They carry Dan Post, Tony Lama, Ariat, Justin, Twisted X, and Cody James.
Cody James is a “House brand”, however, they use traditional methods, i.e., 3/4 Goodyear welt, lemon wood pegs, leather sole, etc..
Do some research on boot construction. Check out some videos on YouTube by Rose Anvil. Try on multiple brands. You’ll find some fit you perfectly, while others leave something to be desired.
When you find a style, size, and brand you like, pull the trigger. Don’t get in too big of a rush. Spend your money on the right pair and you’ll have several pair before you know it. Buy the wrong pair, and you’ll never wear them.
Edit to add:
I have bought several pair from Boot Barn. I’ve never been disappointed. That said, I stick with traditionally built boots with minimal synthetic materials from companies with good reputations and a strong history in the business.
Curious about your thoughts on Roper... I have a pair of Ropers that I unfortunately bought online years ago. Only pair of boots (I have 3 total pairs) I bought online and not in store and the left boot seems slightly too small that I have trouble taking it off. While the quality seems good so far, what are the red flags?
Buy what you want. If they are a decent hide you like and the soles can be replaced, they will probably last a long time if you take care of them.
A story … I have some nice stuff, exotics, the brands people here like. I am a boot freak like everyone else here.
I have this certain pair of snip-toe cowhides I rotate in every now and then. I had them a long time but they still look good and I will wear them with a suit. They always get a lot of compliments from my boot lovin’ buddies. One guy even asked if they were custom made.
I didn’t have the heart to tell him I bought them at a western store in the mall for 79 bucks in 1992.
For a number of years when I was young and broke, they were the only boots I had. I wore them hard but I took care of them and had them worked on when they needed it.
I know they have a plastic counter because at one point, I wore through the lining. No big deal, they had been worn a ton and a cobbler fixed it. And no pegs, either, just nails, etc.
There’s a burn mark on the heel from back when my Kawasaki was the only transportation I had. But they are black and you can’t really notice. A nice polish job and they are ready to go. Just a pair of clean, broken-in boots.
No boot aficianado would ever examine these and say they are top quality. But the flip side is there’s no fatal flaw, either, nothing that is going to make them an unwearable pair of boots.
Some of the Boot Barn brands are like these: nothing all that special but built to a basic level, which is still pretty good.
My pair are not the ones I would buy now, but back then, I really liked them and they were the ones I could afford. I enjoyed them, took care of them, had good and bad times wearing them. Still do.
Boots can be a very personal item but in the end, your stuff is just stuff.
Also in life, you’ll probably go broke buying the very best of everything for all that stuff. At some point, you’ll have to make some choices.
I will say this … I was never out having fun, enjoying myself in good company and surroundings, and stopped to think about how much better the moment would be if only my boots had Real Lemonwood Pegs!
That’s not to say people aren’t right to say all that stuff isn’t better because it is. It’s just a case if does it matter to you. And you have to figure out what matters to you right now.
Thank you for this comment! It is very genuine and you made some solid points 👍🏼. I love that point you made about stopping what you were doing and wishing you had lemonwood pegs lol! So true
Boot Barn sells fine boots. I've gotten my Double Hs and Ariats there and love em. Do avoid their Cody James brand though, bought a pair of leather soles for dancing that didn't even last me 6 months.
Never owned exotics from them. Can't say good or bad, can vouch for Tecova and Dan Post as i have caiman in both and love both even if i don't care for them as well as I should.
I work part-time at the Double B and I have no complaints. I own 2 pairs that have been wearing nicely over the past couple of years. But that being said, I have 10 pairs of boots and primarily wear Ariats and Dan Post most days. If it’s your first pair of boots and you are unsure if Cowboy boots are gonna be a fad or become part of who are, it’s a good boot that is priced decently enough not to empty your checking account.
I’ve been to boot barn and I think the hate stems from the push on their house brands. One would think a company that sells boots if they’re going to carry a house brand that they would put an effort in producing a better quality product. Their Cody James seems to be pretty decent for the price. It’s brothers and a few others that are just kind of putting a bad taste in people’s mouths. At least that’s been my experience.
I buy a lot of stuff there, you just have temper your expectations.
