The Cowboy Boot

Cowboy boots are riding boots that later on became rather popular among cowboys because of its sturdiness. Cowboy boots have a Cuban heel – a type of heel used by both men and women in olden times. This type of heel, experts believe, goes back to 9^th Century Persia giving it quite a history.

Modern cowboy boots are commonly made from cowhide but sometimes, bootmakers make them from exotic leather i.e. alligator, ostrich, lizard, snake and other skins. Apart from Cuban heels, cowboy boots also feature rounded to pointed toes and a high shaft. Unlike other riding boots, cowboy boots have no lacing. Although cowboy boots feature different toe shapes, the usual design is often narrowed bordering to pointy toed.
– Cowhide Ropers, are some of the most popular boots. –

There are 2 types of cowboy boots, one is the classic version more popularly known as the western cowboy boot, the other is classed as a roper. The western or classic style is characterized by a tall shaft reaching mid-calf. It also usually has an angled heel. The heel height usually reaches over an inch high. Sometimes some cowboy boots feature slightly lower heels called walking heels.

Considered as a newer design, the roper has a shorter shaft compared to the classic cowboy boots. Stopping above the ankle, this type of boots also feature squared-off heels. Ropers are usually used by those who join rodeo shows. The heels are just an inch high or even lower, have rounded toes and have laces. The lace-up style of these boots is to ensure that the ropers do not come off while riding a horse –in a rather wild manner. The safety of the rider is of course one of the main reasons why ropers have a lace-up design.

Both designs –the roper and the classic cowboy boot style are available in cowboy boot shops. They are also sold online.
Boot City has a very nice selection of Ostrich Skin Ropers available in the store and on the internet.

Photo Courtesy of WhoWhatWear

For people who are not so into cowboy boots, a roper cowboy boot is a confusing subject. Ropers as cowboys call them are low-heeled boots. Some of them are almost flat and have no heels at all. Most ropers have a rounded toe and look very plain. Most of the time they are used as work boots.

Justin was the one that gave the roper its name. According to history, it was only introduced in the 1950s that ropers were introduced. Before that rodeo calf ropers wore tennis shoes but hardcore cowboys did not think that wearing tennis shoes would do the rodeo image any good. The Rodeo Cowboys Association later on decided that all contestants must wear cowboy attire. This is when John Justin, Sr. was contacted by the association and suggested that the boot manufacturer make a certain type of boots for ropers. This is how ropers were born. Today, Justin still produces these boots.

Before cowboy boots became a trend in fashion, it was officially a riding boot and only worn by cowboys. These boots usually have high heels, high shaft and have rounded or pointed toes. No lacings were integrated into cowboy boots, they were simple and made for riding. Most cowboy boots are made out of cowhide leather making it soft in the inside but tough on the outside. Some cowboy boots are made from exotic leather such as alligator skin, snake, lizard, ostrich, eel, elephant, elk, buffalo, sting ray and the like.

There are 2 main types of these boots, the western ones or what we usually call classic boots and roper ones. The western style boots are distinguished because of their tall boot shaft usually mid-calf or a bit higher. Most of them have angled 1-inch heels. Cowboy boots with slightly lower walking heels are also available. Although classic boots can be customized to different toe shapes, the classic cowboy boots are usually pointy-toed.

The roper style is a newer type of cowboy boots design. It has a shorter boot shaft compared to the classic design and it stops right above the ankle. The heels are squared off and are very low, and they are usually shaped to the boots’ sole. Usually, roper boots are less than an inch high, have rounded to squared toes. Roper boots are also created for riding.