How Should Cowboy Boots Fit? Fitting Tips for Fashion and Comfort

Howdy! Planning to pull the trigger on that cowboy look? Are you currently searching for the next pair that will complete the outfit but are unsure how to fit cowboy boots? Whether it is your first time buying a pair of cowboy boots or you just want to know what’s wrong with the last five … Read more

10 Ways to Soften New Boots ASAP

Are you on the lookout for new leather boots? Heading out to your local shoe store to get a new pair of boots can be quite exciting. Retail therapy is therapeutic, after all. If this is your very first time getting leather boots, you may need to be a bit cautious. Leather shoes are quite … Read more

Jeans Made With 23% Milk!? A Look at Naked & Famous’ Milk Selvedge

The discovery of Naked and Famous’ Milk Selvedge had me spiraling. Denim that’s 77% cotton and 23%… milk?! As in cow juice? Wild as it sounds, it doesn’t actually take much to transform the delicious, nutritious liquid into a fluffy, fibrous substance that can be turned into silky-smooth denim. Michael Kristy, the man behind one … Read more

Goodyear Welt vs Blake Rapid – Which Is Best for Resoling and Water Resistance?

So, you’re serious about boots. You’re looking for the highest quality, the ones that will really last, and it’s got you asking the real questions like, “I want these boots to last ten years, will I be able to resole them?” We get it, and is resoleability (a word we’re choosing to believe exists) is … Read more

Suede vs Roughout Leather – What’s the Difference?

You probably already know that leather is made from hide, and that not all leather is created equal. The same is true here. Both roughout and suede are leather — they’ve been sanded to create a velvety texture, rather than the typical leather smoothness, but there are critical differences between the two.  So what’s better: … Read more

Leather vs Suede vs Nubuck – Which Boots Should You Get?

Leather, suede, and nubuck: the three pillars of the quality boot world. Chances are, if you’re considering quality boots, they’re made of one of these three materials. But which is right for you? There’s a lot to consider when comparing leather vs suede vs nubuck: how hard you want to wear it, how much you’d … Read more

The 10 Best Leather Tanneries on Earth

Everyone knows that a great boot starts with great leather. But where does that leather come from? It starts with the expertise of the tannery, where raw hides are transformed into the highest quality leather through the alchemy of the tanning process. There are countless of tanneries out there — really, we’ve reviewed everything from … Read more

Is Cordovan Worth It? A Complete Guide to the Fanciest Shoe Leather

Even if you’re not a leather aficionado, there’s a good chance you’ve already heard of shell cordovan. And if you have, there’s also a good chance you’ve wondered, “Why is this type of leather so darn expensive?” On a recent trip to Europe, I knew I had to visit the Spanish island of Mallorca to … Read more

How to Break In Boots – 12 Tricks for Tough Boots

Break-in pain is the ultimate paradox when you buy a new pair of boots. One day they’ll fit like a dream, but for now the elements you love, like the stiff, high-quality leather and the thickness of the sole, can make you dread wearing them. But never fear — we’ve compiled the ultimate collection of … Read more

3 Reasons Most Boots Should Have a Shank

What exactly is a boot shank? Simply put, the shank is a load-bearing piece of steel (or another hard, inflexible material) that is sandwiched between the insole and the outsole of your shoe. It usually sits between the ball and heel of your foot, under the arch. You can’t see it, but it’s there to … Read more