I'm looking to pick up my first pair of boots. I want something I can wear with a suit/dress slacks as well as jeans. You guys have any recomendations as far as brand/style?

Your pants are going to come off the top of a pair of ropers when you sit down if they were hemmed for shoes.

Ropers are crap IMO. You can get a real pair of boots for not much more money with uppers that are tall enough to stay inside your pants when you stand back up.

As far as brand, you are going to get as many answers here as people recommending rifle scopes, it's personal preference and how much you want to pay. Some brands fit differently if you have an oddly shaped foot. Go to some place with a lot of boots and try them on.

Before anything is recommended, give us your budget. That makes all the difference in the world.

$200 - $400. What's the difference between ropers and real boots?

If I were you, I would go to a Cavanders and try on a bunch and see what you like.

Same difference between a pair of shorts and a pair of pants... I don't know why they even make them for men... women use them because they have smooth leather soles for dancing.

I think when most think if Ropers, they're thinking of the boot made by Justin Boots. It's practically the most basic cowboy boot made.

Since your budget it out of range for custom boots, I'd go with a pair of Lucchese, Tony Lama or Ariat (in that order). For dress boots, go with a black, exotic leather such as ostrich or crocodile.

You won't be able to wear the same boots with jeans as you will with a suit. If you do, you'll look like a tool.

[This message has been edited by Twix (edited 12/15/2008 10:31a).]

Ropers have a low heel.

And a bit of campusology pertaining to the subject: http://www.dimlights.com/2005/03/roper-cowboy-boots.html

It will really depend on the shape of your foot, you just need to try them on like everyone is saying.

That article took pretty wide licence on the term "work boot"... if you need a workboot, this is the last direction you should be looking. Other than it being a wellington-style boot... made of cheap materials.

If you have high arches, square toes, narrow or wide feet, etc. you need to try different brands and styles of boots, you should be able to get a pretty decent pair for $200+.

http://www.sheplers.com/mens/roper_wellington/cowboy_boot_styles/cowboy_boots/boots/items-rank.html?source=Google_BootsVendor_Roper&Creative=2861655825&Keyword=roper%20boots&MatchType=Exact&gclid=CK6qj5CCw5cCFRPBDAodY278TQ

I like these:

http://www.cavenders.com/zoom.asp?img=JUS03105_x.jpg

[This message has been edited by Harman Rabb Jr. (edited 12/15/2008 10:24a).]

I'd go with Justin's but you really do need to go out and try out a few pairs to see what you like. I have a pair of Dan Post Engineer boots that I have had for 8 years and still wear them daily...now that is a good pair of boots.

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I'd go with a pair of Lucchese,

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+1. My feet would eat Justin's. Lucchese lasted much longer.

I have a pair of Tony Lamas that I really like. They're not the top of the line boots, but I wear them so little, it's ok.

You have to go try on boots though. It seems even if they're the same brand, they still fit differently.

[This message has been edited by Twix (edited 12/15/2008 10:31a).]

I was just gonna look for a llama pic.

I can't believe I didn't catch that! I went to look at their website and there was only 1 L. I'm an idiot!!


Anyway, these are my 'cowboy' boots.





My dress boots are black and knee-high.

I have the " My New Tony Lama's" song stuck in my head now...thanks....

I have Justin Ropers, and Nokona "cowboy" Boots.
The Nokonas are grey kangaroo leather and are my most comfortable shoes. They are nearly 20 years old and have outworn 3 pairs of ropers.

I still can't pull of 'dress' cowboy boots.

I think you have to be at least over 40 to be able to pull that off. That's not too far away for you.

Go with Tony Lama. I've had 2 pair I have rotated wearing everyday to the office for almost 4 years now and are just starting to show wear. I have re-soled them once and re-cap them about once a year.

(sadly, while you are correct it's also increasingly appropriate that the little smiley has no hair... make fun of me for going bald too why don't you!!)

Easy there turbo...it's only Monday. I'm starting off easy.

I have three pairs of ropers. I love them. I like them mostly because they look just as good as any other boot, you can get them however you want, and they arent that expensive. That means, when i wear a sole out of them, i can go get another pair. My next pair is going to be a 'real' boot as some of you say, but its really preference. I have smooth ostrich, deer hide, and a regular pair. Just try them on. Boots are like everything else, there is always a snob that has the best brand, best style, etc, etc, etc. However, i wear boots almost exclusively, so all my slacks/jeans/etc are all long enough to accomodate them. If i wear a loafer, my pants are too long...so i dont wear them.

Can't get over the fact that Ariat's are made in China, and some lines from Tony Lama are made in China as well.

I've been buying Double H boots lately, but don't know that what I've seen on the shelf qualifies as dress boots. You might look on their website.

If I had to buy dress boots today, I would go in looking for Lucchese boots and nothing else.

Dress boots =/ work boots. Good pairs of both is apparently a wallet busting experience.

I've completely worn out three pairs of Lucchese ropers (maroon leather). Great looking / fitting boots, but they finally priced me out of the market.

MA

Don't wear boots with a suit unless its a western cut suit. Dress slacks (i.e. wool or wool blend) are a maybe -- western cut would be better. Dark chinos (i.e. cotton pants, even nice ones which you may mean when you said slacks) and jeans are good to go.

Sorry, Ill wear my GD boots with cutoff shorts if i want to.

I have a pair of black Ariat deer skin ropers that dress and office worthy. Of course, some of us learned how to properly polish boots.

>>Can't get over the fact that Ariat's are made in China<<

Is this a Made in the USA statement or a concern about quality? If the latter, it now appears that just "made in China" is no longer automatically a quality problem. There are Chinese facilities that produce good quality stuff, though there are still ones that don't. 5 years ago, perhaps, this wasn't the case; they were all bad.

Would you rather they be made in Mexico or another foreign country?

I you are looking to buy a decent pair, I would try some Anderson Bean. These are really comfortable and affordable.

I you are wanting a real nice pair of boots and a pair that will fit your foot perfect then you should get a pair of handmade boots. Handmade boots will very in price depending on style and the maker.

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>>Can't get over the fact that Ariat's are made in China<<

Is this a Made in the USA statement or a concern about quality?

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How about a concern about convenience and price, not to mention jobs. Tony Lama had a factory in El Paso years ago. Now it's an empty buiding. The factory store(s) were great for buying boots. I got a pair of $350 boots for $99 because parts of the grain at the high end of the uppers didn't match. Looked just fine under jeans, though.

and you can't go wrong with Tennie Lamas!