Truman Horse Rump Boots: 3 Years In – How do They Compare?
Highlights:
- Price: $599 MSRP [No Longer Available]
- Pros: Materials could take a bomb, great design
- Cons: Construction leaves a lot to be desired, customer service can be improved
Contents:
History:

Truman Boot Company is a relative new comer to the world of higher end footwear. Most of their competitors have long storied histories that go back several generations, where Truman opened in 2014. Those six years have been busy for the company. After starting in Pennsylvania and making a name for themselves with made-to-order, stichdown construction boots using interesting leathers others wouldn’t touch, the company soon outgrew their location and relocated to Colorado.
In their new home, the focus moved from the made-to-order business model to set drops. Even those these boots were customizable, materials were often limited based on availablity. When they sold out, each new drop would have different leather choices for you to pick from. This, too, didn’t last and within a few years the company again moved shop to Oregon. Here, they would get rid of stich-down construction entirely in favor of goodyear welt designs.
It’s impossible to discuss Truman without discussing their often contentious relationship that they can have with their customers. After experiencing some growing pains where the quality of construction took a significant dive, the owner would often personally go on reddit, Instagram, twitter, and other locations to attack his customers personally for voicing their concern with the product (including myself). If bad reviews were posted, they would often only be willing to fix problems with the shoes only if the review was taken down entirely rather than updated (again, this was part of the offer given to me with this particular pair of boots).
If there is a light at the end of the tunnel, while they did not directly say so, their switch from stich down to good year welt was clearly because the company was in over their head with production. Since the switch, reviews have shown that the problems with the product have decreased. Though some issues – such as charging customers for returns of faulty products – remain an issue.
These specific Truman Horse Rump Boots are a good example of their poor attention to detail ruining an otherwise amazing piece of footwear. While I had several of the issues that can be seen in the pictures – the boot being lasted at an angle, uneven panels, etc – these particular boots shipped unfinished.
There was no insole installed and, in something I still can’t believe years later, several of the nails that hold the heal in place were still sticking straight up giving me a nasty surprise the first time I tried the boots on. After I contacted the rep about this, I was told that this was normal for these boots. That their customers preferred no insoles. (Really!)
Looks:

What drives everyone crazy about Truman is that when they get it right, they really knock it out of the park. From about 10 feet away, these boots are truly something to behold. They have just the right about of chunkiness to them that they have a presence, but don’t have the width of something like an Alden Indy. This gives them ruggedness, while still allowing for a slimmer fitting look.
Starting with the best part, Truman’s choices of leather are almost always top-notch, and this boot is no exception. From most angles, the leather, a horse-rump from Italy, looks as robust as it has turned out to be. It is though enough that it would still be holding up after a dozen resoles. It feels like it could survive an accident on a motorcycle.
Punched into the leather are the brass eyelets, which came filled with dark brown rawhide leather laces out of the box. Waxed laces come with the boots as well if you are looking to tone down the look a little bit. Behind those laces is a thinner, gusseted tongue made of cow leather.
Inside, the boot is unlined on the shaft, but has cow leather on the vamp. Truman used a partially structured toe box on this build. Of course, it’s not like you can tell. The leather on the entire front of the shoe is so thick that the toe box wouldn’t collapse anyway.

Moving down, you have a light-colored leather midsole on top of a full-length commando-style outsole that fits the rest of the boot perfectly. White double stitching holds the upper to the midsole, while a single row of stitching makes a 270-degree loop.
Unfortunately, as you move a little bit closer, the shoe begins to lose a bit of luster. The magnificent leather is let down by a patch that is significantly thinner than the rest. This area has wrinkled as bad as any loose-grain CXL, and feels at risk of ripping through without much fuss.
The panels are uneven, with the heal counters, cap toes, and vamp stitching being different sizes on the boots. This unevenness in construction is highlighted even further as the boots themselves are different shapes. This translates to noticeably different volumes in the toe box.
The quality of the stitching on the stitchdown construction also leaves a lot to be desired. One boot has threads not pulled down, and the rows cross over at one point. These defects raise serious questions over how many times this boot can be resoled.
Fit & Comfort:

Unlike most other bootmakers, Truman’s normal last (the “79 last”) is true-to-size on a Brannock. [to learn more about Brannock sizing and how it might compare to other sizing click here]. For most people that would mean anywhere from ½ to 1 size larger compared to boots like an Iron Ranger or Alden Indy. Or ½ to 1 size down from a Nike size. The boots also tend to be a true D width, where other boots are generally wider than a traditional shoe. For me, this means getting the same size I would wear in normal goodyear welted Oxfords.
A full comparison of the sizing of all reviews can be found here
Truman has also introduced a sleeker, lower profile last known as the “C-55 last”. This new last is even smaller. They recommend that you go a half size up from other Truman boots.
Comfort on these boots is acceptable, if not great. The footbed is flat and without any cork or leather stack to mold to your feet. Expect it to stay this way long term. The thick leather is supportive, but doesn’t have much give. Expect to feel the shape of the boot more than softer leathers. All that being said, the focus of these boots is to be strong and take what life throws at them. Knowing that the comfort isn’t something to really complain about.
Break-In:
Setting aside that the initial wear of these boots involved nails going into my foot, the break in of these boots is a journey that you need to prepare for. It’s as if someone took a check list of the longest break in period for the various parts of a boot and put them all together in one.

The leather on the upper is thick, strong, and does not take to bending. It will be at least a dozen wears before a crease sets in the upper. And don’t expect it to stretch to your foot at all. The midsole is made of hard pressed leather several millimeters thick, which is then sewn to an outsole that has nearly a full inch of rubber across significant chunks. When you add in that the boots are more narrow than comparable brands, you might as well start buying the moleskin pads now.
Of course, anyone buying boots like this should expect the break in as part of the cost. There are legitimate complaints about these boots, but with these materials, break in should be expected.

Materials:
This shoe’s upper is made of Maryam Graphite Horse Rump Leather, and, as you can probably tell by this point, it’s a heck of a leather. Even after three years the only creases in the boot are from a section that shouldn’t have made it past Truman’s QC due to it being so thin, and the slightest creases in the vamp.
Even if you search the entire internet, you won’t be able to find Truman using this leather on this construction. I’m honestly not at all surprised. It must be nearly impossible to work with.
While I can’t confirm, the gusseted tongue feels like it’s made of a thinner slice of chromexcel leather. It’s soft enough that, even though it’s folded on itself multiple times, it isn’t at all uncomfortable.
The midsole and heel are made of pressed, stacked leather, and on the bottom you have an Itshide Commando Sole. This sole leaves nothing to complain about. It has held up well to miles of wear both on asphalt and in the woods and is the sole of choice for a variety of top-tier bootmakers.

Ease of Care:
Is there something easier than doing nothing at all? While Truman recommends conditioning the leather with something like Bick 4 to prevent the leather from drying out, even after years of wear the leather is still healthy enough that it barely absorbs any. In fact, in the pictures you can see a slightly white sheen from the boots as I conditioned these about a week before taking pictures and they are still getting rid of the excess of just a small amount of creme. This was after years of wear.
The shoes are resoleable, however due to their stitch down construction it is unlikely that you’ll be able to take them to your neighborhood cobber and have them put on a new sole for $75 dollars. Truman themselves will do it for about $200, though reports of them using different color leather for the heel and midsole are more common than I’d be comfortable with. Unless you live in a major metropolitan area, you’re basically looking at B. Nelson or Brian the Bootmaker as your only real options, and they have a price to match that limited availability.
Pricing:
Their previous stitch-down models, such as this pair, came in at the $500 to $600 dollar range. This puts them in-line with Whites and Nicks, and several hundred dollars below their closest competitor in looks, Viberg. I bought these particular boots for half off from Canoe Club when they were blowing out their Truman inventory. Cost to me was $289 dollars.
With the switch to the more affordable goodyear welt and focusing only offering more affordable leathers, their boots currently run from around $400 up to $470, though occasionally a special make up will become available that goes a bit higher. This puts them in line with Oak Street Bootmakers, who don’t have nearly as interesting (or expensive) materials, and below everyone else.
Sales used to be somewhat easier to find on Truman, with various stockists turning over inventory. However, much like Rancourt, a few years ago Truman centralized their availability onto their own website. After this change, sales only come around once or twice a year, and only . Expect to save anywhere from 10 to 30 percent compared to MSRP.