I got a pair of their “moonshine spirit” line of boots and I’ve really enjoyed them. They suit my needs for riding boots well. I just wouldn’t work day and day out with them.
i wear dan post from spring till fall up here in canada and for winter switch out to my pair of rubber soled ariat’s. Can tell you that the dan posts are much more comfortable than the ariats, aren’t nearly as stiff
The exclusive brands are meant to worn as casual boots not to have the beat up and messed up ! Ariat is a good brand that hold up really tough to break in thou I’ve got a ton of idylwinds and ariats just be mind full on what your going to use them for and also don’t forget to grab your accessories to keep them nice and beautiful! Dm me if you have any more questions!
I bought my very first pair of boots at boot barn, they were Cody James, just a basic pair of black leather boots, no complaints with them, super comfortable and still holding up well. At the time it was what I could afford. I now prefer Dan Post boots, they just fit better than other brands I've tried. I like to find boots second hand like on Marketplace, Mercari, or Poshmark if they are a brand I haven't tried before and buy them at a fraction of what they would cost brand new, I found some boots for like 70.00 and they are my favorite pair just needed some new insoles.
I’d definitely go to boot barn and try on boots. Ask for help, boots don’t fit/wear like sneakers or dress shoes.
If you get a proper fit and toe you like, you’ll wear them and possibly buy more and enjoy wearing boots. If you get a pair that doesn’t fit well, you’ll end up throwing them in the closet, forget about them, and it will have been a waste of money.
Buying a Dan Post boot is a good place to start, Ariat is a great brand for a first pair. As are most other brands, especially if this is your first pair and you’re uncertain about what *exactly* is going to work best for you.
I just bought my first “boot barn” brand of boots, El dorados, they are the higher end boots they offer. I love them! I have Anderson beans and Rios of Mercedes’ and I’d put the el dorados up there with them
Dan Post. Super comfortable.
Most people don’t want to get the boot barn house brands. They sell boots from well known manufacturers as well.
They carry Dan Post, Tony Lama, Ariat, Justin, Twisted X, and Cody James. Cody James is a “House brand”, however, they use traditional methods, i.e., 3/4 Goodyear welt, lemon wood pegs, leather sole, etc.. Do some research on boot construction. Check out some videos on YouTube by Rose Anvil. Try on multiple brands. You’ll find some fit you perfectly, while others leave something to be desired. When you find a style, size, and brand you like, pull the trigger. Don’t get in too big of a rush. Spend your money on the right pair and you’ll have several pair before you know it. Buy the wrong pair, and you’ll never wear them. Edit to add: I have bought several pair from Boot Barn. I’ve never been disappointed. That said, I stick with traditionally built boots with minimal synthetic materials from companies with good reputations and a strong history in the business.
Just stick with well known not in house brands. Like Dan post ect like that
Which ones are the "in house" brands?
Cody James. Idlywind. El dorado. And then just boots to stairway from would be dingo Laredo. Nocona. Roper. Corral.
Curious about your thoughts on Roper... I have a pair of Ropers that I unfortunately bought online years ago. Only pair of boots (I have 3 total pairs) I bought online and not in store and the left boot seems slightly too small that I have trouble taking it off. While the quality seems good so far, what are the red flags?
They don’t have too much reliability if they’re new roper not vintage. The sizing is off and they don’t hold up long.
Some people say the exotic Cody James are pretty solid. Would you agree?
Yes if you want to only wear them to dinner not stand in them too long.
Buy what you want. If they are a decent hide you like and the soles can be replaced, they will probably last a long time if you take care of them. A story … I have some nice stuff, exotics, the brands people here like. I am a boot freak like everyone else here. I have this certain pair of snip-toe cowhides I rotate in every now and then. I had them a long time but they still look good and I will wear them with a suit. They always get a lot of compliments from my boot lovin’ buddies. One guy even asked if they were custom made. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I bought them at a western store in the mall for 79 bucks in 1992. For a number of years when I was young and broke, they were the only boots I had. I wore them hard but I took care of them and had them worked on when they needed it. I know they have a plastic counter because at one point, I wore through the lining. No big deal, they had been worn a ton and a cobbler fixed it. And no pegs, either, just nails, etc. There’s a burn mark on the heel from back when my Kawasaki was the only transportation I had. But they are black and you can’t really notice. A nice polish job and they are ready to go. Just a pair of clean, broken-in boots. No boot aficianado would ever examine these and say they are top quality. But the flip side is there’s no fatal flaw, either, nothing that is going to make them an unwearable pair of boots. Some of the Boot Barn brands are like these: nothing all that special but built to a basic level, which is still pretty good. My pair are not the ones I would buy now, but back then, I really liked them and they were the ones I could afford. I enjoyed them, took care of them, had good and bad times wearing them. Still do. Boots can be a very personal item but in the end, your stuff is just stuff. Also in life, you’ll probably go broke buying the very best of everything for all that stuff. At some point, you’ll have to make some choices. I will say this … I was never out having fun, enjoying myself in good company and surroundings, and stopped to think about how much better the moment would be if only my boots had Real Lemonwood Pegs! That’s not to say people aren’t right to say all that stuff isn’t better because it is. It’s just a case if does it matter to you. And you have to figure out what matters to you right now.
