Tony Lama, which has made western boots for more than 100 years, recently produced this video on how to get the best fit with your cowboy boots:

A transcript:

When fitting boots, there are three things you need to keep in mind — the instep, the ball, and the heel.

This is the instep. At this point, the fit should be snug, not tight or loose. With your fingers, roll the fingers across the instep. If the instep is too loose, the boot will slip excessively in the heel. To remedy this, you may need a more narrow width to shorten the circumference of the throat. This will reduce slippage without cutting down on the length of the boot.

When you walk or run, you bend your foot its widest part. This is called the ball. Same with boots, all of the ball should rest on the ball of the boot. If the boot is too short, the ball in the boot will sit too far forward and force the toes into the toe box.

A new pair of boots will slip slightly in the heel because there’s nothing to prevent the heels of from riding up slightly. When the boat is new, the sole is stiff. As you wear the boot, the sole is flexed. With time, most of the slippage will disappear. Ultimately, the decision on a proper fitting group rests with the wearer.

Now that you know how to get a better fit, you can shop our selection of women’s western boots by Tony Lama with more confidence, including these top sellers (click on the photo for more product information):

And here are the top sellers of Tony Lama men’s boots:

Shop our full selection of hundreds of Tony Lama products.

The next time you pick up a Stetson felt western hat, take a look inside at the satin lining. You’re likely to see this:

And if you buy a Stetson cowboy hat, you’ll probably find the same image on its box:

That image is a painting by Lon Megargee, “The Last Drop From His Stetson,” depicting a cowboy unselfishly offering a parched horse water from his hat. The image has been featured on almost all Stetson felt cowboy hats since 1924.

According to a recent article in American Cowboy magazine:

Born in Pennsylvania, Megargee moved to Phoenix, Ariz., in 1899 at age 16 to become a cowboy. He started off at Tex Singleton’s Bull Ranch, and then worked at the Three Bar Ranch and, eventually, Billy Cook’s TT Ranch. Megargee later tried ranching on his own, but lost most of his herd to a three-year drought. That’s when he turned to his training from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and began painting iconic images of the desert Southwest.

Megargee experienced some early success, selling his paintings to the Santa Fe Railroad, and in 1913, the State of Arizona commissioned the then-30-year-old to paint 15 large-scale murals for the state capitol building in Phoenix. He completed the task in 1914 (earning roughly $4,000 for his work) and almost immediately vaulted into the pantheon of great Southwestern painters.

Megargee continued painting for many years and selling his work as a collection of postcards. His clients included media such as Western Story Magazine, various corporations, and the now-defunct Arizona Brewing Company.

Megargee died in 1960, but his images remain revered in Arizona, including the old capitol building in Phoenix. Much of Megargee’s work is featured in a gallery at the Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley, Ariz.

Check out our popular Stetson straw western hats for summer (click on the image for product information):

If you want to shop ahead of the colder fall and winter months, we also offer a few Stetson felt cowboy hats:

Make sure to browse our full line of Stetson hats online.

Our friends at Wrangler recently uploaded this video about its Premium Performance Cowboy Cut men’s jeans, starring 16-time rodeo world champion Trevor Brazile:

Wrangler’s Premium Performance Cowboy Cut jeans serve as an update to Wrangler’s original Cowboy Cut jeans, which were endorsed by rodeo great Jim Shoulders for decades.

So it seems appropriate that Brazile, who surpassed Shoulders’ record for rodeo titles, would serve as the spokesman for the update to those jeans.

What’s the difference with the Premium Performance Cowboy Cut jeans? A brief list:

• Made of ring-spun heavyweight broken-twill cotton denim that lasts 20 percent longer and is softer
• Larger and deeper front scoop pockets
• Larger watch pocket that allows you to carry more items, including a small cell phone
• Slightly bigger waist for more comfort
• Relaxed thigh for comfort and freedom of movement
• Smoother inside seams lessen chafing
• Inside seams contain more stitching so they’ll last longer

Wrangler’s Premium Performance Cowboy Cut jeans come in both a regular fit and a slim fit. These jeans also come in several finishes, including rigid, stonewash, and prewashed.

Browse Drysdales’ selection of Premium Performance Cowboy Cut jeans today.

The folks at Resistol recently produced this behind-the-scenes video of how its western straw hats are made at its factory in Garland, Texas. Company officers and employees also are interviewed about the hats.

