Boots - vent

[Mondo]

Look, if I were not staring down the barrel of my 60th year on the planet, I probably would still have a slim calf. But I don’t. FAR from it! (In breeches, measuring widest part in a sitting position like the diagrams always show, I measure 16" around!) I also don’t have a regular sized foot for my height (7 DD), nor a regular length of leg from the floor to the back of my knee. (19"). So I have a short, fat foot, an “ample” calf girth, and a super tall leg. But I’m not THAT large. My calf is - call me Popeye. Yes, I’m overweight, mostly my middle. But what I’ve been noticing is that even XW calf in just about every decent boot I looked at measures 15" around if I am to get anywhere near my foot size.

Obviously, I need custom boots. Off the rack boots just aren’t going to work. I’ve made my current (bought used) semi-custom Petries work pretty well for a while and they are currently getting resoled so I can limp them along a bit longer until I can save up for full custom. But like all non-custom boots I’ve tried, I have to buy a 1/2 size bigger than I need in the foot so I can get the width. I sometimes have purchase several sizes too big to get the height, etc. Then I have to have a zipper and/or gussets put in to add to the width.

It seems to me that the boot manufacturers are missing a big opportunity here. My legs may be put together oddly, but I can’t be the only one. Imagine if more of the high end boot makers had a facility whereby they could make a semi custom by putting one shoe size together with one shaft (height/width) size. Not only would they be able to fit many more people, but they could have a much quicker turnaround time. My shoe size would be 7.5 or 8 (to get the width) and shaft would be what they would normally use for a men’s size 11 or 12.

I remember when I had some boots made years ago. The manufacturer came back to the salesperson at the store and asked for the measurements 3 times! They just couldn’t believe such an odd duck was actually walking around. FWIW, I do not seem to appear odd if I walk toward you. Just if I take off my shoe and hike up my pant leg. LOL

[Feathered_Feet]

I love your writing For what it’s worth, I think I remember a thread about someone finding an Italian company making custom boots for off-the-rack prices. I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the company, but I think the end of the endeavor was successful - it wasn’t a scam and the boots were good quality!

So far I’ve never had custom boots, so I don’t know what I’m missing by trudging around with off-the-rack, large calved-boots, that just don’t fit quite right :lol:

[Dressage59]

Try European Tack. They might be helpful.

[ToN_Farm]

If you’re not showing, could you go with half chaps and paddock boots until you save up enough for customs?

[MsM]

I don’t have tall boots right now. Partly because of the fitting difficulties. I have a chubby foot with a high instep, but not that terribly hard to fit. Then my calves tend to be between regular and wide calf sizes. Still, I could make it work except I think OP got some of my calf length! Maybe 15" floor to back of knee. Any off-the-rack boots I have tried in my shoe size are Waaaay too tall. (And the proportions tend to be off too) So I am in paddocks with half chaps in a Childs large size (Cuz they are too long too!) Well at least I don’t have to worry about gaps at the bottom of my breeches as they come down to my ankle…

[yaya]

@Feathered_Feet

I love your writing For what it’s worth, I think I remember a thread about someone finding an Italian company making custom boots for off-the-rack prices. I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the company, but I think the end of the endeavor was successful - it wasn’t a scam and the boots were good quality!

So far I’ve never had custom boots, so I don’t know what I’m missing by trudging around with off-the-rack, large calved-boots, that just don’t fit quite right :lol:

Alex’s Boots by Romitelli http://www.romitelli-riding-boots.com/index.php/en/

Went to their booth at WEF. I actually found an off-the rack dressage boot that fit my calf (19") in their XXX width. Boots were only about $350, but that may have been because between my trainer and me and one of her clients who just gave us her measurements, we bought 2 pair off the shelf, and custom ordered 2 pair all at the same time. They were able to make a pair of boots for the little person at the barn, so they had no problem with unusual measurements!

[scruffy_the_cat]

Alex’s boots are decent but soft imho. You can get Petries in your measurements pretty easily through kittybee on ebay or https://www.dutchridingboots.eu/ and they don’t have to cost in the 4 figures. You can also get lower prices on Cavallos or Koenigs if you order through Calevo.

I wouldn’t get too worried about your wide foot. I can guarantee mine is wider and both Petries and Koenigs fit my foot width just fine.

[SnicklefritzG]

I have a similar issue with my calf. Even when I’m at my ideal weight, my calf is larger. Nearly 17" around, but I also have a small ankle, small knee, and I am on the shorter side (5’3"). Boots that fit my calf are way too tall or the foot is too big. Boots that have the correct shoe size and too narrow everywhere else.

There are a few companies that make off the rack boots for a wide calf, but IMO they aren’t very attractive. The Fuller Fillies boots assume that people with a wide calf are wide everywhere else which is not always the case. Those boots also have a stretch panel that is wide and accommodates a large range of widths that look silly on people on the low end of their range.

I found a pair of Ariats that have an XW calf measurement that, with some stretching, does work, but the leather is not a good quality. The boots look ratty after 2 years of regular use even with good care and maintenance.

