Tony Lama or Olathe

[Harmonica]

I was thinking of buying a new pair of boots and was wondering which of these two pairs might be best......
Tony Lama Western Work Boot 4013.......
http://www.tonylama....?424fccf8=30501
Or Olathe 2029......
http://www.shiplerboots.com/2029.html

[bdhold]

sorry I can't answer your question, but if basic doeskin is an option, I highly recommend it.
Most comfortable leather ever and doesn't scuff like lexan or peel like exotic skins.
I have a pair of 20-y-o black doeskin ropers I had soled 5 times and I will do it again next time they need it.

[Don McDowell]

You'll have to look at the boots and see where they are made. From there on it'll depend on what you're doing with the boots.
If you plan on spending any time working from horseback forget about the Chinese built boots, they don't fit the stirrups and the soules are to "gummy" to slide back and forth on the platform of the stirrup if you can get them jammed in there. Look for the Mexican made boots they work fine in the saddle.
If you're not going to be working horseback, then you really need to try the boots on, as the vast majority of the Chinese made boots have little to no arch support and are quite "fat" fitting in especially in the heel and on the ball of the foot.

[Mike D.]

I wore Tony Lama 4013s for many years, wearing them as everyday pole climbing boots in my work as a power lineman. Very comfortable and strong.

[Hobie]

No "OT" please. Thank you.

[Charles]

I have always had a preference for Tony Lama when buying store bought boots. But the Lama family no longer owns the company. It has been sold and resold several times, so I can't speak to the current quality.

[Buck Elliott]

HONCHO BOOTS...

I wore Tony's for years, but when they were bought out, the new owners scrapped all the lasts, and replaced them with a different form.. Basically cheap, modified shoe lasts.. Tony Lama boots don't fit me any more, but I hold on to my good, old ones..

Olathe boots have never fit my feet, but I know a lot of guts who swear by them.. Check 'em out..

Honcho Boots will make just about anything you want, within reason.. My last pair have square toes, a good spur shelf, no toe-bug, and 17" plain, stovepipe tops, with just a hint of a welt sewn in below the very top edge.. Made of Chocolate horsehide, and calf lined, they are the most comfortable boots I have ever owned.. honcho will make them in just about any size and width...

If you will be riding, stay away from the new-fangled double or triple-sewn welts.. They will want to curl up in stirrups, and are hard to walk in.. Kinda-like wearing snow shoes.. Like the big-brimmed Taco hats, they seem to have migrated from Texas, and I hope both fads fade quickly into the sunset...

[Harmonica]

Any opinions on the current line of Larry Mahan boots?
http://www.cavenders.com/product.asp?ca ... _id=LM4800

[Dave James]

ONe thing about Olathe boots , they are what i wear just about every day both pairs made of Elk hide, the "last" are heavy and appear to be made for riding, they fit me fine but I understand that if you lean toward flat feet they don't.

Haven't owned a pair of Lama's since the 60's

[Don McDowell]

I used to wear the Olathe Muleskinner boots all the time, but then there were no local store carrying them so I went wandering in the darkness for everyday work boots.
After finding out that the Tony Lama's are mostly made in China, and fit like Buck says more like street shoes, I won't buy a pair of boots I can't try on. There are some Tony's still made in Mexico and the fit and feel the way they should.
Anybody seen a Nacona boot lately, or a Ben Miller?
Ben Miller elkhides were a great riding boot back in the day.

[kimwcook]

Took a look at those Honcho Boots and they've got quite the selection and they look good. The site doesn't show any prices though.

[Harmonica]

Also, still considering buying a pair of these Boulet Shooter boots.........
http://www.bouletboots.com/index.php?pa ... 70&PID=167

[piller]

I have always worn Tony Lama boots, and recently got a new pair. Never again! The fit has changed and the quality has gone to "Helena Handbasket". Buck mentioned the lasts being scrapped, and it sure feels like they are built on a different last. First time I ever had to put arch supports in a Tony Lama boot.

