s Break It Down On The Coolest & Warmest Cowboy Boots
This actually sounds like a lot of information, but most of it is common sense. Let’s put all of this information together and break it down on exactly what you need depending on if your are in a hot or cold climate.
If you are in a hot climate, from my experience you want an all leather boot. I’m always going to say that a traditionally made cowboy boot is going to be the coolest and you are going to be able to wear it all year around. You want a proper fit, a leather insole and leather outsole. A leather lined boot made out of say full quill or smooth ostrich and even cowhide will work. You also may want a short shaft or if it is a bit tall, a shaft with a deep scallop. All of this combined is going to make for the perfect pair of cowboy boots to wear in the summer or hot climate. If you are say in Florida or Texas (warm weather Texas) that’s stays warm all the time, this boot will be great year round.
If you are in a location that may get pretty cold in the winter, you want to do the exact opposite. You still want a proper fitting boot, but you will want maybe a thicker insole with say a rubber outsole. Also if your boots run a little big another pair of socks will definitely help your feet to stay even warmer. You will also want a cloth or fur lining and a taller shaft. As far as the shaft is concerned, look for a boot that doesn’t have a deep scallop or no scallop at all. This will help keep in the heat.
A couple other tips and advice that may directly or indirectly be useful in wearing a pair of cowboy boots form some of Jeremiah’s followers are as follows:
– Whatever you do, never wear cowboy boots without socks! Lol
– Boots too warm for summer? Slap yourself!
– If your feet get too hot: Wear thin socks, change socks frequently, and rotate through your boots.
– It’s never too hot for me to wear boots. Cold, snow and ice. That’s a different story!
– I wear cowboy boots for work since 11 and I live in Florida where it’s humid and it gets how and I have no complaints it’s never too warm to wear boots