I ended up getting a pair of Keonigs that fit nicely. They required some adjustment at the top to minimize the gap between my leg and the spanish top. It was worth the price and they did a great job.

I wanted to get a second pair for jumping and general use, but Koenig said no they wouldn’t guarantee the measurements. If the 2nd pair of boots didn’t fit, it would be on me. I have no idea what happened. I figured if the first set fit with minimal adjustments it wouldn’t be a problem to get another pair, but apparently that was not the case!

After that I went to a small company who was local, but the boots were a disaster. The gap at the top was so wide the boots looked silly. They tried to fix the gap but weren’t quite successful. Then the zipper on one of the boots came off the track. They replaced it with a cheap zipper and didn’t even put it in correctly. The zipper itself was very wrinkled. The company gave up and offered me a 100% refund. That was nice of them, but the situation dragged on for nearly 9 months trying to get the boots fixed which meant nearly a year with no decent set of boots for general use.

I ended up having a pair of custom half chaps made by Chuck Pinnell. They were super expensive but fit like a glove right out of the box. They are gorgeous half chaps and I get many compliments on them. OP, that is another option to consider too.

[Training_Cupid]

What about Eiki?

[Peggy]

My Alex’s Boots are not especially soft. Definitely not as soft as the De Niro’s Both pairs of boots are HJ field boots, not dressage boots. Since I use the Alex’s boots for everyday wear I figure the lack of softness will mean a longer life span.

[cb06]

Look at Tredstep Donatello’s. They have a good variety of sizing options and can be found on sale on occasion. SmartPak carries them also. I have a similar problem as you (wide feet, ‘ample’ calf) and I have found them to run true and forgiving in size and comfort and they are decent quality with a stretch panel at the zipper.

http://tredstepireland.com/size-char…-ii-size-chart

[netg]

^^ Tredsteps are what I was going to recommend. Other than the size chart on the Dover page I have never found them in my size (6) but have in 7. A friend just got some, and they’re beautiful - and the slim ankles even for wider calves are perfect. The size chart indicates they should have an option which works for you. https://shop.doversaddlery.com/donat…t/p/X1-380920/

I have my first pair of off the rack boots I’ve been able to get since I was 30lbs underweight. At that far underweight (and lacking fitness) I could just get into XW boots in my foot size. As soon as I put on some muscle I couldn’t. Tuff Rider Plus Rider boots are the only kind of non winter boot I know of which have a large enough calf for me in size 6 feet; the ankles are twice as big as they need to be and the tops are loose, but for an everyday boot at 1/10 the price of my custom Koenigs, I’m all for it!

[yaya]

I love the Tuff Rider Plus Rider boots. Out of habit (since nobody ever has a calf wide enough) I ordered their largest calf size, and they were actually too big! So I ordered the next size down and they were perfect. Since they were so inexpensive (and I had already ridden in them), I kept the bigger ones for when I wear my thicker winter breeches (I don’t think the smaller ones will stretch much more.)

[MysticOakRanch]

https://www.divoza.com/english/cavallo-insignis-riding-boots

Cavallo has an amazing range of “off the shelf” sizes, and the foot runs fairly wide. I wear a 7.5 D and have a SKINNY calf - opposite problem. Anytime I looked for a wider footbed, it meant a wider calf too. Then I discovered these boots - and buying overseas makes them more affordable. I’m not saying buy THIS model, or from THIS vendor, but here is a size chart to show how many options they have. SmartPak carries some of the sizes, but only the more “popular” sizes.

You will probably be a 5.5 foot (that is about an 8).

[jazz8899]

I tried the tredsteps, I have a 15 3/4 calf and 7.5 foot and they are way to big above the calf. It like they thought if you are bigger at the calf it is bigger everywhere. Might have just been me though

[Mondo]

Wow! Awesome responses! So glad I posted. Also it’s kind of gratifying to note that I am not the only one.

“If you’re not showing, could you go with half chaps and paddock boots until you save up enough for customs?” Yep. That’s exactly what I’m doing.

[walktrot]

Mondo, there are some off the rack boots. I’m not sure what the quality is, but certainly it would not be what you would get with customs. A few brands do make very wide calves in varying heights including short. Equestrian Collections website might have something because they have always been a good source of plus size riding apparel. At least it’s a place to start.

I have a pair of semi-custom Effingham’s I bought in 2001 for somewhere around $300. The company disappeared from the landscape about a year later and a lot of people lost money on that deal. My boots are precious to me: 7D foot, 17 1/2" calf, zipper, and about 16" height. I’m having a problem with one of the zippers but haven’t figured out where to send it for repairs. Not something I would trust a local shoemaker to do.

[INoMrEd]

My calves are wide at 16" and my lower legs are longish at 18.5 inches so OP I feel your pain. I have found that the Mountain Horse boots fit well. I’d like them to be made a bit taller but their wide seems to fit me the best.

[Mondo]

Oooh, good. More info. Thanks everyone! this will be fun to shop around.

[Mondo]

"I love your writing " Thanks, Feathered Feet! I’m a writer of fiction, too. Sometimes the stuff I post on here (such as the above) is from my blog. I wish all the literary agents I’ve submitted my stuff to loved my writing!