I'm thinking of client gifts for Christmas this year. One of my good clients/friends was a big corps guy during his school years so I think it would be cool to get him measured for a pair of custom cowboy boots.

Is there someone in town that makes custom boots that can do this? TIA

Ryan the Temp said:

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Republic Boot Company at 1133 E. 11th St in the Heights.

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Nice. Looks like exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks

Roofing because "storm damage" or "weather event" has made insurance go up a ton.

I can see greasing the wheel with a high dollar pair of boots. Much like a golf outing or fishing trip.

Republic is about as custom as Tecovas

For the full on custom experience check out Maida's Bespoke Boots on Westheimer (not Maida's belts and buckles).

Ag_07 said:

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Republic is about as custom as Tecovas

For the full on custom experience check out Maida's Bespoke Boots on Westheimer (not Maida's belts and buckles).

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I don't know enough to argue but with all the measurements and design discussion it seemed pretty damn custom to me.

Leddy's is top shelf… they just so happen to be in Houston once a year

I pairs of boots from both Leddy's and Republic and quite satisfied with both. You will not go wrong with either. I will say, my experience has been Leddy's lead time was much longer. Like several months longer.

It has been a couple of years since I got my boots from Leddy's so that may have changed.

BBQ said:

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Leddy's is top shelf… they just so happen to be in Houston once a year

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Twice a year. At the Rodeo and then a pop up in the fall.

Yep

I got fitted for Leddy's at one of their Houstonian events. Think it ultimately took about 6-8 months (better than the 1 year they quoted).

I have some gator hides I've been meaning to get something done with. May check out republic. I think I checked with Chris Liggitt a while back and his started at 3K...which is a tough pill if you want anything more than the basics (and that was probably 4 years ago). For a period of time during Covid, Leddy was offering almost half off for existing customers on new customs. Wish I would have taken advantage.

TXAG 05 said:

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Damn. Must be good clients if you are wanting to spend $2k+ per client

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At least half of the roofing companies in Houston are money laundering fronts for cartels and their business affiliates. Gotta find you a good group of independent Mexicans with no Nuevo Leon or Tamaulipas tats or bumper stickers, guys who can recite some scripture. Can usually assemble a good squad in half a day if you hit the hot spots (Home Depot parking lot etc etc) diligently and conduct straight to the point interviews.

Hiring a roofing company is playing with fire, and I just can't, morally.

RK said:

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I got fitted for Leddy's at one of their Houstonian events. Think it ultimately took about 6-8 months (better than the 1 year they quoted).

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Geez, that's like pre-Trump turnaround times for suppressors.

Great Western Boot Company off 290 at 43rd - David is a one man shop

Hardcore Greg said:

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TXAG 05 said:

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Damn. Must be good clients if you are wanting to spend $2k+ per client

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At least half of the roofing companies in Houston are money laundering fronts for cartels and their business affiliates. Gotta find you a good group of independent Mexicans with no Nuevo Leon or Tamaulipas tats or bumper stickers, guys who can recite some scripture. Can usually assemble a good squad in half a day if you hit the hot spots (Home Depot parking lot etc etc) diligently and conduct straight to the point interviews.

Hiring a roofing company is playing with fire, and I just can't, morally.

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I own a commercial roofing service biz and do zero residential or insurance work because of that exact reason.

RoofingAg said:

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Hardcore Greg said:

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TXAG 05 said:

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Damn. Must be good clients if you are wanting to spend $2k+ per client

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At least half of the roofing companies in Houston are money laundering fronts for cartels and their business affiliates. Gotta find you a good group of independent Mexicans with no Nuevo Leon or Tamaulipas tats or bumper stickers, guys who can recite some scripture. Can usually assemble a good squad in half a day if you hit the hot spots (Home Depot parking lot etc etc) diligently and conduct straight to the point interviews.

Hiring a roofing company is playing with fire, and I just can't, morally.

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I own a commercial roofing service biz and do zero residential or insurance work because of that exact reason.

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It's gotten bad, 50% is probably being generous.

When screening for good-hearted, hard-working Mexicans, the only question you really need to ask is "Quien es el mejor carpintero que haya existido? If they answer correctly, you've got a potential lifer on your hands.

Anyways, I guess you already know this, and that is how you are able to afford such generous gifts for clients.

RoofingAg said:

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Hardcore Greg said:

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RoofingAg said:

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Hardcore Greg said:

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TXAG 05 said:

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Damn. Must be good clients if you are wanting to spend $2k+ per client

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At least half of the roofing companies in Houston are money laundering fronts for cartels and their business affiliates. Gotta find you a good group of independent Mexicans with no Nuevo Leon or Tamaulipas tats or bumper stickers, guys who can recite some scripture. Can usually assemble a good squad in half a day if you hit the hot spots (Home Depot parking lot etc etc) diligently and conduct straight to the point interviews.

Hiring a roofing company is playing with fire, and I just can't, morally.