Thank you for this comment! It is very genuine and you made some solid points 👍🏼. I love that point you made about stopping what you were doing and wishing you had lemonwood pegs lol! So true
Boot Barn sell quality brands, but they push their store brand -Cody James- which is less than good.
Boot Barn sells fine boots. I've gotten my Double Hs and Ariats there and love em. Do avoid their Cody James brand though, bought a pair of leather soles for dancing that didn't even last me 6 months.
I was kinda eyeing a pair of caiman exotics from Cody James. Some people say the exotics are decent from CJ. What are your thoughts?
Never owned exotics from them. Can't say good or bad, can vouch for Tecova and Dan Post as i have caiman in both and love both even if i don't care for them as well as I should.
I work part-time at the Double B and I have no complaints. I own 2 pairs that have been wearing nicely over the past couple of years. But that being said, I have 10 pairs of boots and primarily wear Ariats and Dan Post most days. If it’s your first pair of boots and you are unsure if Cowboy boots are gonna be a fad or become part of who are, it’s a good boot that is priced decently enough not to empty your checking account.
I’ve been to boot barn and I think the hate stems from the push on their house brands. One would think a company that sells boots if they’re going to carry a house brand that they would put an effort in producing a better quality product. Their Cody James seems to be pretty decent for the price. It’s brothers and a few others that are just kind of putting a bad taste in people’s mouths. At least that’s been my experience.
Don't know about Boot Barn but i just bought a pair of Double-H boots. Love em in every way.
You can order anything from their website in store and get the discount. Get some Dan post
I buy a lot of stuff there, you just have temper your expectations. I got a pair of their “moonshine spirit” line of boots and I’ve really enjoyed them. They suit my needs for riding boots well. I just wouldn’t work day and day out with them.
i wear dan post from spring till fall up here in canada and for winter switch out to my pair of rubber soled ariat’s. Can tell you that the dan posts are much more comfortable than the ariats, aren’t nearly as stiff
The exclusive brands are meant to worn as casual boots not to have the beat up and messed up ! Ariat is a good brand that hold up really tough to break in thou I’ve got a ton of idylwinds and ariats just be mind full on what your going to use them for and also don’t forget to grab your accessories to keep them nice and beautiful! Dm me if you have any more questions!
I bought my very first pair of boots at boot barn, they were Cody James, just a basic pair of black leather boots, no complaints with them, super comfortable and still holding up well. At the time it was what I could afford. I now prefer Dan Post boots, they just fit better than other brands I've tried. I like to find boots second hand like on Marketplace, Mercari, or Poshmark if they are a brand I haven't tried before and buy them at a fraction of what they would cost brand new, I found some boots for like 70.00 and they are my favorite pair just needed some new insoles.
Thank you for this honest review!
Boot Barn seems to only carry one style of toe which I do not prefer - I would check out Tecovas and their toe styles compared to Boot Barn.
Boot barn sells Hondo boots even. They’re fine they get hate bc the stores only stock Ariat and Cody James at a lot of locations.
I’d definitely go to boot barn and try on boots. Ask for help, boots don’t fit/wear like sneakers or dress shoes. If you get a proper fit and toe you like, you’ll wear them and possibly buy more and enjoy wearing boots. If you get a pair that doesn’t fit well, you’ll end up throwing them in the closet, forget about them, and it will have been a waste of money. Buying a Dan Post boot is a good place to start, Ariat is a great brand for a first pair. As are most other brands, especially if this is your first pair and you’re uncertain about what *exactly* is going to work best for you.
I just bought my first “boot barn” brand of boots, El dorados, they are the higher end boots they offer. I love them! I have Anderson beans and Rios of Mercedes’ and I’d put the el dorados up there with them
Buy what you can afford. If it’s not for work then it doesn’t matter much.
I bought my Dan Post raptors on a good sale there and have no complaints. I wouldn’t buy their house brands, though.