In high school, I owned a pair of boots, all one colour leather with a square stitched upper (on top of the arch) and square toes. They were so ridiculously comfortable that I wore them everywhere, ‘til they literally fell apart. If they hadn’t been so insufferably hot in the summer-time, I would have worn them all year round. In 2006 I renewed my interest in boots, only I wanted an upgraded, fancier pair, and became interested in Western boot footwear. At my local Al’s Shoe Factory (of ALL places, and last place I looked!), I found that they carried 3 types of women’s (compared to numerous men’s styles). There were the black suede low-heeled pointy toed kind, with black fringe around the top, which I told the saleslady were actually “peter pan get-away boots”, and one pair of pale pink cowboy boots which she called “dress Western”, for show. You know, so your young rider can colour co-ordinate her pink boots with her white pants, pink top and white cowboy hat: SO not for me. The third kind, was the traditional cowboy boot by Silver Rebel Western boots, and they had two colours: black with black or spice brown on dark brown. No other shoe store in town carried Western boots, so I decided on the spice brown, but since my size was not available the saleslady went and got an order paper for the company, Boulet Boots, which they don’t carry, and made a Special Order for my size and style.
They cost $179.00. I thought that was a lot. What a laugh! When I got curious enough to Google Western boots I found out that there are a LOT of styles, all with purposes and they come in a variety of leathers. Ultimately, what I ordered was a standard factory issued Western boot that the un-country population purchases. REAL cowboy boots cost anywhere from $250 to start, from the common style, upwards to $2000.00 per pair, depending on the variety of leather they are made from and the quality of work.
Alberta Boot, owned by the Gerwing family, is one of the bigger boot makers in Canada. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Alberta Boot produces the traditional cowboy boot with these available leathers: bullhide, cowhide, kangaroo, python, ostrich, lizard, alligator, and rattlesnake. They began manufacturing footwear during the Second World War. In 1988, Alberta Boot was the Official Western Boots of the Calgary Winter Olympic Games. In 1997 Calgary hosted the World Police/Fire Games and Alberta Boot was once again the Official Boot Supplier.
This historical account is available the website, www.albertaboot.com :
“Cowboy Boot History
Before and after the American Civil War cowboys wore an assortment of footwear. One design popular with cowboys was the Wellington, a boot of British origin from around 1810. Traditionally the Wellington is a knee high plain boot commonly constructed in black or brown leather. The boot tops were either cut straight across or curved slightly higher in front. Modified “Wellington’s” were worn by Old West Heroes like Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickock.
“The “Hessian” was also a popular boot with cowboys, and to this day it’s the most easily recognized cowboy boot design. The name was derived from boots worn by Hessian Soldiers during the American Revolution. This boot features an under-the-knee boot with a V-cut in the front. Some of the original Hessian boots featured a large silk or leather tassel that hung down in the V-cut in the front of the boot. This showy detail was not popular with cowboys and in the first known picture of Billy the Kid, Billy’s shown with his trousers tucked in, wearing a Hessian boot with its recognizable front V-cut (minus the tassel).”
COWBOY WISDOM: “The only thing that works harder than a cowboy is his boots.”
HEEL OPTIONS
I found out there are many heel options for Western boots, depending on what their intended use was. The 4 typical styles are Riding, Regular, Wellington and Walking.
Riding Heel is more angled toward the toe, typically 1 and 2/3 inch. (below)
Regular heel is 1 ½ inch, still angled but a little wider. (below)
Wellington heel is flat and square, 1 to 1¼ inch, while Walking heel is 1¼ to 1½ inch (below).
PROPER COWBOY BOOT FIT (from Alberta Boot)
“New boots should feel comfortably snug. The ball of the foot should be right in the widest part of the boot, indicating proper arch length and adequate toe room (toes should sit flat and free.) The boot should be snug over the instep (top of foot) since there are no laces, buckles, etc. Finally, there should be a slight lift in the heel when you walk (approx. ½ inch) which will subside as the sole starts to flex.”
TOE STYLE
The toe style is just as important as the heel style and overall look of the boot. Men likely find the square toe style more comfortable as their feet and toes are wider and bigger. Boulet Boots manufacture three feature toe styles: Cowboy Toe, Round Toe and Narrow Square Toe.
PRICES from Alberta Boot
Ladies, 10 inch uppers, regular, cowhide, begins at $270; Men’s same height, regular cowhide/bullhide $280. The most expensive leathers increase the price: python, $465; Ostrich is $780 to $1000, and Alligator leather is $1650 ~ $1700.
Catalogue web-sites featuring Western items
www.realcowboys.com Riley & McCormick, Calgary, Alberta. Claim to be “Canada’s largest mail-order company”. Feature many Rodeo products, including buckles. This is an interesting website one can get lost in, browsing everything cowboy related from shirts to hats to belts, buckles, and boots.
www.thelastbestwest.com Great website for absolutely everything that can be made out of leather, including saddles!!! But not sure if an actual store/physical location exists. Also, Posters galore!
The Home of SILVER REBEL Western Boots
Boulet Boots, another major Canadian manufacturer of Western and cowboy boots, began in Quebec, Canada in a small town reknowned for their excellent craftsmanship in producing quality leathers during the 1930’s. They Produce the Boulet Boot, Silver Rebel Western boots, and uniform footwear. During the Second World War, they were commissioned by the army to produce all military footwear. By the 1960’s they were relocated to Western Canada.
Many styles with original designs are featured at the company’s web-site, www.bouletboots.com . Exotics (pictured: Caiman belly leather), 
Vintage Square Toe, Medium Sq Toe, Wide Sq Toe and Boulet Rider Sole, all feature the flat, square Wellington heel style, except for the Super Roper. Super Ropers feature Cowboy toe and Roper Heel, which is slightly higher than Wellington but square: these are working boots (below).
Buckaroo and Shooter boots have the narrow Riding heel, the Cowboy Toe and Pointed Toe boots feature the Riding and Regular heel. They also make Square Toe Motorcyle Boots, Challenger Ropers & Lace-up Boots, and Winter Cowboy boots!! (See below) 
MINE are Walking Cowboy Boots with the Regular Heel, two tone spice brown on black-brown, pull tab style, with the Cowboy Toe. The style is 7474, available in a range of two-tone leathers. Al’s Shoe Factory, Simcoe, carries this in in the Ladies style, and they are also avail at their Brantford location.
(Still have the mud on them from walking around the Norfolk County Fair last year…!)
