The last thing you want is to be wearing somebody else's boots. they quickly take on the shape of the foot and are likely to give you blisters, if nothing worse - like bunions.

I'm not an expert but do know they have to be fitted to your foot - any pair won't do - and cost big $ for decent ones. Do you really think you will wear them enough to cover the cost?

Other than being flat, my feet don't seem to have too many issues, ie with bunions etc, even given my lifetime of dancing and athletics. "2nd hand" shoes are an option to me but I'm more interested in answering the other questions(about makers, where to buy etc) right now.

Depends on how much $$ we're really talking about, I guess. I plan for them to be "lifetime" shoes, in that they are classic styling and good quality enough that I'll have them for a lifetime. I'm not close enough to the style and people who where them for fashion to care about a trendy maker's name. However, some manufacturers have a "name" for a reason: good quality leather, craftmanship etc. That's what I'm looking for.

A Yellowstone park employee I met last year told me she goes to consignment and charity resale shops for cowboy boots. Of course it is a matter of luck whether you find a pair that fits. I realize I am offering no guidance on where to buy in Denver, only support for your idea of considering recycled footwear. I wish I had had time to prowl the Goodwill stores of Billings or Cody for a pair of boots for myself. Good luck on your hunt.

Ugh! I can't believe I said "who where them for fashion" instead of "who wear them for fashion"! My English is going H#ll (thank you, social media!)

kayd - thanks for piping in with your experience. Hadn't thought about Goodwills but those too might be an option to look into as well. There are a lot of consignment stores around me that carry castoff designer brands. Maybe this is unusual for other cities.

Our daughter and other folks also shop for boots second hand. They ARE broken in so you at least know how they are gonna feel!!
You might look in Old Littleton. There is a good tack store there. Not sure about western boots. BUT it's a fun little town to spend time in anyway.

I know you can google as well as I can, but here is a page. It occurred to me you probably can get some good shopping because the Western Stockman's Show is one of the biggest deals in Denver when it is in town.
https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&gs_mss=western%20wear%20Denv&tok=EfaBK5YEwVHpqqZnA8cB4A&cp=20&gs_id=28&xhr=t&q=western%20wear%20Denver%20Co&pf=p&biw=1280&bih=566&sclient=psy-ab&oq=western+wear+Denver+&aq=0&aqi=g3g-K1&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=41e29ab53187148e

We are also headed to Denver this summer...my DH plans to expand his collection. Any other great shops in Denver to recommend? We will be up in Cheyenne for Frontier Days, too...

A family member only wore Ariat when she lived in Wyoming. Ariat everything shoewise, but here are some single color cowboy boots by Ariat - http://www.ariat.com/Western/Women/Footwear/CowboyBoots/

When you are in Cheyenne, look at Murdoch's - http://www.murdochs.com/cheyenne/storeinfo

Great western tack shop in Denver: Lancaster's Western Wear, very far east on Colfax, past Airport Blvd. Family store, very authentic, well stocked, very helpful. Call and see what they have in your size. I have shopped there for years.

Just get a new pair. Chances of finding the right boots at Goodwill are slim to none.

The stock show is not a good deal. Prices are higher there.

If Lancaster's doesn't have what you want, try Frye boots. Available at lots of stores. Simple designs, great fit, long lasting.

My husband and I got ours at Sheplers Western Wear‎ right off of I-25 South, at Orchard Road.

Thanks so much for the shop suggestions!! Should I focus on tack shops or exclusively-shoes shops, or both? I hadn't considered tack shops but they make sense since these boots should, in theory, be functional...even if there is no way I will ever use them as a "cowboy".

A bit more research has found a few brands to look for other than Ariat (thank you PeaceOut for the suggestion) in case I can't find Ariat in CO, for example, Lucchese boots from Texas. This got me to thinking, are there certain boot styles particular to an area, CO vs WY vs TX?

Ummm, I think I'm the one who suggested Ariat.

You can get them all over the place. Zappos. Nordstrom's. Even Tractor Supply in Texas.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/ariat?origin=brandindex

http://www.zappos.com/ariat-womens-shoes~f

http://tsc.tractorsupply.com/search?p=Q&lbc=tractorsupply&uid=903415170&ts=custom&w=*&isort=globalpop&method=and&view=grid&stateid=s6-B1_s6-5_s6-B1%3asJ9PAAaV&modaf=rn:cat3:workwearclothingfootwear_footwear_ladiesfootwear

Whoops, sorry starrs. There are some really great choices with Ariat.

The good news is that they are really comfortable shoes too.

Read the "About Ariat" on this page - and some of the reviews - http://www.zappos.com/ariat