Boots for cowboys have been with us for over 150 years now, and ever since the first one came out of the cobbler’s shop around 1870, the styles have evolved from the sublime, to the ridiculous. In 1870, when it is believed the boots first arrived on the scene, there were no unique or different boots. Back then the boots were a simple function of the cowboy’s wardrobe, just like his hat, neckerchief, saddle, and gun. The boot was meant to aid the cowboy in getting into the stirrups quicker, helping him dig in his heels when needed, and for protection from cactus and snakes. Comfort was necessary as well, because of the length of time the cattle drives took. It is interesting to take a look at where some of the changes boots have undergone have taken us.

Miniature Cowboy Boots

People like to take a good thing and either make it bigger, or smaller. In this case they have made boots much smaller. Consider the half-inch boots made by Jazz Ups, which are made from poly resin, the same ingredient heavily used in the building of statues. These boots are hand painted with a dark brown vamp and a light brown shaft with exquisite detailed stitching. Miniature boots also come in the form of dazzling earrings, such as can be found from Cowtown Cowboy Outfitters. They offer a silver pair of boot earrings with crystal, and they come packaged in a cowboy hat holder. There are even boots available for dolls, including the most famous doll couple; Barbie and Ken.

Halloween Cowboy Boots

Halloween may not be as big a party in cow town as is the Fourth of July, but still, there are boots available for cowboys and cowgirls to wear to a Halloween party. From Dan’s Western Wear comes a boot with an orange shaft and black vamp made completely of leather, including the sole. It is such an attractive boot that the wearer could probably get away with wearing it even after the last day of October. Of course, around Halloween time there is no shortage of costumes, and particularly Dallas Cowboy Cheer-leading costumes, complete with white cowgirl boots.

Suede Cowboy Boots For Men

Black Jack does not restrict themselves to exotic skins and fine leathers when it comes to boots. They also make a stunning boot with a gray suede vamp and a classic black leather shaft with western stitching. This pair of boots will cost around 439.00 dollars.

Pointy Mexican Cowboy Boots

The South of the Border look takes on a new dimension when it comes to pointed toed boots. The Mexicans have taken the typical pointed toed boot and exaggerated it into a style all their own. Jose Sanchez probably makes the most famous and attractive boot in this style,  although a few years ago, in Matehuala, Mexico, a cobbler named Dario Calderon began making gimmick extensions for boots. It became a craze, and today, at some dances, you will find vaqueros wearing pointed toed boots that extend out to four feet long with an upward curl.

Steel Toed Cowboy Boots

There is no reason that you cannot keep your cowboy look when you are at work. Dan Post makes a  waterproof leather steel toed boot which is perfect for working around rocks, the construction site, or even in a machine shop. They look wonderful, and have a removable, comfortable insole and a twelve-inch shaft. Double H Roper Boots make a square, steel toed boot with an Oak Ice outsole that is oil and slip resistant. In fact, this is such a nice looking boot you would probably wear it to dances almost as much as you would wear it to work. It costs about 209.00 dollars, but you could think of that as getting both a work boot and dress boot for the price of one.

Wide Width Cowboy Boots

If you are the kind of person who does not like to have strangers walk up to you and start talking, you probably will not want this next pair of boots. Dan Post makes a Buck Lace boot for men that is made from solid leather, and is light and comfortable. However, it is such a striking boot that strangers are going to walk up to you and ask you about them. Double H. Caiman has their Crazy Horse Boot with a wide toe, but this comfort-oriented boot is tough as nails and has stitching that gives it a wingtip look.

Cowboy Boots For Big Calves

From Katie comes a comfortable wide calf designer boot with elastic insets at the top that gives them a nice, snug fit. It is made from supple leather, has a full inside zipper and flexible rubber soul. This stylish boot only costs about 110.00 dollars. Another very nice wide calf boot is from Avenue, and it is the Tina Slouch Buckle Boot. It costs around forty-nine dollars, and this fashionable boot has buckles at the bottom and the top.

Sharkskin Cowboy Boots

You would expect Black Jack to have more than a few excellent boots in this style, and they do. One of the most eye-catching styles they have is the black sharkskin vamp with the black goat shaft. The boot costs about 500.00 dollars, but it takes over one-hundred steps, and six, to eight weeks to make.

Over The Knee Cowboy Boots

One does not often think of Gucci when they think of boots for cowboys, but Gucci makes a stretch suede boot with lace up gold rivet detail at the back, a stacked wooden platform, and concealed zip fastening on the inner side. This boot costs around 2, 450 dollars. However, if you do not want to spend that much on a boot that goes past your knees, Old Gringo makes one from reticulated jeweled python for only 1, 995 dollars. This extremely sexy boot can also be rolled down at the top if a more conservative look is required. People talk about how hard it is to keep pace with technology, but sometimes it seems harder to try to keep up with what the boot designers are creating.