About Wiz Feinberg's history in the music business, his musical equipment and gig schedule

Wiz's Cowboy Boot Recommendations

Wiz's impressions of Dan Post, Moc Toe, Deertan Bucklace Cowboy boots

I always wear Cowboy boots on stage, when I play my steel guitar. This is something that I began doing in 1975, when I was hired with my first road band. Through the years that followed I have worn several brands of boots, including Boulet, Tony Lama, Dan Post, Justin, Laredo, and even custom made boots.

Because I only tend to wear my boots onstage, they don't have a lot of time to break in. So, I buy a pair that filts properly and comfortably from the get-go. This usually means I buy them in person, after trying them on.

Buying Cowboy boots from a brick and mortar store is both the safest and most expensive way to buy new boots. Before the explosion of the Internet I always bought my boots from Western Wear stores, rather than from catalogs. However, with times being as tough as they are now-a-days, I buy almost everything online, after comparison shopping and watching for sales. That includes my Cowboy boots.

My most recently acquired pair of Cowboy boots, for stage use, are made by Dan Post and are called "Deertan Bucklaced." They have a pointed "moc toe" shape, 13" shaft, 1 1/2" heel, leather sole and soft "deer tanned" leather uppers. They fit like a glove and did not need to be broken in at all. Let me tell you some of my findings about these boots aqnd how I found the right size.

I actually began looking at these boots at least two years before I bought them. That sounds ridiculous, but I had plenty of boots already and other items that were more important. One day I went with a friend to a Western Wear store and saw that they had some of these Dan Post boots on display. So, I began trying them on for fit.

Normally, I wear a size 9 "wide" street shoe. But Cowboy boots fit differently than round toe street shoes. I prefer narrow toe boots and that really changes the game plan, size-wise. This preference is because my left boot toe has to extend between the rods going down to my floor pedals, on the steel guitar. Some steel guitars have fairly close spacing between the rods and rounded toe boots would hit adjacent rods.

Back to the store with the Dan Post boots. I tried on several sizes that they had, starting with size 9, which is my street shoe size, but they literally fell off my feet. I then tried an 8 1/2, but the heel was too loose and they stuck out too far. I then asked to try a size 8, but they were not in stock! The lady suggested buying the 8 1/2 and wearing extra thick socks, but I didn't care for that idea (I wear thin socks when I play in boots). I left, making no purchase that day.

Fast forward a year and I was looking over the online prices for boots at Bootbay and Sheplers. Bootbay happened to have the Dan Post Grey moc toe bucklaced Cowboy boots on sale for the lower price, plus free shipping, and they had size 8 in stock. I remembered how the 8 1/2 was a little too loose, so I took a chance and ordered a pair in size 8 extra wide. Bingo! Perfect fit!

Here is my take on why I ended up wearing a full size under my street shoe, in the Dan Post Moc Toe boots. First, I usually wear thick socks in my tennis shoes, but thin socks in my boots; there goes 1/2 size. Second, they have soft, expandable leather vamps (top and sides of foot) that only are hardened as you get close to the toe. By ordering the EW (extra wide) size I got room for my toes to expand, without being cramped together as they could be in tougher leather vamps. I measured the hard toe as extending about 2" on top and 3" on the lower sides. Beyond that point the leather is soft and expandable, with plently of wiggle room for my toes. Third, because the length is shorter, I got a better fit on my heel. It does not slip out like it did on the size 8 1/2 and larger. Thus, by going down one full size, in extra wide boots, worn with nylon or thin cotton dress socks, I got a perfect fit, without needing to break them in. The thinner socks let my feet breath and produce very little sweat, if any.

The soles are all leather, 5/16" thick; they will last for many years and provide a solid mashing of the floor pedals on my steel guitar. The 13" all leather shaft is just the right height to provide good leg support, without hindering the pivoting motion needed for the floor and volume pedals. The heels are 1 1/2" tall, which is perfect for pivoting on the floor to mash the pedals on the steel guitar. They are also the exact height I needed to pivot my right foot on the volume pedal, without over-stressing my heel. I just can't play for very long in tennis shoes, because of my heel architecture. Finally, the pointed snip-toe lets my left foot get well onto the pedals, with the toe sticking out between the pedal rods as needed. The sole protrudes just 1/4" beyond the edge of the toe. The sole is snipped; the boot nose is very tightly rounded.

All in all, I have never been more pleased with a pair of Cowboy boots, than I am with my Dan Post Moc Toe Laced deer tan boots. If you are looking for a recommendation for a pair of boots that you don't need to break in and will fit like a glove, order a pair of these boots from Sheplers. They have a free return/exchange policy, in case you get the size wrong the first time. Remember, if you have wide feet at the toe, get them between 1/2 to 1 size under your tennis shoe size, in Extra Wide.

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