Boots, specifically, them Chelsea thangs...

[Dapper Dave]

We poor, we shop at Boot Barn. 

So, long story long, my wife needed a new pair of work boots and decided out of the blue that the Chelsea style would work well for her. We went to Boot Barn and she found a set that was quite decent and sturdy...and I decided to check these weird Beatles boots out. 

I knew they had been around longer than some other style of Cowboy boots, like what we normally see at a match or on real riders, but never really caught on out there, called paddock boots or dealer boots according to that AI thingie on my phone. "Dealer boots"? Do I need to get the sleeve garters to make the outfit correct, including a deck of period cards?  I can do that, if needed. Starting line for a stage, "Five aces?"

The name Chelsea came about in the 60s, apparently referring to a city in England where the Beatles decided to make the style famous. Ya know, I really am not a fan of the Beatles, sorry. So, people calling them Chelsea boots are ignoring the actual Western history of these low slip-on elastic sided boots, originally designed in the early 1800s in England for a queen, IIRC. 

And ya know what? The dang things are comfortable. Yes, she talked me into buying a pair. Wearing them right now. Anyone else use these, or only tenderfeet and city slickers?

Edited December 8, 2025 by Dapper Dave
title spelling

[Sedalia Dave]

 

 

 

 

 

😝

[Dapper Dave]

Egads...

[Slow Mo Dern]

Hey, Dapper Dave,

 

     Those are some nice-looking boots.

I have seen those in western movies.

The Ariat ones I own have smooth soles, so the mud doesn't get tracked into the house or building. 

It's hard for us ground-pounders to find boots that can be worn all day and still be comfortable.

I think you made a good choice.

 

Slow Mo 

[watab kid]

i agree with SLOW MO here , those are great looking pair of boots , ive been considering changing mine out as they are 20 years old and i would like a change , my problem is they are not all that worn as ive only used them for CAS and only during matches , i change out after , 

 

ive always had a problem letting go of things and im not big on changes but its time ............may follow your lead here 

[Major BS Walker Regulator]

I have a black pair I wear for Cowboy shooting. Very comfortable.

[Dapper Dave]

They are Ariats, comfortable and really not expensive. 

[Eyesa Horg]

How much not expensive??

[Griff]

Ugh... Square toes... not good for inserting booted feet into stirrups...

 

Proper ca-boi boots need a round or pointed toe;  If you've never rode a galloping horse with one foot out of the stirrup, you'll know why!  And,

 

Tall heel, (2"+);  If you ever had a heel slip thru the stirrup and been drug by a runaway horse, you'll know why!   And,

 

Come to at least mid shin.. just below the knee is better;  If you've ever rode thru a mesquite thicket, you'll know why!

 

Cavalry boots over the knee;  Haven't a clue, wasn't ever in the cavalry...   but maybe mesquite thickets play a part...

 

but... you do you!  😜  But... I haven't seen a horse at a cowboy action range since about 1994...  And I was playing "pony express" at the time delivering mail.  Officially!  Probably ain't a single one of y'all will remember that!

[Eyesa Horg]

I like square toe and most likely will never be riding a horse through mesquite!! 

[KatfishKid]

I have a pair of Ariat square toe and a pair of rounded toe Chelsea boots that I wear daily and a I have a pair of Wolverine 1000 mile Chelsea style pointed toe boots that I wear occasionally while shooting. They're comfortable as could be.  

[Rye Miles #13621]

21 hours ago, Griff said:

Ugh... Square toes... not good for inserting booted feet into stirrups...

 

Proper ca-boi boots need a round or pointed toe;  If you've never rode a galloping horse with one foot out of the stirrup, you'll know why!  And,

 

Tall heel, (2"+);  If you ever had a heel slip thru the stirrup and been drug by a runaway horse, you'll know why!   And,

 

Come to at least mid shin.. just below the knee is better;  If you've ever rode thru a mesquite thicket, you'll know why!

 

Cavalry boots over the knee;  Haven't a clue, wasn't ever in the cavalry...   but maybe mesquite thickets play a part...

 

but... you do you!  😜  But... I haven't seen a horse at a cowboy action range since about 1994...  And I was playing "pony express" at the time delivering mail.  Officially!  Probably ain't a single one of y'all will remember that!

