{"id":378,"date":"2013-05-02T22:44:48","date_gmt":"2013-05-03T02:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/westerntrailrider.com\/?p=378"},"modified":"2013-05-02T22:44:48","modified_gmt":"2013-05-03T02:44:48","slug":"took-a-trip-up-to-utah-got-some-more-stuff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westerntrailrider.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/05\/took-a-trip-up-to-utah-got-some-more-stuff\/","title":{"rendered":"Took a trip up to Utah. Got some more stuff…"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\t\r\n\t

I was in Utah last week, for the graduation of my daughter from Brigham Young University. It was a nice visit. Had a nice time with a lot of family. While I was up there, I decided to find a good boot shop, since my old Tony Llamas are pretty well worn out. Ended up at Ream’s Boots and Jeans, in Lehi, Utah. I couldn’t find a website for them, so no link. Sorry. \u00a0Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised at their selection of boots and the prices. I picked up a pair of Tony Llama bullhide boots for $150.<\/p>\n

The sales rep told me that about 10 years or so ago, Tony Llama was bought out by Justin Boots, along with several other brand names. In an effort to keep up with Ariat’s low prices on boots made overseas, Tony Llama also outsourced boots to China. They come with lower pricing, due to lower labor costs. Tony Llama retained their production in El Paso, Texas as well, though, so you can still buy U.S made boots, although at a slightly higher price for comparable boots. Everybody seems to have gone with throw-away boots, now, though. They come with rubber soles and sell them as “slip-resistant” on wet or oily surfaces. Problem is re-soling a rubber sole. On many, particularly the ones from China, you can’t replace the sole once it has worn out, making the boot a throw-away. Personally, my boots usually last through three half-soles and heels before the tops begin to wear out…then they become work boots. \u00a0I like leather soles.<\/p>\n

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Tony Llama boots<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, since I currently live in Virginia, and wet conditions are common, I put aside my aversion to rubber soles on cowboy boots and bought a pair of El Paso-made Tony Llamas with rubber soles and leather heels. The rep said these boots CAN be resoled and heeled. I like them. They are very comfortable. I have narrow feet, so I normally go straight to the Tony Llama rack when shopping for boots, as Tony Llamas tend to be narrower in a D width than other makers.<\/p>\n

As I was ready to check out, I noticed something I just could not resist. They had the largest set of saddle bags I have ever seen. They measure approximately 12″ X 12″ X 6″ and are made of a woven nylon product sometimes known as “Iron Cloth”.