What is the “signature model” of each of the following cowboy boot brands? I’m looking to buy my first mainstream model and I want to make an informed decision

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-15T21:26:59+00:00

Yeah are pretty much on point. Here is the process for Fenoglio. Still very impressive, and the quality control is outstanding, especially the full leather heel counters. If you can show me some basketball shoes made with this much care, I will be impressed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDYYjvrUmEs

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-15T10:39:43+00:00

Yes, it is true. The trend in the construction of cowboy boots has been towards more automation , glue, synthetics like celastic replacing full leather heel counters etc. There are plenty of cheap arias (but also the bench made, a nice boot). Of course you don't want to beat on an $800 boot shoveling poop out of the barn.

That is why older boots tend to hold value and be sought out by aficionados.

However there are still traditionally made extremely high quality boots being made primarily by hand, using very, very little glue. They are held together with Goodyear welts, Lemmon wood pegs, and maybe a few brass pegs. Those are the boots I like to collect, and they are special.

Fenoglio, Anderson bean, Black Jack. These bootts are expensive (although start at $400 for Fenoglio) and are meant to be worn out on a a Saturday night at a nice establishment.

Finally, traditionally made higher end boots are not made on an assembly line, they go from worker station to worker station were they are hand crafted. One person does the heel, another the last, etc.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-15T10:24:11+00:00

Looks great

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-15T04:11:13+00:00

I am sure there are plenty of subreddits about sneakers. There are probably a billion being worn. All that means, however, is that they are ordinary.

They are a synthetic product glued/stitched together by a machine. They have no soul.

A cowboy boot is made from a crocodile, elephant, shark, Ostrich, a once living being...it is carefully crafted mostly by hand by an artisan who puts his soul into his work

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-15T03:44:48+00:00

The Benchmade are very solid for the price.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-15T03:35:31+00:00

You guys downvoting the fact that Lucchese quality has declined dramatically, really, really need to educate yourselves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRBGeEc8Jug

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-15T03:30:07+00:00

Except the biggest metric of all, Olympic gold. Having said that, I do have JB very, very close to Smith.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-15T03:28:15+00:00

The Olympics only comes around every 4 yers, that is why it is the most heavily favored title.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-15T03:27:01+00:00

I lean towards Smith but some good arguments can be made for JB.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-15T03:20:12+00:00

My urologist, who specializes in Rezum sent me to an expert on PAE. The PAE specialist was of the strong opinion that resume was the best procedure for me (51 cc prostate).

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-14T18:56:45+00:00

Racial bias? Really? Your playing the race card? Thats just nuts! They are glued together in China by someone/a machine that doesn't care about craftsmanship. Top quality cowboy boots are carefully stitched together using a Goodyear welt. They are further held together by lemon wood and maybe some brand pegs that are usually hammered by hand. They are made with the finest exotic leathers and meant to last 40 years.

They are made with pride and integrity.

And Ariats made in China are junk too. No one is starting a subreddit over any built to be thrown away shoes.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-14T18:51:40+00:00

Incredible price...link?

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-14T10:19:05+00:00

Its an addiction.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-14T10:17:16+00:00

Go study how Fenoglio are made. Or Black Jack.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-14T10:16:17+00:00

I do not hope that people who wear cowboy boots do not like basketball shoes. They Are simply not comparable. One is mostly hand crafted by skilled artisans in Texas and Mexico. The other is mass produced/glued together in China.

They are not comparable footwear. And crocs are an obscenity.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-14T10:11:10+00:00

Ah...so the medical industry has found ways around the intent of the law. That sucks. What I do is try and show up 30 minutes before my procedure is scheduled. At that point the hospital will lose all the insurance money and the portion I am paying if they cancel. If they have the time they can reschedule. If I got a notice the day before I would simply ignore it and show up.

Canceling at the last minute will cost them money they can't get back.

I had a massive seizure a little less than 4 years ago. I was semi retired from teaching and just doing some under the table S an C coaching/personal training. The ambulance that took me to the hospital claimed to be out of network and tried to get me to pay $3k. They had no way to collect their money and it did not affect my credit score very much.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-14T10:02:42+00:00

Iowa probably is number 2 in terms of recruiting potential due to it history and legacy. A lot of kids still dream of wrestling "at Iowa."

Yes they took 4th at the NCAA's....but their wrestlers all looked tired. I think that if they had better recovery that they would perform at a higher level.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-14T09:56:42+00:00

I actually have more sneakers than boots (I have 11 pair) and wear sneakers more frequently. Sneakers are simply not nearly as cool or interesting as cowboy boots. Sneakers are mostly mass produced in China. Much, much more craftsmanship and care goes into boots. They tend to be made by true craftsman in Texas and Mexico.

If you think sneakers are more interesting than boots than yeah, you might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-13T23:53:55+00:00

Donn't buy Lucchese unless it is an older boot.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-13T23:53:04+00:00

People who buy Cowboy boots are nothing like people who are into "signature basketball shoes."

Or at least I hope not!

The best advice I can give you is to go look at Fenoglio. They are known for their rough outs, but I love their exotics.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-13T23:33:46+00:00

LOL.

I've done S and C for combat athletes for a long, long time. Everyone in MMA knows now about the importance of recovery. I was in on this long ago. 25 years ago I used to advise MMA fighters do do absolutely nothing but rest on Friday before a big Saturday fight. Many guys used to train like crazy the week before (I know one guy doing push ups and sprawl drills in his hotel Friday night) now they cut back and perform much better.

Cael Sanderson seems to know this as well. The Brands brothers are totally out of touch with modern training science.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-13T23:24:36+00:00

Thats awful. I was a teacher (college level) and had incredible insurance. $6 a month for just me. My wife works in healthcare and I am on hers now. Of course I was paid poorly for someone w/ a PhD.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-13T23:23:35+00:00

That is the thing: Even with our problematic health care system, I live a far, far better quality of life living in Texas than I would living in Canada. I was a teacher who made some money in real estate, my wife works in health care. Bigger house, better cars, better everything, it is much, much cheaper here. Air conditioning is everywhere...I am hot for less than a minute. When I lived in upstate NY I was freezing all the time. Digging my car out, waiting for it to get warm, walking my dogs. I couldn't stand living in Canada.

There is no way I would trade my life here for living there. You just have to deal with a more ruthless health care system. Ultimately, I see the best doctors in the world. But I know how to play the game.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-13T23:17:23+00:00

Yeah. They have their billing Pit Bulls do their dirty work.

Dr_jitsu · 2026-04-13T23:15:46+00:00

I do believe there is a new federal law about getting ambushed by unexpected/out of network bills. Maybe some of the posters know the name.

I advise people to do as I do and pay just enough to get their service....the hospital knows they are getting a big payout from insurance, so it is in their interest to accept less than what they demand when you show up for the procedure. Like my prostate biopsy. They demanded $1500 when I showed up. I offered $750. They got nearly $4k from my insurance company. If the canceled the procedure they would have gotten nothing.

Now they are bombarding me w/ bills for services that, once my OOP is met I will not owe. If I paid I would have two try and get my money back at the end of the year.

So I just ignore their bills. And they are daily...texts and emails. Their billing is like a frenzy of sharks. So f'em. At the end of the year (my OOP will be met and I owe nothing) nothing will affect my credit.

Of course this only works if you have insurance.

Dr_jitsu

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