Value:
This is a really tough one. If you’re one of the lucky ones who manages to get a boot from Truman that comes without any issues, the value is there. Even at full price. A simple comparison with any similar boot will show that the Truman would look better, be more interesting, and would probably be longer lasting now that it is good year welted.
Unfortunately, there seems to be too many of the unlucky ones who not only receive a boot that has issues. To add insult to injury, if you speak up you might tbe attacked in social media by the person who made the mistake. If you do want it fixed, expect to spend the next several months jumping through hoops simply to return their product.
If I had a gun to my head and needed to decide, I would say that Truman does still represent a good value. That being said, I’m not sure I could ever recommend a pair to a person I cared about.

Overall:
While this review certainly didn’t cast Truman in a positive light, I am glad that they exist.
First, more competition is always good for the consumer. Since 2015 we have seen Viberg, White’s, OSB, and even the stodgy folks over at Alden come up with new and exciting leather and sole combinations. I think that Truman’s innovative choices in leather played a huge role in making that happen.
While they squandered the good will they had, it’s important to remember that Truman is still a very new company. Vince, the owner, certainly burned a lot of bridges, but nobody at a company is good at every single part of a business. Customer service isn’t his strong suit, but picking out amazing looking leathers and designs is. With the right support staff and a bit of extra time put in place for better quality control, Truman could absolutely overcome any of these issues.
Finally, Truman almost universally chooses materials from countries with high environmental and human rights standards. The leathers are from the U.S. and Italy. The soles are from the U.K. And, the boots are made here in the United States, instead of a sweat shop in Sri Lanka.
Ultimately, I want them to break through their current rut with the community and to grow into a great American success story. I just wish that I didn’t need to bleed from a punctured food while they figured it out.
I love my Truman boots! I also have had my first pair for 3 years. Love them. I had no negatives with customer service. I wear them everyday. I just recently bought my wife a pair.
That’s great to hear! I really do want them to succeed, hope this is part of a trend of better boots coming out of them. Did you get a stitchdown or goodyear welted model?
My Java’s looked good on first sight. Yet under closer inspection there are serious QC issues. Loose threads in the stitch down and the internal cross stitching at the heel has broken and come completely loose. This will cause the lining to separate. Very disappointed.
I’m sorry to hear. It’s a shame because when Truman gets it right, they really get it right. But when they get it wrong, they get it really wrong. When did you get your pair?
I bought two pair back when they were in Pennsylvania. One pair of black waxy kudo and one pair of coyote roughout. My first pair was the coyote roughout with commando sole. I talked with the owner, Vince, on the phone at the time, bought a pair size 11.5 and they turned out to be about 1/2 size too big. We talked again, i sent them back and he returned a perfectly sized pair of 11’s. Then i bought the black waxy kudu. Great customer service, he answered while driving back from Maine with a new fancy sewing machine. Both pair had zero break in required. The only thing i really didn’t like was the Dainite sole, i chose on the kudus. Those things are just too hard for cement floors. I’ve had them resoled elsewhere with Christy soles, much better. I followed along the discussions and was quite surprised with the stories. Kinda like following a soap opera, lol. I think things got too big too fast etc etc blah blah blah. Anyway, i really like my Truman’s. I guess i got in early.
I got my boots in the summer of 2020.
Java waxed flesh. I went Truman because they offered a narrow size and were returnable if the fit was not right. I shelved them till Fall and by the end of February, I was through the stitching on much of the Dainite sold, at which time the Dainite sole became unglued at the toe. Truman’s response this was considered normal wear. After 2 seasons!!!The shoes were never more than damp and while I did were them a lot within 2 the seasons before the shoe came unglued I was astounded by their response. On another note, as another reviewer mentioned, I find the Dainite soles to be very hard. My Last pair of Red Wings lasted me seven years. At least I won’t have to wait another seven years to try White’s!!
Sorry to hear. Do you already have your White’s? I’ve got a pair coming any day now, really looking forward to them.
Wow riddled with typos.
Feel free to correct
I’ve not ordered Whites but wish I had done so the first time around. I wasn’t looking to be a boot reviewer, simply looking for a pair of boots that would last me a some time. Looks like my Whites will be sooner than later. I was a little too impatient to go through their boot sizing protocol. Lesson learned.
Who else makes a horse rump boot for less than a thousand $$?
