Bowie 11" Western XT5103

Long days on your feet call for a boot that gives instead of fighting you. The Bowie 11 inch Western pairs an exotic printed leather foot with a flexible wide square toe and a ChannelFlex insole, so the boot feels flexible from the first day you wear it.

The removable PerfX insert with Dri-Freeze manages moisture underfoot, and the performance outsole holds its grip on wet ground. It is built so the outsole will not swell when it stands in oil for long periods. Full welt and double stitch welt construction let the boot be resoled and kept in service. The boots are made in the USA with global parts.

Highlights

• Printed leather foot with a bold, rugged profile
• ChannelFlex insole for an ultra-flexible fit
• Removable PerfX insert with Dri-Freeze for moisture management
• Wide square toe with room in the box
• Oil and slip resisting outsole for wet ground and oily concrete
• Full welt and double stitch welt for resoling

Why a flexible boot with a welt

A flexible boot earns its keep on the days you walk more than you ride. A flexible leather foot and a flexible square toe bend with the foot, so the boot does not fight you on a long walk or a day in the saddle.

A welt matters for a boot you plan to keep. Full welt and double stitch welt construction is the kind a boot repair shop can take apart and resole, so the upper can carry on after the sole wears down.

Who it suits: the rider who wants a bold boot for the weekend and the work week, and the rancher who wants a boot with printed leather that still handles mud, manure and a wet pen.

At a glance

How to use it

Try them on late in the day, with the socks you will wear, and walk the aisle before you decide. The toes should have room across the wide square toe, and the heel should hold steady as you walk.

Pull the removable PerfX insert out to dry after a sweaty day, then put it back in. Work the boots in around the house before a long day, so the printed leather softens where the foot flexes.

Good to know

• Pair them with your everyday jeans for work, or with straight-leg jeans and a belt for a night out.
• Wipe off mud and manure after a wet day, then let the leather air out away from direct heat.
• Condition the leather now and then to keep it supple and looking broken-in.
• Keep the boots out of direct heat, and dry the insert on its own so the leather does not crack.
• Resole the boots at a shoe repair shop when the outsole wears thin, since the welt makes that possible.
• For the right fit, the boot should feel snug over the instep with a little room for your toes. A new boot slips a little at the heel at first, and that settles as the leather breaks in.

About Tony Lama

Tony Lama began in El Paso, Texas, in 1911, when a cobbler by the name of Tony Lama set up his own company and turned a small repair shop into a boot factory. Its USA-made boots are still crafted by bootmakers at the El Paso factory, with global parts.

Get a pair on before the spring riding season picks up.