Friday, March 1, 2013

Sailing boots and cowboy boots

Boots provide the basic comfort and extra protection that our feet need when we are working, relaxing, adventuring, mountaineering, hiking, and backpacking, among other activities. Different types of boots are available in the market, each suited for different purposes and works.

Boots can be divided into work boots, hiking boots, cowboy boots, and many more. Made up of different materials and designs, these boots are made keeping in mind the functions they will perform.

Research shows that there are certain brands which specialize in making different types of boots. Some examples of such brands are: Ariat, Timberland Pro Series, Wolverine, Georgia, Rocky, Blundstone, Caterpillar, Dr. Marten, Magnum, Nautilus, Chippewa, Carolina, Durango, Acme, Double-H, Roper, Justin, Altama, John Deere, Wearguard, Dexter Fargo, Dunham, Rockport Lakota, Danner, Kamik, Cabela, La Crosse, Dan Post, Lucchese, Tony Lama, Abilene, Sage, and others.

Cowboy boots are made of different skins and can be divided into many different types. 'exotic skin cowboy boots' 'handcrafted cowboy boots' 'lace-up western boots' 'casual boots' 'smooth leather cowboy boots' 'retro design cowboy boots' 'buckaroos' 'leather outsole cowboy boots' 'barn boots' 'pointed-toe boots' 'zipper boots' and many others are some examples of the huge range that is available in the market. Besides the ready-made range, they can also be customized at some companies. Hence, we get options in choosing the color, leather, heel, stitch patterns, and other options.

Work boots can be divided into several types, each suited for a particular kind or type of work. '6 inch lacers', '8 inch lacers', 'electrical hazard toe', 'safety toe hikers and shoes', 'slip resistant', 'steel toe boots', 'water resistant', wedge sole', 'medical', 'all-terrain', 'mechanic', 'soft-toe', and many more are some examples of the numerous types available in the market.

Hiking boots are usually chosen on the basis of the work strain, and type of place in which we will be hiking. Different types such as light-trail boots, trail hikers for more strain, and many more are all available to suit our needs.

Hiking and Backpacking, Vasque, US Outdoor Store, Boot Barn, Georgia Boot, Wearguard, Danner, Rocky Boots, Online Shoes, The Work Boot, Viberg, L.L.Bean, Schnee's, Zappos, Walmart, Surplus and Outdoors, Internet Outdoors Limited, Snow + Rock, Altrec.com, and Sheplers are some examples of places where we can find different types, designs, and sizes of good-quality boots.

Wide width cowboy boots are considered ideal for those persons with wide foot. It is comfortable footwear that provides protection to toes. Wide width boots come in the market with markings such as EW, E, EE, EEE, and W. These markings simply represent the width needed in boots and vary with different leg sizes. Boots with standard width have B markings for women and D for men.

Wide width cowboy boots are available in all brands, colors, styles, designs, and patterns. They are generally made from cowhide leather. Exotic skins of alligator, ostrich, lizard, eel, cobra, python, anteater, and kangaroo are also used to make wide width boots. These boots are usually high heeled with high shafts. There is no lacing in cowboy boots. There are hand trimmed and hand sewn wide width boots, made by expert boot makers. The boots can have fancy embroidery work. Gold, precious stones or diamonds are at times embedded in boots. The boot toes vary in cuts, which may be pointed, boxy or rounded.

One of the ways to get wide width cowboy boots is to shop at the nearest store that sells boots. Then, find the rack with boots that fit your size and keep on trying various available boots until you get an appropriate boot. You can also get wide width boots through online stores.

Sometimes it is difficult to get wide width cowboy boots for women. This is because of the fact that most women have a medium foot width. Not all stores have wide width boots. In such cases, these boots can be custom made or specially ordered according to the requirement. Customers can get the boots of preferred widths and sizes. They can specify designs while stitching and select sole according to their choices. These custom made boots are an ideal way to represent individual styles and tastes.

A day at sea is not something that can be taken too lightly. Yes you're going to have a great time, but only if you take the necessary precautions before you go to ensure you are fully protected from the elements. One of the most important elements of any successful, joyous sailing trip which you can relax and enjoy is a pair of trusty sailing boots. Cold feet are enough of an infliction in a fully heated front room, so just imagine the discomfort you're likely to experience when you're out enjoying the waterways of the UK.

So what exactly are sailing boots?

There are a wide range of boots out there specifically designed by leading sailing manufacturers for exactly that purpose. Typically sailing boots will usually have moulded rubber soles, although there are plenty of boots with alternative soles which can provide you with a similar level of protection. Obviously waterproofing is essential. Fabrics used for the boots themselves include leather and Gore-Tex, and these fully waterproof boots will come complete with slip-resistant and non-marking soles. This ensures your deck remains in the very best condition.

Water is one of the elements you will have to battle against whilst onboard your vessel, but what about the cold? Sailing boots, no matter how much you pay for them, will not offer all that much protection from the cold. If you plan on sailing during the autumn or winter, then thermal socks are highly advised. A good pair of boots will contain a thermal lining, but this is often quite thin, so from personal experience, some nice chunky socks are certainly the way to go!

How about the fit?

If you intend on spending extended time at sea then the fit of your sailing boots becomes increasingly important. Generally speaking, the fit of these boots is fairly generous, so there should be plenty of space for a thick sock if you choose you opt for a boot which is the same size as your usual shoe. People often think they should go up half a size to accommodate their socks, but with sailing boots this is not the case.

Which brands are best?

There are plenty of specialist sailing brands which can be trusted to supply high quality products which will do the job they have been designed for. Gill, Gul, Henri Lloyd and Musto are all renowned brands which supply sailing boots you can trust to do their job. From these brands it is largely a matter of budget and taste. So make your choice, and most importantly, happy sailing!