Tips and Tricks on Wearing Boots

Not all feet are created equal. Some people have high arches, or no arches, high or low insteps, bunions, wide feet, narrow feet or even longer-than-normal toes. And all of us have one foot at least slightly bigger than the other. The good news is that you don’t have to have an average foot to wear boots. Below are some tips and loopholes that may help you wear the boots you thought you couldn’t wear.

  • Sometimes for people with narrow feet or with low arches, a boot fits you lengthwise but you just don’t fill it out enough– Look for boot styles and brands that typically run narrower for a truer fit. If you’ve found the right look but still have the same problem, try adding an insert into the boot to help bring you up into the extra space. During the winter, you can get away with wearing a thicker sock to take up that extra slack.
  • P.s., this is a great way to help kids fill out slightly bigger sizes til’ they grow into them!
  • If you simply have very small feet and cannot fill out length or width wise with the tips above, try kids boots. Often you’ll find a better fit and save some cash as well.
  • Being flat footed or having a wide foot in general usually leaves you with three options: Go with a boot that runs wider i.e., round or square toes, or brands that run wider; go with a wide size; both. If you still need a hair more space, try wearing a thinner sock. For ladies with wider feet, try going into the equivalent of your size in a man’s boot. Many ladies styles are almost the same in men’s—except men’s are wider.
  • Sometimes having a high arch or instep puts the stress of boots in just getting the suckers on. Usually boots with shorter and more open shafts make the process much easier, and after time the leather will stretch and your problem should be minimized. If your instep is too constricted in the boot for you to feel comfortable wearing it, thinner socks and possibly having the boot stretched can make a big difference. If you have an extremely high instep and none of these tips seem to help, you may benefit from a boot with a zipper to avoid the struggle of pulling them on.
  • Boots with shorter and/or more open shafts are also just the trick for people with larger calves. If you’re wearing boot cut jeans, you can even wear slip-on “half boots” that give the look of boots without the shaft.
  • If knee problems have prevented you from wearing boots, look at boots with a flat “roper” heel. This type of heel will put much less stress on your knees than traditional western heels. But of course, you should always consult your doctor to help decide if this is right for you.