I’ve been wanting to write an article that is like a FAQ for cowboy boots. Seems there are new questions about cowboy boots every day, but I decided to take the time and answer some of the most common. Below are some frequently asked questions about cowboy boots that I receive here and there or some questions I had and found the answers to.
There is obviously a lot more questions out there and I tried to stay away from questions like “What are the best cowboy boots?” or “Which cowboy boots should I buy?. Those are questions I can’t answer for you because it comes down to personal preference. With that being said, if you have a specific question about a brand name or certain pair, let me know in the comments below and I’ll get right back with ya.
Are Cowboy Boots Comfortable?
I’m starting off with one of the most frequently asked questions “Are cowboy boots comfortable?”. I get this all the time and it’s definitely a big talking point when talking about buying certain brands.
We have actually written an entire post on this question and you can find out everything you need to know about cowboy boots and comfort right here. We have also written a post about making sure you get the right fit with your cowboy boots and that is something you definitely need to know because it directly affects the comfort of your boots.
Spoiler Alert: If you’ve never worn cowboy boots, I think you are in for a pleasant surprise when it comes to the “comfort” department. One of the biggest reasons I was late to the boot game was because I thought they would be super uncomfortable. Boy was I wrong!
Can Cowboy Boots Be Resized?
When it comes to resizing a pair of cowboy boots, this is kind of a broad term. You will want to refer to the next 2 paragraphs below this one depending on if you want to stretch them or shrink them.
Tread lightly though. You really want to use caution when using some of these techniques. Especially if you have a really expensive pair of boots.
Will Cowboy Boots Stretch?
The answer to that question is definitely “YES”. There are several ways to break in or stretch a pair of cowboy boots. One thing I want to mention is that “breaking in” a pair of boots is a lot different from stretching a pair of boots in my opinion. There is always a little bit of time that it takes to break in a pair of boots. Boots tend to be a little stiff when you first buy them and after you wear them for a bit, they tend to stretch a bit and conform to your feet. So if they are a little stiff, give them a little bit of time before you start to think about stretching them.
Now if you want to actually stretch them, here is a great article that gives you some options. There are some actual tools listed here that can help you to stretch your boots and there are a couple non-traditional ways as well. I really like the freezer bag of water idea and putting them in the freezer. Water expands when being froze and will slowly stretch out your boot. Kind of a neat little science experiment.
*WARNING: Submerging any pair of leather in water comes with risks and could ruin the quality and look of the leather!
Another more common way of stretching your boot is a western cowboy boot stretcher. I think this would be my first choice in attempting to stretch my boots. Well, that or the wearing of 2 pairs of socks. They seem the less intrusive. I think if you are looking to stretch them a lot, the 2 pairs of socks isn’t really gonna help much. That would be something to do if you just needed to stretch them a little bit.
I did say my first choice would be the boot stretcher, but after thinking about it, that may be my second choice. The reason for that is the cost of the boot stretcher. I mean I don’t know if I really want to spend the money for that before I try some other things out. The boot stretcher does have some great results and can increase the size up to a half size increase in as little as 6 hours. If you ask me though, I think I would start off with submerging your boots in water (older pair only made from cowhide). For one, this is a very inexpensive way to stretch your boots. I mean it’s literally free. The second reason is because this is a tried and true way of stretching a pair of leather boots. I actually have done this many times with new combat boots in the military. This method would be a pretty scary with a pair of $900 Lucchese or Stallion boots though. I wouldn’t even attempt it with a newer pair to be honest. I think I would do this with an older or cheaper pair of boots to be quite honest. It’s a judgment call.
Will Cowboy Boots Shrink?
This is a hard one. I have found some articles that once again want you to submerge your boots in water and then follow a couple steps such as soak a pair of socks and then wear the boots wet with the wet socks. This seems pretty ridiculous in my opinion. I can guarantee you this, your feet will be an absolute mess when you end up taking these off. I’ve actually been golfing and kind of fell into a creek with my golf shoes and socks on. I played another 8 holes and when I took my shoes off at the clubhouse, my feet were a mess! I literally thought they were gonna fall off. I wouldn’t even recommend doing this, but if you want to see step by step instructions, you can see them HERE. In my experience water stretches out leather, it doesn’t make it shrink.
If it’s just a half size or something like that, the obvious method would be to just put on another pair of socks. That is what I would recommend.
The last option is using heat. This is also something I wouldn’t try on an expensive pair of boots and to be quite honest, if I did have to go this route, I would use a professional. In the wrong hands, heat can definitely damage the leather and you are going to get a look you most likely won’t like. I’ve seen people talking about leaving boots by a stove (wood burning) or fireplace to using some kind of torch. The torch method I heard works pretty well, but should be used by a professional. I would contact your nearest cowboy boot retailer and see if this is something they can do to be honest with you.
Will cowboy Boots Get Ruined In The Rain?
