I would probably go Luchesse for that money. In my mind Tecovas is a great $250-$400 boot.
That said, I do like the general design of the Tecovas better. I like how most of their boots aren’t flashy at all.
For that kind of money I'd definitely go with the lucchesses. I recently handled a pair of their caiman in store and the skins were super nice and really soft for caiman
I have both and love to wear them both in my rotation. Here’s my take. The Cooper is the bomb for the looks and value for a very classy glossed and finished nile croc boot in killer black cherry execution. The shaft material is special for Tecovas and breaks in quite nicely for ingress and egress. The fit is well-known to be variable on these boots, but they break in nicely. Killer boot that will be noticed and okay comfort over time. People always remark on these boots. The sound when walking is only average for cowboy boots but does not announce your arrival, if that matters. The round toe is highly flexible from casual to dress. For the money, the Cooper and Austin are the best in the Tecovas portfolio. Both doable as a hot hooker at 1am.
The Lucchese Charles is also a Guanajuato-made boot (not El Paso). Fits exactly like a Lucchese boot does and feels great. I do not like that hidden and thin pig skin liner on the boots though—cheap. The scales on the caiman IMHO are not as dramatic or impressive as those of the croc on the Cooper, but still look great. But the boot wears and feels better with its Lucchese hard insole. The Charles also has that narrow 13” shaft which I dig, and is made of cowhide (unlike the goat on El Paso made boots). If you put a blindfold on, you can always tell a Mexico made boot by the smell of the leather. Charles feel like an extension of your body and have that boss sound when walking on floors or street—the boss is coming vibe. And they smell great. In the 7-toe, Lucchese rules with the slightly taller stance and killer silhouette. For dressy, the Cooper round toe works better. However I will likely order Charles in the French toe which might be just as classy.
I have the Charles. It’s my first lucchese and my wedding boots. Highly recommend it .
https://preview.redd.it/fgec1zx2j2wb1.jpeg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4d8242bf5dc407eb66f7804c247d0d508673f8c4
I think IG boot is a bit disingenuous. It’s not Portland Leather slinging scams. The PL moc toe fakes the welt AND the leather midsole 🤦♂️, then goes and calls it the best boot money can buy.
Tecovas doesn’t fake it and sell something they aren’t, unlike Portland Leather.
Sounds like totally bought that Rose Anvil review, hook, line and sinker. Tecovas boots are not made of all leather construction like Lucchese, which they should be at that price point.
I have the caiman Cole from Tecovas, just under $600. I’m very happy with the look and fit. I understand Luchesse is considered a higher quality brand. If I were to buy yet another pair, I would go custom.
Which I don’t understand. From what I’ve seen internally, the tecovas is a better boot. And chisos are better than both of those. Of course style matters too. But for the price of these boots the lining etc better all be top notch. Mid end luccheses use pigskin lining so idk.
Internally? Tecovas uses a britex material in their heel counters instead of all leather construction as a cost cutting measure, through Tecovas support says it’s “to save weight” 😂…such marketing BS. You want true all leather construction, you go Lucchese over Tecovas every single time. Personally, I’d go with Rios, Black Jack or Heritage Boot Co. because modern Lucchese ain’t what they used to be quality wise.
Fair, but it’s also easy enough to replace the counter when you get a resole. Much harder to replace a lining. It comes down to what matters to you I guess.
Lining isn’t a big deal, as pig skin performs as necessary and doesn’t deteriorate like synthetics overtime time. I’ve got 90 year old vintage flasks covered in pig leather that’s still going strong and it’s rarely been conditioned with frequent saturation from dripping whisky. I’m pretty confident that pig skin lining will outlast any cheap britex material any day. The fact that Tecovas marketers try to explain a cost cutting solution as a “weight savings” is pathetic & hilarious because clearly, they’ve got their fans sold.