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I own a commercial roofing service biz and do zero residential or insurance work because of that exact reason.

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It's gotten bad, 50% is probably being generous.

When screening for good-hearted, hard-working Mexicans, the only question you really need to ask is "Quien es el mejor carpintero que haya existido? If they answer correctly, you've got a potential lifer on your hands.

Anyways, I guess you already know this, and that is how you are able to afford such generous gifts for clients.

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Yes I focus on repairs and maintenance. Try to push the re roofs off as long as possible (shocking to hear a roofer say that right?) I also don't spend any money on ads or anything, I'm all referral and word of mouth. So I look at this as my marketing money.

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Do you do new commercial roofs(TPO/metal), or just repairs? We've been trying to find a new good roofer. We do restaurants, car washes, stuff like that.

How much do these custom style boots typically cost for a basic pair, nothing too fancy? I've had poor luck with off the shelf boots that fit right. I'm inbetween sizes, and have a wide foot.

It's been a few years since I've priced them but a pair of true custom calfskin boots were $1,000 at smaller boot repair places that also do custom boots.

I'm no expert, but here's what I've learned about boots as there's lots of terms that are confusing.

True custom boots are handmade and made from a last built specific for your measurements. The last is the form the boot maker makes the boot around. No true custom boots are ever made for someone from someone else's last. If you're a soccer fan you can use the term bespoke but that'll make Bocephus cry. He's an Oiler fan and not a soccer man.

Handmade boots is where it gets a little tricky and the term custom gets used. I believe it's Nuevo Leon where there's a ton of boot factories making true handmade boots. They're doing it to standard sizes and nothing is done via a unique last. This is where Tecovas and Republics house boots are made along with many others.

Some people use the term custom because you can order different colors and the such to make them "custom" to your style but not your specific foot.

I'm obviously a fan of Republic as I respect Chris' passion and hustle. You can look at their website and see what boots they have and what prices. You might be able to go in and have them adjust a house boot to fit your foot better.

They can make quite a bit of adjustments to an existing boot.

Any other boot maker can also do this.

David at Great Western Boots on 43rd can also likely do this. He does a great job but he's just so swamped last time I was in there.

There's a place in Pasadena called Pasadena Custom Boots and they do pretty good work with reasonable prices from when I last shopped.

What a thoughtful gift!

I have not used anyone local so I cannot comment. However, I'm a hard fit, and have several pairs after putting a lot of energy into getting educated and learning.

There is a difference in truly custom vs. made to measure (MTM). For me the big differentiator is custom tooling and ability for advanced fitment adjustments.

Some places bill themselves as custom when they are really MTM. I'm OK with MTM as long as I know what I'm getting into. For me, if I'm paying a premium I want the stitching to be done by hand. You can tell by looking at the uppers and seeing minor imperfections. If the stitching is perfect and they still claim custom or done by hand I get skeptical and usually walk. Yes, loading onto a cnc is technically done by hand, but not what I would be expecting for north of a grand.

Price is usually driven by hide choice, height, number of rows of stitching and any custom mods.

I have not done it, but one thought is Lucchese flagship on Westheimer. They had a nice set up for MTM (it's been years since I was in there).

Drive to San Antonio. Go to Little's Boot Company. Same family making boots for 125 years. Best custom boots I ever had. You can thank me later.

Thank you, i will certainly pay them a visit on my next business trip to SA

I think I'm currently sitting at 14+ months for a pair at Republic Boots. They told us 9 months at the fitting so they were slightly off. My wife ordered a pair at the same time and hers haven't been delivered either. Hopefully they are nice.

I had a better experience at Parker Boot company. He's local to Houston and did a great job. I think it may have been 6-8 months but they did a better job meeting their own timeline expectation.

I had a gator hide that Republic did for me a few years ago. They were just under 2k with me providing the hide. They are great boots. I think I got mine in about 6 months, but they have gotten much more popular in the last two years.

These are my favorite as well. Wearing mine right now.

(Though, Dave isn't making them anymore, I don't think)

I'm cursed with a narrow foot, so even a plain old pair of boots from Republic will cost me over $2k.

But man, I really need a good pair of boots.

Maybe I should check into those other two Houston places.

My Lucchese's have a hole in the bottom and need a new heel.

Where's the best place to go this? Even better if the recommendation in on the NE side.

For something that simple, Houston Shoe Hospital works well, but I have no idea if they have a location NE.

Ezra Brooks said:

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My Lucchese's have a hole in the bottom and need a new heel.

Where's the best place to go this? Even better if the recommendation in on the NE side.

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Great Western did my resoles - but he's more NW off 290

Ezra Brooks said:

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My Lucchese's have a hole in the bottom and need a new heel.

Where's the best place to go this? Even better if the recommendation in on the NE side.

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If anyone other that Lucchese touches your boots, they will void your warranty (if that even matters to you). But it will take forever to get your boots back from them.