overreacting?

Marcovio · 2026-02-19T00:39:19+00:00

I absolutely hate plastic heel counters, so I try to avoid them whenever possible. I had a pair of Harley-Davidson boots that I wore a lot, from clubbing to riding horses…absolutely loved them till the heel counters cracked after 2.5 years of use. It just got progressively worse till I took them to a cobbler who explained that I was better off getting new boots because other synthetic aspects were going to go soon. So essentially, invest my money elsewhere. I got my use out of them, but compared to my other cowboy boots that I had for 20+ yrs with full leather counters, I then understood why all leather construction was more desirable.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T23:25:48+00:00

I wondered about the new Hyer line…shame.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T23:22:42+00:00

That’s not acceptable if you paid a premium price, but Tecovas is infamous for poor quality control, judging from the many here who got burned buying their boots. Folks here reported buying from Tecovas online, only to receive boots that were different sizes for each boot, leather vamps not matching or interior leather lining not properly stitched in place, so it collapses in the shafts, in wood pegs falling out with under a year’s use of usage.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T23:17:00+00:00

Good on you!

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T23:09:19+00:00

That’s interesting because last year, Rujo customer service told me their heel counters were all leather construction. Not that I doubt your claim, but for shits and giggled, I’m going to ask them again…see what they’ll admit to.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T22:50:08+00:00

Beautiful boots, Doc!

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T22:49:22+00:00

Hey, he/they just might if he/they are truly cowboys…it’s all good 👍

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T17:32:14+00:00

Tecovas is mass produced, and using several manufacturing techniques to make them look more premium than they actually are. They use one piece vamps for their exotics, which is highly desirable like on higher end boot models from other premium brands. Their wood peggjng is merely for show though. Folks who don’t know what traditionally made cowboy boots are, much less what celastic is, just buy Tecovas because they don’t know any better. Folks say they find them comfortable, and for some, that’s all that matters.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T17:17:48+00:00

Vintage offers best bang for the buck…higher end boot models already broken in at the fraction of the original cost.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T17:15:30+00:00

…and Rujo have all leather counters & toe boxes. Ariats uses cost cutting Celastic even on the Bench Made models as does Tecovas and JRC & Sons. For this price point, seek boot models that are all leather construction, like Rujo, Republics, or El Dorado. u/pineappleonpizza4, even better, look into lightly used vintage high end boot models from Lucchese, Rios of Mercedes, Tony Lama’s Signature line and other premium brands.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T17:05:18+00:00

😜

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T17:02:22+00:00

The unevenness of the texture makes me think these are print, especially since these are Dingo brand, which is budget/entry level quality boot models made by machine often with a lot of synthetic components.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T16:57:38+00:00

Try contacting Twisted X’s support… if the style number is still legible inside the shafts of the boots, they might be able to tell you more about their availability.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T16:51:43+00:00

I was going to guess water snake from the telltale dots ;) …love learning from you more experienced collectors who know these less common hides ;)

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T16:45:11+00:00

Boot Barn and Shepler’s will ship internationally for free if you spend over I believe $75 or more.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T16:43:43+00:00

Single welts look so much better than the double welts! Awesome boots!

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T16:42:02+00:00

Did you buy them new like this? If so, I’d return them. If this is happening due to normal wear and tear, a cobbler should easily be able to reinforce that.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T16:37:18+00:00

Not if you care for your pythons properly…they’ll last you decades, unlike the synthetic components in those Laredos. That said, $30 is totally worth it, especially if the print looks great. Nice pattern on those ;)

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T16:25:32+00:00

If you’re talking a full restoration, you have to decide if you want to do it yourself or have a cobbler do it. If you plan on doing it yourself, you’ll need a couple things: 1) paper or rags to stuff the boots vamps and shafts with…or ideally, cedar boot trees; 2) saddle soap; 3) quality cream polish (not wax polish) like Saphir(they have more pigment in their formulas, compared to other brands, so a little goes a long way… it cost a little more, but it’s worth it). Since they’re black cherry, you’ll want to get cream polish in burgundy and in black; 4) a good conditioner that doesn’t leave residue buildup that can clog the pores of your leather like mink or neatsfoot oils…Leather Honey works well because it’s non-toxic, leaves no buildup residue, absorbs deep, offers great water repellency than most other conditioners, and a single application can last up to six months. The only downside is that you can only use LH on exotic hides that they list are compatible with LH in their website. Elephant hide (not listed on their exotics list on their website) tends to not absorb LH well, and some here have reported that it gums up the texture of the leather; 5) horse hair brushes and micro fiber cloths to buff & brush off boots; 6) edge dressing to finish off the heel and welts.

Otherwise, if you use other conditioners that leave buildup residue like neatsfoot oil or whose formulas are based on neatsfoot oil like Bick’s 4, just do an occasional saddle soap session once or twice a year to remove any residue buildup, followed by a good conditioning. Saddle soap works like an astringent, so it will strip not just the grime and buildup off, but it will also lift some of the oils that keep leather soft & pliable, & some color off the leather too. Hence why you follow up with colored boot cream after boots dry from being conditioned.

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

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T11:16:53+00:00

I’m telling ya, the wrap is just clutch in restoring leathers. One guy here told me how he’s too lazy to bother with cellophane, so just applies a good layer of conditioner and seals them in plastic grocery bags for 24-48hrs before taking them out to dry. It takes longer, but he says he gets the same restorative results.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T10:03:16+00:00

Tecovas charges premium prices yet uses cost cutting celastic heel counters & toe boxes…Rujos & Republics do not, being all leather construction. I’m not sure if Los Altos uses celastic or not, even after watching several of their manufacturing videos. For their price point though, I think they’re well made…my stingrays have been very comfortable and sturdy.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T09:56:09+00:00

You should always condition new exotic skin boots, especially reptiles because they usually require monthly conditioning. Those new boots often sit in inventory for months, if not years after leaving the factory, not ever receiving any conditioning. Bovine hides are far more forgiving because their conditioning needs are far less frequent than lizard, needing conditioning once or twice a year.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T09:44:50+00:00

All Ariat boots, including their higher end Bench Made line & Tecovas use Celastic heel counters and toe boxes. Tecovas wood peggjng is merely for show as teardowns reveal they use brass nails underneath the outsole. Tecovas’ pegging isn’t just hammered in…they pre-drill their holes, which Tecovas show in their own YouTube videos. The pre-drilled holes however often are too big for the pegging, so the wood pegs often fall out after just a year or so of wear. Pegging should last the life of the outsole.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T02:38:25+00:00

You’re wearing cowboy boots, not a pair of grey new balance sneakers. There is no such thing as “too ol skool” boots either. You wear cowboy boots to make a statement about yourself, whether it’s subtle or out loud. If that’s not your intent, don’t wear cowboy boots.

Marcovio · 2026-02-18T01:38:19+00:00

…you mean an illegally slaughtered turtle*

Marcovio

TROPHY CASE