No more flip flops!

Cavender's
Cavender's Boot City is a very good place. They tend to be box stores with all the parking that implies. Thank Kmart or Target sized stores and parking lots. I seen four in Houston by their locator.
They carry several brands of boots including my favorite, Justin Boots.

 

Both my father and I were born in Texas. My Father wore boots most all his adult life. I never really got into boots. My favorite shoe was a simple pair of Walmart specials. Easy to get on and off and were comfortable.

 

Please please get a good pair of boots that are fitted for you and your feet, you will love them even more.

I got a couple pairs of Whites boots made for me, they cost three times as much as the last pair I got but I figure they will last me for at least 15 years.

 

I wear red wings, they are solid. I bought an American made pair with steel toe. About $210 iirc. They last a couple of years and are comfortable.

 

It's funny to see some southern drivers who got stuck with a load to Seattle in the winter, the footwear they decided to go with (pack). Tennis shoes? Sandals/socks?

Anything other than a "work boot" or "hunting boot" in northern winters is a just dumb IMO. However, if you never venture north of I-20, I guess you can get away with most anything, but never plan on never.

And for me, I prefer to wear the same thing, year 'round. So whatever I want for the harsher winter days in Montana is what I'll be wearing in Phoenix in August. Red Wing Pecos works for me. Comfortable, fast and easy to put on, not too hot in summer, and can walk in snow slush repeatedly all day long and socks will still be dry.

 

I have became a boot collector over the last 5 year so this thread is right up my alley!

To answer your question Horse Town if you make it to Georgia. They have 4 locations. I am 5 minutes from the one in locust Grove(link below). Man i can get lost for a day in that store. They have every kind of boot imaginable from entry level to custom Black Jacks that they will measure you for. They can also measure you for a couple of other smaller makers that they have contact with for a true custom.

I have 10 pair at the moment. Haven't added any to my collection in about a year but it is about that time. I am kind of holding out wanting to get a custom pair made from a small boot maker/cobbler. You are in Texas and that is where a majority of the small guys are left although there are a few scattered out across the U.S and one or two I know of in Canada. But the cheapest you will get into a truly "custom" and measured for boot is around the $500 mark, but most come in around $800 to a grand or more. My most expensive pair to this point is $400.

As for my everyday boot, I wear a simple black Justin with a roper style short heel and round toe. You can't even tell they are boots unless my pant leg lifts for some reason. For the money the most comfortable shoe I have worn to date, and most of them are made in the Usa.

Not sure what kind of money you want to spend, but if you are not going for a custom pair at least drop the little extra coin and stay away from the Chinese ####. That is mostly going to be Durango and Ariat and any thing at or under $100 or around there. That's one of the reasons I love the Justin ropers I wear. Usually around $120 and made in the USA with a few being made in mexico. Justin does have a Chinese facility but they usually brand those as something else. The Ariat's are probably the best that are made in China if you do decide to go cheap. For the most part anything marked Mexico or Us will be pretty good quality and is going to run $120 to $180 for a roper and $190 and above for a true western style boot.

For your first pair I def recomened going into a western store and trying on as many as possible.
Good luck in your search!

Western Boots, Jeans, Clothes, Hats, Tack & More - Horsetown Western Stores

Men's Black Cowhide Roper by Justin Boot Co

 

Try Atwoods in Corsicana, Texas. 45 north to TX 31. Make a left at the first light and head 3 miles to Atwood's on the right. Ask for the manager Bill. He will hook you up.

 

oh and if you get a good fitting pair and something with quality leather, your feet will never sweat. That is one of the reasons I started researching and got into boots. I was having to get a new insole once a week in the tennis shoes and even my work boots my feet were sweating so bad during the day. The leather soled boots help with that also but you get less wear. The advantage is you can have it resoled. My everyday boots, the justins are the ones that I would have resoled, but I usually don't as I can get another pair for about $40 more than resoling.