-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VTtqkMB/ZXkh3kNhaqJaltXf0os49F7MbIcFmPIfPCRRlrG59ZpXq0xC1TmTKKN+
 jeF7mh2F5MM5DfwP6MpHfA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000949265-04-000438.txt : 20040513
<SEC-HEADER>0000949265-04-000438.hdr.sgml : 20040513
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040513171236
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000949265-04-000438
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040512
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040513

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEWART JAMES L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216614

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21026
		FILM NUMBER:		04803793

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		39 EAST CANAL ST
		CITY:			NELSONVILLE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45764

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROCKY SHOES & BOOTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000895456
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FOOTWEAR, (NO RUBBER) [3140]
		IRS NUMBER:				311364046
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		39 EAST CANAL STREET
		CITY:			NELSONVILLE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45764
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6147531951

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		39 EAST CANAL STREET
		CITY:			NELSONVILLE
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45764
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>ste65.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000895456</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROCKY SHOES &amp; BOOTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RCKY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216614</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEWART JAMES L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6002 EAST MESCAL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85254</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy) 5/12/04 NSO</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.850</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, without par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option becomes exercisable on January 2, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Curtis A. Loveland, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----