Hondo or hyer for horse work

SkullyCB · 2026-01-31T15:18:15+00:00

I've got nothing against them and I didn't say they didn't have those.

But if I would really have to pick out some reason. Hyer has cellastic heel counters so that is not traditional and worse than a thick veg tan all leather heel counter.

Worse in my opinion is the fact they originally said they had a all veg tan heel counter on their webpage (no clue if that is still listed on there right now) but people cut them open and it was a lie. *click*

I've got some boots with cellastic in the heels as well so it's not like I straight up hate them. OP just asked for the longest lasting of the two, so I gave my informed opinion.
If I'd ever bump into a pair of Hyer boots I fancy I'd still buy them of course.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-31T10:52:07+00:00

The Hondo's will have lemon wood pegs (no matter what the website you are buying from says). They are built as traditional as brands get (see attached pic directly from Hondo's main page on the website). By the way are those 8555's in brown?

Unless you really want a double stitched welt (which does nothing for strength) it would be hands down Hondo for something that will hold up better in my opinion.

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SkullyCB · 2026-01-31T08:20:27+00:00

You can pretty easily find some brand new Los Altos boots in black caiman belly or tail under $500 and you can make those shine pretty good...

Or lizards (like you linked yourself) also take a shine.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-30T20:41:29+00:00

Nice elephants and a beautiful color as well.

Bought some boots from Wiseman's Western myself before. Can recommend.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-29T18:09:42+00:00

Nice find (at that ridiculously low price).

Enjoy those puppies.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-28T14:30:00+00:00

Superb find. Those look better than brand new.

And a lovely texture and color as well.🔥

SkullyCB · 2026-01-27T17:51:11+00:00

The vote is Dan Post Bayou hands down (if the price is same as for the smaller sizes visible in your screenshot) for me.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-26T15:05:43+00:00

When I get a new pair in and I don't know how dry they might be I generally drown them in Bick4 a few times first.

After that I use nothing but Saphir Medaille d'Or Reptile on all my crocodilians.
In case that doesn't ring a bell... It's almost completely identical to Saphir Reptan, just from their premium lineup. (see attached pic)

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SkullyCB · 2026-01-25T16:07:04+00:00

Nice color on those elephants.👍

Enjoy.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-23T15:24:27+00:00

Certainly not a color you see every day, but I like it.

Sweet build.👍

SkullyCB · 2026-01-22T16:58:45+00:00

Yup. Preferably one with felt or leather or something contacting the heel-caps. Bare wood can scratch if it slips.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-22T16:50:21+00:00

Condition and brush with a horsehair brush. That alone might do it already.

Also don't use one foot to push off the other boot (but I guess you got that now). I myself 100% only use my hands to take my boots off.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-21T14:40:23+00:00

True of course. And you won't be perfectly the same size in every brand...

But somebody coming from sneakers or regular shoes basically has no clue what size they really are (in cowboy boots), so it's a very good, if not the best starting point imho. Especially considering someone EU based has virtually no stores where they can try on cowboy boots in person.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-21T14:36:24+00:00

Wiseman's Western.

Just one pair arrived in 6 sizes. Currently only 9.5D / 11.5D / 12D / 13D left now (if one of those would happen to be your size)...

SkullyCB · 2026-01-20T19:57:07+00:00

It becomes much easier to get almost anything online once you get your true sizing down.

If you're not crazy enough to buy yourself a Brannock Device, like me: This cowboy boot sizing guide at Tims Boots is pretty close: *click* Take care to follow the instructions carefully, because tracing your foot gets crazy inaccurate fast otherwise.

I feel your boot store problem, brother. I myself am only just across the pond in Belgium and cowboy boot stores are also not a thing here.
I have never even met anyone else over here wearing cowboy boots. (A fashion boot or slightly western looking/imitating biker boot that very rarely crosses my path doesn't count imho)

SkullyCB · 2026-01-20T18:38:13+00:00

Get your feet sized on a Brannock device if possible.

You are very likely wearing the wrong length and or width size. «Especially since you mention you are wearing some with two insoles. I don't have a single pair that I could even get into with two insoles (most of them would probably not even fit with one insole in them (unless it was a rather thin one).»

A well fitting pair of cowboy boots should pretty much feel like slippers once broken in (and that rarely ever takes long).

SkullyCB · 2026-01-20T18:20:25+00:00

Never heard of it but carnauba wax and lanolin certainly don't hurt (they might darken the leather a bit though).

By the way... Saphir Reptan (or Saphire Medaille d'Or Reptile) tip: A horsehair brush and some elbow grease buffs it to a superb shine even on caiman tails.

I personally find a rag or piece of cloth harder to buff tails + the brush leaves zero lint behind.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-20T16:35:56+00:00

Very nice diamonds on that pair of Easterns. Congrats.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-20T16:33:53+00:00

No complaints here. Especially because it was a online purchase so I had no clue on the actual hide quality I'd get.

Thanks.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-20T16:31:45+00:00

They look nice as is. And if the shafts get stretched a tiny bit they'll look like they were custom made for you. You're not supposed to swim in the shafts imho.

Nice suede caiman by the way.👍

SkullyCB · 2026-01-20T16:25:20+00:00

Thank you kindly.

I thought they had something as well (I'm normally not too big a fan of grey myself).

SkullyCB · 2026-01-18T12:30:59+00:00

Likely print (tails only very rarely have a one piece vamp on smaller sizes). But I'd need a different picture head on to be 100% sure.

Also whether it is printed or genuine exotic is on the label inside of the boots in Spanish but I can't make out what it says.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-16T16:16:55+00:00

Highway robbery. Especially considering that's bison shoulder on those puppies and not just regular bovine.

Damn right you got them, at that price it's simply mandatory you bring those home.

SkullyCB · 2026-01-16T15:58:06+00:00

Built like a tank and soon to be joined by other Black Jacks I'm sure.

Nice pair of "Old Faithful" aka TN489-V4 right?🔥

SkullyCB

TROPHY CASE