Get well-heeled for rodeo

Todd Peterson

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998 | 2:16 a.m.

Along with the cowboy hat, the boot is one of the most distinguishing attributes of the modern day cowboy. A pair of boots, however, has many uses. From standard cowhide work boots to highly ornamental boots made from exotic leather and decorated with virtually any design you can imagine, boots can be as utilitarian or as personalized as the pair of feet on which they're worn.

Whether you're in the market for a sturdy pair of boots to protect your feet while handling chores, or looking for a way to impress the guys or gals while dancing up a storm, check out these "cow skin connections" while in Las Vegas.

At Boot Barn, salesman Jim House said, "You can get a pair of boots on sale or with a special for about $59 to $69." But, the price, he added, can run into the thousands for exotic types of leather.

Located south of Luxor at 7265 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Boot Barn caters to all tastes. House said the store's largest customer base is the average worker, noting that they sell a lot of boots to local cowboys, "guys just looking for a decent stall boot."

Folks looking for quality boots will be right at home, too, as the store stocks such exotic boots as horned-back alligator, stingray, shark, hippopotamus and anteater.

NFR draws a large crowd looking for exotic boots, said House, but people are often surprised by the store's selection when they come. "We get a lot of guys who, when they come in and see how low our prices are, they buy regular work boots or riding boots, too."

Cowtown Boots, which has been in Las Vegas for 25 years and at their 2989 Paradise Road site for six, is riding high on its store and tent sale during NFR.

Mark Aker, store manager, said the tent, located next to the store, will have a lot of boots on sale, and discounted boots along with some factory defects. "I'll have boots over there starting at $25." He also said the tent will feature plenty of discounted clothing items.

Cowtown is also an outlet for its own boot, the Cowtown brand, made at the retail outlets' own factories. "It's an all-leather boot, which is half the price of any other boot out there that is of equal quality," Aker said.

Aker added that the store also carries exotic types like stingray, horned-back alligator, ostrich and anteater. The store also features a full line of western wear. "So we dress you from top to bottom," said Aker, noting they have clothes for the entire family.

Sheplers, with two locations in Las Vegas at the northeast corner of Sahara and Decatur and in the Tropicana Center, have been outfitting the public for more than 50 years.

Sheplers offers a wide variety of top-quality western wear from well-known tailors like Wrangler, Levi's, Rockies, Panhandle Slim and others.

Sheplers also stocks a competitive line of boots, with brands that include Dan Post, Tony Lama, Lucchese and many more.

They back up their merchandise with a "Handshake Guarantee." If the product you purchased from Sheplers isn't entirely satisfying, simply return it for a refund or an exchange.

For a free Sheplers catalog, call 1-800-242-6540.

Denise Gubler, one of a handful of women boot makers in this country, is the owner of Gary Tucker Custom Boots at 4420 Arville.

Every pair of boots from her shop is custom-made. Gubler said about half of her clients are from out of town, and "Roughly 50 percent are people that have problem feet.

"The other half are people that want something unique," she said. "You pick the skin, the design, the toe, the heel. You pick everything about that boot."

With that information, Gubler and her crew of four custom builders set to work. The average pair takes 40 hours to complete--20 of which is necessary to allow the boots to dry properly.

Gubler uses only top-grade leather, tanned outside the U.S. because tanners here tend to skip processes, causing boots to wear out faster.

One of her most popular leathers is ostrich. "If you take care of [our] ostrich boot, it'll last 20 years. I guarantee you a factory boot made of ostrich will not last you 20 years."

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