That is a fair point, the cost savings with Truman is substantial. Looking at prices today, you can get a GYW version of the Trumans in Horse Rump for $520 through an MTO. That same boot from White’s will be $734 (though they are on sale right now for less), or a non-MTO Viberg for $670. Another alternative is the Indonesian bootmakers, which would be less than the Trumans, but it’s hard to compare price to price there.
Horrible customer service experience. They “built” my boot to the wrong size not once but twice on two separate occasions. The owner is also a rude son of a gun who cursed me out when I complained about their —– quality control system. They finally accepted to return them after giving me the “7 days return policy” spiel. They built the boots to the wrong size and because it took me more than 7 days to figure that out they initially refused to correct their manufacturing mistake. I’m really shocked by the level of racist indifference that both the owner and his disrespectful staff showed toward someone who spent $1500 on 3 pairs of Truman boots but get two built to the wrong size! They’ve had my boots back for a couple of days now but still haven’t processed the refund. From my experience this business is the epitome of entitled trailer trash service. They are my favourite boot brand but they have the most unreliable service, the rudest owner and his stupid customer service snowflakes. Imagine waiting 2 months for a pair of high end boots that simply don’t fit. I’m staying away from those disrespectful ——- – —- who don’t know how to properly serve their customers.
Mohamed – Thanks for sharing your experience. I thought they had taken Vince off of customer service because of his history of… colorful… interactions with customers.
It sounds like you got an excellent pair of factory seconds n clearance from a third party for around or under the cost of materials. I can see how the owner could be hurt by a negative review based on this pair as if they were full price and sold directly.
Hey Justin –
Unfortunately, these were not seconds, either specifically listed or implied. For a long time Truman sold their boots through third parties – Canoe Club, Standard & Strange, Huckberry, etc. Truman decided to move to a D2C model, and therefore all of these brands were required to clear out their inventory by a certain date. These were advertised and sold as a pair of firsts on sale, in the same way that Viberg, Alden, and just about every other brand does during their sales.
100wears is, and was always, intended to serve as a consumer-focused resource for those who are looking to spend their hard earned money to try a new brand or model, and that requires honesty in the reviews. Honest reviews can result in bad reviews.
As I mentioned above, I like the concept of what Truman is trying to achieve. They have shaken up the industry (in a good way). I think their success would be a good thing for the industry and consumers. However, at the end of the day, I can only review the product that I have in my hands, and that pair should have never left the factory.
There’s no way you’ve worn those Truman’s 100 wears the stitches are still bright white. Sounds like a lot of [edit]-y women frequent this comment section and the reviewer might be better off with some Thursday boots lol! I have 2 pennsylvania built Truman’s one in waxy flesh and the other in coyote roughout. Also 3 Goodyear welted pairs one in horsehide and the other 2 are upland boots. All of my boots could be picked apart if a woman was going to wear them but that’s not the case. I work these boots hard like a man and not some 9-5 office boot wearing skinny Jean kinda wimp. I’ve gotten heavy scrapes and scuffs, mud and anything else you can think of on them as well as every pair has gotten completely soaked from hiking in the pennsylvania woods at least a few times. I’ve scrubbed them clean, lathered obenhaufs beeswax on them and wedged in some shoe trees and grab the next pair and repeat. I foresee these boots far outlasting any other boot I’ve ever owned including Alden Indy’s(2 pairs completely fell apart in very short time) redwing iron ranger(great boots if you like concrete blocks on your feet) wolverine 1000 mile(leather soles wear out in 3 months) Oliver Sweeney( made for dainty Italians) Thursdays every days(Chinese garbage) and timberland Bardstown boots(look great in the box). Trumans actually look handmade and I love them for that as well as being nearly indestructible. I’m sure I’ll see one of you “guys” at a Starbucks the next time my wife drags me in there on a road trip. I can always spot you because your the soy latte kinda ordering type and your boots look like you polish them more than you wear them god forbid you actually did some real work in them. Anyways I’d say I’ll be looking to buy your Truman’s on eBay but I’m pretty sure [edit]-y men don’t wear boots big enough for my feet.
[Comment edited in 2 spots by 100wears to keep the website family friendly]
Robert –
I appreciate everyone who reads this website, but this comment goes pretty far. I can’t say I agree with your stance on women, racial stereotypes, or a lot of what you’re trying to imply here.
In any case, even if I’m just a small-footed, soy latte ordering, skinny jean wearing, wimp, I’m glad you had a better experience with Truman than I did. As I mention in the post, I have long hoped they could get their act together.