Wide Width Cowboy Boots

In the wide world of the west no two people are alike. This holds true for people's feet as well. Everyone has different size feet, both in width and in size.

Luckily, cowboy boots consider these differences. Cowboy boots can be comfortable footwear for everyone, regardless of foot size. If you find yourself with wide-sized feet, you have come to the right place.

Wide width boots are ideal for people with wider feet. Wide width sizes are usually marked as EW, E, EE, EEE, and W. These sizes mark the different needs people have for boot sizes.

Normal boot sizes are marked B and D. Standard women sizes are B, with men sizes being marked as D. Each marking represents the need for different sizes in boots, both in width and in leg sizes.

Wide width cowboy boots have many different designs, colors, styles and patterns. Most brands offer wide width cowboy boots to compensate the many clients that have need of them. You can also find wide-width boots in a variety of materials, though most are made from cowhide leather.

Cowboy styled boots usually are made with high heels and high shafts. No lacing is required for this style of boot. Expert boot makers take extra care by hand trimming and hand sewing wide width boots so they are in top shape for the work they will eventually have to do outside.

Wide width boots can be found at most boot stores. Ask to get your foot sized so you know the correct wide width size to look for. If local stores don't sell the correct size for your feet, try an online store.

Wide width boots are not always easy to find, especially for women. Most women boots come in the medium size variety, so not every store will carry wide width boots. If you can't find any online that you like, there are many boot retailers that have custom made boots that can be specially ordered to fit your preferred boot width and size.

Things You Can Do To Repair Your Cowboy Boots Yourself

Cowboy boots put up with a lot of pressure. They are constantly being exposed to the rough terrain and weather conditions. Chances are they will receive some wear and tear at some point, and it is important to take care of that damage before it gets too serious.

Minor damage to boots can be easy to repair. It is important to keep your boots in good condition, however, because even minor damage can quickly turn in to serious damage if not taken care of in a timely fashion. If you notice any damage done with your boots, take care of them before they become more serious.

If your boots have cracks in the sole, fix them with an adhesive. A good adhesive for cowboy boots is Shoe Goo. Shoe Goo works well for boots made out of leather or rubber, and does a great job with sealing in the splits and cracks of your sole.

Scratches in boots are also easily fixed. Cowboy boots are most often made out of leather. If your boots are leather, leather lotion works great to get rid of visible scratches on your boot.

Leather lotion works great to smooth out the scratches on the boots. Apply the lotion with a clean cloth over the outside of your boots. The lotion also moisturizes your cowboy boots to prevent future cracks.

Suede boots won't work with a lotion. Use a dry cleaning bar instead to "erase" the scratches that are made on the boot. Use a brush after the cleaning bar to keep it looking its best.

Leaky boots need to be waterproofed. Use milk oil or another waterproofing substance to keep water from leaking inside your boots. After the oil dries spray on a water-proof spray to the seems of your boots to keep them sealed and well protected.

These repairs can be done easily. Boots with a more serious need of repair, however, should not be fixed by an inexperienced repairman. Boot repair shops can save seriously damaged boots, so call a professional for those types of jobs.

How to fit a Western Boot:

To fit a boot, you want to use a foot measure. They come in Men's, Women's, and Kid's sizes. This allows you to find out what size your foot is and your foot’s width. You need to make sure that you stand on the measure with you heel all the way to the back of it because your foot will spread when there is weight on it. You can measure your left foot or your right. Men are most commonly a size 10 with a "D" width.

The foot measure can also measure the length of your arch or instep. Do note that every brand of boot will fit differently. Also everyone has one foot that is smaller than the other. Make sure that you try on both pairs of boots to get the best fit.

Different Parts of Cowboy Boots

If you have had the time or desire to stare at someone’s boots, you would have noticed that there are many parts to one. Each part has a purpose for the person wearing them. I will not bore you with the details of every boot part there is, but I will show what some are and their significance.

The shaft is a long, cylindrical part that goes up the leg. Shafts come in many heights and can be very decorative. They can have colored stitch patterns and embroidery, or tooling by hand or machine. If you can think it, someone can make it and put it on a shaft. This allows the owner to personalize their boots if they want to.

The shaft is also for the protection of the leg. Just like shin guards, chaps, and protective vests, this part of the boot offers the wearer protection against heat, cold, sharp objects, and prevents objects from entering the boot from the top and causing discomfort.

The shank is located between the midsole and outsole, and runs parallel with the foot between the ball of the foot and the heel. This significant part of the boot is commonly called the “arch support”.

Shanks are made from steel, carbon fiber, plastic, fiberglass, and even aluminum. They can be flat, forked, dished, and contoured. Have you ever discovered that some boots feel great on your feet, while others seem to cause pain in the arch of your foot, like you are standing on a shovel with bare feet? Frequently, this is caused by the shank not being the same shape as your foot.

The outsole receives the most amount of abuse, so it is, arguably, the most important part of the boot. Outsoles are made out of two main materials: leather and synthetic materials. Leather is a natural, breathable material that conforms nicely to your foot. It comes in many thicknesses to accommodate different needs. The only reason some steer away from leather soles is that they tend to wear out quickly when they are wet.

