Tall Boot Fit Question

[KandC]

Purchased a pair of Deniro Salentos; The leather on these boots is thick, slightly stiff, and pretty substantial. My previous pair of Salentos (which now fit beautifully, albeit maybe a titch snug around my calf due to weight gain over 7 years) were difficult to zip out of the box and required an extensive break in period (throbbing calves, 2 rounds in the bathtub, etc.).

I went up a footbed size in my new boots to accomodate thicker socks for schooling in the fall/winter compared to my previous pair, but ordered the same calf size/height. My question is, they zip with a little resistance and hug my calf (calf is slightly tight), but aren’t painful/uncomfortable.

Should I return them or do they fit well enough to keep? What is the ideal fit for brand new tall boots?

[GoodTimes]

I have a pair of DeNiros, purchased back in 2016. Other than schooling in them for the first two weeks I only show/clinic in them so they’re barely broken in, still look brand new.
When I bought them it was probably one of the best boot fitting experiences that I’ve had. The rep looked at my leg, grabbed a pair, had me put them on. Zipped them within a couple inches of the top, had me walk around for a couple minutes, then fairly easily zipped them the rest of the way. He said that was a perfect fit for these boots and sent me on my way.
They haven’t stretched much and still fit the same way. I’ve lost about 10lbs since I bought them, but they still fit well, I don’t think I carried much of that weight in my legs. I wear a heel lift in mine, otherwise they probably would pinch at the back of the knee.

In contrast, the ariats that I school in broke in quickly and easily, but they stretched a lot through the ankle. That caused them to drop enough that I have to pull them up a little to zip them properly.

The other thing that stuck with me is that the sales guy said to always buy boots later in the day. Most people’s legs swell a tiny bit throughout the day. So buy boots when your legs are at their biggest, to make sure that you can put them on no matter what time you’re riding.

[HJdaydream]

I have 3 pairs of DeNiros. I did not have the extensive break-in period you described with your Salentos. If mine were that hard to put one (pulsing calves etc) I think I would have sent them back! All 3 of mine were able to zip without much difficulty, and none have stretched an appreciable amount. The only breaking in they needed was around the ankle, I worse gel sleeves to protect my ankle during that time, and a little drop from the height. Sounds like your new ones fit!

[KandC]

I have no idea what happened with the first pair or why they were a beast to break in because no boot that has fit like that since has ever broken in to fit me well. Maybe kismet? Regardless, they’re now 7 years old, so something worked out!

Tried them on again and they fit perfectly in the calves with no tension on the elastic, which makes me worry about fit long term. Still on the fence about going down a 1/2 inch in calf size.

HJ Daydream- your new customs are gorgeous!

[OnDeck]

Did you try them with your winter socks? If you tried them again and they fit perfectly with those socks I would personally return them. I don’t think you need to go through what you went through with the first pair but I’ve have too many pairs I convince myself fit fine only to have them drive my crazy for a year before I sell them.

What’s the measurement comparison to your old pair vs this current pair vs a calf size down for the new foot size? Sometimes going up one foot size can change the rest of the measurements.

[mouseinlux]

I got a pair for Christmas, it’s the tricolor version of denero bought for schooling at home. I didn’t think I would get them to fit because when I bought my customs I bought custom because I was assured that there’s no way I will fit the same calf width boot. I needed a bit of help to zip them for the first few times out but I’ve found them super easy to break in. My customs I can’t tell you much about because I only had them a few weeks before the spur test fell off, they were sent back to get fixed and I haven’t seen them since, well before Christmas . Got to say that I’m glad there’s no shows here at the moment.

[KandC]

I haven’t, but they will probably fit the way new boots should based on how they feel in normal socks (if that makes sense).

Old pair calf measurement (from the inside): 14 inches/35.5 cm
New pair calf measurement (from the inside): 14.2 inches/36 cm

So they fit almost 0.5 cm too big/fit perfectly essentially, which makes me worry if they will fit once broken in.
Going down a calf size in the bigger shoe size brings the inside down 0.5 inches… Ugh!

[OnDeck]

Hmm I definitely would not return for the smaller size of that means the calf size is smaller than your older pair. I would be more inclined to keep them if you haven’t tried them with normal socks yet and because you mentioned it’s more substantial leather that’s less likely to stretch and drop. It seems like your only other option would be to try another brand.

[Willesdon]

Speaking from my side of the Atlantic, I have say, Americans are really wierd about boots. Do you buy shoes that are so tight you can’t walk in them until you have worn them in a bath twice? It is bad enough sitting in a slippery saddle several feet above the ground, on a creature that has its own views about life, without having to worry if your feet are going to fall off because your new boots have totally stopped any blood circulation. My 2 pennies worth: stick with the pair that do up easily and are comfortable. The zip, for one thing, will not be under pressure so it is less likely to break.

I asked a top class boot maker, when I saw him at Badminton horse trials a couple of years ago, about boot fit. He said, if correctly measured, they are comfortable from the start and even with daily use they will only sink about half an inch. His customers include many top professionals because in the world of handmade boots, he’s the bees knees.

[OnDeck]

@Willesdon

Speaking from my side of the Atlantic, I have say, Americans are really wierd about boots.

We’re weird about how all things fit, don’t limit it just to boots! We buy the boots tight so they stretch out and form a custom fit to our legs. You only have to worry about your feet falling off for a ride or two. And yes, we do break zippers… a lot. Those of us from the hunter ring have it absolutely pounded into our heads that turnout is extremely important and how your clothes and tack fit is a huge part of that. When everyone else has absolutely perfectly fitted and often custom made equipment, you unfortunately do stick out if your boots are just a little loose, especially among a crowd of people who are used to nitpicking such things about themselves.

[js]

@Willesdon

Speaking from my side of the Atlantic, I have say, Americans are really wierd about boots.

We don’t have the selection of boots available that you do across the Atlantic, often we have to take the best we can get, even if the fit is not 100% right.

Sizing over the last couple of years seems to have changed also, at least that’s been my experience and some boots makers that were great in the past aren’t so good now, sizing can be really wonky.

[mouseinlux]

I wouldn’t say that our boot selection is that amazing. But people over here don’t mind if the fit is a bit short or it’s a bit bigger here or there. I mean I know people who ride the big tracks who compete in (please clutch your pearls if you’re a hunter) caps…

[IPEsq]

Because you went up a size in the foot, the calf will also measure bigger. Like a S calf is not the same measurement necessarily across all foot sizes. But you might be in between sizes now. Mine have stretched some, and while I haven’t had any DeNiros start out as tight as you described your first pair, I think that they should feel a bit snug to start. But all that said, I think I would decide based on the height. A looser boot is likely to drop more than a super tight boot, and if I had plenty of height to deal with and wanting to wear them with winter socks and possibly winter breeches also, the width probably wouldn’t bother me so much.

[KandC]

Yes- when I double checked the measurements for the foot size up, they looked like they should fit snugger than they are. The height with the drop will likely be too short as mine other pair are perfect or could be a titch taller. My plan is to return them and exchange them for a foot size down/get the size I currently have.

Measurement-wise I’m not quite sure why the first pair were awful to break in, but considering I replaced the zippers after 5 years of near daily use, I think they fit well!