It has been a while since I wrote about Tecovas Boots. I received an email recently that inquired:

Tecovas claims their boots are the same quality as boots costing twice as much. Since you own a pair of Tecovas what quality would you compare them to? I personally own Dan Post, Tony Lama, and Heritage Boots from Austin. Tecovas seems to imply they have the same quality as Lucchese. I would appreciate your thoughts.

Sure… happy to respond, and thanks for the question!

My past two reviews of Tecovas Boots (see “related links” below) have been rather neutral while I was still evaluating the fit. My first pair of Tecovas boots, light brown (“desert”) calf were…

… good-looking and well-made, but the fit on the legs was tight. I ordered them as recommended in my regular boot size, and while the foot fit fine, the calf was tight and made the boots feel hot on my legs. I kept them and I wear them occasionally, but am generally displeased with the shaft circumference, thus my rating for their overall comfort is lower than average.

However, overall, Tecovas Boots are really well made. You can tell that when you look at them closely. The stitching on the sole, shaft, and interior lining is good — no loose threads. The sole is thick, tough, durable, yet flexible enough to make walking in them comfortable (as a cowboy boot should flex.)

The most noticeable evidence of quality construction is that the soles have lemonwood pegs. The “pegging” provides more flexibility and better strength in the sole and overall boot construction. It is really rare for boots in that price range ($235 – $445, depending on skin) to have pegged soles.

This company does superb, frequent, and “everywhere” marketing. Besides frequent emails from them, I see them all over social media (for the social media I use, which is limited.) Not being a sillyphone-stuckee, nor a Millennial, I do not use Twitter, Instagram, or other social media more popular with the sillyphone set.

I see their ads when I visit the website of most anything that accepts advertising, such as my local newspaper. I give them credit for keeping their products in my mind’s eye.

But that isn’t why I bought two more pairs of their boots. I had not purchased cowboy boots for a while, and I saw some styles and colors that I liked, so in November and again in December, I “pulled the trigger” and bought a pair of Tecovas “Johnnie” suede boots (supposedly waterproof) and then a pair of Tecovas “Wyatt” ostrich boots in the same light tan (“desert”) color as my calf boots I bought last year.

What I changed for these orders was to get them one full size larger than my regular boot size.

I have been very pleased with their fit now — my calves do not feel squeezed and the boots breathe. While the foot is a size larger, my feet do not “swim” in them. They actually feel even more comfortable.

How do they compare with higher-end commercially made cowboy boots such as Lucchese, Tony Lama, or Dan Post? My opinion: Tecovas Boots are a great value. Their boots really are made well and of quality materials. The website is transparent about where the materials are sourced and the boots made (Leon, Mexico, the Bootmaking Capital of North America). This company never set out to deceive about production. Their honesty and straightforward approach is noticed and appreciated.

Overall — if you are looking for well-made cowboy (or cowgirl) boots (roper or traditional height) made of calf leather, suede, ostrich, teju lizard, or caiman, then consider Tecovas Boots. Keeping the production tight and focused makes availability better with fewer stock-outs. You can’t find these in a brick-and-mortar store, but direct-to-consumer retail does indeed lower costs and they pass those savings on to the consumer in the form of lower prices.

Life is short: know and wear quality cowboy boots. I do.