Seventy years of fitting boots teaches you which customer walks out in Ariat and which one leaves in Boulet. We fit more Ariat boots than any other boot on our floor, but Boulet is the cult classic boot that people keep coming back for once they know exactly what they want.
Whether you're riding, working on your feet all day, or just want to look good, that's what determines which boot you leave with. Here's how the conversation goes at the bench.
The short answer
Buy Boulet if you want a Goodyear-welted boot handmade in Quebec that you can resole and keep for years and years, or if you need a real width or a hard-to-find size.
Buy Ariat if you want a boot that feels broken in from day one and was built around athletic comfort rather than traditional bootmaking, but still with long-lasting durability for versatile wear.
Both boots will be good for your feet, but the general rule is Ariat for comfort, Boulet for well-made construction.
Boulet vs Ariat at a glance
|
Boulet |
Ariat |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Founded |
1933, Saint-Tite, Quebec |
1993, California |
|
Cowboy boots since |
1964, the first company in Canada to manufacture them |
1993, founded as "The New Breed of Boot" |
|
Built around |
Handcrafted bootmaking, 100% Goodyear welt construction |
Athletic footwear technology, the first to integrate modern fitting into boots for equestrian athletes |
|
Made by |
About 200 craftspeople in Saint-Tite, roughly 850 pairs a day |
Designed in the US, manufactured in Mexico and China |
|
Resoleable |
Yes, Goodyear welt is built to be resoled |
Depends on the model |
|
Break-in |
A real break-in, then it moulds to your foot |
Comfortable almost immediately |
|
Work boots at Wei's |
CSA steel toe models |
Deep CSA lineup |
|
Exotics |
Ostrich, caiman, bullhide, including the Cody Snyder bullhide ropers |
Limited |
When Boulet is the play:
It’s a Canadian boot, made the old way. Founded in 1933 in Saint-Tite, Quebec, Boulet began as a maker of men's dress shoes before becoming the first Canadian company to specialize in manufacturing cowboy boots. Every pair is still handmade by about 200 craftspeople. They have stayed specialized in Goodyear welt construction, which is the stitched-welt method, making the boots easy to resole for years of continued wear. When the outsole wears through, you are looking at a resole and not a replacement.
Selection and width. This is the part people underestimate. We carry hundreds of Boulet styles, and that includes 5E widths, which are genuinely difficult to find anywhere. If you have a wide foot, a high instep, or you take a size most stores don’t carry, Boulet is usually where the conversation ends up.
Boots you cannot get anywhere else. Our relationship with Boulet goes beyond stocking their boots. We work directly with the factory in Saint-Tite to develop exclusive Wei's Custom Made models using our choice of leathers, lasts, and finishes. Available in deertan, cowhide, and marbled cowhide, these boots deliver the same handmade quality Boulet is known for, but they're designs you won't find anywhere else.
That partnership also gives us access to some of Boulet's most distinctive boots. The Cody Snyder bullhide roper has earned a loyal following for its ability to transition from the ranch to town without missing a beat. And for those who need a true work boot, Boulet's 14-inch CSA steel toe with a Vibram sole offers certified protection while still looking like a classic western boot.
When Ariat is the way to go:
Comfort out of the box. Ariat came at boots from the athletic-footwear angle and it shows. There is no break-in fight. If you are on concrete all day, or you are new to western boots and dreading the first two weeks, that is a real advantage. It is also a large part of why Ariat has become one of the biggest brands in western wear.
The work boot range is deeper and more modern. The CSA lineup runs from the WorkHog CSA H2O up through the WorkHog CSA XTR, the RigTEK, the Big Rig, the Stump Jumper pull-on and the WorkHog MetGuard. Between those you can get waterproofing, a composite toe instead of steel, 400g insulation, and metatarsal protection. Ariat also backs their work boots with proprietary tech worth knowing about: Duratread outsoles are built to resist oil, chemicals, and abrasion, while the ATS (Advanced Torque Stability) footbed is one of their most popular features, delivering cushioning and arch support that holds up over a full shift. If your site has a specific requirement, odds are Ariat has the box ticked.
A lower entry point for a technical boot. If you need waterproof and CSA-certified, Ariat gets you there without stepping up to a custom. And if you want to upgrade the comfort further, Ariat ATS insoles are available separately.
Fit and break-in
Boulet and Ariat don't fit the same, and neither fits like a running shoe. Boulet needs a real break-in, then moulds to your foot. Ariat is close to right immediately but has less give over time. Neither is better. It comes down to whether you want comfort now or comfort shaped to you later.
If you've never bought a western boot, or you're between sizes, get the fit right before you order. We have sizing guides for both.
What happens in year four?
Most people think about what a boot costs. Fewer think about what it costs when the sole is gone. Goodyear welt means the sole comes off and a new one goes on. Boulet builds every boot that way. Ariat varies by model. Over a long enough horizon, a boot you can resole is a different purchase than one you replace.
So which one?
- Riding, roping, wide foot, or an unusual size? Boulet.
- Want one good pair for a long time, or a boot nobody else is wearing? Boulet, in an exotic or one of our customs.
- On your feet all day on concrete, and comfort now beats comfort later? Ariat.
- Need specific CSA requirements like waterproofing, composite toe, or met guard? Ariat.
Seventy years in, the conversation at the bench is the same as it ever was. Figure out what you actually need, then put the right boot on your foot.