Heels And Toes: 2 Things You Need To Know About Buying Cowboy Boots

If you've never had a pair of cowboy boots before, there are a lot of good reasons to consider buying a pair. If you're short, you'll find western-style boots give you the extra lift you've been looking for. If you like to stand out in a crowd, you'll appreciate the uniqueness of a pair of cowboy boots. Outside of the Southwest, there's every chance you'll be the only one in the room wearing a pair of Western-style boots. And even if you live in a place where cowboy boots are common, like Texas, there are such a wide variety of cowboy boot styles that you can always find a pair that will help you express your own style. However, picking out the perfect pair of cowboy boots can be a challenge the first time. Here are a few things you need to know to help you pick out the pair right for you.

Which Heel?

There are four basic types of heels for cowboy boots. Choosing the right heel depends partly on how much height you want, but there's another important consideration – what you plan to do while wearing the boots. Cowboy boots are designed to be functional as well as fashionable, so the activity you're planning matters.

The standard heel is perfect for ranch work and horseback riding, as well as ordinary walking around. A medium height heel will add about an inch and a half to your height. If you're particularly tall, you may want to consider a low heel instead. Low heels are an inch or less in height. They're sometimes called walking heels, and if you plan to do more walking than usual, they're often a more comfortable choice than the standard heel. They're also a common choice for people participating in roping events.

The other two types of cowboy boot heels are less common. The high heel is at least two inches tall. Unlike women's high heels, the high heel on the cowboy boot is wide and flat just like the low and standard heel. The primary purpose of this heel is to add height – it's a good choice if you're a little on the short side. A spiked heel is similar to a high heel, but with a narrower bottom – the spike. These are primarily chosen to make a fashion statement rather than for their usefulness.

Which Toe?

Choosing a boot's toe is more about comfort than anything else. Which toe you need depends largely on how much room you need to spread out your toes. Of course, it also depends on what you want your boots to look like. If you're looking for an authentic looking Western-style boot, reminiscent of what the cowboys in your history books wore, then you want a classic toe. The classic toe is tapered to be narrower at the tip, but the tip is still rounded, not pointy. Toes in this style were easy for real cowboys to slide in and out of the stirrups.

Round toed boots are not tapered, and they allow more room for the toes to spread out inside the boot. These aren't the best shoes for riding, but they're good for long walks, and for people with wider feet. Paired with a low heel, they make for good roping shoes.

Your other options are the square toe, the broad square toe, and the pointy toe. All three of these are fashionable choices that don't relate to any actual cowboy duties, but the square toe and the broad square toe are both practical in they provide a lot of room for your toes, which can increase your comfort level. Meanwhile, the pointy toe is perfect if you're looking for a way to dress to impress. It's the cowboy boot's answer to the dress shoe.

Once you've learned about the different heels and toes and chosen the ones right for you, it's just a matter of finding the style and material you prefer for your boots. Click here for more info.