Water has been mentioned a couple of times above to either help shrink or stretch boots, but do remember, water is a pair of boots number one enemy. If you are wearing a pair of thousand dollar Stallions, Lucchese, etc… you really don’t want to get them wet. But don’t freak out, it’s not like the leather is going to degrade or break down just like that. Just make sure you use a conditioner or some sort of saddle soap type product to protect the leather. You want to treat your boots before you venture outside and after if you really get them wet. Some common sense maintenance can help your boots last decades. You definitely want to be a little more cautious with your “exotics” such as ostrich, alligator, etc… No need to worry about a little rain here and there though. Animal leathers are pretty hearty and with a little care, they can definitely withstand a little water.
A word of warning though, if you do get caught in a thunderstorm and a big puddle, don’t think about using a hair dryer or something to dry them. Heat can shrink leather boots and you don’t want to compromise that great fit you have going. If they get wet on the inside, try using newspaper to absorb the moisture or them your boots like your cell phone and fill them with rice. It works great on a wet cell phone, it will work just as well on a pair of cowboy boots!
Will Cowboy Boots Protect You From Snakes?
Luckily we wrote a whole article Are Cowboy Boots Snake Proof just because it’s a very common question and pretty interesting to boot! Everytime I’m asked this I laugh a little bit. I don’t know why, but I do.
When it comes right down to it, cowboy boots will definitely help from becoming a casualty of a snake bite. Poisonous snakes use sharp fangs to transfer their poison into it’s victim. Cowboy boots with their tall leather shafts are really good protection against this. Very few snake fangs can penetrate leather. With that being said, it doesn’t mean that some fangs won’t penetrate. It’s also a good idea to be wearing jeans because the denim will provide extra protection. So I wouldn’t exactly use the word “proof” here, but they will definitely help and may or may not prevent the fang from piercing your skin.
Are Cowboy Boots In Style / Fashion?
This question you shouldn’t even be asking because if you think about it, you know the answer. Cowboy boots are more popular now than at any other time in history in my opinion. The “country” look is definitely big and everyone is wearing it in one form or another. Besides the usual suspects (country singers) you can find them being worn by rock musicians, presidents, actors, models and people from every state. They definitely aren’t just for people out west or in the south anymore.
One of the reasons for this are the many styles of boots now being offered to both men and women. The traditional pointed toe has been supplemented with many other toe styles that just didn’t exist years ago. Something else to think about is the exotic leathers used these days. Everything from alligator, ostrich, elk, snake and a whole lot more. These exotics are highly sought after and demand attention. You guessed it, with attention comes popularity.
Of course you will find people wearing cowboy boots around Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia etc… But you will also see them walking down the red carpet in Hollywood, the runways in Paris and New York and everywhere in between. The popularity of cowboy boots is here to stay in my opinion. Looks, comfort and an all around informed consumer are the reason for its growth in popularity. Take it from me, this is something you want to be a part of!
Can Cowboy Boots Be Resoled?
Can cowboy boots b e resoled? 100% yes! Not only can they be resoled, but I encourage you to do it when needed. This is one of the main reasons why your favorite pair of boots can last for 10, 20 years or longer. Cowboy boots can be expensive depending on the type of leather and the brand you buy. One of the great things to justify this cost is knowing it’s pretty easy to get your boots resoled to greatly extend the life of your boots.
Say you have a favorite pair of boots that you’ve been wearing for years. The last thing you want to do is have to pitch them because the bottoms are literally wearing out right before your eyes. Hey, it’s an easy fix. Find a cobbler / shoe repairer and get them resoled! The cost will most likely be between $50 – $150. The higher price will most likely be rubber type boots since they soles are stitched to the boot. I’m gonna say it will cost around $75 for your favorite pair of boots to be resoled.
They also do have do it yourself resoling kits. They usually cost about $25. I’ve never done this before and I think I would be a little bit wary. I think with a great pair of boots I would want a professional to do this for me. Also, I get the added benefit of bringing up the word “cobbler” in a conversation with people. It’s just a trade or profession you don’t hear about much of these days.
There are some tall tell signs that will tell you when your cowboy boots are in need of being resoled. If your favorite boots have shown any signs such as a wearing of the edges of the sole. Soft circular spot(s) developing on the bottom of the sole. Or a spongy or weak spot in the center of the sole(s) of your boots, you will definitely want to get those beloved boot fixed by getting them resoled.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions Concerning Cowboy Boots
I hope we were able to answer any questions you had. But hey, you might have something a little more in particular to a certain brand or something you just didn’t see above. If this is the case, feel free to visit our contact page or visit us on Facebook or leave a comment below. We will get right back with you and if we don’t know the answer to your question, you will have definitely peaked our interest and we will find out.
Boots can be a pretty big investment so the more you learn about them, the more informed you will be as a consumer.
I hope these questions and answers has helped you find your new favorite pair of handmade cowboy boots!
