Boot shopping by calf circumference

medusa

Does anyone know of a good way to search for boots by calf circumference?

I know that most boots at Zappos and Endless give this measurement, but I haven't figured out how to search for the specific circumference I want in combination with other criteria (flat heel, riding style, etc). Finally it occurred to me that someone here is probably way more expert than I.

Any tips?

14 years ago

Shopping

3 replies

Latest reply was from garmenta

marianne

Active Member

I haven't found a good way to search. You can enter "narrow calf boots" but the result set is sketchy. Zappos tens to have more accurate calf circumference than Endless and shoes.com, in my experience. Also pay attention to what size the measurements are taken from. I have 13'' calves, and while size 6 may have 13'' circumference, when I try my size 8, it is usually wider. (I still don't own a fitted pair)
On Nordstrom site, you can go to boot shop -> narrow calf. They are usually pretty accurate.

14 years ago

April

Veteran

I know how tricky this is. If you Google "narrow calf boots" you get boots in narrow sizes -- narrow footbeds, that is -- made of calf. Or you get true equestrian riding boots, which come in a "narrow" variation but don't specify a calf circumference (and which may be a little more gear-like than one wants.) Or you get boots that cost $600.

More places seem to have caught on to the need for wide calf boots than narrow. On the other hand, I feel like I am seeing a lot more correctly-fitting boots on women this year, so maybe it's getting easier to find a variety of sizes.

I am so following your quest, Medusa -- keep us posted about what you're finding!

14 years ago

garmenta

Active Member

Speaking as someone who is still on a search for the right boots for a 12.5" calf and a bad foot. . .It's trial and error. Nordstrom's does have a way to search for boots that have a narrow calf circumference (click on "Boot Shop" and choose "narrow calf" from the drop-down menu), but it's hit or miss. You can do some research there and then go to Zappos, which has better descriptions, photos, and reviews.

One thing I've tried is to eyeball the photos of boots on Zappos--if the calf looks really narrow in the image, I check the numbers. Sometimes I'm right.

The labels that tend toward a narrow calf are the more expensive ones. If you have unlimited funds, Prada, Robert Clegerie, Delman, Aquitalia, and Stuart Weitzman are narrow-calf brands. If you're in the same price range as most of us, I'd recommend looking at labels made in Spain, like Martinez Valero or Jeffrey Campbell. Rockport has a narrow-calf boot--but no zipper, so getting it off requires major effort!

Duo Boots, a UK company that sells online, makes custom boots and can make most of their designs with a narrow calf (again, not cheap, but may be worth it).

Keep in mind that if you find a pair of boots you like at a reasonable price, you can take them to a cobbler for an estimate of the cost of having them taken in around the calf. It's not cheap (I hear it runs around $100), but if your cobbler is skilled, you've just turned okay boots into fab boots.

Hope that helps. Let me know if you find anything fab and comfy with a narrow calf--best of luck!

14 years ago

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