Of the jacks I've bought so far, this is my favorite. That may change as the last one arrives in April (2017). But for now this is my favorite. It has no padding, yet the wood is smooth and does not scratch my boots. If your boots are ultra fragile, you may want to look for a padded jack, but this one may be fine. Of course, you can always toss a washrag or chamois in it and protect patent leather, etc.<br /><br />This jack is small enough to stay out of the way, and its design is a no-nonsense look that says "bootjack here. Nothing else to see; move on." It easily grips my size 13.5 boot, while still seizing my wife's 6.5 or 7 (US women's) and pulling them off with ease. It lives under a stool we use for things like putting on or taking off our boots.<br /><br />The wood is solid; it will not split. The rubberized step helps prevent it from sliding out from under your foot. This is an excellent jack, will not fall apart or damage your leather in normal use, probably ever.<br /><br />The reviews for all bootjacks always include some horrifying tales, especially that they are too large or too small for normal boots. That has not been my experience. This, as do most bootjacks, works for all boots and shoes that we have tried it on. The "horns" are about 3 ½" from functional tip to tip.<br /><br />Buy with confidence. It does its job for probably 99% of all boots, is well made, and does not appear to fall apart under stress.
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]