Cowboy Boots Vs Work Boots: Which is Better?

After a dose of the good old Indie movies, one might actually fantasize about donning a pair of cowboy boots. Always in vogue and perfect for any occasion, the no-nonsense cowboy boots do possess a charm that is hard to evade. But will it be able to replace work boots with its charm.

Well that’s quite a question and it might take some detailed analysis and comparison to answer that. But why break your head when we are here to help you out. Let’s just see if you can don those stylish cowboy boots at your workplace as well. 

So as a starter let’s get to know the competitors a bit more in detail. 

Cowboy boots 

Predominantly a part of the Western equestrian life, cowboy boots have donned centre stage in the fashion arena and cultural scene for centuries.

With a faint trace to Spain and resemblance to Mexican vaquero boots and calvary’s military boots, the real origin of the cowboy boots is still unclear.

Manufactured by hand, with exotic materials like alligator hide, cowboy boots were made to cater to the needs of the cowboys who had to traverse the arid desert landscape.

Colors, toe shape, pattern, design and hides differed from culture to culture and place to place reflecting the peculiarities of the terrain and culture.

With the onset of industrial revolution, cowboy boots began to be mass-produced. From the beginning till now, these modish boots have always had an ardent fan following thanks to its sleek design and versatile nature. 

Well I guess that’s enough background information to understand how these boots came into existence but now let’s delve into their salient features. 

What are those unique features that distinguish a cowboy boot from a regular boot? Let us answer that question for you. 

• A cowboy boot has a tall shaft to protect the legs from extreme weather. 

• A cowboy boot has an angled heel for better balance

• Cowboy boots are available with pointed, round and square toes. 

• The stitching on the outside prevents the leather from bending. 

• Cowboy boots are made with exotic materials such as alligator, ostrich, snake or buffalo leather. 

• Cowboy boots are sturdy, holds its shape without folding over the leg and are utilitarian as well. 

These desirable features make the cowboy boots a sure shot option in the dust bowls. But will these features fare against the pro- the work boots? You will have to be a bit more patient to find out. 

Let’s try to understand the brawny work boots a bit better. 

Work boots 

When at the workplace the feet of a laborer is subjected to a lot of risks. One can hurt their feet by tripping over, slipping and falling, heavy objects falling on the feet or by spillage of substances.

Such accidents can even put the laborer’s life at stake and therefore so as to ensure their safety, work boots were introduced. Born in Germany, work boots have for centuries managed to protect legs and save lives. 

Work boots are known for their: 

• Sturdy structure and protective reinforcements that prevents tears and punctures. 

• Insulation capacity which helps protect the wearer from extreme temperatures.

• Conductive and anti-static properties that come in handy while dealing with electric current. 

• Water resistance which ensures that the feet remains warm and dry. 

• Thermal insulated outsole that provides protection against extreme heat. 

Now that we know our competitors pretty well let us try a little bit of the good old compare and contrast to figure out who wins the game when it comes to utilitarianism and safety. 

Cowboy boots Vs Work Boots 

So let’s set some guidelines to analyze the two. 

While using boots at workplace we do look for certain characteristics like comfort, durability, safety, sturdiness etc. And how well each fares in these categories will decide who amongst the two would take the crown when it comes to winning at the workplace.  

So now after a detailed compare and contrast session analyzing how cowboy boots and work boots might cater to the requirements of the workplace, we do have an answer to the question-

“ Can you work in cowboy boots?” 

The answer is simply NO and the following reasons can be stated to back that response- 

• • • The lack of protective reinforcements
    • Slippery sole that might cause slippage 
    • Uncomfortable heels that make walking around quite cumbersome 
    • Not as durable as work boots 
    • Quite pricey 
    • Pointed toe would cram the feet and limit blood circulation

Because of all these reasons we can indeed write off cowboy boots as a replacement for work boots. Once again the world proves that going for looks alone is one big blunder.

Falling for the shiny, slender cowboy boot and ditching your chunky work boot can jeopardize your safety. So choose wisely and don your stylish cowboy boots at parties and other events and just hang on to your work boots when you get to your place of work. 

But there are indeed a few exceptions to this as well. There are indeed certain jobs that will perfectly get along with those shiny cowboy boots. Given below are a few of the occupations/situations where the cowboy boots can go “Howdeyyy Hooo”- 

• • • Oil/gas rigging 
    • Horse riding
    • Cattle rearing 
    • Truck driving 
    • Hiking 
    • Laying fences 
    • Or just any job that might have the risk of your shoelace getting stuck and you tripping