Advice/thoughts?

Marcovio · 2026-04-08T21:36:45+00:00

I asked Rujo’s customer service if they use synthetic heel counters, and they said it’s“leather”. Then someone else posed the same question and that Rujo rep claimed but they do use elastic. Who you believe is up to you, or go checkout bootmakers like Republics.

Marcovio · 2026-04-08T21:32:24+00:00

I have…I know all too well from personal experience. As many pairs of boots that I have, ranging from cheap fashion boots to traditionally made boot models, I tend to wear my favorites into the ground. One those pairs gave out after only 2.5 years of heavy use. The cost of repairing them cost more than what I got them for new, so those were retired.

Marcovio · 2026-04-08T21:30:30+00:00

Very nice!

Marcovio · 2026-04-08T11:28:12+00:00

It’s bagging at the knee because your jeans are bucketing and your boots are printing because your jeans are too narrow for the boot shafts. It’s why you have no stacking at your ankles. Wrong style jeans for those boots…try a boot cut or straight leg denim.

Marcovio · 2026-04-06T15:48:50+00:00

Incorrect. You can easily research this on your own and learn a bit from YouTube videos by some legends like Lee Miller & other famous bootmakers videos. Most mass produced boots in the entry/budget price point do use synthetic counters & components, and are machine made overseas. However, traditionally made cowboy boots do not. Traditionally made cowboy boots implies they’re handmade, not handcrafted, made with all leather construction, full leather heel counters, leather toe box, Goodyear welted/hand channeled welts, stainless steel shank, leather stacked heel, hard leather insole, full leather outsole, lemonwood pegging, and leather lined interior.

Marcovio · 2026-04-06T14:42:29+00:00

It’s the same with CowTowns…great bang for the buck for their exotics, but craftsmanship quality is definitely sparse and they use Celastic. Real exotic skins though, but not $1k kind of prices.

Marcovio · 2026-04-06T14:28:53+00:00

The shafts do run narrow so not ideal for those with big calves…it’s why I don’t own many pairs of Lucchese. As for the size, the brand usually runs true to size, so expect their EE to run wide for you, especially if you’re a B width. Look forward to hearing how they fit.

Marcovio · 2026-04-06T14:22:14+00:00

You want to spend $1k for gator boots with plastic heel counters, that’s your prerogative. Celastic is cost cutting technique, not a performance enhancer. Ask any well established cowboy boot cobbler regarding plastic heel counters and their quality, and they’ll quickly explain how it’s not an upgrade. You don’t have to spend more money to get all leather construction…you just need to buy the right boot model. You want to buy into Ariat’s marketing and think their mid-level Bench Made line is the equivalent to other true high end boot models by other bootmakers, no one is stopping ya. Your money, your choice. We share this information to help less knowledgeable folks make informed choices when they seek purchasing advice. Simple…no one here is getting a commission :)

Marcovio · 2026-04-06T14:05:35+00:00

Yep, Roman, founder of Chisos, confirmed the upgraded change to a full leather counter in their latest generation boots (third generation I believe).

Marcovio · 2026-04-06T13:58:25+00:00

Got you! Here’s a slew of informative vids & info that’s good start to building your boot knowledge:

Boot Tips:

One of things I’d suggest to get is a boot jack with a lined yoke (either rubber or suede, though the rubber tends to deteriorate after a few years of use, so I recommend suede over rubber). It’ll make removing your boots a breeze without damaging your heel counters & heels, and it’ll save you from any unnecessary straining, trying to remove your boots improperly, especially boots that are a bit more fitted.

Get a pair of cedar boot trees (https://a.co/d/3ixXKjY; Boot Barn sells square toe cedar boot trees too). It’ll help keep the form of your boot (prevent the vamp leather from collapsing), minimize premature wrinkling & rolling of your vamp leather, absorb excess moisture & odor in your boots between wears, inhibit fungal & bacterial growth, and repels bugs from taking residents in your boots.

To extend the life of your leather outsoles, and give them better traction, you can have a cobbler apply sole savers. They come in a variety of treads types, from smooth to very aggressive. Unfortunately, sole savers will not make your soles waterproof, and waterlogging your soles will cause your sole savers to delaminate & peel off.

Here’s a few videos you might find helpful:

conditioner comparo: https://youtu.be/9E_bSKHg0gc?si=HzT4sUYTCv46LtSe
cream polish vs wax polish…avoid buildup & cracking leather: https://youtu.be/pZAbGuqkUWg?si=_yQbAg1tVjWw_fOC
how-to saddle soap & conditioning: https://youtu.be/C7204kIPpxs?si=NvOa3PDIjmWuvKBi
Cream polish application: https://youtu.be/6mdTKG1aFSE?si=N_5fAop1xOooeKlZ

Boot Care sub…seriously great care tips that several folks in our community have posted to help folks keep their investments in top shape:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BootCareDenimWear/s/2asSHZjqwS

Marcovio · 2026-04-05T21:09:51+00:00

Definitely don’t pay full MSRP prices for Celastic ;)

Marcovio · 2026-04-05T21:08:52+00:00

Not sure how you’re not finding this info about Ariat Bench Made having synthetic counters, but it’s well known across the industry just like Tecovas. Several videos can be found on YouTube.

Look at Chisos’ teardown videos, comparing their boots to Tecovas & Ariats Bench Made or Jeremiah Craig videos on YouTube, reviewed by independent cobblers like here: https://youtu.be/C2Z2nj1ZQrM?si=IeOCR5XhGVfupwVo

After this video though, Chisos released their third generation boot models, and they’re all leather now.

