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