A few takeaways from the video:

– “A cowboy that wears a Resistol hat, nine times out of 10 he’s wearing it because his father or grandfather wore it. They know every time they get a Resistol straw (hat), it’s going to be something that’s durable, comfortable, and they can depend on it.”

– Resistol has been making hats since 1927. “The vision then, as it is now, is to produce the best cowboy hat in straw or felt for the working cowboy.”

– Resistol’s factory features longtime employees who can spot imperfections in the hats and handle the them several times during the production process.

– Many of Resistol’s straw hats are designed to keep cowboys cooler in hotter climates — ventilated crowns, bigger brims for more shade, and specially made sweatbands.

– Resistol straw hats are more durable because of their stout weave design, plus a specialized lacquer that helps the straw construction hold up longer.

A few of the Resistol straw cowboy hats that we offer (click on the photo for product information):

Browse our stock of both straw and felt cowboy hats from Resistol. With Resistol’s longtime commitment to comfort and quality, you’ll be glad you did.

Drysdales has sold boots from the Ad Tec line for years. Ad Tec makes packer boots, motorcycle boots, lace-up work boots, logger boots, and roper boots.

June, our boot specialist in Drysdales’ call center, says Ad Tec packer boots “hold up very well” and are a “very good value for the price.”

However, it occurred to us that even fans of Ad Tec footwear may not know much about company itself.

We decided to rectify that by talking to Arnold Duan by phone at his office in City of Industry, Calif. Duan is president and co-founder of Hypard Trading Co., which makes several brands of shoes and boots, including Ad Tec.

Here are seven things you probably didn’t know about Ad Tec:

1. Duan earned an MBA at California State University. Drawing on his shoe-making background in his native Taiwan, he and his brother-in-law founded the company in Los Angeles in 1983. It started making canvas shoes, and prospered.

2. Duan’s company originally was called Safe Far Trading Co.

3. Severe currency depreciation in Taiwan during the 1990s nearly sunk the company and many other industries. Duan quickly moved his shoe-making operations to China and other Asian countries, and transitioned from manufacturing canvas shoes to boots.

4. The Ad Tec brand, which has existed for about 15 years, stands for Advanced Technology.

5. What sets Ad Tec apart? Duan said: “We have very strong production methods. We make a very good quality boot at a good price. That’s why we’re able to compete in the market.”

6. When Hypard starts a new line of boots or shoes, Duan says it uses lessons learned from previous production lines to make a better product.

7. The company has sold more than 30 million pairs of boots and shoes since its founding.

A few of the Ad Tec boots for women that we offer (click on the product for more information):

Here are a few of the men’s Ad Tech boots we sell:

We invite you to shop online for a wide variety of Ad Tec footwear that we offer.

We have sold Cinch men’s jeans for years. It’s a brand that has proven popular with rodeo cowboys who want a bit more fashion with their western jeans.

We asked Jina Taylor, an account manager for Cinch, to explain what sets the brand apart from other jeans for men.

A transcript of Taylor’s comments:

“Basically, with Cinch, we made it for the man who lives his life in denim. We make it a heavier denim, so that he’s not going to mess it up the first time he works out in it with fence or with cattle. It’s got a more relaxed leg on a lot of them, because they’re made for active people and people in rodeo — people who move around a lot. When you bend, flex, they hold up and bend with them.

“Also, where Cinch got started from, these guys needed longer lengths. The rodeo guys like to stack their jeans, and all the mainstream jeans came in shorter lengths. So we make all (our jeans) all the way to a 40 inseam. That’s a big thing for these guys — we got a lot of them that need a 38- and 40-inch inseam.

“And now, you can see, Cinch has very trendy looks. It’s not just western.”

A few of the Cinch jeans for men that we carry (click on the image for more information):

And there you have it. Cinch jeans provide comfort, freedom of movement, and style for men. And don’t forget — we offer a number of Cinch jeans for boys as well.

Chippewa Boots offers three distinct lines of its acclaimed logger boots, with varying features and price points. Billy Lovell of Chippewa explains the differences between each of the company’s logger boots in its “What the Tech” video series:

Lovell described the logger boots as a “good, better, best” scenario. The least-expensive Chippewa logger is from its IQ series.

He says the IQ logger features a rubber lug outsole with a logger heel, two rubber midsoles, a PVC welt, and heavy-duty leather in the shaft.

“But in the gusset and collar, we use different materials to reduce the price point of this product.”

