When Will Roman's back began to ache with age, he refused to give up his cowboy boots. A stubborn Texan, he tested countless brands and inserts, but none combined the rugged construction he loved with the comfort he needed for long days on his feet. This frustration led him to found Chisos Boot Company in 2019, an Austin-based, family-owned bootmaker that has reimagined cowboy boots from the inside out.
Roman's approach goes beyond simply adding a cushion to a traditional boot. He designed the entire line so that structure and comfort work in harmony. The signature feature is the removable Chisos comfort insole, which layers leather over a multi-density polymer build with gel pads at the heel and ball of the foot. Roman spent months testing materials, rejecting memory foam because it loses its rebound after a few hours. Instead, he sought a material that provides lasting support and molds to the foot over time.
But the insole is only part of the story. Chisos boots are built with the comfort system in mind, from the last to the heel counter. The last runs larger, the heel counter is taller, and the vegetable-tanned leather footbed offers structured arch support, backed by a conformed steel shank. The heel counter, made of firm leather rather than plastic or fiberboard, cradles the heel and firms up as the boot breaks in.
Chisos prioritizes stability over extreme softness. The company argues that overly soft footwear can cause the body to compensate, leading to posture and gait issues. Instead, they build a stable platform with a firm heel counter, structured footbed, and a walking heel with modest lift. A wider toe box, like the refined square toe on the No. 2 style, allows toes to spread naturally, aiding balance.
For those who spend hours on concrete, the comfort insole dissipates shock without sacrificing a resolable leather build. Roman notes, "Changing your boots out is probably not going to solve back discomfort overnight, 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 footwear cannot treat medical conditions like sciatica, Chisos focuses on day-to-day comfort, stability, and impact management. As the boots break in, they form to the wearer's foot, reducing micro-movements and improving comfort over time. The company's YouTube channel showcases cross-section videos that reveal the layered construction, making their claims transparent.
Chisos boots are available at chisos.com and at their Austin store. The company, named after the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park, builds small-batch, hand-lasted boots with traditional Goodyear welt construction and vegetable-tanned leather. A portion of every sale supports Texas land conservation.
