Big Foots out there...affordable dress boots?

Looking for another pair of dress boots but coming up slim pickings on my searches so far for size 11 wide calf, preferably tall options.

Anyone have a secret source out there? Holing to stay under $300.

I used to even get some affordable options through ovation and mountain horse for schooling but all I keep finding now are size ten or smaller.

Ariat carries size 11 and has several calf sizes. Most styles are usually over $300 list price but you can often find deals watching eBay. Also consider men’s size 9 since you want wide calf.

I agree on the men’s, have you explored that avenue?

I have but honestly I haven’t found many online retailers carrying men’s dress boots. Last time I looked I couldn’t find anything from Dover nor many of the other options nor Ariat’s website either. A friend and I are in the same boat and the ones we tried from Ariar were definitely too short and too narrow in the calf unfortunately compared to previous ones we’ve had from them and can’t find the magical tall plus wider calf.

Will have to keep hunting for a source of men’s dress boots. I’ve just found field boot options online so far 🫠

I am also a size 11 (or bigger) and also a wide calf. Unfortunately what I’ve found is that the men’s boots don’t come in wide enough calf and the women’s with wide calves don’t come in large enough foot. It’s a struggle.

I ordered some from Wide Boot Company and am pretty happy with them. If you email her your measurements she’ll suggest the size. The fit me great in the foot, calf width, and height. I’m just not sure how they durable they will be, they are a cheaper feel and leather commensurate with the price.

Thank you. I was looking at this company and wondering if it was worth it as an option even just for daily schooling boots. I just hadn’t heard feedback one way or another :blush:

Tredstep Donatello, the full calf comes in a 42 which should work for you I think. They go through size 45 but only come in Reg+ in the larger sizes (15" calf ish). You can buy them directly online from Tredstep US- they are sold as unisex so don’t search for mens or womens.

Tredsteps are too small in the foot unfortunately. I have tried those on in person. It’s wild how much even a 42 can vary from brand to brand but yes, some 42s fit just fine.

I’ve been eyeing up the QHP wide boots in a 42 wondering if it’s worth taking a shot. Looks like most of the dealers are overseas but I have some other QHP tack items and they’re nice enough for day to day use so maybe worth a gamble.

My experience has been that men in general have narrower calves than women, so while the foot is easier, what they call “wide calf” in men is usually smaller than women. But I also haven’t shopped for tall boots in quite a few years

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Yeah I use them for my daily schooling boot and a week or so before a competition I switch over to my custom show boots. I wanted to keep the custom boots to less wear and tear and especially during rainy/mud season.

If you can do color I might have exactly the thing. I have some new hazel (medium brown) Cavallo Cross Natures in 42 foot, 50 tall, 40 calf that I ordered then lost weight, and the calf is too big for me now. I’ve ridden in them like 3 times. But they are more all around than dress only boot.

I follow the used boot pages online and sometimes find boots that fit, but it takes time, like months for something to pop up.

If you’re not opposed to doing some hunting on facebook marketplace, that’s where the “steals” are in my experience. I found some used Deniros (MSRP $950) for $200 in pretty good condition. I also found an older Custom saddle for $1200, when similar saddles were listed on the used saddle groups for $1600-1800.

IMO the “used custom boots/tack” pages can sometimes turn into echo chambers where everyone thinks their boots are still worth near-retail price. I’m mildly curious what the listings vs actual sales metrics are for a lot of that stuff.

Which Ariats did you try? IME the V Sport/ Volant types run a bit bigger (or have more stretch) than the Monaco/ show styles. They have the most generous foot sizing and go up to size 11 with X Wide as an option. It may be helpful to know measurements to be able to give better recommendations. Tredstep is notoriously small in the ankle, Mountain Horse was generously sized years ago but now it seems the sizing is all over the place between different models of boots. If you feel very confident in your measurements, you could keep an eye out on eBay, FB, etc for someone selling customs that match your measurements.

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You can post an ISO on Dressage Boot Addicts Anonymous of FB. You can also get a fully custom pair made in Bali by Adi Valentino Suyitono. I am happy with the surprisingly affordable shad he made me but no experience with his boots. But you can see many examples if you search his name on that FB page. I think prices have been around $300 delivered but no idea how tarriffs affect that.

I think all us big footed people should send these brands emails requesting bigger sizes… I’m a woman’s 12, but can barely get away with an Ariat 11 (its super tight).

I just recently bought a pair of Ariat’s at Defender Kentucky this year. I ended up with an 11 full calf (I thought I would be wide or more, but turns out I’m just not forcing the zipper enough & now that they are more broken in, they actually fit, but starting, I was loosing feeling to my feet).

These are the ones I ended up with:
Ariat Palisade

I wear a women’s 12 wide, so I totally understand the struggle lol but I’m a big fan of The Wide Boot Company. I have some older Fuller Fillies that I’ll be using until after they’re beat to death and back, but my boots from TWBC are my show/photo shoot boots and they are absolutely fantastic. I’ll be purchasing another pair when my FF boots finally die. Keep an eye on the company’s FB page, since she usually posts there when she restocks her budget buster/clearance boots.

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I am not a big foot, but do have a wide calf. I ordered this style of Petrie boot from Ooteman and have been extremely happy with the boots. https://www.ooteman.nl/ladies/riding-boots/leather/petrie-riding-boots-melbourne-II-black

I was able to get into some Ego7’s, but found the footbed in my Ariats to be wider and more comfortable (the V Sports). Both were around $300 at the time but I caught sales and shopped overseas. The Ariats were too tall for me though.

Boot shopping can suck. I have a size 10/10.5 foot, and a calf that’s about as wide as it is tall (15" calf and 16" height). It’s damn near impossible to find something that’s off the rack. I’ve done custom 3 times now and it worked out 2 out of 3 times, but it wasn’t cheap.

You atleast have the tall thing going for you. No one expects anyone with a size 10/10.5 to be short, apparently!

I do have a pair of Mountain Horse boots that meet my weird specs, but they’re older and that model is no longer made…of course!