I’ve got wide calves, about 15.5" and I’ve had SUCH a difficult time over the years finding field boots that fit. The amount of money I’ve spent I should have just gotten customs!! Anybody have any recommendations for field boots for those with big calves?
My calves are 15in and finally had to get new boots…searched and searched.
I bought Mountain Horse Venice boots and LOVE them…Wore them today in a lesson and they are already practically broken in.
You may also try the Mtn Horse Richmonds, a friend has those and loves them too.
15.5 is wide?
LOL. No wonder it is a #*@?!& for me to find boots…
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I was going to point you to my thread but my calves are 17.5" so whole different ball park…
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According to my research 15.5" is wide. Most of the companies I’ve looked at even the wides are too small. My current boots are x-wides.
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That’s strange. I have 15" with thick breeches on, about 14.5 if the tape is snug in normal breeches. I have no problems with the cheap Dublin Aristocat boots (I have size 10, regular calf), but am planning to get some MH Venice boots. Hopefully those work. Judging by the sizing charts, 15 seems regular, but then again, I have size 10 feet.
Yeah, I should have clarified, my feet are size 8ish.
Yes, mine at a size 7…I think the “normal” calf measurement for my foot size is like a 14…which is just crazy!!
Welcome to the 15.5" wide calf club. It’s the in between size. I tried on every boot at the rolex with no luck. My problem is that my leg is also short. I wear a size 9 and the leg measures 15.5" tall also. I just tried on a 9 wide dublin dress boot and if fit, maybe a little tall but it should slink down a little, however, I do not want a dress boot.
Look at Fuller Fillies. I checked out their sizing chart and they seem to have a wider variety of sizes. If some boot company made a field boot with a 15.5" calf size they would be bankin’.
ETA: the Ariat wides were snug without breeches and too tall. The tredsteps wide were way too wide at the top of the calf, and way way too tall for my leg.
I have wide calves and tiny ankles. Before I threw in the towel and went custom for everything boot-related, I had a pair of Ariat Crowne Pros in a wide calf that fit me very nicely. I am also a size 8 and I only have a 28" inseam, so my legs are very, very short. I never had an issue with them being too tall. Mine were also pull-ons and not zippers though, which may have made the difference.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one with this problem! Finding boots to fit is a daunting experience. I almost think I’d rather go bikini shopping after a buffet meal. I wear a size 5.5 and have a wide calf. In my shoe size just about anything over 13/13.5 is considered xwide! Ariats are too tall by the time they fit my calf, as are most others. I ended up finding a vintage pair of custom Dehners that fit… and that was a needle in a haystack. I think we need manufacturers to come out with petite sized boots for those of us who aren’t tall.
I totally relate
I can totally relate! I wear an 8.5/9 and have a 16-17" calf depending on which leg I’m measuring, the right is about an inch larger than my left. I’m also short and can’t find anything that fits. I bought mountain horse dress boots to do dressage in but they’re too tall and I had to have them made wider. I’m trying to lose weight hoping that will help so I don’t want to buy customs right now; not to mention I really can’t afford them on my budget. Someone seriously needs to make short xwide boots!
Schnieders 8 foot, 16 1/4 outside calf
These are supposed to be good, though this is a one-off as it an eBay auction, I was going to bid on them but I just bought a pair of Ariats I hope are going to work. Maybe they’ll fit someone on this thread and get a good home?
This isn’t my auction, I’ve just been watching it and wondering if I’m a fool not to snatch these up…since I have short wide legs 
This boot maker is waaaaay out of my league!
Ends at 2:30pm EST on May 13th!
Another vote for MH Venice. I’m in the same boat. Size 8 to 8 1/2 foot with a 15"-plus calf. Frustrating as all get out. I went with the MH Venice in the regular calf, short height, and they’re great. The elastic gusset is really forgiving and makes for a nice fit.
I’m just breaking in my MH Venices and with the short leg/big calf combo I think they are going to work out fine. However, I sure wish I had had heel lifts yesterday because the zipper is pretty big and just off-of-center on my achilles (which I think is probably better that being right down the back) and I couldn’t walk in them without the zipper rubbing my heel. Trying again tomorrow w/ the aforementioned heel lifts.
Bumping - the 15" calf club: any updates?
Anyone have luck finding a boot for a 15-15.25" calf and shorter (drop to 16.5") height?
My local tack shop had the Ariat wide shorts, which were soooooo close - but visibly too big in the calf. The regular short was nowhere near zipping up.
Options:
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the MH regular short says it goes up to 15" - anyone have experience with stretching?
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the Tuffrider wide, but not sure they will drop enough, and not sure of quality
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Fuller Fillies - but concerned they will be too big
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find a dress boot & have zippers & gussets put in
It really shouldn’t be this hard. I always thought I was pretty average until now.
I need a boot that is about 17" tall or slightly less, with a 16.5" calf. I’ve tried everything off the rack that is known to man. The best I found is a pair of Ariat’s in an Extra wide which a boot maker stretched for me. She also cut the top down and made a discreet adjustment on the inside of the boot so that outside lays flat against my leg.
I looked at a few boots that were very wide, like the Fuller Fillies and the ovations, but I did not like the look at all. The Fuller fillies assume that if your calf is big then the rest of your leg is, but that is not always the case. The Ovation I did not like either because of the pleated panels (ruching?)
Yes, after I posted this thread I drove down to Smartpak and tried on Every. Single. Boot. In the store. I was left with two options…the Ariat Volant and the Ariat Monocco. Both boots fit me in wide but the Monoccos were far more comfortable and the logical choice for showing purposes. The leather is so soft and do there is a wide stretchy panel from top to bottom that makes all the difference in getting it on. Pricey, but it was my only option!
I was going to suggest the Ariat Volant S–their new boot with the “lizard” top. I normally wear a full calf in every boot out there (left calf 14.5, right calf 15", size 8.5 foot, freakishly small ankle, in between tall/reg height). I found the Volant to run very big and they look smashing. I am not quite used to the “dress boot front” and would love it if they were actually field boot style.
Skip the Dublins as they do not hold up. While they are waterproof the inside sole is thin and cheap. My daughter, all 95 pounds of her rubbed a hole in both boots where her toe rest on the insole. I have never had that happen. The boots are only EIGHT weeks old, purchased 4/27/14. I have not received a response from Dublin either. I emailed them 6/26 and 7/7, and commented n their facebook page and still no response.
