Anybody Tried Any Rios of Mercedes Boots?

[Dee]

I've been wantin a new pair of "Sunday go to meetin" boots so Saturday me and Linda loaded up and went to Amarillo to look.
I got my first pair before I was old enough to walk because that's what my family wore, and have worn nuthin but Tony Lama brand boots for over 60 years, and never considered anything else. They just fit me.

Well, at store #3 I could see things were gettin complicated, but at Cavenders Boot Center a crotchety middle aged salesman pointed out Tony Lama boots were scarce this year, so I decided to look on my on (it's a big store).

While sittin on a bench tryin on boots he walked by and dropped a boot in front of me sayin: It ain't a Tony Lama, it's better  but it ain't cheap.
Well, it was obviously a custom made boot, which I had always avoided, but what the hell, I'll try it on for  grins. I've "never" had a boot fit like that, and when he walked back by, I asked him if the boot came in pairs. It fit just like the other one.
Rios of Mercedes is a Texas made boot, and they've been making boots for 60 years. If Ida ever tried on a pair Ida have abandoned Tony Lama 60 years ago.
I justified the $550.00 by acknowledging that he cut a deal, and knocked off a $100.00, and that they would surely be my last ever pair. They'll easily outlast me.

Linda never raised an eyebrow, so I guess I'm ok there.

[Lloyd Smale]

never owned a set of cowboy boots since i was a kid but you probably already knew that from where i live. But i was a lineman for 30 years. One thing you learn fast when you work on your feet hard and climb all the time is you NEVER buy cheap boots. You can buy a cheap house or a cheap old truck but you buy the BEST DAMMED BOOT YOU CAN FIND. I spent over 200 bucks on a pair of boots 35 years ago that would probably cost near a grand in todays dollar. As to your wife rolling her eyes if shes like mine she has near as much in shoes as i do guns! She will buy a new pair of sneakers for well over a 100 bucks and claim there shot in 6 months wearing them once or twice a week to work. Thank God she doesnt wear those spiky high heals. She told me some of them are over a grand a pair. Now thats nuts.

[oldandslow]

I have never tried the Rios boots and know of no one that sells them around here. My last pair, 3 years ago, of boots was Tony Lamas and they are very comfortable and it's cool enough to wear them and my old Stetson hat now. I bought a pair of TL's over 50 years ago but swore never again. They were comfortable but fell apart rather quickly. I am not going to put enough stress on these new ones during my remaining life time to ever wear them out. $550 for a good cowboy boot isn't all that bad when you consider some of the SAS shoes cost around $250 now and they have started putting a cheap insole in them and it costs you $22 more for the old comfortable insole like they used to come with.

The best pair of boots I ever owned was made by the local bootmaker, Herb Love. He migrated over here from Texas in the early '50's and people came from far and wide to have him make boots for them. There is a bootmaker in Hobbs that still makes a traditional boot and is supposed to be good. Two years ago his simplest offering was going for $1350.

Way back in my days running up and down highline poles linesmen's boots were a hundred bucks and exactly one store in the area sold them, take it or leave it.

[Dee]

Bustamante in Amarillo makes a handmade boot, their entry level boot is $995.00. Too rich for my blood. A good Tony Lama now usually runs around $300.00 to $360.00, so these Rios are double what I usually pay, but they'll out last me.

[oldandslow]

I have trouble taking off my boots. My legs have grown so long I can't reach my feet anymore when I sit down to pull them off and now have to rely on a bootjack. 




That's a joke. Old, stiff knees are the problem and also make it hard to tie shoelaces.

[Dee]

I have trouble taking off my boots. My legs have grown so long I can't reach my feet anymore when I sit down to pull them off and now have to rely on a bootjack. 




That's a joke. Old, stiff knees are the problem and also make it hard to tie shoelaces.

That joke ain't funny at my house. 

[oldandslow]

Just grin and bear it. Not much else we can do and I don't like the cure for aging. Rather put up with stiff knees. 

[Dee]

Just grin and bear it. Not much else we can do and I don't like the cure for aging. Rather put up with stiff knees. 

Same here.