Tombstone Cowboys

A Short History Of Cowboy Boots

Cowboy boots are a specific form of horse riding boot. They have been historically worn by cowboys. The majority of these boots have a heel, high shaft and the traditional variety does not have any lacing. The majority of cowboy boots are made from cowhide but some are made from exotic animals such as the alligator, ostrich, or even a shark. If it proves difficult to find these more exotic leathers in your area, you can always try looking for your cowboy boots online.

There are two basic styles of western footwear - classic and roper. Classic cowboy boots generally go up to at least mid-calf, while the roper is a shorter boot, only making it up to the mid-calf , at most.

The cowboy boot started to appear in the middle of the 19th century. Until the Industrial Age, most boots were handmade and were only available to the wealthy. With advances made in the Industrial Age, it became possible to mass produce many things. Footwear was no exception to this and suddenly it became more of an option for the average person to obtain a good pair of boots. The two best known cowboy boot makers of the era were Charles Hyer of Hyer Brothers Boots in Olathe ,Kansas and H.J. Justin of Justin Boots in Spanish Fort, Texas and later Nocona, Texas.

The typical design of this style of boot is mostly a testament to functionality. For example, the treadless sole of the cowboy boot made it slick. This was important because it made it easier to get off of and get on a horse when using the stirrups. The tall shaft of the boot helped to keep it in place since there were no laces to hold it up.

Modern cowboy boots can be customized beyond your wildest imagination. The toe of the boot can be silver or gold. They can be made of exotic skins. Some even wish to have their boots customized with crystals and ornate designs that could cost upwards of $50,000. The cowboy of yesteryear would have fallen off of his horse at the sticker price of some of today's western wear. However, do not be discouraged. There are plenty of mass produced models that are available. You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to about $600 for a good pair of these. Some of the names of the companies who have long been respected for producing a quality piece of footwear are Ariat, Frye, Justin, Tony Lama, and Durango. With today's modern technology that the cowboy of yesteryear couldn't even begin to dream of, you can sit at home and order cowboy boots online.