Cody James Western Boots

The folks at Boot Barn contacted me two months ago and asked if I would be interested in wear testing some boots from their new Cody James line of western wear. I enjoy wearing western or cowboy boots and agreed to try a pair from their new line. After looking over the available models, I chose the Cody James Men's Distressed Square Toe Western Boots. 

The other western boots I own or have owned, all have the more traditional round toe. I decided to get a pair with the square toe and see if I liked them as well as my others. Square toes have been popular for a few years now, but sometimes I'm reluctant to jump on the latest trend bandwagon. I also liked the overall appearance of these particular boots.


Specs
I'm not going to spend time on the technical stuff. You can click the links above in the first paragraph and read all of that. Here are the highlights for this model (#2004031):
Premium full grain leather foot and shaft
12" shaft height
Cushioned leather insole
Leather outsole
Steel shank
Goodyear three quarter welt
Stockman heel with rubber heel cap
Thermoplastic heel counter
Spur ridge

My Impressions
When the boots arrived, I was impressed with the quality of the construction. I couldn't find anything that would indicate sloppy or second-rate craftsmanship. Of course, I had to try the boots on and I was a bit concerned at first because they seemed very tight as I pulled them on. I thought they were going to be too small, but it turned out they were the perfect size. Initially, these boots were a tighter fit around my ankles than the other boots I own, but after wearing them a few times, the leather broke in nicely.


I've been wearing the boots for several weeks now and have had no issues with the construction at all. Rachel at Boot Barn said I would find these boots just as comfortable as my favorite pair and she was right. Once the initial break-in was done, the boots felt just as good as the pair I've been wearing for several years.


One very nice feature of the Cody James boots is that they can be re-soled if necessary. A lot of boots today of all styles don't allow for re-soling. It's a shame to throw out a comfortable pair of boots just because the sole can't be replaced.

I really like these boots. The square toe design grew on me very quickly and I'm glad I chose that style. The boots are holding up very well, they're comfortable, and they look good. Obviously, I'm not out roping steers or training cutting horses, but in the everyday mundane tasks of standing, walking, and driving, the boots have impressed me. Honest-to-goodness cowboys are in the minority, so the way I use the boots would apply to the majority of people.


As I usually mention in my reviews, I won't recommend a product if I am not happy with it. Just because something is sent to me for wear testing doesn't mean it gets a good review. It has to be good to get a good review. As far as these boots go, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. When my feet are happy, I'm happy. If you like western style boots, the Cody James line is worth looking at when deciding on your next purchase. And there are several different models from which to choose. Boot Barn also has a Shyanne line for women.


Boot Barn Website

Cowboy Black And White

Linking to Rural Thursday Blog Hop

Magnum Work Pro Ultra Boots Review

I was thinking about how I wanted to write this review for Magnum's Work Pro Ultra boots and I decided just to keep it simple and to the point. I'll skip most of the technical stuff because you can find that on Magnum's website. What I will do is give you the meat and potatoes - my straight up impression of the boots. First, though, I need to take care of a little business just like I did when I reviewed the Work Horse boots. I am a field tester for Magnum. They sent me the Work Pro Ultra's for wear testing. I am not employed by Magnum. They have not seen this review until now and did nothing to influence it in any form. This review is my opinion and mine alone. I like to be clear up front about how I acquired the boots. This concludes the business.

Now, on to the good stuff. I have been wearing the Work Pro Ultra's since the beginning of the year. Yes, I know that seems like a long time to test something. I'm not one to wear the boots around the house for a week and call 'em good. Many times issues don't start to arise until you've used something for a while. In reality, I could have written this review a few months ago and had the same conclusion. I'm probably the slowest field tester Magnum has in terms of coming out with my formal review.

Technical
I'm going to hit the highlights here. The boots have a leather upper, carbon rubber outsole, ATSM approved composite safety toe, and Ion-mask technology. They are waterproof (more on that in a bit) and electrical hazard resistant. The boots have other technical features you can read about on Magnum's website.


Quality and Craftsmanship
Out-of-the-box the boots had no manufacturing issues. There was nothing about them that would cause me to send them back. After all of my wear testing, there are still no problems. The stitching is excellent, the soles show no signs of wear, and the leather has held up wonderfully. I can't find anything worn, torn, or wrong with them. I haven't used any kind of dressing on the leather. If they get muddy, I simply wash them off with water and that's it.

As you can see in the above photo, the Work Pro Ultra's are a pull-on style boot. The straps are heavy duty and can be manipulated even while wearing gloves. The boots are very easy to get on and off and the soles provide excellent traction. 



Comfort and Fit
Like other Magnum boots I have worn, the Work Pro Ultra's are very comfortable. There was zero break-in time with these boots. The first time I wore them felt like the hundredth time. They fit me perfectly - not too tight and not too sloppy. I wear a size 11 and I have found Magnum's fit to be dead on with every pair of their boots I've worn. I haven't experienced any hot spots or discomfort anywhere on my feet. Last week I worked a horse competition and was on my feet in the arena for 10 hours a day. My feet were happy at the end of each day.

