Nashville has more boot stores per square mile in its tourist zone than almost anywhere in the country. Some are worth your money. Most are tourist-trap pricing on imported product dressed up in rustic wood paneling. Here’s how to navigate it.
The Fitting Advice That Matters First
Buy a boot snug. Not painful, snug. Leather cowboy boots stretch to your foot over 2-4 weeks of wear. A boot that feels perfect in the store is already too big. Your heel should slip slightly when you first walk; it settles in. Don’t buy your shoe size without trying the boot on. Brands size differently enough that your usual number means very little.
Best Stores, by What You’re Looking For
Boot Country (304 Broadway) sits right on the tourist strip and has no pretensions about it: this is a volume operation with one of the largest in-store selections downtown. Their standing “buy one, get two free” offer sounds better than it is (the prices reflect the promotion), but for first-timers wanting maximum variety in one stop, it’s efficient. Staff are accustomed to helping people who have never worn boots before.
Nashville Boot Co. (603 8th Ave S) is locally owned and carries a quality tier above the Broadway shops. Brands include Lucchese, Dan Post, Tony Lama, Laredo, Corral, Ariat, and Durango, among others. The staff understands the inventory and gives honest fitting advice instead of trying to close whatever’s on the rack.
Lucchese (The Gulch, 214 11th Ave S) has been making boots since 1883 and takes custom orders. These are investment-grade boots starting around $400 and climbing well past $1,000 for exotic skins. The Gulch location handles both ready-to-wear and custom consultations.
Planet Cowboy (12 South) is the right answer if you want something that won’t look like every other tourist boot purchase. The owner designs about a third of the inventory herself, the colors and construction lean toward distinctive over conventional, and appointments for custom work are available. It relocated from New York to Nashville in 2020 and brought a more fashion-forward perspective with it.
Manuel Exclusive Clothier (900 Bway) is for people who have made it in the music industry and dress accordingly. Stage clothing made here has been worn by basically every country music star of the last 50 years. Cowboy shirts start at $750. You can browse.
Boot Barn (multiple locations) is the national chain that has infiltrated Nashville like every other city. Prices are fair, selection is substantial, and it’s what you shop when you want mid-tier brands (Ariat, Justin, Durango) without downtown markup.
Tecovas (5th and Broadway, Assembly Food Hall) is a direct-to-consumer Texas boot brand that has earned a genuine following for quality at around $200-$300 per pair. Good entry-level option for people who want a step above mass-market without spending Lucchese money.
What to Skip
The Broadway strip has multiple stores selling boots labeled with generic brand names at inflated tourist prices. The “handmade leather” claims on Broadway’s souvenir-adjacent shops are rarely accurate. If you can’t identify the brand and can’t find it elsewhere, pass.
For Vintage Boots
Boot Country and French’s Shoes & Boots carry used and vintage western boots mixed into their inventory. Anaconda Vintage and Black Shag Vintage in East Nashville occasionally have good vintage western boots in the mix with their general inventory. These won’t be curated specifically for boots, but prices beat new retail significantly.
Sources:
- Yelp Nashville cowboy boots: https://www.yelp.com/search?finddesc=Cowboy+Boots&findloc=Nashville,+TN
- Moon Travel Guides, Western Wear and Boot Stores: https://www.moontravelguides.com/travel/trip-ideas/western-wear-boot-stores-in-nashville/
- Nashville Boot Co.: https://www.nashvilleboots.com/
- Notes on Nashville, Nashville Cowboy Boots Buying Guide: https://notesonnashville.com/things-to-do/shopping/nashville-cowboy-boots-buying-guide/