From time to time, I post some pics of the boots I have been wearing lately.

Sunday, June 29: My Sunday-go-to-meetin’ new Dan Post Sand Vegas Cut Cowboy Boots that I wore to church with my partner.

When I got home, I put on my tall Chippewa Oil-Tanned Engineer Boots and for a short motorcycle ride to a quaint old mill town for a leisurely lunch.

After that, I changed from my biker duds to casual Sunday afternoon clothes, including my Nocona Ostrich Inlay Boots and went to a political strategy meeting.

When I was through with that, I kicked off the yuppie clothes, leathered up, and had some fun with my hunky partner. Oh, the boots? H-D Police Enforcer Boots. They work really well with chaps tucked into them (and nothing tucked into the chaps :-)).

On Monday, June 30, it was raining in the morning which meant that I couldn’t ride my Harley to the Metro. But it also meant that I could wear cowboy boots with leather soles that I ordinarily wouldn’t use while operating my bike. I chose my Largato Mexican full-quill ostrich cowboy boots which are as comfortable as slippers.
When I got home from work, I did work around the yard, and booted up in my ol’ comfy Harley Harness boots. They got a little dirty and muddy as I was helping a neighbor build a retaining wall in the stream behind his (and my) house. When I was done, I took the boots off outside to let ’em dry (and not track dirt inside the house, which is “frowned upon.”)

I changed to some boots I hadn’t worn in ages — my Tony Lama white Firewalker cowboy boots. I can‘t wear these for more than a couple hours ’cause they cause my feet to hurt due to the higher heel. I can’t really wear boots with a high heel. (Besides being a klutz, high-heeled boots just cause achy feet.)

Tuesday, July 1, dawned clear, so it was time to choose boots to use to ride to the Metro and which would look fine with dress clothes at work. I’m lookin’ again at my first pair of H-D Police Enforcer Boots… ah, so comfortable. And I really like how tall boots feel on my legs as I walk around during the day.

When I got home, it was time to mow the lawn. I changed to my Thorogood Station Boots which have become my knock-about work boots. They are comfortable and don’t get hot.

Then after a quick shower and having dinner at home (as usual) with my partner, I rushed off to a public hearing. I can dress casually for these hearings, but I like to wear nice lookin’ boots. Dan Post natural belly-cut python cowboy boots looked great with my dark denim jeans and black shirt.

Wednesday, July 2, was another typical ride-the-Harley to Metro morning, followed by a full day at work. Unlike some others, I don’t carry “work shoes” in my briefcase. I wear what I wear for the day when I walk out the door. Today I wore my Dan Post Black Cherry cowboy boots whose soles are worn enough that I could wear them while riding my Harley the two-mile distance to Metro. Mind you, if I were going to be riding a longer distance, I wouldn’t wear smooth-soled boots.

When I got home, I enjoying not having anything that I had to do, so I kicked back in my old comfy Chippewa Engineer Boots. Comfy as house slippers, but durable as heck. They’ve been through the mud, muck, and tens of thousands of miles on my (old) Harley. I grilled dinner for my partner and we ate it out on our deck. We enjoyed the evening, watching the sun slowly set and the critters in the forest behind us play.

Thursday, July 3, was a big day. I was joining five cop buddies of mine for a fundraiser. I left my house at 5:00am and rode with my friends to Ocean City, Maryland, and then we rode back west across the state. Knowing I was going to be booted all day long, I wanted boots that were comfortable, durable, and didn’t get hot. My favorite “biker boots” have become my Chippewa Firefighter Boots. Great sole, easy on the feet, and look great, too. What could be better?

I have to admit that when I got home, I was so tired, I took off my boots (and everything else) and sat in the hot tub with my partner for an hour, then went to bed.

Friday, July 4, was a busy day. I hosted a breakfast for two friends and their families who I had been coaching to become U.S. citizens. They were going to be sworn in as citizens in Baltimore. I put on my Dan Post black cherry Vegas cut cowboy boots, had a nice breakfast, then took off for Baltimore.

After the ceremony (which was great!), my partner wasn’t feeling well and wanted to go back home. When we got there, I changed into casual clothes. The boots I picked were my short black Wesco harness boots. I rode the Harley to my brother’s for a crab feast. I saw most of my family, had a great time, but then it looked like it was going to rain. I came home (and got there just as it began to rain. Whew!)

I found my hungry partner in the basement when I got home. I fixed him dinner, then we settled back in our rec room and chilled out. I kinda have to admit, I took off the boots and relaxed, in socks! (Me!). We cuddled, talked about the day, watched the Capitol Fourth show on TV, and then went to bed.

Hope you enjoyed this visit to about a week in a bootman’s life.

Since I am an out an open Bootman, I have received a number of email messages asking me questions about buying boots. Over the past several months, I have been writing, on-and-off, my own “tutorial” version of things I consider when buying boots for my personal use.

You can find this information by clicking here.

Remember now, this is my own personal opinion. Every man who wears boots has different likes, dislikes, and preferences. For example, I don’t really like lace-up boots because I’m just too lazy to take the time to lace them properly. (And I guess it reminds me too much of shoes; yuck.) I wear cowboy boots primarily at my place of employment and for knockin’ around in my community at meetings and such. I wear motorcycle boots, of course, when riding my Harley.