Uh. Not very many of us ride at or ride to the cowboy shoots😂😂

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Lemmie see here.  I use to ride a lot.  Butt.  And however.  The last time I was astride a horse, I were 17 and working summer job as wrangler at a "dude" ranch (wanna be country club).  I have never ridden a horse to nor during a CAS MATCH (QUOTH the Rye) nor stayed at a Holiday Inn Express (that I admit too) so I think those square toad boots might be just the ticket.  Have to find a "Boot Barn" somewheres.

 

Thanks Dapper Dave!!

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

On 12/7/2025 at 6:47 PM, Slow Mo Dern said:

I have seen those in western movies.

Over the years I have watched a lot of westerns in the theatres and dozens of westerns on TV throughout the 50s and 60s and beyond and have never seen anyone wearing boots with a black spandex insert in the side.  I do think I will go down to Boot Barn and see if they have any.  No one has looked at my feet in years.

 

[Rip Snorter]

Not in this life!

[Windy City Kid]

On 12/7/2025 at 6:17 PM, Dapper Dave said:

. Anyone else use these, or only tenderfeet and city slickers?

I own several pairs. They give a very nice, dressy look with jeans. Maybe I'm just a city slicker. 

[Rip Snorter]

If ya gotta have 'em these were the original type.  Wore  out a couple of pairs for work / dress in the late '60's/

[Dapper Dave]

...in the late 60s I was wearing little booties...but those look nice. I am really starting to like the style, easy on/off, comfortable and sturdy enough to be boots, not dress up stuff. 

Of course, I also own zip up cowboy boots after my wife bought them for me...

[KatfishKid]

I just want to finally accept my fate and put feet pics on the Internet. For more exclusive content, join my patreon. 

[Doc Moses]

1 hour ago, KatfishKid said:

I just want to finally accept my fate and put feet pics on the Internet. For more exclusive content, join my patreon. 

Now THAT was a funny post!  Thank you, I needed that this morning!

[Windy City Kid]

2 hours ago, KatfishKid said:

I just want to finally accept my fate and put feet pics on the Internet. For more exclusive content, join my patreon. 

Cowboy feet are a lady's treat 😉

[watab kid]

i hadnt noticed the spandex , im not a fan of that , i may have to rethink , 

 

in years past my boots were square toe frye boots that were very comfortable , i went thru two pair over a couple decades or more , and there was a shoe store that still resoled in the traditional way that extended my use back then , sadly its gone now , my current cowboy boots fot this game are ropers and they are two decades old , ive got a couple pair that i might choose from to delegate to this , im thinking ill rethink buying nbew and repurpose to the game since i like what i have , 

[Sedalia Dave]

5 hours ago, watab kid said:

i hadnt noticed the spandex , im not a fan of that , i may have to rethink , 

 

in years past my boots were square toe frye boots that were very comfortable , i went thru two pair over a couple decades or more , and there was a shoe store that still resoled in the traditional way that extended my use back then , sadly its gone now , my current cowboy boots fot this game are ropers and they are two decades old , ive got a couple pair that i might choose from to delegate to this , im thinking ill rethink buying nbew and repurpose to the game since i like what i have , 

 

The Elastic gusset boot dates back to 1851. Just about as period correct as you can get. They were originally designed for Queen Victoria. She requested a London Cobbler design her a boot whose laces wouldn't snag on stirrups. Elastic boots were the result. The higher 'Cuban" heal of the Chelsea boot was a product of the 60's

 

 

[watab kid]

On 12/13/2025 at 6:14 AM, Sedalia Dave said:

 

The Elastic gusset boot dates back to 1851. Just about as period correct as you can get. They were originally designed for Queen Victoria. She requested a London Cobbler design her a boot whose laces wouldn't snag on stirrups. Elastic boots were the result. The higher 'Cuban" heal of the Chelsea boot was a product of the 60's

 

 

cool , makes them SASS compliant - at least for the ladies , 

[El Sobrante Kid]

They were available for men and women, as noted in the advert that Sedalia Dave posted just above.

[watab kid]

ok , im still in no matter what i just gaotta find time to get a pair 

[Done Gone, SASS #49052]

Skechers makes a version too, a little more work bootish. I like them, very comfortable, for us wider-footed gents.