My favorite Tecovas Roper Boots are the Jake and the Knox. I wear the Jake the most because it uses a full rubber outsole that blends in nicely with the stacked leather shaft and midsole, making it a versatile option for both work and leisure.
These are the most popular Tecovas roper boots:
- The Jake – This is the Tecovas boot that I wear the most. I like this boot because it has a classic dress boot style but it also uses full-length rubber soles so I can easily use this as a work boot too. Tecovas uses a rubber sole that blends in nicely with the stacked leather roper heel. The leather is also water-resistant which makes this boot versatile and easy to use in wet, mucky conditions. And it still looks good off the clock. 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. It also 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). The shock-absorbing insoles are comfortable and removeable, so I can swap them when needed. Click here to view these “Knox” Tecovas roper boots at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com).
- The Earl – The Earl is the most popular type of Tecovas roper boots. These boots are available in calfskin, bovine, or goat leather. They have a stacked leather heel with a rubber heel cap for durability and grip. These boots have a simple, but classic, design featuring an unadorned vamp in order to showcase the leather. These boots use a goodyear welt construction so they can be re-soled in the future if needed. Click here to view these “Duke” Tecovas boots at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com).
- The Duke – The Duke is one of the most popular Tecovas roper boots in their more premium price range ($450+). This exotic roper boot is made using Ostrich leather with a calfskin shaft. This boot has a premium leather outsole with a rubber heel cap. The roper heel is 1 ⅛” tall and this boot is available in 4 colorways. This is a dress boot and not a work boot. Click here to view these “Duke” 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 designed to be durable and versatile, making it an ideal choice for ranch and farm work, combining functionality and classic roper styling. Click here to view these “Stockton” Tecovas boots at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com).
- Women’s Roper – Tecovas currently does not make any women’s roper boots. Many of their women’s boots use a 2-inch heel. If you are searching for a women’s Tecovas boot with lower heel height, they do also offer several women’s options with a 1 ¾” heel. Options include The Paige, The Jamie, The Chloe, The Jessie and The Josie. Click here to view these women’s Tecovas boots at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com).
In this article let’s take a closer look at these boots so you can find an option that fits your needs. I will include pictures of the Tecovas roper boots that I own, and explain why I like them and why I use them. I will then compare the boots I own to all of the other types of Tecovas roper boots.
The Tecovas Roper Boots I Wear
Tecovas “The Jake” Roper Boots
These Tecovas Jake boots are my favorite type Tecovas roper boots. The reason I like these boots is because even though they have a classic dress boot style, they actually have full-length Vibram rubber outsoles which means I can use them in wet, muddy work environments also.
They come in multiple colors – I own the “Caramel” version. Here is a look at mine:
These boots have a traditional dress boot style, but are built for rain and mucky conditions. Not only does the rubber sole add weather protection, but the upper is built with water-resistant bovine leather that helps shield off precipitation. These are soft toe boots (Tecovas does not currently make safety toe boots).
Here is a look at the material on my boots:
As I mentioned earlier, one reason I like the Tecovas “Jake” 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).
This is the current price of these Jake Tecovas roper boots available at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com). In my experience, they fit true to size.
The rubber outsole blends in nicely with the 1 1/8 inch stacked-leather straight roper heel. Here is a close up look at the stacked leather heel and Vibram rubber soles on my Tecovas rubber sole cowboy 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.
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 roper 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 rubber sole cowboy 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 premium 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 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” Roper Boots
Another type of Tecovas Roper 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 roper 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.
Regarding the leather, these Tecovas Knox wedge sole roper boots are made using treated leather that has a durable, but soft feel to it. They aren’t too stiff and, when combined with the wedge sole, have a flexible design.
The bovine leather upper on these Tecovas roper boots is treated and combined with weatherproof seams which allows this boot to be hosed off when needed. No, 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.
Yes, Vibram outsoles are long-lasting, but because Tecovas builds such a quality boot, there is a good chance the upper will outlast the outsole. The good news is these Tecovas Knox boots are built using a Goodyear welt construction, which means you can easily get these boots re-soled if needed.
Again, I like Tecovas roper 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 roper boots, you’re buying a boot that has an upper made with premium 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 roper boots.
Other Types of Tecovas Roper Boots
Below is a chart that compares The Jake and The Knox to all other types of Tecovas roper boots:
| Boot Model | Leather Material | Sole | Heel Height | Shaft | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Jake | Bovine leather | Vibram rubber outsole | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Work or Dress Boot |
| The Knox | Bovine leather | Vibram wedge outsole | 1″ | 10″ | Work or Dress Boot |
| The Earl | Calfskin, Bovine, or Goat leather | Premium leather with rubber heel cap | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Dress boot |
| The Stockton | Bison Leather | Non-marking Vibram sole | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Versatile work boot |
| The Duke | Ostrich leather vamp, Calfskin shaft | Premium leather with rubber heel cap | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Dress boot |
| The Cole | Caiman belly vamp, Calfskin shaft | Premium leather with rubber heel cap | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Dress boot |
| The Townes | American alligator belly vamp, Calfskin shaft | Premium leather with rubber heel cap | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Dress boot |
| The Wade | Smooth-quill ostrich vamp and counter, Goat leather shaft | Premium leather with rubber heel cap | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Dress boot |
| The Nash | Lizard leather vamp and counter, Calfskin shaft | Premium leather with rubber heel cap | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Dress boot |
| The Shane | Suede | Premium leather with rubber heel cap | 1 ⅛” | 10″ | Dress boot |