I needed a new pair of tall boots because my calves have gotten a tick larger over the past 15 years (since I retired my last hunter). DH took me to the local Dover’s for Xmas shopping.
I started by trying on Ariats - started cheap and moved my way up the price scale. None - NONE - of the models fit the same. The foot in the cheapest model (Heritage?) was huge. I had to go down a half size and then the regular calf was too tight (I used to wear a slim calf). Then I decided to try on the Tredstep boots and the Mountain Horse boots. I didn’t like how flat the foot felt on the inside. I guess I’ve gotten used to the tennis shoe feel of Ariat paddocks. So then I tried on the next most expensive Ariat (challenge?). The foot on the 7 was too small - and I wear a street shoe 7. The 7 1/2 was long enough in the foot, but i really didn’t like where the arch hit my foot. However, the regular calf fit fine (BTW, the regular calf in the Tredstep fit pretty good, but the regular calf in the Mountain Horse had a really unflattering bulge in the back, too big around the largest part of my calf).
So then I tried on the Crowne. It fit me pretty good in the foot, I would say true to size, but the calf on the regular was too tight and they didn’t have a full in stock.
So then I tried on the Monaco. Without a doubt the best fit for my foot, but I like a lot of toe room and my feet are wide across the balls of my feet. So they are wide feeling if you are used to a round toe. I had to go to a wide calf - not just a full calf - and it still didn’t fit right. I am 5’6" and wear a ladies size 8 and have reasonably thin legs - i have a 14 1/2" calf which is not in my opinion an elephant leg! I was pretty disappointed because all of the other stock boots Dover had on hand, except for the Mountain horse, fit perfectly in the calf and foot; i just didn’t like the feel of the foot (I know, i could put Ariat insoles in…) and I left without buying anything. It is my opinion that Ariat is making extremely slim calves now, and once you have to move to a “full” [note: my calf is 14 1/2 inches and is a “WIDE” in the Monaco], they start adding a weird curve around the fullest part.
I am a little irritated with Ariat in general; their clothes get smaller and smaller every year. I have a Grand Prix show jacket that is a 12 and fits great; an Ariat show jacket I just bought measures exactly the same (except for being about an inch longer), is sized as a 16. Their winter coats got tiny this year too. I have a 38 ish chest and can’t get an XL in the Delphine zipped over the girls.
So after leaving Dover empty-handed, I hopped on ebay, found a barely used pair of Quantum Crowns in a 7 full, got them for $85, and really like them. I still like the Monacos better, but they just didn’t fit me right in the calf.