Will Roman, founder of Chisos Boot Company, spent years searching for cowboy boots that could alleviate his back pain without sacrificing durability. After testing countless brands and materials, he found that most boots either provided comfort at the expense of construction or vice versa. This gap led him to create Chisos, an Austin-based, family-owned bootmaker founded in 2019, which designs boots from the ground up to blend structure and comfort seamlessly.
The centerpiece of the Chisos system is a removable comfort insole featuring leather over a multi-density polymer core with gel pads at the heel and ball of the foot. Roman deliberately avoided memory foam, which loses its rebound after prolonged standing. Instead, he opted for materials that offer sustained support and a leather surface that molds to the wearer's foot over time. "There is not another insole on the market like this," Roman said.
However, the insole alone is not enough. Chisos boots are engineered to work with the insole, featuring a roomier last, a taller heel counter, and a vegetable-tanned leather footbed with structured arch support. A steel shank reinforces the arch, and the heel counter is made from firm leather rather than plastic or fiberboard, providing stability that improves as the boot breaks in.
The company emphasizes stability over extreme softness, arguing that overly cushioned footwear can lead to poor posture and gait adjustments over time. Chisos boots offer a walking heel with about an inch and a half of lift, which Roman believes is ideal for balance and arch support. A wider toe box, including the refined square toe on the No. 2 style, allows toes to sit naturally and make subtle balance corrections.
For those who spend long hours on hard surfaces, leather-only soles can transmit shock up the kinetic chain. The comfort insole addresses this by dissipating impact while preserving the resolable leather construction. "Changing your boots out is probably not going to solve back discomfort overnight," Roman said. "But it can make a big difference. It worked for me, and I hear from customers every week about how switching to a pair of Chisos has enabled them to wear boots again."
While Chisos does not claim to treat medical conditions, the brand positions its boots as a solution for everyday comfort. The boots are designed to improve with wear, as the foot forms impressions in both the comfort insole and the underlying leather footbed, reducing micro-movements needed for balance. Cross-section videos on their YouTube channel demonstrate the layered construction, from the stacked leather heel to the channel-welted design.
Chisos boots are available online at chisos.com and at their Austin store. A portion of every sale supports Texas land conservation, reflecting the company's commitment to its roots. For boot wearers seeking a blend of tradition and innovation, Chisos offers a compelling option that addresses a common pain point with a thoughtful, integrated design.
