Tall boot drop

[appendix100]

Any suggestions on the quickest, least painful way to get a pair of new field boots to drop?

Got a new pair of ariat field boots, the reg was pretty good, but would be too short once dropped, so went with the tall. The seem much taller that the reg (only an 1" though). Definitely cutting into the tendons behind my knee. They will need to drop before I can even consider riding in them. I know they will get there, but they are miserable in the meantime. (I do have a small heel lift in them currently)

[Hej]

1. Stick some elastic adhesive tape over the tendons in back of your knee.

2. Reach into the boots with a small (tack cleaning size) wet sponge and wet the ankle area only inside the boot.

3. Ride.

About three good rides should get those ankles pretty broken in. Some people like to use Lexol instead of water in the boots. The tape will protect your skin until the boots drop.

[appendix100]

awesome, thank you. Now that you reminded me, I vaguely remember doing the water deal w/ my dehners 100years ago. They were a bear to break in. From what i have heard these aren’t going to be as bad, but still, anything to minimze it.

[_Zara]

What my old trainer had us do - put them on, stand in a bucket of warm water, then go about your business as best you can for the day. Smush them down when you think of it with your hands. Oil the crap out of the ankle especially!

[Blinky]

Boots with zippers do not drop as much as boots without. The rule of thumb without the zippers was a drop of an inch. That’s been my experience.
doesn’t help you but if you have not ridden in them yet you may want to exchange for the regulars.

[appendix100]

Blinky - do they drop at all? When I tried the regulars, they were high enough, but barely, so if there was any drop, they would be too short.
I need about 1/2" on the talls for them to be very comfortable.

[PNWjumper]

Yes, zipper boots drop, and can drop as much as you need them too.

My recipe (I always get boots that are a fair bit too tall): heel lifts + wet the ankle area every day. With my latest pair of boots I’ve been running the ankles under warm water before putting them on so that the entire foot doesn’t get wet, but usually I just stick a hose in the top of the boot before I ride.

[sarcam02]

You will be glad that you went with tall eventually. In the meantime buy some heel lifts and soak the boots from the laces up with water and ride in them. Use moleskin or bandaids at the back of your knees or where it is hurting or gushing blood lol

[sarcam02]

@PNWjumper

Yes, zipper boots drop, and can drop as much as you need them too.

My recipe (I always get boots that are a fair bit too tall): heel lifts + wet the ankle area every day. With my latest pair of boots I’ve been running the ankles under warm water before putting them on so that the entire foot doesn’t get wet, but usually I just stick a hose in the top of the boot before I ride.

LOL - i should have ready your note first. Ditto to all

[luckymaverick]

@PNWjumper - do you wet the inside? My Ariat zips haven’t dropped yet and I want to do it properly.

[PNWjumper]

@luckymaverick

@PNWjumper - do you wet the inside? My Ariat zips haven’t dropped yet and I want to do it properly.

Yep. I soak them thoroughly!

[Blinky]

Sounds like, OP, you have lots of options. Mine didn’t drop that much and that is a custom pair and an off the shelf pair. With the zippers I didn’t want a lot of extra “stuff” around the ankles…

[luckymaverick]

PNW- thanks. I’ve had such bad luck with boots and dropping too much or improperly, can’t wait to do these up right. My first pair of zips.

[SAM551]

Watch the water method if there was any glue used in the making of the boots.
Rubbing alcohol sprayed on the INSIDE of the boot and then ridden in will really help with breaking in boots that are stiff or need to drop.