Tecovas boots are not fully waterproof, meaning they don’t have inner waterproof membranes, but many Tecovas boots are made with water-resistant leather and weatherproofed seams so that they can handle wet and muddy barnyards (and can be hosed down). To be water-resistant, the leather is infused with oils that help repel water and help protect the leather from drying out and cracking. You will need to occasionally re-oil your boots to maintain water-resistance.
These are my favorite types of water-resistant Tecovas Boots:
- The Jake – This is the water-resistant Tecovas boot that I wear the most. I like this boot because it has a classic dress boot style but combines water-resistant leather with a full-length rubber sole so I can use this as a work boot too. Tecovas uses a rubber sole that blends in nicely with the stacked leather heel which preserves the dress boot style. Click here to view these “Jake” Tecovas boots at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com).
- The Knox – I also own the Knox roper boot and like to use it when I’m spending long days on concrete because it has a wedge outsole. It uses a premium Vibram 4014 Cristy sole, which is the most popular type of wedge sole. Yes, this boot uses water-resistant leather in combination with weatherproof seams which allows me to use it in wet weather (it can be hosed down to clean). Click here to view these “Knox” Tecovas boots at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com).
- The Jason – The Jason is very similar to the Jake from above, only the Jason uses a taller cowboy heel instead of the roper heel. This boot uses water-resistant bovine leather and a rugged Vibram rubber sole which allows it to be used in wet work environments. This boot also has a 12-inch shaft, which is taller than the Jake. Click here to view the Jason Tecovas boots at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com).
- The Stockton – The Stockton is a ready-to-work, handmade boot in a traditional roper shape, offering slip-resistant Vibram soles and weatherproof seams. With options available in both oiled bovine and bison leather, it is water-resistant and durable, making it an ideal choice for ranch and farm work. Click here to view these “Stockton” Tecovas water-resistant boots at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com).
- The Bandera – The Bandera is very similar to the Stockton from above, only this boot uses a taller cowboy heel instead of the roper heel. It also features a slightly taller shaft than the Stockton boot. It uses a slip-resistant Vibram rubber outsole and rugged bison leather. It has a weatherproof construction, removable polyurethane insoles, and classic cowboy design that can be used for work and play. Click here to view these “Bandera” Tecovas boots at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com).
- The Luke – The Luke is a 6-inch chelsea boot that uses a wedge outsole for added comfort. It is made using water-resistant bovine leather and weatherproofed seams so it can handle wet environments. Tecovas describes these boots as being ready “to perform journeyman-level work on the job site” while still looking good off the clock. Click here to view these “Luke” Tecovas boots at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com).
In this article let’s take a closer look at these water-resistant boots so you can find an option that fits your needs. I also want to discuss in more detail the difference between water-resistant and waterproof Tecovas boots so you know what to expect.
Are Tecovas Boots Waterproof?
No, Tecovas Boots are not technically waterproof. However, many of their boots are water-resistant and seam sealed so that they can handle wet, muddy barnyards.
What’s the difference?
Waterproof leather boots need to have an internal membrane to be fully waterproof. A fully waterproof boot with internal membrane means you could even submerge the boot in water and the membrane (if it does its job) will keep your feet completely dry.
But these membranes can trap heat and many people want some waterproof protection without the internal membrane. This is where water-resistant boots come into play.
Water-resistant boots use oiled leather in combination with sealed seams to create an external barrier against moisture. Can you completely submerge these boots in water and stay dry? Likely not. But water-resistant boots are capable of repelling light to moderate rain showers and can handle wet, mucky work environments.
The infused oils in the leather repel water and help protect the leather from drying out and cracking. Eventually, these oils dry out and you will need to consistently re-oil your boot so that it maintains its water-resistance.
How often do you need to re-oil your boots? This depends on how much you use them. If you are wearing them regularly for work, you will need to re-oil them once every 4-6 weeks. If you work in extremely muddy conditions, you may need to do it every 2-3 weeks.
To do this, I like to brush excess dirt off my boots and then quickly hose them down and towel dry them. You want to make sure the leather is clean before you apply the oil. Any standard boot oil is fine (or boot wax). I like to use the boot oil pictured below:
The Water-Resistant Tecovas Boots I Wear
Tecovas “The Jake” Boots
These Tecovas Jake boots are my favorite type of water-resistant Tecovas boots. The reason I like these boots is because they combine a classic dress boot style with a functional design that is built to handle a wet work environment.
These boots not only use water-resistant leather and sealed seams, they also have a full-length Vibram rubber outsole built for wet, mucky barnyards. These boots come in multiple colors – I own the “Caramel” version. Here is a look at mine:
This is the current price of these Jake Tecovas water-resistant boots available at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com). In my experience, they fit true to size.
As I mentioned earlier, one reason I like these Tecovas roper boots is they are made with premium Vibram outsoles that actually match the color of the boot. This allows the boot to still have the profile of a classic dress boot but the versatility needed to make it weather-ready as a work boot (types of Tecovas work boots).
When you take a close-up look at the rubber outsole, you can see how it is channeled to help provide adequate grip in wet environments:
This Vibram rubber outsole not only helps improve grip in wet conditions, it also can improve grip indoors. If you’ve ever worn leather sole boots, you know that they can feel slippery even indoors on certain types of flooring like thin carpet. If you’re worried about grip, these boots might be exactly what you need.
Another benefit I like about the rubber outsole that I never see other people mention is noise. These boots are so much quieter on my wood floors that other types of boots I own. The rubber sole does a great job at absorbing impact noise when I walk.
I found my boots to feel comfortable and flexible straight out of the box. The break in period was very short and I truly felt comfortable in them on the first wear.
Yes, these boots are water-resistant.
