How did you stretch yours?
My new boots are a bit too tight that I can’t quite get the zipper over my calf.
Bathtub method 
Coconut oil also helps to soften leather too. You can probably google to find the exact method because I don’t remember exactly, but you basically rub it on and then wear them (it helps to soften the leather so it can mold to you leg).
Problem is I can’t get them on (zipped up) to stretch them so don’t think the bathtub method will work for me.
Can you zip them up over bare legs? If so, just wear them around the house a bit with shorts until they stretch enough for thin socks. Then, thicker socks, finally breeches and thin socks. Spray insides with boot stretch (or just alcohol) to facilitate stretching. That’s how I did my dress boots.
If you can’t zip them all the way, you could try these to get them zipped enough to start stretching them.
ETA: Try putting them on first thing in the morning. Pretty much everybody’s feet/lower legs swell a bit by the end of the day. Might make just enough difference to get them zipped up.
I bought a really nice pair of Ariats at a tent sale for $80. So what if they didn’t fit…they were only $80. 
I could only zip them up half way when I bought them. I stretched them so much, I show in them now.
Every day when I got home from work, I soaked the inside with boot stretch, then (like another poster said) wore them around the house. Each day I got the zipper up just a tiny bit more.
It’s still difficult to zip them that last two inches, but I use a zipper pull when I’m showing and that does the trick!
I haven’t noticed any ill-effects of the boot stretch - did this about two years ago. (Feeling the need to knock on wood now!)
Good luck!
I got a really nice pair of Sergio Grasso boots for Christmas. They also didn’t want to zip up at first. So, I made a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water (about half and half, or a bit more water than alcohol), and sprayed the inside of the boots, and then slipped them on with SUPER think socks. Five minutes later, I could zip them up.
But be careful! Your feet will be pretty numb at first 
And you can’t take the boots off until they’re dry.
Thanks for the advice. I’m gojng to stop by our local tack shop and splurge on some “boot stretch” spray and give it a try.
[QUOTE=pds;7931288]
Thanks for the advice. I’m gojng to stop by our local tack shop and splurge on some “boot stretch” spray and give it a try.[/QUOTE]
Boot stretch spray is rubbing alcohol and water
OP or others- can I ask how much smaller the boots are than what you measured? I have a hard time finding the right calf with and height combo and if it were possible would like to be able to get a smaller calf size to get the right height if they did indeed stretch that much.
DoubleDown, it really depends on the leather thickness and quality.
A thinner, softer leather will stretch faster and more easily, but the downside is that overstretching it will seriously compromise the lifespan of the boots. Thicker, stiffer leather will stretch more slowly and it will be more difficult, but it is also harder to overstretch. Zippers are also a consideration. You can stretch pull on boots a lot more than zip boots, because you don’t have to worry about damaging the zipper.
My dress boots are soft leather with zips, and it took me about a week of wearing them around the house before I was able to get them over breeches and socks, then another week or so before they were comfortable to ride in.
My field boots are pull ons with much stiffer leather. I bought them because they were close to the right size and I couldn’t pass up the price (brand new for $30 on ebay)It took a lot of effort to get them broken in, but they have stretched about 3/4 of an inch. I’d like to get another 1/4" of stretch to make them comfortable.
Your local tack store should be able to put your boots on the stretcher(s) for you. Most will do it for free, whether you bought the boots there or not.
Another reason to support your local brick-and-mortar store.