[Griff]

I used to wear Tony Llama's for work when I was shoein' full time. The best boot I ever found was a muleskin... tough, fairly light, almost as long lasting as elephant. (My elephants are over 35 years old, and have been rebuilt so many times....)! However, the new TL's ain't the quality the old ones were. My favorite boots are Paul Bond's, the variety is almost endless. I currently only have two pair. one pair is their "stock" muleskin vamp and cowhide uppers, 3/4" sole and 2-½" riding heel. When I bought them, they only offered them in black foot, with a variety of colors. Single row stitchin', purposely made with working cowboys in mind... prices have escalated quite a bit since I bought my first pair... but wow! My honest opinion is that these boots make Olathe's look like clodhoppers. If you're on/off horseback all day, I'll take the much lighter Bond's over the Olathe's any day. Olathe's are heavy, clunky and ungainly feeling. Just swinging that right leg over the saddle twice is enough to make me head back and swap boots! Paul's boots are truly custom made for you! If you can afford it, worthy of a trip to their shop in Nogales, AZ. It'll be 6-8 weeks for you to get your new boots, but believe me, they'll be worth the wait! Once they've fitted you; all you have to do is call them with what style you want, colors, materials, options, and a credit card... oh man... just thinking about a new pair of their boots is making me wanna spend another grand on a pair! Oh, did I mention that they ain't "inexpensive"... Their website has a video that tell's you how to measure yourself for a pair of their boots. Look for their 1-Stock Cowboy Work Boot... I have a pair that's 16 years old, still going strong! Even tougher than I imagined:


That was a full pot of molten lead that I was finished skimming out WW clips, and while carrying over to my casting pot, about 15 lbs of lead landed on my toes! Oh yea, NEVER cast barefoot!


Partial view of my custom boots by PB... My stock brand inlet into the uppers, Shoulder vamps and french calf uppers... heavy work sole and 2-½" riding heels... Very comfortable... and tough... been thru mesquite thickets and ain't punctured a toe yet! That may be just luck... but they've got some nicks and scratches!
Now that I drive a LOT, I like the TL crepe soles; man, talk about comfort! In the crepe soled boots (feel like tennis shoes with a "cowboy" look), TL, Justins, Noconas and Luchesse's all seem to fit the same, very comfortable.

However, be advised, that any boot is really only as comfortable as the "last" upon which it is built. My real advice, it to shop around and try on as many manufacturers as possible, even different styles have different feels when worn... and when you do, walk around in them for several minutes... wear BOTH boots when you do. Over my life of wearing cowboy boots, (since I was about 5), I've found that I can wear Paul Bonds, Tony Lamas & Noconas, in what I figure as "real" cowboy boots... those with pegged soles and anything taller than a walking heel.

My unscientific review is that the "arch" in Justin's are too far forward, in Dan Posts (or Acme or a number of others), it's too far back toward my heel. However, this changes in some styles...

Enjoy the search. I find El Paso, TX almost heaven for boot shoppers. It would be if Paul Bond was there!

[Harmonica]

Been awhile but speaking boots again, I notice that Olathe uses a Neoprene midsole on their boots. Is that a good or bad thing?

[bdhold]

I got some Tony Lama pro ropers for Christmas, and really like them.

these were the cool boots when I was in high school.

[Griff]

Good lookin' boots.

[horsesoldier03]

I prefer the Tony Lama Ropers as well. However, I have also found another boot that I have learned to really like.

http://www.twistedxboots.com/Htm/mcw0005.htm

Check out Twisted X boots.

[bdhold]

yep, those are slick

[1894c]

nothing beats a good old pair of "Chuck Taylor's"...great for the urban jungle... :)

[1894c]

No "OT" please. Thank you.

sorry Hobbie---might be too late... :)

[bdhold]

I know this sounds weird, but I have made an extra effort to use OT in the titles of OT threads in the past.
I've noticed that when somebody quotes my OP, the OT in the title somehow disappears - there's something in the board...

[willygene]

olathe boots are 3 times the boot that tony lamas are.

[Buck Elliott]

olathe boots are 3 times the boot that tony lamas are.

Well... There ya go.. That settles it..!

[Griff]

olathe boots are 3 times the boot that tony lamas are.

Well... There ya go.. That settles it..!

And here I was, agreeing... 3 times as heavy!

[Harmonica]

I might look into buying a pair of those Paul Bond or Honcho boots.