Tall boots for the muscular lower leg and “cankle”

[Trainwreq]

Hello COTH!

I am facing a slight battle with my tall boots. I have the unfortunate luck of being short, with a very muscular calf. However, finding tall boots to fit my muscular lower leg/ankle (more like cankle) has proved to be a challenge. Most boots will fit my calf, but when we try to zip them up, they refuse to move past my ankle and lower calf due to the tapered ankles! It seems like that all have the tiniest ankle. Even boots with a stretch panel are proving a challenge. Doesn’t help that I have a bad ankle that tends to swell slightly when I ride. Does anyone have any boot suggestions with a roomier ankle and lower leg? Or suggestions on how to stretch the ankle on a boot? I don’t want to go custom because of the price, but I’m starting to see no other options :no:

[2DogsFarm]

When you factor in the longevity of a good custom boot the price becomes quite reasonable.

My custom Vogels were purchased in 1989.
I wore them 3-5 days a week for the first 10 years, after that I switched to pull-on paddock boots for all but shows.
I still use the tall tall boots for shows, admittedly few & far between since the mid-2000s.
But spreading the cost over 30 years makes them seem quite affordable.
And aside from 3 trips to NYC - once to add a gusset, next to add back zips when those first became available & lastly some 10yrs ago to repair one zipper - they are still in great shape.
And as comfortable as bedroom slippers.

How often do you need to ride in your tall boots?
Even if you don’t show with regularity, for the hard-to-fit, IMO customs are the best answer.

[IPEsq]

The boot stretch sprays will stretch that area some, but you will need a boot that you can zip up to start.

[Spud_amp_Saf]

A lot of the older Ariat Heritage or Challenge or Crowne Pro boots from the era where zippers were first added did not have the contoured ankle boots now have. Perhaps you can find some used or on a clearance rack somewhere?

[equest]

I second Spud’s idea about finding the older styles with less of a taper through the ankle. Ebay or Facebook Marketplace may have some. I would also suggest one of the gel bands (I believe the brand is Equifit) on the ankle that tends to swell while riding.

[drawstraws]

I had good luck with the Ovation Plus Size boots. I’m short (5’1" on a tall day) with larger calves plus a left ankle that swells due to a tib/fib fracture. The tops were actually too wide around my knee but I was able to find someone to take the tops in for a very reasonable price. She actually mentioned that she showed them to a couple of people who had come into her store as she was very impressed with the quality for the price.

[kateh]

I’ve got weird Hercules calves that are very difficult to fit (Ariat extra wides? NOPE). Best luck I’ve found were Mountain Horse boots- I still needed help zipping one of them the first time, but they fit great now that I broke them in.