I only wear boots, without a pair of sneakers or dress shoes to be found in MY closet (I won’t say what’s in my partner’s closet, but I love him anyway.) I change boots two to five times a day, depending on what I’m doing and where I am going. But to me, boots are functional footwear, as well as an avocation. They are, however, not a fetish. These sentences have links to past blog posts of mine that explain why. Visit them if you’re curious.

Meanwhile, visit my website page about choosing boots and let me know what you think. Stay booted!

Someone asked me what boots I’ve been wearing lately. Here goes….

Friday, June 6: my partner drove me to Metro which he usually does on Fridays. Not being on the Harley, I wore my Lucchese Black Cherry Ostrich cowboy boots.

When I got home later that evening, I switched to my Nocona Rattlesnake cowboy boots with jeans to go to a regular family dinner.

Saturday, June 7, I went skydiving. I enjoy wearing Corcoran Jump Boots, and selected the Field Boot style, since this boot is light, flexible, and comfortable as heck. These boots also work real well on my Harley.

When I got home later, I kicked back in my good ol’ comfortable Chippewa Engineer Boots.

Sunday morning June 8, I had some chores to do around the house, so I put on my Thorogood Station Boots which are very light and comfortable, and good to wear as an all-around work boot.

After the chores were done, I took my elderly aunt and a few of her neighbors grocery shopping. For that trip, I switched to my Nocona Bullhide cowboy boots which are comfortable and look great with jeans.

After the fun of grocery shopping with a bunch of old ladies wore off, I changed to biker duds and put on my Chippewa Firefighter Boots which are comfortable, don’t get hot, and provide excellent traction while riding my Harley on a short ride.

When I returned, I took off my sweaty clothes and socks, and put on jeans and my Justin distressed tan cowboy boots. They’re beat-up ol’ cowboy boots that have taken a lot of gaff over the years and still keep kickin’. They’re comfortably well broken in, and best of all: don’t get hot — even if it’s 99°F (37°C).

Monday, June 9, dawned very hot and humid. I rode my Harley to the Metro, so I wanted to wear boots with a rubber sole that would also look good with clothes I wear to work. What was most important was that the boots not get hot. I chose my Ariat Cowboy Biker Boots.

When I got home, I took off all of my clothes since it was so blasted hot. Soon thereafter, the Postal Carrier brought me a large box. My buddy Bamaboy’s tall Wesco harness boots that I bought from him had arrived. After dinner, I put on some clothes and these boots to take a few pics. Nice boots!

Tuesday June 10 was also exceptionally warm and sticky. I chose my Champion Attitude harness boots to wear — since I rode my Harley to Metro again and they look good with clothes I wear at work.

When I got home, I “went cowboy” and put on jeans and my Dan Post roughout cowboy boots while I went around the neighborhood to talk to neighbors about disruption in our community caused by the installation of fiber optic lines by Verizon. These boots are cool (looking and temperature-wise).

After dinner, I changed again and put on my Lucchese Caiman Alligator cowboy boots with black jeans which I wore while presiding over a public hearing. Since storms were brewing, I could wear smooth-soled cowboy boots since I had to drive my truck instead of my Harley.

And finally today, June 11, I am wearing my H-D Police Enforcer Boots since I’m headin’ out after a while to go do some more consulting with my bike cop buddies about boot choices they are making, and about which I have blogged before. We’ll see various boots being modeled and worn while riding in some skills tests to see how the various boots handle real-life stress conditions. It should be an interesting show!

I have had some boots, like these Tony Lama black cowboy boots for 35 years. And they still hold up quite well. A little polish and brushing, and they’re ready to hit the street. (Well, actually, go to work.) And because they’re so old, they are well broken in and are comfortable. Old Tony Lamas were made better than the current versions, on better lasts (forms), and hold their comfort over time.

People have asked me over the years about why I wear boots all the time and if I really wear all the boots I have. Why wear boots? I just like ’em. How they feel, how they look, and how they protect my feet. And yes, I wear most all of the pairs of boots that I own. There are some pairs of boots that are uncomfortable, some have been abused, and a couple pairs need new soles. Some boots in the “less used” category are used for for certain specific activities in which I occasionally engage, such as skydiving or tromping through muddy terrain, or are a lot of trouble to deal with, such as tall lace-up boots (I just don’t have the patience to lace boots).

Some guys have posted on “Boots On Line” about being nervous about what other people may say about being seen in boots. Heck, nobody cares! I may have had some people say something from time to time like “are those cowboy boots?” — and despite wanting to give some kind of wisecrack retort, I just smile and say, “Sure are! Aren’t they cool?” or something like that.

I really do wear my boots. That’s what they are: footwear. I change boots often, rotate the boots in my basement boot closet with those in my bedroom closet, and with my “bootedman.com” website, I know what I have, what I like, and what perhaps haven’t been worn in a while. I enjoy this avocation — not fetish — because, to my core, I am a “Bootman”.

Life is short. Wear your boots.