The bovine leather upper is treated and combined with weatherproof seams which allows this boot to be hosed off when needed. No, don’t expect this Tecovas roper boot to be completely waterproof, but if you occasionally work in mucky conditions and need to take a quick hose to these boots every once in a while, they are built to handle that (I’d do a quick towel dry right after).
I like Tecovas boots because they use more traditional boot-making methods, which lead to better long-term results. For example, they use hand-hammered lemonwood pegging to attach the midsole. These lemonwood pegs are more malleable than modern nailing, and they expand and contract properly when exposed to moisture.
I also really appreciate the fact that Tecovas uses an “inside-out” stitching approach which helps hide the seams, and means the seams won’t cause irritation against my foot or leg. As you can see inside my boots below, the stitching is not exposed:
In the photo above you can also see that this boot has a leather insole, which conforms to the the unique shape of your foot over time. I really like leather insoles, however, one thing I don’t like is this leather insole is not removable. Leather insoles are long lasting, but I still like the option to swap mine if needed.
These Tecovas Jake boots use a 10-inch shaft that finishes near the mid-calf area. The shaft opening is wide enough to slide my foot in and out (but I did have to use the pull tabs).
In the photo below I tried to capture how nicely the rubber outsole on my Tecovas boot blends in with the stacked leather heel. I personally like this design better than a black rubber outsole combined with a brown leather heel stack. I think it preserves the dress style of the boot better.
Overall, when you buy this Tecovas “Jake” boot, you’re buying a boot that has an upper made with treated bovine leather that can handle wet conditions.
The boot is handmade using traditional boot-making methods which help increase the life-span of the boots. And they combine that with a Vibram rubber outsole that blends in perfectly to preserve the classic style of these boots.
Together, this creates a dependable boot that is built to be both versatile and stylish. To read more, visit my article that discusses the best rubber sole cowboy boots.
Tecovas “The Knox” Boots
Another type of Tecovas water-resistant boots that I like is The Knox boots. These boots use a wedge outsole and make long days on concrete easier on my feet. Although they come in three different colors, I own the “Midnight” version.
Here is a look at mine:
This is the current price of these Knox Tecovas boots available at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com). In my experience, these boots fit true to size.
As I mentioned earlier, one reason I like the Tecovas “Knox” boots is they are made with premium Vibram outsoles, that, in my experience, last longer than other types of outsoles. These boots use the popular Vibram Cristy 4014 outsoles, which are well-liked due to their comfort, and the fact that the shallow lug pattern offers larger surface-area contact and superior grip.
Here is a look at the Vibram 4014 soles on my Tecovas boots:
This Vibram Cristy 4014 outsole is so popular that even though it was originally designed for work boots (specifically construction and industrial footwear) it has since made a transition to casual, city-style footwear due to the comfort and grip it provides. These wedge outsoles provide a sort of hybrid design, that can transition well from outdoor to indoor environments.
Yes, these Tecovas Knox boots are made using treated leather that is water-resistant and capable of handling wet work conditions. You can hose these off after work. The treated leathers create a soft feel, but you will need to occasionally re-wax them.
These boots have a flexible design:
The bovine leather upper is combined with weatherproof seams. As I discussed earlier in the article, don’t expect this boot to be completely waterproof, but if you need Tecovas work boots for muddy conditions and need to take a hose to these boots every once in a while, they are built to handle that.
Again, I like Tecovas boots because they use more traditional boot-making methods, which lead to better long-term results. I mentioned this earlier about the Jake boots, but I also really appreciate the fact that Tecovas uses an “inside-out” stitching approach which helps hide the seams, and means the seams won’t cause irritation against my foot or leg.
As you can see inside my boots below, the stitching is not exposed:
This boot has a 10-inch shaft that finishes near the mid-calf area. The shaft opening is wide enough to comfortably slide your foot in and out so you don’t have to wrestle with these boots. Yes, they also have pull tabs to help slide the boots on:
Another thing worth mentioning is the footbeds in these boots are removeable. This means if you need to clean or swap these insoles, you can easily do so. The insoles are thick and provide nice comfort under the foot. And Tecovas uses thick cork midsoles which help absorb shock:
Overall, when you buy these wedge sole Tecovas boots, you’re buying a boot that has an upper made with water-resistant bovine leather. The boot is handmade using traditional boot-making methods which help increase the life-span of the boots. And they combine that with, in my opinion, the best wedge outsole on the market today: the Vibram 4014.
Together, this creates a dependable boot that is built to last longer than cheaper competitors. To read more, visit my article that discusses the best wedge sole cowboy boots.
Other Types of Water-Resistant Tecovas Boots
Not all Tecovas boots are built for wet conditions. Many of their exotic leather boots are best used as dress boots in dry conditions.
Below is a chart that compares The Jake and The Knox to other types of water-resistant Tecovas boots:
| Boot Model | Leather Material | Sole | Heel Height | Shaft | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Jake | Bovine leather | Vibram rubber outsole | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Roper Boot |
| The Jason | Bovine leather | Vibram rubber outsole | 1 ½” | 12″ | Cowboy Boot |
| The Knox | Bovine leather | Vibram wedge outsole | 1″ | 10″ | Roper Boot |
| The Luke | Bovine leather | Vibram wedge outsole | 1″ | 6″ | Chelsea Boot |
| The Stockton | Bison Leather | Vibram rubber outsole | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Roper Boot |
| The Bandera | Bison Leather | Vibram rubber outsole | 1 ¾” | 12″ | Cowboy Boot |
| The Shane | Suede | Leather outsole with rubber heel cap | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Roper Boot |
| The Johnny | Suede | Leather outsole with rubber heel cap | 1 ½” | 12″ | Cowboy Boot |
| The Roy | Suede | Leather outsole with rubber heel cap | 1 ¼” | 6″ | Chelsea Zip Boot |