Tecovas Dean Boots Review: 2 years later, they still look and feel great

• First impressions
• Update after 2 years of wear
• Cons to consider
• The bottom line

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The Tecovas Dean boots are Western-style zippered ankle boots. The brand handcrafts these boots in León, Mexico using traditional techniques and high-caliber materials.

Two years after I zipped my feet into a pair of Tecovas Dean ankle boots for the first time, these Western-style boots have only become more comfortable and the leather has gained a beautiful patina. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised they've held up so well, since Tecovas has made its stellar reputation through a combination of quality craftsmanship, fair pricing, and great customer service. 

I interviewed Paul Hedrick, the founder, and CEO of Tecovas, the first direct-to-consumer Western boot brand, back in 2021 and he told me he had one simple goal. "We want to be the best Western footwear company of all time," he said during our Zoom interview. Tecovas is well on its way to achieving that goal and beyond with not only the best cowboy boots for men and women, but denim, shirts, outerwear, and accessories from belts to bandanas. The brand has also done collaborations with folks like country music star Thomas Rhett and fashion designer Kristopher Brock. Additionally, the company has also gotten into brick-and-mortar locations from Dallas to Denver.  

Tecovas has continued to keep its handcrafted boots priced far below the high-end offerings of brands like Lucchese and Tony Lama, without sacrificing quality. The boots are all made in León, the heart of Mexico's renowned leather footwear industry, where artisans go through 200 steps to create Tecovas' boots. 

The Dean boots combine Western flair with rock-and-roll panache. Besides their sleek look, the boots' versatility appealed to me.

First impressions

Like all of Tecovas's boots, the Deans are handmade in Mexico using traditional methods and materials. This includes hand-laid cording—the design motif found on many cowboy boots—and Goodyear welting, which allows for easy resoling.

The Dean boots are made from a buttery soft full-grain calfskin. They're also lined in leather and feature a zipper guard on the inside to prevent the metal from chafing your ankles. The Deans have slim-cut shafts, which means you don't need boot-cut jeans to fit your pant legs over them. They have stacked leather 1 1/4-inch heels with a rubber cap for traction. The boots are Goodyear welted so they can easily be resoled and they also have lemonwood pegging rather than metal nails. This traditional Western boot technique is a sign of great quality used by the best cowboy boot brands, since lemonwood and leather absorb moisture at similar rates so they will remain in place over the long haul. These are hand-hammered into place. 

Since I first tried the Dean boots, Tecovas has added more colors and leather choices to the line. Besides the Bourbon, a rich brown; and Midnight, a stunning black (both in a supple calfskin), there are now two options. The Cafe, a chocolate-brown and Scotch, a reddish brown. Both are made of goatskin, which is soft with a good amount of flexibility, yet still incredibly durable. They fit true to size and break in easily. By my second wear, they were comfortable enough for a four-mile stroll through the city.  

When unboxed, the Dean boots had that rich, distinctive leather smell. There was no weird chemical odor or the scent of glue that you sometimes find with cheaply made boots. The zippers are solid and zip up smoothly. The workmanship is impressive. 

The Dean Zipper boots are very versatile style-wise. I've paired them with suits and T-shirts, leather jackets, and jeans with equal ease. About the only thing I haven't tried them with is shorts, which is a look that's nearly impossible to pull off.

Update after 2 years of wear

Two years in, the Tecovas Dean boots have conformed to my feet for a fit that feels like they were made just for me. The uppers have only gotten more handsome. The calfskin is still soft and supple and has aged gracefully. The hand laid decorative cording remains in perfect condition and the stitching remains intact. The zippers continue to function smoothly. 

The leather outsoles are holding up well with just a bit of thinning at the toe. The lemonwood pegs are still solidly in place and the stacked leather heels remain in perfect condition. The rubber cap is also looking good. 

I've had to do little in terms of care. I shine them using a high-quality cream shoe polish a few times a year after cleaning them with a damp rag. That's it. I can't stress enough that you should use the best shoe polish to help keep your leather boots looking their best. It's a worthy investment.

Cons to consider

After two years of wear, I'm still unable to find any cons about these boots.

The bottom line

The high-quality materials and workmanship, timeless style, and ability to pair well with pretty much any look makes the Tecovas Dean boot a real standout and well worth the investment. They cost $265 (they've gone up in price by $10 over the last two years, which is a more than reasonable increase considering our current world). Compared to other Western boot brands like Lucchese or Frye, you're unlikely to find anything comparable at this price.

I continue to highly recommend Tecovas, and especially the Dean boots, for both cowboy boot connoisseurs and newbies alike.

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