by hey long since shelved the Marlboro man, and the extended Marvel Universe replaced Hollywood’s obsession with Westerns, but all of the sudden the cowboy is back at the forefront of the American imagination. Maybe it’s thanks to Yellowstone. Maybe it’s thanks to our increasing reliance on digital everything, but for the past several years the dust-ridden myth of the American cowpoke has crept back into our collective style lane. For a man like you, a man like me, that’s a good thing.
I’ve ridden two horses and one camel (Illinois State Fair, 1996) in my life. This is disproportionate to the number of cowboy boots in my closet and the gentle teasing from my wife, who actually grew up with horses. But at some point, you just have to make a decision and wear the boots. Where? You ask. Everywhere, I’d say.
Most recently, I’ve been wearing them on airplanes. Turns out, cowboy boots are perfect for flying. Why? They’re a simple, classic relic of Americana, so they always look cool. There’s no lacing for the TSA walk of shame. And they’re a pain in the ass to fit in a suitcase, so if you want to bring them anywhere, you’ve got to wear ’em. It’s a little microcosm of why you should buy and wear cowboy boots in the first place. In my opinion, the boots you should get for this job are Ariat’s Bench Made Clanton Boots. (And yes, before you write in, I’m aware these are technically ropers.)
Ariat Bench Made Clanton
It’s time to reclaim airport style.
Cowboy boots are versatile on and off the plane. I’ve worn my Ariat’s sprinting through Denver International to catch a flight (not as bouncy as my HOKAs, but who cares). I’ve worn these boots to chefs’ tasting menus in fancy hotels and on a hot air balloon ride above the Sonoran desert. Every time it’s the right choice.
Recently, at the airport and on actual planes, I’ve been pairing them with well-loved straight-fit denim from Nashville-based Imogene + Willie, or for longer flights, Buck Mason’s Natural Linen Carry-On Pants. And if I toss on the Buck Mason Carry-On Jacket, I’m dressed better than most guys are for datenight. The rule is that anything comfortable and rugged will do, as long as the pant legs fit over the boots. And I’m not saying you’re a bad man for wearing sweatpants on the plane. I have been on 14-hour flights where economy felt more like steerage, where a good pair of sweatpants is the only chance to survive. But that should be the exception.
The rule should be that together we can bring back the glory days of airport style. Think ’90s paparazzi shots of Woody Harrelson and Nic Cage in LAX. Loose fit jeans, leather jackets, faded trucker hats, cowboy boots galore. Looking put together at the airport is just that easy.
They are… made for walking.
Now that we’ve got that down, Ariat’s Clanton is a great starter boot for those looking to dip their toes into the vast pool of Western style. One, they’re built with quality in the cowboy boot capital of the world—Léon, Mexico—yet not so exorbitantly priced that you’ll have to skip rent. You might say $300 isn’t cheap, but for cowboy boots, it actually is. There’s a lot of leather here and in the realm of boots that cost three to five times as much, the Clanton’s price-to-value ratio is sky-high.
Ropers make for a good entry-level boot. Designed for rodeo ropers who are both in and out of the saddle, the roper style has a smaller heel and usually a shorter shaft to the boot, making it a little more wearable sans spurs. You can walk in ropers, not just spend all day in the saddle. Ariat builds the Clanton’s with American bison (meaning buffalo) leather with a calfskin inner coating. Soft and supple and one more remnant of the Prairie West, the bison leather wears well and is comfortable out of the box, with no break-in required.
Ariats are also boots you can find in your local western store, among the Justins and the Stetsons of the world. No disrespect to some very good DTC brands out there, but a legacy of making boots for actual cowboys means something (just like you want a puffer jacket made for real mountaineers). Add a removable footbed and resoleable stacked heel, and while these may be the first cowboy boots you buy, they may also be the last.
Easy on, easy off.
In the opening scene of Tremors, a young Kevin Bacon, thin as a bean pole, wakes on the desert floor in a hurry and pulls on a pair of cowboy boots with practiced ease. This has not been my experience with cowboy boots. For the first few months, it’s a struggle to pull them on and off. My father-in-law gifted me a little contraption, a boot-jack, that helps you take your cowboy boots off. It helps, but it’s embarrassing to admit to using. Ariat’s Clantons never had that issue. They’re wider in the toe and easy to take on and off—perfect for airport security.
This makes them more travel-capable than other cowboy boots we love. As much as I love my Tecovas and Rhodes styles (and covet Wille Nelson’s favorite boot brand Lucchese), they’re all tight on the toes until very worn in. The Clantons will save you the error I made on a flight out of Nashville last year, where I goofed my departing time and, knowing my Tecovas were going to be an issue at security, yanked them off in the Lyft and had to dash through the airport in my stocking feet. Not a good look.
For what I’m suggesting, my Ariats are perfect. They’re easy on, easy off. They’re as comfortable as the fashion sneakers some rich guy in business class is wearing, but they look a whole lot cooler. If my seat’s not better, if my hotel’s not better, at least my footwear is.
