Ramblin Trails Custom Boots owner Clay Miller describes the shopping experience at his store as detail attentive and rich in options.
“It's a better boot than you can find at any western store period,” Miller said. “A lot of my clientele, ranchers, cowboys, tell me straight up they can go get the best boots they can find elsewhere and get maybe six months out of them and they're trashed. Whereas our boots they're saying they get five to seven years out of.”
The difference is that Miller and staff “make everything.”
That includes a large selection of ready-to-buy stock boots as well as semi-custom boots. The latter come with choices of toes, heels, stitching and more.
The third choice, fully custom, brings options galore and perfect fit.
“Like a tailored suit, only for your feet,” Miller said. “It's truly measured. The best I can explain it is, if your foot is crooked, your boot will be crooked.
“That can be a pleasant surprise for new customers because they've never worn anything that truly fit them and so many people are used to ready made footwear.”
Stock boots begin at $595 while semi and custom boot prices vary depending on accents and extras chosen.
Ramblin Boots specializes in repairs and offers boot accessories, western art, clothing and more as well.
Miller invites customers to begin their journey to the perfect pair of boots today.
“The best way to describe it is, you dream it; we build it.”
Ramblin Trails Customs Boots is at 2060 Montgomery St. For information, call 682-708-5005 or visit ramblintrailscustomboots.com.
Your roadmap to fully custom boots:
Pay a visit: “The initial step is to come in and get measured by one of us,” Miller said. “We don't take mailed-in measurements. We want to get your boot exactly right.”
Make your choices: From ostrich to elephant skin and more, not to mention decorative touches, the skies the limit. In-store sample displays offer an array of choices.
“So, if you like elephant and want that pair, that pair goes in your folder and that's truly what I'm making your boots out of,” Miller said. “So there's no question about grain, color, dye lot. You know what you're getting going in.”
Be patient: Once measured, customers go in line with the knowledge that their custom boots are four to five weeks from starting. The entire crafting process takes several months.
“The boot build process is that basically there's three times a boot has to be wet, dry and cured,” Miller said. “And we want to make sure nothings' changed in the four to five months, you ain't broke your foot or gone on no Dairy Queen diet or nothing like that.”
First fitting: Miller strongly urges customers to come in for a fitting once their boots are almost done.
“That's just us learning each other,” Miller said. “We want to make sure everything is proper from the first time around, from there it's pretty easy and you're ready to go.”