Paul Bond Boots, Rest in Peace

I've worn these exclusively outside of my pest control job. I've worn these to work at Texas Traditions, these felt at home in a place like that. These saw some duty tending to cows and horses.

This leather is indestructible. It takes on some scratches but those buff out easily with a quick brush. I conditioned these once before the contest, thin coat of brown tinted saphir polish. The rest of my care routine is basically a lot of brushing. The patina on these is subtle, some loss of pigment. The toe has deeper scratches but with brushing have turned to a burnished charcoal color.

These boots are very much not my size. These are very loose on me, not my favorite feeling. The boots themselves are decently made. These are not the most robust construction. Especially the heel counters which feel floppy. I added a padded leather cushion to the instep area to remove some slop.

I love the design of these boots. The top stitching is so beautiful, the gradient of colors and the flow of the design. These boots have a wonderful tall heel that makes me feel powerful. The construction of these boots could be better. The wood pegs creak and back in and out of their holes. The boots were made in 2014 so may just need a resole. These were clearly built to last and look almost new with a through brushing, I guess I can't complain too much about the construction.

These boots are the first time I've worn leather soles for this long of a stretch. I love leather soles and am disappointed in boot media for tarnishing the reputation of leather soles. Traction is decent on most things except lined truck beds, it's like ice.

Paul Bond was a legend in the custom cowboy boot world. Paul Bond, the founder of the company died in 2012, the company has since destroyed it's legacy. The company now mostly makes outsourced products that don't share the beauty of the original stuff. If you love the look of these vintage is the only way.