My $10 Target cowboy boots served me well. I wore them for a good 3 years. I say goodbye to the boots not because I no longer like them but because they have simply worn out. I wish my $10 Target boots were made out of leather instead of faux man-made materials, because I still love the style, but I don’t like how the faux material is crumbling off the surface.

I’ve been wanting to replace the Target boots for a while, in fact I received birthday money from my parents with the intention of purchasing some good quality leather cowboy boots (which don’t come cheap). Last night Jesse informed me that he noticed Ragstock in Uptown has a huge window display showing off their collection of cowboy boots. Naturally, it was our mission to find some new boots tonight after work.

I had my doubts about finding a good pair of boots for a variety of reasons:

1. My feet are size five. I have a hard time finding new shoes in my size.
2. Do I want to wear boots that have been broken in by another?
3. And finally, will I even find a pair that I could love as I have my beloved Target boots?

Amazingly, Ragstock had a few pairs of boots in my size! And when I laid eyes on this pair, they spoke to me. Two-toned leather. Awesome stitching. While the boots are definitely broken in, they look awesome. In a similar way to how a $200 pair of jeans can look weathered and ripped up in a cool “I broke these in,” kind of way. But these boots were not $200, they were $20! If you are pining for a pair of awesome cowboy boots but don’t have $200-300 to drop on a new pair, go to Ragstock Uptown. STAT!

I imagine that my “new” old boots have an amazing back story. Living on a ranch in Wyoming near to Yellowstone National Park was a charmed existence. Roping goats, riding horses, feeding pigs. Planting the summer garden and frolicking in the fields. These boots have done it all. As I washed away the caked-on wild west mud (or worse, manure?), I thought to myself, “Welcome to the city, cowboy boots.”