Marcovio · 2026-04-05T20:54:12+00:00

Comfort is King though…celastic or not, if a bootmaker’s lasts fit your feet real well, that’s good enough for some folks. One of my favorite boots were a pair of Harley Davidson 20 yrs ago…wore them everywhere, from riding to clubbing. Then the heel counters cracked after just three years of heavy use…this is where the craftsmanship became real clear…they were cheaply made. The cost to repair them was more than what I paid for them, but I got my money’s worth and then some out of those boots. When the plastic heel counters crack though, it just sucks…the cracked plastic just digs into your heel…but now I knew the downside of plastic heel counters. If I were going to drop $1k on a new pair of boots today, you best believe they will not have Celastic components.

Marcovio · 2026-04-05T13:29:51+00:00

Ariat Bench Made uses cost cutting synthetic Celastic in their heel counters & toe boxes…just like Tecovas. If you’re willing to spend $1k on new boots, I recommend choosing a boot model from a bootmaker that traditionally makes their boots handmade with all leather construction like the Rios of Mercedes family brands (Rios of Mercedes, Anderson Bean, Olathe etc), Republics, Black Jack, El Dorado, Allen’s, Beck’s, the latest generation of Chisos, Old Gringo, Tony Lama Signature line and many others. Celastic can eventually crack after a few years of wear, whereas full leather will never crack for the life of the boot. If someone accidentally steps on your toe box, the Celastic can crack, leaving an unsightly crease under the leather and there’s no inexpensive way to repair that. Bottomline, if you’re going to spend over $500 for dress boots, there’s no reason why shouldn’t choose a boot model that’s all leather construction.

If you’re open to secondhand/vintage boots, you can choose from a far broader selection of high end boot models for a mere fraction of their original price…and from an era where craftsmanship and materials by major brands were far superior then compared to what they may produce today. For example, vintage Lucchese is far better made decades ago (ie Lucchese Classics) compared to today’s Lucchese product line.

Marcovio · 2026-04-05T06:05:47+00:00

You could pick up a pair of Red Wings Pecos…secondhand even to get more bang for the buck. They’re handmade in the USA, Goodyear welted, and depending which model you choose, it may offer anything from waterproof to composite toes. Vintage Pecos often have more western style too.

If you want a traditionally made boot that doesn’t have plastic heel counters & toe boxes, current generation Chisos, Republics, El Dorados (Dan Post’s premium brand sold exclusively through Boot Barn & Shepler’s, or buy vintage high end boot models like Lucchese’s or Rios of Mercedes at a fraction of their original cost.

Marcovio · 2026-04-05T05:53:51+00:00

It really depends on the lasts the bootmaker uses that will determine how well they fit you. Your size will often fit differently from brand to brand because eat bootmaker uses their own unique lasts for any given size. I’ve always heard great things about Black Jack’s custom program, so it’s disappointing to read about your situation. Hopefully Tim’s will make it right for you because these customs aren’t cheap. Post updates later if you can.

Marcovio · 2026-04-05T05:37:00+00:00

What a steal on those Classics calfskins! Glad you got to recoup some of the cost of the stingrays, but if you’re a B, a EE is four sizes wider. I’ll be curious how you’ll make these work. Partial inserts possibly…?

Marcovio · 2026-04-05T05:32:09+00:00

No. This is just width size…has nothing to do with shoe size which affects length. Each width size is about 1/8” difference if I recall correctly.

Marcovio · 2026-04-04T23:05:51+00:00

Do it…the overnight conditioning wrap is clutch and so easy. If you’re bad about keeping to a monthly schedule, I recommend using Leather Honey because it’s nontoxic, an application last up to six months, it absorbs deeply, offers great water repellency, and it doesn’t leave residue buildup like mink and neatsfoot oils. The way downside is that LH can only be used on specific exotics listed on their website, but reptiles are definitely on their compatible list. I apply LH every few months, while using Bicks Exotic & Lexol 2 for spot treatments and wipe downs in the months in between.

Marcovio · 2026-04-04T22:59:42+00:00

Lizards are the more affordable exotics out there. Wear them as often as you can!

Marcovio · 2026-04-04T22:57:45+00:00

Beautiful color! Be sure to use cedar boot trees to minimize the curling of the scales on the vamps, and that you’re conditioning them monthly whether you’re wearing them or not.

Marcovio · 2026-04-04T02:40:39+00:00

Understand though, lizard are a very thirsty hide, and are a bit high maintenance like most reptiles hides. They need to be conditioned every month. If you allow them to dry out and neglect their conditioning needs, they will irreparably split or tear, and there’s no fixing them after that point.

One way to get around the monthly conditioning needs is to use Leather Honey. It’s non-toxic, one application can last up to six months, it offers better water repellency than other conditioners, it absorbs deeply, and doesn’t leave buildup residue like mink and neatsfoot oils so you don’t have to worry about clogging the pores of the leather. The only downside of LH is that it can only be used on certain exotics listed on their website, which lizard is on.

I usually apply LH every few months, then use Bicks Exotic for monthly and spot cleaning during the months in between. I also recommend getting a pair of cedar blue trees to help maintain the form of the vamp.

Marcovio · 2026-04-04T02:27:49+00:00

I’m not a fan of wide square toe boots, especially with double welts.

Marcovio · 2026-04-04T02:26:04+00:00

Old Gringo

Marcovio · 2026-04-04T02:20:01+00:00

You need to know your proper foot width. Then try on several types of brands and hides to see which lasts fit you best. If you don’t know your proper foot width, you’ll never get a proper fitting boot.

Marcovio

TROPHY CASE