Waterproofing
Today's waterproofing on most footwear is good. There was a time when that wasn't the case. Even so, I like to test the waterproof capabilities of my boots. When I'm hunting or working, I want to know my boots will keep me dry. When I tested the Work Horse boots last year, I stood in a cold creek to check the waterproofing. I didn't have a creek handy this time so I improvised and put the Work Pro Ultra's in the bathtub. I filled it with enough water to cover the top of the foot and left them in there for 30 minutes. When I went back and checked them, they were bone dry. There wasn't a trace of water inside.

Conclusion
To say I'm impressed and pleased with these boots would be stating it mildly. They have performed exactly as intended without fail. If you work in construction, with heavy equipment, landscaping, on a ranch, a farm, at the hunting cabin, your own yard, or you have to be in dirty, dusty, muddy, wet, or nasty conditions, you should give serious consideration to the Work Pro Ultra's. They are comfortable, durable, and will keep your feet dry. If you've read any of the other reviews on my blog, you know I won't recommend inferior products no matter who makes them. Magnum makes superior products and if they didn't, I wouldn't agree to be a field tester.

To find out more about Magnum and their products, just click on the links below. They have top notch customer service and an excellent PR team. They love to interact with people and will be happy to answer any questions you have or resolve any issues you may have. Magnum's team is very active on Facebook and Twitter and I encourage you to visit them. They also have a very nice blog called BLDG4801 where you can get lots of inside information.


Magnum Boots USA Website
Magnum Boots on Facebook
Magnum Boots on Twitter
Magnum Boots on YouTube

Review: Magnum Boots Work Horse 6.0

Before I get into the review, I want to take care of some business first. I'll start by saying I am an official field tester for Magnum Boots USA. I am not employed by Magnum Boots, however they do send me products to evaluate. In exchange, they want honest feedback on their products to include the good, bad, and ugly. They do this so they can provide the best possible products to their customers. 

The two major careers I've had in my lifetime have required me to wear boots. I've worn many styles of boots from many different manufacturers. Over the course of my life, I've spent more time in boots than any other kind of footwear. At this point, I know what to look for in quality boots and what is required for a pair of boots to work for me. I've had Magnum boots in the past - long before I became a field tester.

I say that so you know I'm not promoting Magnum boots just because I'm a field tester. The folks at Magnum are seeing this review for the very first time just like everyone else. It has not been proofed, edited, or approved by anyone except me.

___________________________________

Magnum Boots Work Horse 6.0 Review

I have been wearing the Work Horse boots for several weeks. If I had to pick a single aspect of the boots that really stands out to me it would be comfort. I can say without hesitation that these are the most comfortable boots I've ever worn. As with any kind of footwear, if they aren't comfortable you aren't going to enjoy wearing them and probably won't keep them for long. The padding on the tongue and around the ankle is very, very good. The cushioning in the foot bed is top notch. To me, walking in these boots is like walking in a good pair of tennis shoes. They are also quiet. They don't give off that loud "clomping" sound that some boots do.

Work Horse 6.0

Here are the ingredients in the Work Horse 6.0. The boots have a full-grain leather upper. They are waterproof with a breathable membrane. They have a Cambrelle® moisture-wicking lining and an Agion™ antimicrobial treatment. The boots are made with Coats Barbour anti-fraying stitching thread and durable non-metallic composite hardware. Inside you will find a lightweight compression-molded EVA midsole and a M-PACT contoured sockliner with memory foam. They have an X-Traction outsole and are electrical hazard resistant. 

Waterproof boots are pretty standard nowadays, but some are better than others. I like to test the waterproof capability of all my boots. To test these boots, I stood in a cold creek with the water covering the top of my feet. I knew if there were any "leaks" it wouldn't take long to feel the cold water. I'm pleased to say my feet stayed bone dry.

I haven't just worn the Work Horse boots for general everyday wear. I've hiked in them in the woods at our cabin, worn them while working a new food plot, and most recently while doing construction projects. They are lightweight and have excellent traction. The sizing of these particular boots is spot on. I wear a size 11 in boots and these are neither too wide nor too constricting.

Because I have been testing these boots to provide feedback to Magnum, I have really been looking for something to disappoint me. So far, I haven't found anything. There has been no fraying of the stitching. The soles have held up perfectly. There are no gaps in the seams. And I already mentioned the waterproofing.

As with any tool, you have to use the proper tool for the job at hand. For example, these boots are not insulated so I would not wear them to sit in a tree stand for hours in sub-freezing temperatures. I have hunting boots for that purpose and that's not what the Work Horse boots are designed for. They are intended for work and everyday wear. They would be perfectly acceptable as a warm weather hunting boot if you chose to wear them for that purpose.

Footwear is a very personal choice. What fits good on me won't necessarily fit well on everyone else. Just like when you go into a shoe store to buy new shoes. You see something you like and try it on. You know immediately if those particular shoes feel right. If they don't feel good, you put them back and move on. For me personally, these boots beat anything else I have in comfort. I enjoy wearing them. If they weren't comfortable I wouldn't wear them. Period. And if I wouldn't wear them myself, I would never recommend them to others. That's not how I conduct business.

If this is the style of boot you like, you would do well to take a close look at them when making your next purchase. They are well made and, if I haven't already mentioned it, comfortable!

Magnum boots are available at many dealers online. To find a dealer near you, check the Magnum Boots website.