13-Inch Midnight Black Suede Cowboy Boot

About as classic a cowboy boot as it gets, the durable, hand-finished suede makes the shape read as texture rather than shine.

The upper is sueded boar with a pearl cow lining behind it. The toe is a medium square, wide enough that the roominess is part of the comfort rather than an afterthought, and the heel is a cowgirl block at 1-1/8". Construction is a welt with a double row stitch over a hand-nailed leather outsole, and the shank is metallic. Inside sits a cushioned insole for all-day wear, carrying a removable, breathable insert cushioned with memory foam. The insole is built for flexibility in and out of the stirrups, which is a real requirement rather than a phrase.

Suede changes what a boot asks of you. It marks, it takes water badly, and in return it looks like nothing else on the shelf. Buy it if you want a bold, rugged boot that is still unmistakably traditional, keep a brush for it, and wear it with a straight jean over the shaft.