You might not think that there is as wide of a variety of leathers and boots available for sale—but there is. You can practically make leather out of most animals with a thick enough hide. Let’s review some of these strange creations and see what we can discover about the world of exotic boots together. Here are five types of exotic boots you didn’t’ know existed.
Crocodile, Alligator, and Caiman
All three of these are some of the most popular leathers for boots. People pay top dollar for these boots when available. Alligator makes the best leather, so wildlife authorities protect them from being over-poached. The crocodile is next on the list because it is similar to an alligator, but crocodile hide is a little more rigid from the scales, so it’s usually priced cheaper for that reason. Also, there is an overabundance of crocodiles in the world, making their hide a less expensive commodity. Caiman is only found in South America but is also the cheapest of the three because of how populated they are there, as well as the lack of laws and restrictions for poaching them.
Arapaima
This creature from South America is a fish with massive scales that are typically used to make men’s exotic western boots. These fish are only found in this region and are also found in great abundance. It’s said that the leather made from their scales is rigid and lasts for an exceptionally long time. It also competes with all other leathers in terms of quality, strength, and durability. So, they are worth the purchase if you can find them and don’t mind the source.
Ostrich
Most people have probably heard of ostrich leather, but some have not. This is currently the most expensive leather for boot-making that exists. These birds are practically extinct after years of poaching for reasons such as game hunting and leathering. Therefore, this is a rare commodity and a hot find whenever you come across it.
Elephant
As sad as it is to say, the elephant does make the list of leather boots on the market. And, as you can imagine, the leather is naturally more robust than most others. Many elephant poachers have been fined or imprisoned, and the leathermaking of these animals is now restricted to the elderly, dying, and sick within the species as they are endangered.
This has been a list of five types of exotic boots you didn’t know existed. Of course, there are more, but these are some of the rarest around.