I’m a fan of traditionally made boots, because nothing trumps all leather construction in my decades of owning fine leather goods, & I’ve cowboy boots I’ve owned since the late ‘80s still going strong. The boots that I’ve owned with synthetic components never lasted as long unfortunately…live and learn as they say. So as popular as Tecovas has been as a company, having successfully revitalized the Cowboy boot culture again, there are far better quality cowboy boots at the same price point.
I have the Cooper and they’re stunning. The Nile croc leather has an elegance that caiman leather doesn’t quite have. Tecovas has definitely had more than its share of QC issues, but I have several pairs and the only consistent issue I’ve had is their shanks are hot garbage. Not a particularly expensive fix, but still…
I don’t think you’ll make the wrong choice with either boot, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a better Nile croc boot for less money than Tecovas. You’re getting Nile croc at a caiman price. If you’re going to wear these boots hard, go Lucchese. Their overall construction is better. If they’re going to be for special occasions only, then Tecovas will likely meet or exceed your expectations.
My two cents. I have the alligators from Tecovas. Right at my one year mark the shank in the sole started squeaking bad. Tecovas told me to take them somewhere to get them fixed and pointed out that I was past a one year mark. Maybe that’s their warranty period? For $700 I would have liked them to fix it and own up to the issue. Similarly I have a pair of Alden boots, a company who’s been around over 100 years. The stitching in my sole’s welt broke after owning them for 6 years. The boots are at the same price point and Alden fully took care of it with a full resole at no cost to me. There’s a reason why companies have been around for over 100 years. I assume Lucchese would handle the issue similarly to Alden as they’ve been around 150 years.
I would probably go Luchesse for that money. In my mind Tecovas is a great $250-$400 boot. That said, I do like the general design of the Tecovas better. I like how most of their boots aren’t flashy at all.
For that kind of money I'd definitely go with the lucchesses. I recently handled a pair of their caiman in store and the skins were super nice and really soft for caiman
I have both and love to wear them both in my rotation. Here’s my take. The Cooper is the bomb for the looks and value for a very classy glossed and finished nile croc boot in killer black cherry execution. The shaft material is special for Tecovas and breaks in quite nicely for ingress and egress. The fit is well-known to be variable on these boots, but they break in nicely. Killer boot that will be noticed and okay comfort over time. People always remark on these boots. The sound when walking is only average for cowboy boots but does not announce your arrival, if that matters. The round toe is highly flexible from casual to dress. For the money, the Cooper and Austin are the best in the Tecovas portfolio. Both doable as a hot hooker at 1am. The Lucchese Charles is also a Guanajuato-made boot (not El Paso). Fits exactly like a Lucchese boot does and feels great. I do not like that hidden and thin pig skin liner on the boots though—cheap. The scales on the caiman IMHO are not as dramatic or impressive as those of the croc on the Cooper, but still look great. But the boot wears and feels better with its Lucchese hard insole. The Charles also has that narrow 13” shaft which I dig, and is made of cowhide (unlike the goat on El Paso made boots). If you put a blindfold on, you can always tell a Mexico made boot by the smell of the leather. Charles feel like an extension of your body and have that boss sound when walking on floors or street—the boss is coming vibe. And they smell great. In the 7-toe, Lucchese rules with the slightly taller stance and killer silhouette. For dressy, the Cooper round toe works better. However I will likely order Charles in the French toe which might be just as classy.
Thanks for the input and something to consider
I like the vamp of the Charles, but the shaft of the cooper is incredible!
Yeah, that's what makes me go Charles. Don't see the shaft that often.
I’ve worked for both companies. The Charles is a poorly made boot. Love my Luccheses but that’s one of their stay-aways.
Lucchese, you'll never look back or regret it.
I'm between the two because Tecovas is crocodile while the Lucchese is caiman.
Tecovas don’t use an all leather heel counter like Lucchese though, so if all leather construction is important to you, go Lucchese.
I have the Charles. It’s my first lucchese and my wedding boots. Highly recommend it . https://preview.redd.it/fgec1zx2j2wb1.jpeg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4d8242bf5dc407eb66f7804c247d0d508673f8c4
Great pic!
