SPORT COOL VENTTEK COWBOY BOOT

VentTEK mesh panels are the reason this boot exists: they let air move through the shaft, which is the one thing a cowboy boot traditionally refuses to do.

It stands a few inches shorter than the taller VentTEK in the range, and it is beautifully crafted with a premium full-grain leather foot and upper. The insole is breathable as well as cushioning. ATS technology provides ergonomic support on uneven terrain, and the Duratread sole is built for maximum wear. A two-row stitch pattern runs up the shaft. The toe is square.

Heat is what ends most days in western boots, and it is worth taking seriously if you live somewhere the summer means it. Panels that breathe change the boot from something you take off at lunch into something you forget about. The shorter shaft helps too — less material, less trapped air, easier on and off. This is the pair for July: square-toed, properly made, and cooler than it has any right to be. Straight jean over the top, and let the panels do their work out of sight.