I am trying a new thing for this blog: to feature one pair of boots from my collection about once each week. My stat program attached to this blog and my boots and leather website continue to show that this blog receives more visitors daily than the website does.
I am still trying to figure out why the blog visits have overtaken the website visits rather consistently now, but am thinking that my website is so “old school” and I do not know how mobile friendly it really is since I refuse to pay the ransom to have a web-enabled mobile device and have no way to check it.
This blog is on the WordPress platform, and WordPress programmers work hard to make it mobile friendly. Since now more than 85% of my web visitors are using mobile devices (rather than what I use — a traditional desktop computer), I am thinking that this blog receives more visits due to its mobile-friendly nature and that google’s algorithm for searches favors mobile-friendly websites.
So here goes … a feature about Lucchese Classics Cognac all-leather boots…
Lucchese Boots have been highly popular, commercially-produced boots since the company was founded in 1883 (or so goes the history from the company website.) Lucchese makes three lines of boots: Lucchese Classics, Lucchese Heritage, and Lucchese 1883.
The Lucchese Classics are made in Texas, USA, with many “by-hand” steps in the production process. Just a note: when a company says “handmade,” it does not mean that the entire boot is held in someone’s hand while the craftsman assembles it. Machines are used, but as tools in the production process. A specialized sewing machine attaches the sole to the vamp. Another type of machine bends and stretches the leather over the last (foot mold). Tools like a drill and specialized hammer drive lemonwood pegs into the sole. All-in-all, several tools are used to make a “handmade” boot. However, the attention that a “handmade” boot gets by a boot craftsman makes these boots much better made, and thus more expensive.
I do not know much about the new line called “Lucchese Heritage.” From the pricing on the company website, it seems as if these are boots in the middle range between Lucchese Classics and Lucchese 1883. I will learn more about that line in the future. Perhaps this line replaced the old “Lucchese 2000” line and a few other intermediaries.
The Lucchese 1883 (or “Since 1883”) line is the low-end for Lucchese boots. These boots are made more by machines than people. Most of these boots (for now, February 2016) are made in Mexico due to cheaper labor and access to adequate quantities of quality leather. (That may change.)
Anyway, the features that I like about these Lucchese Classics Cognac boots are:
* Distinctive cognac (orange) color. These boots contrast especially well with dark blue denim jeans. They stand out and look like a classic cowboy boot.
* Construction. The construction of this boot is superb. Lemonwood pegs attaching the leather outsole to the vamp provide both flexibility as well as durability. Stitching throughout the boot is doubled at stress points, and is done with nylon and kevlar threads. There are no loose plastic threads along the inside of the boot shafts to rub on my legs and cause sores, which often happens with cheaper Chinese-made boots.
* Comfort: These boots were comfortable to wear from the first time that I pulled them on. The insole provided with the boot is well-made, and has conformed to my feet as the insole leather naturally hardened with age. (That leather insole hardening process occurs with all boots in about six to twelve months’ time.)
* Heel height: These boots have a traditional “cowboy heel” with a height of 1-3/8 inches (35mm). For a natural klutz like me, heel heights in that range work best because I do not trip on stairs while wearing them. Also, the heel height conforms well with the arch of my foot and I have never had any foot pain. (I have had Plantar fasciitis caused by exercising in improper footwear, so I know what that’s like!)
* Pricing: at the time I bought these boots, I caught a sale and the price was about average for comparable high-quality boots. Note: pricing of Lucchese boots varies widely. At one point, Lucchese was trying to prevent resellers from discounting their boots, but that did not work out when guys voted with their feet and bought boots from competitors. Anyway, it IS possible to find new Lucchese Classics Boots at affordable prices by waiting for sales around major U.S. Holidays and shopping around. (I’m sure there are also ample Lucchese boots on the used boot market, but I don’t buy used boots, so I don’t know.)
* Long-term durability: I have owned and worn these boots now for seven years. They have held up well and feel as comfortable today as they did when I bought them. They clean-up easily with leather conditioner. I do not use traditional wax polish on such light-colored leather or risk darkening it. These boots have gotten caught in the rain, but the leather conditioner treatment prevented water damage and staining.
* Traditional style: with a boot height of 13 inches (33cm), cowboy heel, boot pulls on the tops of scalloped shafts, rounded narrow toe — these boots look, feel, and sound like real cowboy boots. I love ’em and wear them several times each month. And that’s saying something since I own over 100 pairs of cowboy boots.
More photos of these boots here on my website.
Life is short: wear and enjoy boots!