History and Style Variations - Classic Country Western Cowboy Roper Boots

In recent years, western cowboy boots have become somewhat of an icon in the world of fashion.

Once worn as a necessity by cowboys, they can now be found on the feet of people around the world, from regular people like you and me to fashion models and country music superstars.

Although cowboy boots traditionally only came as a pair of plain leather boots with a raised heel, they have evolved over the years. Today, you can find all sorts of variations of the classic western cowboy boot such as short boots, roper boots, and buckaroo boots.

Today, we will go over the origins of the western cowboy boot, as well as a few different styles that can now be found worn around the world.

The Origins of Western Cowboy Boots

Throughout history, equestrians have always needed to wear protective footwear and have always preferred boots that feature a slightly raised heel for added traction in dirt and muddy terrain.

The cowboy boots that can be found today have evolved from a variety of older boot styles such as the Wellington boot, which originated in Britain when worn by the Duke of Wellington. Back then, Wellington boots were a simple pair of plain leather boots that sported a one-inch heel and had straight cut tops.

Eventually, cowboy boots evolved into more modern styles such as the Coffeyville boot, which originated in Kansas around the 1870s. These were typically a rather plain looking pair of black leather boots with a raised heel. The main difference with the Coffeyville boots is that the front of the boot was higher than the back. It was also usually a different color than the rest of the boot.

Throughout the remaining 1800s, cowboy boots continued to evolve, and European cavalier-style boots, which featured higher heels and progressively better-quality leather heavily influenced their designs.

Then, around 1920s and 1930s and as a result of the increase in movies and radio programs about the Wild West, cowboy boots became more of a fashion accessory, rather than just a necessity.

It was after this transition to a fashion accessory that cowboy boots became more colorful and incorporated intricate designs and images. Cowboy boots then remained more or less the same until the 1950s when rodeos became a mainstream form of popular entertainment.

Around this same time, the world also saw an increase in the popularity of country music, which is said to have caused the sale of the cowboy boots to skyrocket and millions of cowboy boots was made in all sorts of different colors, sizes, shapes, and styles.

Since then, boot makers have continued to experiment with different variations of the traditional cowboy boot and now, there are more styles and variations of cowboy boots than ever before.

Read more about the history of cowboy boots here.

Classic Western Boots

Classic western boots typically have a rather simple and straightforward design. This usually includes a single color of leather, a 12-inch high shaft, as well as a slightly raised heel and no intricate designs.

Western Work Boots

Western work boots are distinguished by their heels, which are designed to be more functional, comfortable, and durable than other types of cowboy boots. These boots are generally suited for people (or cowboys) who are on their feet for lengthy periods of time every day.

Short Boots

As their name suggests, short boots are simply a shorter variation of the classic western boot. Their shafts are generally between 6 to 10 inches in height. Short boots are meant to be more practical than classic western boots since they are lighter and less expensive to make.

Roper Boots

Roper boots are basically a newer version of the western work boot. However, they are more popular because of their lightweight, and wider, rubber soles, which are comfortable. It provides their users with the ability to work in them and its clean silhouette made the Roper boots a fashion statement to both men and women as to this day.

Riding Boots

Most people don’t consider riding boots as a western-style of boot because they can find them in both Western and English riding circuits. However, they share the same lineage as other types of boots and are therefore still considered a variation of the western cowboy boot.

Riding boots are made without any type of fancy ornamentation and are easily identified by their longer heels and shafts that are taller than classic western cowboy boots.

Buckaroo Boots

Buckaroo boots are mostly used during horse and equestrian shows. They feature shafts that are much taller than classic western boots (Usually taller than 14 inches).

Their stitching and designed are also more intricate and pronounced. This helps draw attention to whoever is wearing them and is why they have become the favored boot style of artists and showmen in the equestrian world.

Stockman Boots

Stockman boots were designed as a hybrid boot for people who won’t necessarily be riding in the saddle. They are somewhat similar to the western work boot and feature shorter heels, rubber soles, and a wider toe.

However, while similar in function, stockman boots can usually be identified by detailed and colored stitching, as well as a much deeper throat, or scallop.

Learn more about the different types of cowboy boots here: https://oureverydaylife.com/types-of-cowboy-boots-12507975.html