I really don't understand the hype around sneakers. I never have. I love a good pair of Nike's as much as the next guy, but I cannot fathom spending hundreds on multiple pairs of shoes to just sit them on a shelf and wear them once a month because they're "too valuable" to break in or live in.
Anyone can simply search "sneakerheads" and see hundreds of celebs, pro athletes, and hip-hop artists with massive collections that include retro Jordan originals, Yeezys, and most likely at least one pair of the Marty McFly Nike's. All of them insist on curating these shoes and have hundreds of pairs to never wear. In addition to the main body of their collections, most also have a double digit number of pairs that they do wear constantly, each well over $200 new.
The scope of this phenomenon is not limited to the one-percenters, nor is it limited to just men. Young men all seem to have their own sneaker collections, and young women all have countless numbers of heels, wedges, converse, Nikes and whatever other shoes they choose. I have a few pairs of other shoes, but my absolute favorites are all my boots. I have two pairs of cowboy boots, two pairs of lace-ups, two for hunting, and one for work. All in all, I prefer boots over anything and would argue that they are the perfect choice for both sexes all the time.
Here's why:
Get them dirty? No worries.
With all my other shoes that aren't boots, I am constantly worrying about what I'm doing and if they might get dirty. With boots, I embrace the mud and the muck.
They have been a savior many times.
I can't count on one hand how many times I've stepped in a huge mud hole, dropped something on my foot, stepped on s sharp object and encountered many other hazards that could've hurt me very badly that my boots saved me from. Also, this includes all the times that any shoes besides boots would be ruined, but it was simply a good cleaning or a little patch to fix my boots up.
Believe it or not, they are the most comfortable shoes.
This seems as though it would be false, and in some instances it is. When you are first breaking boots in, or when they're getting so worn that they're hard to walk in, boots can be misery. When properly broken in, and still in good shape they are like a second skin. Cowboy boots add the ease of being pull-ons. I can spend all day in them and never have to worry once about rubbing or just being plain painful.
They are perfect for any occasion.
Whether you're fishing, hanging out with friends, or attending a more formal event, the right pair of boots will fit in anywhere.
Boots command respect.
No matter if it is a man or woman, a certain level of respect is given to those wearing boots. The powerful clacking noise each time the heel strikes the ground gives a rhythmic signal of who is approaching. No five star general, police chief, bull rider, lineman or rancher would ever be found in a pair of Jordan's.
(small side note) They make you taller.
For men like me that are on the shorter end of the spectrum, it's nice to be 6' tall for once.
Extra storage.
This basically only applies to cowboy boots, but it is a solid perk that should be duly noted. The shaft of cowboy boots provides a bit of secret storage for anything you want to keep hidden. Whether it's sneaking food into a movie, or something a little less... well... legal, they are ideal. (I do not condone the latter, but hey, to each their own)
They simply look awesome (especially cowboy boots).
Is there anything else to say here? I love the look of a good pair of boots, especially cowboy boots on men and women alike. Break out your best pair of denim and a pearl snap and you're good to go.
I hope that if you don't own a pair of boots, you reconsider investing in a pair. You won't regret it!