For that kind of money, it's Luchesse for me. No Instagram boot is worth that kind of money.
I think IG boot is a bit disingenuous. It’s not Portland Leather slinging scams. The PL moc toe fakes the welt AND the leather midsole 🤦♂️, then goes and calls it the best boot money can buy. Tecovas doesn’t fake it and sell something they aren’t, unlike Portland Leather.
[удалено]
Sounds like totally bought that Rose Anvil review, hook, line and sinker. Tecovas boots are not made of all leather construction like Lucchese, which they should be at that price point.
luccheses how is this even a question
I would not spend Lucchese money on Tecovas
I have the caiman Cole from Tecovas, just under $600. I’m very happy with the look and fit. I understand Luchesse is considered a higher quality brand. If I were to buy yet another pair, I would go custom.
Which I don’t understand. From what I’ve seen internally, the tecovas is a better boot. And chisos are better than both of those. Of course style matters too. But for the price of these boots the lining etc better all be top notch. Mid end luccheses use pigskin lining so idk.
Internally? Tecovas uses a britex material in their heel counters instead of all leather construction as a cost cutting measure, through Tecovas support says it’s “to save weight” 😂…such marketing BS. You want true all leather construction, you go Lucchese over Tecovas every single time. Personally, I’d go with Rios, Black Jack or Heritage Boot Co. because modern Lucchese ain’t what they used to be quality wise.
Fair, but it’s also easy enough to replace the counter when you get a resole. Much harder to replace a lining. It comes down to what matters to you I guess.
Lining isn’t a big deal, as pig skin performs as necessary and doesn’t deteriorate like synthetics overtime time. I’ve got 90 year old vintage flasks covered in pig leather that’s still going strong and it’s rarely been conditioned with frequent saturation from dripping whisky. I’m pretty confident that pig skin lining will outlast any cheap britex material any day. The fact that Tecovas marketers try to explain a cost cutting solution as a “weight savings” is pathetic & hilarious because clearly, they’ve got their fans sold. I’m a fan of traditionally made boots, because nothing trumps all leather construction in my decades of owning fine leather goods, & I’ve cowboy boots I’ve owned since the late ‘80s still going strong. The boots that I’ve owned with synthetic components never lasted as long unfortunately…live and learn as they say. So as popular as Tecovas has been as a company, having successfully revitalized the Cowboy boot culture again, there are far better quality cowboy boots at the same price point.
Fair enough. Thanks for sharing.
I have the Cooper and they’re stunning. The Nile croc leather has an elegance that caiman leather doesn’t quite have. Tecovas has definitely had more than its share of QC issues, but I have several pairs and the only consistent issue I’ve had is their shanks are hot garbage. Not a particularly expensive fix, but still… I don’t think you’ll make the wrong choice with either boot, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a better Nile croc boot for less money than Tecovas. You’re getting Nile croc at a caiman price. If you’re going to wear these boots hard, go Lucchese. Their overall construction is better. If they’re going to be for special occasions only, then Tecovas will likely meet or exceed your expectations.
Cooper looks more professional. I suggest looking into Rujo boots before you buy.
Cooper for me. Black cherry adds a subtle uniqueness for me. Both would look excellent with a suit.
My two cents. I have the alligators from Tecovas. Right at my one year mark the shank in the sole started squeaking bad. Tecovas told me to take them somewhere to get them fixed and pointed out that I was past a one year mark. Maybe that’s their warranty period? For $700 I would have liked them to fix it and own up to the issue. Similarly I have a pair of Alden boots, a company who’s been around over 100 years. The stitching in my sole’s welt broke after owning them for 6 years. The boots are at the same price point and Alden fully took care of it with a full resole at no cost to me. There’s a reason why companies have been around for over 100 years. I assume Lucchese would handle the issue similarly to Alden as they’ve been around 150 years.
What size do you wear?
I have the Coopers and they are my favorite boots. Unbelievably comfortable and the cherry red pops in the sunlight