Ariat Bench Made Boots Review
Cowboy Boots – The James in Bison Leather
Ariat has spent the last three decades upending everything we know about cowboy boots. So can they make a traditional cowboy boot that competes with the legacy brands?
In this Ariat Bench Made boots review, I share my experience with the Ariat James in Bison leather. By the end, you’ll know whether your next pair of classic cowboy boots will be Ariats or something else.
Cowboy boots are the ultimate American boot. And a traditional cowboy boot has a unique build unlike anything else in the world.
I’ve known Ariat as a brand that disrupted classic cowboy boots: they’ve usually focused on comfort with modern materials and innovative features.
But they’ve recently gone back to tradition with the Ariat Bench Made collection. I picked up the James in Cool Black Bison to see if their handmade boots stand up to other legacy brands.
Ariat Bench Made Overview
Ariat is getting into traditional cowboy boots.
Their new Bench Made line is all handmade in Leon, Mexico, the home of cowboy boot-making.
Cowboy Boots – The James in Bison Leather
Right now, the line consists of a roper, a square toe, a snip toe, and an R-toe boot. Between these styles, there’s a mix of caiman, ostrich, and bison leather.
I’m reviewing the James R-toe boot in bison leather.
These are a bit pricier than most Ariat boots, going anywhere between $300 and $550, depending on which leather option you get (bison is least expensive, ostrich is in the middle, and caiman is the most expensive).
These boots are unlike most Ariat boots: they’re traditionally made with leather soles, calfskin lining, thicker upper leather, and a traditional leather insole with lemonwood pegs and brass clinch nails.
My Hands-On Review (Cowboy Boots)
Cowboy Boots – The James in Bison Leather
First Impression
I’ve been thinking about getting a pair of bison leather boots for a while now, so when I saw Ariat’s new Bench Made line with their smooth black bison leather, I jumped at it.
Normally, I don’t think of Ariat as a traditional cowboy boot brand: I like their WorkHog specifically because it’s got a lot of modern features and materials that make it comfortable for long days working.
But all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. So you ought to have something to put on Friday nights to impress the lady. Well that’s what I was thinking anyway.
Cowboy Boots – The James in Bison Leather
I’m a huge fan of the style of the James. I like my cowboy boots with the angled heel—I think it’s a distinctive look that takes a bit of confidence to pull off. And the R-toe has a nice rounded end to it, so it looks great in a variety of casual scenarios.
Ariat Benchmade James
Cowboy Boots – The James in Bison Leather
Ariat’s new Bench Made collection is outstanding. It has some of the comfort features Ariat is known for, but is a bit more “high end” than what Ariat usually produces. I’m a big fan of the black bison leather for how supple but thick it is.
This bison leather is beautiful. It’s not too thick-grained like a lot of bison leather is. It keeps a smooth surface and looks really refined.
One thing I love about bison leather is that it’s generally around 20% thicker than normal bovine (cow) leather, but it’s actually even more supple. So that means this boot breaks in really nice and easy, plus the leather is going to last a long time.
I do like to condition bison a bit more than I would cow leather because of that thicker grain pattern. More creases are exposed, so it’s important to knock the dirt off and replenish the leather. I’ll condition these around every 3 months if I’m wearing them consistently.
There’s a calfskin lining throughout the entire boot, which is a fantastic feature. Not only does it make the whole boot comfortable and breathable, but it also adds to the durability.
Sole – Ariat Bench Made
Cowboy Boots – The James in Bison Leather
The sole is really where the differences are between Ariat’s Bench Made collection and the rest of their lineup.
First, this is a Goodyear welted cowboy boot. That’s traditional, and it means your cowboy boots can be resoled.
The James features a butyl-treated leather sole with a steel shank, brass clinch nails, and lemonwood pegs.
Brass and lemonwood are preferable to common steel nails as the rust that can accumulate will actually rot out the leather outsole and insole. So you won’t have that problem here.
Ariat ships these boots with a classic high density foam footbed, which is really comfortable. It’s worth noting though: if your boots feel a bit too snug, you can remove this footbed and wear your boots without the foam insole.
Cowboy Boots – The James in Bison Leather
A lot of guys see the top end of the nails in the bottom and assume they shouldn’t stand on the leather insole, but that’s what I do for all my cowboy boots. Even without the high density foam insole, these boots are really comfortable.