Synthetic soles offer greater durability in moisture and other liquids, but they come with one nasty side effect: heat. Leather allows heat to dissipate through the sole, but synthetic soles trap it. Synthetic soles usually offer greater longevity and can offer more slip and chemical resistance, but can you take the heat? For many, the answer is answered for them, due to the nature of where the boots are worn. Also, some prefer the cushion of a synthetic sole over a leather one.

Whatever your preferences may be or how you wear them, boots are worth staring at. Most boots are made by hand, so even in this age of mass production, no two pair are exactly, or fit exactly, alike. This makes each one unique, and an expression of the individual.

How to Fit a Cowboy Hat

Now, that you have found the perfect hat and would like to purchase it you say to yourself, self. How is this danged thing supposed to fit? How do I know my size? Well, here are some tips for you.


Well first of all, you have to know your head size and to find that out you must measure your head. Use a cloth measuring tape measure about an inch to an inch and a half depending on preference above the eye brow; measure around just above the ear and around the back of the head to complete the circle. Pull the tape snug not tight, and record the number and use the chart below to better find your size (these measurements are taken from Stetson size scales).
Next, we must talk about the shape of your head. There are many different types of head shapes and because of this hat makers have made many different ovals to better fit your head. The most common of these said ovals are:


Round oval- which are most of all hats made by Stetson


Long oval- which includes Resistol brand hats


Regular oval which is Atwood hats, Milano, Serritelli, and many others


After you find a hat you like and the right size you are going to want to get it shaped. Most people shape a hat to whatever their style is.But, that is not enough once you pick out what style you then have it shaped to compliment your facial and physical features.

What Types of Cowboy Boots are Available?

I remember the days when you walked into your boot shop and you could find a few pair of boots to choose from. That is not the case anymore. There are many styles to choose from now, each with a purpose, and a look, in mind.

The good, old cowboy boot that most think of has a heel around 1.5 inches. It has a pointed toe and a 13 inch shaft. They usually have some stitching on the toe called a “toe bug”. These basic boots have been worn through the decades.

A cousin of these boots is the dress boot, usually made with an exotic leather such as alligator, ostrich, lizard, or many others. They look just like the good old cowboy boot mentioned above, only with that expensive, exotic hide on it.

The Roper has a one inch heel, round toe, and a shaft of about 11 inches. This boot has been a favorite of those who rope, hence the name.

The Stockman is a hybrid of two styles, the roper and the traditional cowboy boot. It has a 1 to 11/8 inch heel, round toe, and a shaft 11 to 12 inches tall. However, unlike the roper, it has a ¾ welt on the sole. This provides a different fit for those who need it.

The Buckaroo has heels up to 3 inches, round toes, with pull holes, mule ears, or pull straps at the top of the shaft. These boots are usually taller, starting at 13 and going up to 18 inches tall. These are usually worn by those who need good leg protection and a good heel to ride in.

Roughstock boots have heels around 2 inches, can have round or square toes, have tough heel counters for durability, and usually have leather soles. They are around 12 inches tall. These boots are made for riding bulls and broncs, or anyone who likes that look.

Fashion boots are in a class of their own. There are no rules these days for these boots, for they are as varied as the people on this planet. High, narrow heels are usually prominent, being 3-4 inches tall, but there are other styles that use designs and colors to set them apart from their competitors. In the western world, bling has come with hurricane force to stick to anything it can. Boots are no exception to this. Silver dots, brass dots, hair on hides, camo, and bling can be found almost anywhere.

Mules are a cousin to fashion boots with their colors and styles, only they have no shaft or heel. With jeans on, they like boots, so many women like to wear these for their comfort and looks.
In general, a boot is a boot. With a closer look, however, boots can give you a closer look at how someone sees the world, and how they perceive the world sees them. Boots are a standard, especially cowboy boots.

Ride on, for a West is still out there to be won.

Summer Cowboy Hats

As spring narrows to an end and summer is obviously on its way it is time to start to think about getting a summer hat. So that question was asked; what is the best summer cowboy hat? I answered with, it depends.

You see, it is all varies to who is buying the said hat. If you were to ask me the question I would answer back with an Atwood palm leaf hat. Many people consider Atwood to be the “king “of palm leafs. The reason I would choose a palm leaf is because; number one its durability, and strength, number two is price palm leaf hats are normally fairly inexpensive comparatively, and number three its versatility.

But, if you didn’t ask me most people would probably say a toyo, shantung or bangora straw; because that is what the majority of people are wearing. The Shantug family includes the framosa, toyo, bangora, and of course the shantung straws. Most of these hats are woven is Japan or china and are made up of a Japanese paper yarn. Then the bodies are shipped to the U. S. to be made into hats. Unlike the palm leaf the shantung are very light weight but not nearly as weather proof or durable. But because most of them are woven by hand and consequentially more time was spent to make them they are much more expensive.