If you are shopping for Tecovas Boots, you might come across certain boots that are offered with “Rubber/Hybrid Outsoles”. What is a Tecovas Hybrid Outsole?
The Tecovas Hybrid Outsole is an outsole that is made with both rubber and leather. The main purpose of this is to make the boot more weather friendly. The rubber is used on the toe and forefoot area of the outsole, which is the area that would impact wet ground. Leather is then used on the arch area of the outsole.
Here is a pair of Tecovas Boots that I own that have the hybrid rubber outsoles:
As you can see, the rubber is used on the toe and forefoot area, and then leather is used in the arch area into the heel stack. The heel stack has a rubber heel cap (Tecovas also uses rubber heel caps in their traditional leather outsoles).
For comparison, here are Tecovas traditional leather outsoles:
If the hybrid outsole is for weather, why don’t they just make the whole outsole rubber? Why do they include the small area of leather on the outsole?
The reason the leather is used in the arch area of the outsole is that it gives the profile of the boot a sleeker appearance. One drawback that some people have with cowboy boots with full length rubber outsoles is the outsole area can look bulky and alter the overall appearance and style of the boot.
For work boots, that might not be a problem, but for people who are wearing these boots for business, casual, or formal settings, they prefer a more traditional, sleeker outsole.
For example, here is the same boot that I own, but shown from the side:
The outsole area is not too bulky, and from the side you really can’t tell that the outsoles aren’t leather unless you look closely. By using these hybrid outsoles (instead of full length rubber) Tecovas gives you a weather-friendly outsole that still maintains its intended appearance for style purposes.
But there are a few other things to know.
What Types of Tecovas Boots Use Hybrid Outsoles?
Tecovas offers the hybrid outsoles in many different styles, including versions of The Dean, The Johnny, The Earl, The Cartwright, The Blaze, and The Doc. Sometimes these hybrid sole versions come and go as Tecovas changes colorways, etc.
Because the Tecovas Hybrid Outsoles are meant to be weather friendly, almost all types of boots that use these hybrid soles are also made with water-resistant uppers (some exceptions). Tecovas makes the upper water-resistant because what good would it do you to have a weather-friendly outsole if the upper wasn’t also made for those wet conditions.
The most common upper materials that Tecovas pairs with these hybrid outsoles are either water-resistant suede or water-resistant roughout leather. But there are occasionally options that are not marketed as water-resistant uppers.
For example, The Cartwright has been offered with a Regenerative Bison upper (not water-resistant finished) with a hybrid outsole. In this scenario, you could always add your own waterproofing spray to the upper if needed.
But that does get me into one final thing we need to mention.
Another benefit of Tecovas hybrid soles
Yes, these hybrid soles are weather friendly. But another reason some buyers want hybrid rubber outsoles is they like the grip of rubber better than the grip of a traditional leather outsole.
A hybrid sole gives these types of buyers an option.
Tecovas full-length rubber outsoles
Tecovas does offer many boots with full-length rubber outsoles, but these boots are mainly in their ranch/workwear lines. These boots are built to be used in barnyards or on the job, so preserving a sleek appearance isn’t as necessary.
For example, here is a full length rubber outsole on a pair of Tecovas ranch work boots that I own:
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