Finding the best fit
lace up footwear
Finding the best fit is important when it comes to getting the most out of your footwear, no matter what the purpose. What’s comfortable can often depend on the individual though. The same fit may be comfortable for one person and not another. As a general rule, new boots will fit comfortably snug in the width and instep, with the widest part of your foot (usually the ball) at the widest part of the shoe, and your toes, not uncomfortably bumping the front of the shoe while walking. The width and instep of the shoe will break in and stretch over time and conform to the wearers foot. The boot really won’t get much longer front to back though, so you don’t want your toes to be uncomfortable in the front.
Pull on/ Western boots
The two most common issues that we run into when it comes to fitting up western boots are, finding the right snugness In the width (sometimes the instep) and heel slip in the back of the boot. In lace up footwear, it is not uncommon for people to wear a larger or wider size than they might actually need. It’s not necessary optimal, but by pulling the laces tight it’s possible to take up some of the slack. With a pull on boot, this option is not available. The boot is as tight as it will get at the start and will usually stretch. Specifically, in the width and instep, with no easy way to take up the slack. For this reason it’s usually best to start with your pull on boots fitting comfortably snug, so that as they stretch out, they don’t become too loose.
The other common concern with new pull on boots, is the heel slipping up and down while walking. While it isn’t necessary to have your heel slip up and down in a new pair of western boots, it is very common. Though you don’t want the boot to be falling off your foot, a small amount of heel slip tends to minimize as the sole of the boot breaks in and learns to flex with your foot. All of this being said, fit is a personal preference and may vary depending on the individual
- some snugness in the width and instep is normal and will stretch over time
- a small amount of heel slip in the back of the boot is common and will typically minimize as the boots sole breaks in
The other common concern with new pull on boots, is the heel slipping up and down while walking. While it isn’t necessary to have your heel slip up and down in a new pair of western boots, it is very common. Though you don’t want the boot to be falling off your foot, a small amount of heel slip tends to minimize as the sole of the boot breaks in and learns to flex with your foot. All of this being said, fit is a personal preference and may vary depending on the individual
- some snugness in the width and instep is normal and will stretch over time
- a small amount of heel slip in the back of the boot is common and will typically minimize as the boots sole breaks in
Safety toes
Safety toes add another wrinkle to the process of getting the right size boots, though most of the previously mentioned rules apply. We just need to pay a little more attention to the fit of the toe box than normal, because that part of the shoe really isn’t going to break in or stretch out at all. For this reason it’s important to be sure that the boots aren’t too short, and the safety toe isn’t digging into or pinching your toes in a way that is painful or uncomfortable. Once your sure that your toes are comfortable, the rest of the boots fit should be pretty much the same as with a soft toe.
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