Review: Durango Arena Pro Boots
Country dancing might seem like a whole different world, but it's got some surprising similarities to the outdoor sports we all love here in Montana. And just like those other activities, it has its own set of gear—including slippery, leather-soled boots. The Durango Arena Pro Boots are tough to beat when it comes to craftsmanship, looks, and price point.
The first thing that jumps out the is the amount of leather on the boot—hand-nailed leather soles, a leather lining, leather heel stack, leather pull-tabs, and a shrunken bullhide footbox. All of that cow skin means the boots conform nicely to your feet after only a couple of days of everyday wear. Add in Durango’s memory-foam footbed, and these are some seriously comfortable boots. Still, they’re easy to get on and off, thanks to a pair of nearly invisible slits in the boots’ uppers, which allow the material to expand slightly when you slip your feet in. Don’t worry, they’re still fully water resistant, so you can go romping around in the muck. And if that's your preferred use, you'll appreciate the rear foot stabilizers as well, which provide some extra support and rigidity.
In terms of looks, Durango makes some real flashy ostrich- and caiman-leather boots, but the Arena Pros are simple and not too flashy. Sure, the uppers are colorful (with a handful of different colors and patterns available), but they’ll be hidden by your jeans, anyways. All that’s left exposed is the solid, matte-colored foot, which I can dress up when hitting the town for some dancing, or dress down when hanging out, smoking cigars, and fixing fence with my rancher buddy. Moving down to the bottom of the boot, the leather sole might not be the most practical for everyday wear, but it’s a necessity on the dancefloor. If it's not your thing, though, Durango makes a variety of other cowboy (and girl) boots with rubber, lugged outsoles, so there’s something for everyone.
Overall, the Arena Pros have a rock-solid construction, are comfortable to wear, and don’t break the bank. Available at durangoboots.com; on sale now for $182.