The mid-priced logger is the Sportility line:

This logger boot contains a high-performance Vibram Tacoma logger outsole, a rubber midsole and a leather welt, which add more cost to the boot. It’s also waterproof, is insulated, and is made of heavy oiled leather.

The “best” of the logger line, Lovell says, is the Super Logger.

It also contains a Vibram Tacoma logger outsole and a waterproof insole. It also features a heavy-duty leather storm welt, heavy-duty leather, and higher-quality collars. It features a Dri-Lex lining to wick away moisture from your foot. The boot also comes with heavy-duty waxed laces and heavier hardware. The boots also is specifically rated for electrical safety.

“This is the fully loaded, handcrafted-in-the-USA model,” Lovell said.

If you need a rugged but comfortable work boot, shop Chippewa’s full line of logger boots.

Our longtime partners at Justin Boots recently uploaded this well-produced video about the history of the western boot company, back to 1879.

Justin’s website also has posted this history:

The Justin Boots story began in 1879, when H.J. Justin left Lafayette, Ind., to start a new life in Spanish Fort, Texas. Initially a boot repairman, H.J. soon began his own boot company working out of his home.

When a railroad was built in Nocona, Texas, in 1889, H.J. moved his family and business there to capitalize on the bigger market opportunity.

In 1908, John and Earl came to work for their father, and the company was renamed H.J. Justin and Sons. In 1910, Justin boots were sold in 26 states, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba for $11 a pair.

John, Earl and Avis took over the business after their father’s death in 1918. In 1925, the brothers moved the company headquarters to Fort Worth.

In 1948, John Justin Jr. purchased controlling interest in the company. It wasn’t long before H.J. Justin & Sons was growing again. In 1968, the company made a deal with Acme Brick, another Fort Worth company with pioneering roots, to form Justin Industries. [...]

In August of 2000, Justin Boots was purchased by Berkshire Hathaway, managed by Warren Buffett. With strong financial backing, a lasting tradition of quality, and a talented management team, Justin Boots today is stronger than ever.

Justin boots are valued not only because of their legacy, appearance, and having one of the richest men investing in them. Justin also earns praise for its outstanding comfort, mainly due to its acclaimed J-Flex Comfort System insole that is present in nearly all its boots.

Justin’s cowgirl boots remain hot sellers at Drysdales, including these types (click on the image for more information):

Here are a few of the most popular Justin cowboy boots we offer:

Justin also makes dozens for western boot styles for boys and girls.

Drysdales also offers many boot accessories from Justin, including creams and socks. Justin also makes gloves, belts, western straw hats, and men’s wallets.

Nothing’s more irritating for a jeans owner than a busted zipper. Not only could this lead to the embarrassing “Your fly is open” moments, but it often prompts wearers to throw away an otherwise perfectly good pair of jeans.

In most cases, you don’t have to chuck those jeans into the trashcan. Our longtime partners at Lee Jeans recently cited this article at About.com on how to repair a damaged zipper and keep your jeans for a while longer.

A condensed version of instructions:

1. Remove the metal stopper at the bottom of the zipper with pliers.
2. Zip the zipper to the bottom, stopping just below the last set of teeth.
3. Rearrange the teeth of the zipper so one side isn’t bunched.
4. Slowly zip up the zipper halfway, ensuring the teeth are interlocking.
5. Using needle and thread, sew about six stitches in the area where the metal stopper was.
6. If the zipper misaligns in the future, just remove the stitching and repeat the repair.

If you need more of a visual guide, seamstress Debrah DeMirza provided this how-to video:

Remember, these repairs can work with any jean with a zipper fly, including Wrangler, Levi’s, Cinch, Miss Me, and dozens of other denim brands we carry.

It’s not often you can help a national children’s organization by buying cool-looking western boots.

But in this case, purchasing these new Durango FFA western boots for men and women will lend financial assistance to the National FFA Organization, also known as Future Farmers of America.

Durango offers a total of four FFA boots. For each pair Durango ships, the National FFA gets $5. The money will help the national organization with its mission:

“Future Farmers of America” was founded by a group of young farmers back in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting– it’s a science, it’s a business and it’s an art.

FFA boots come in brown or black for both men and women. Each boot comes with a square toe, pull holes on the shaft, and a durable double-stitched well.

One thing that makes these boots stand out is the intricate design on the shaft, which includes the FFA logo:

Another unique facet of this boot is the clear outsole, which allows you to see the colorful FFA-inspired design underneath:

Shop for your Durango FFA boots today, and help some young people better the world.