Great info - in addition, to the 3 points you mention, I like to ensure that I can wiggle all my toes. If my toes are constricted, it's a recipe for discomfort. Thank you.
@@GulottasVideo What about when my toes can move around vertically and horizontally without barely touching the inside toe box especially in those wide square toe boxes? Is that OK?
@@GulottasVideo all kinds of good info on here. Haven’t had boots in years. Was moving out of a house if lived in with a long term girlfriend years ago & had to downsize to what could fit in the bed of a Toyota long bed. Put all kinds of boots on the side of the rd by the mail box. 1 pair was Tacomas,I think.?. Good boots. I remember having them resoled at least 2-3 times. Elephant.. I would occasionally drink a bunch of Budweiser’s + a few lefties and feel the need
Great video.. really really great video! I didn't know this until after I bought a pair of irish setter boots this weekend. And guess what? I nailed all 3 without even knowing what to look for! Thanks for the info!
Just got my 1st pair of boots since I was a teen, now in my mid 40's I'm happy to get back to them. Looking forward to my 2nd pair in the near future. Thank you for the advice my friend in what to look for when fitting into boots 🥾
Absolutely one of the best fit videos I have seen. If you noticed he never used the boot jack- when a boot is fitted correctly you shouldn’t have to use one!
Great video. I always wanted a pair of boots but there really weren't any good stores near me. We are now getting a Boot Barn nearby so this will help me with shopping for a first pair hopefully for my 48th bday
So very true! The boot cut varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, some are tighter in one area while being looser in another area. Try many pairs on. And the newness of the leather will add to the stiffness, complicating the proper fit assessment. If you can, wear them in the store for 10 minutes or longer and see if they loosen up a bit! And see if it begins to feel like it will work with the shape of your feet.
I'm flat footed so no matter how snug or perfectly fitting if I'm walking at elevation like up a hill my feet slip a lot but flat surface totally fine perfect fit easy to walk.
So I’ve bought a pair they for for a little while but then I grew out of them. Since I’ve gotten a couple cheap pair but I’ve noticed my calf doesn’t fit the tall part like most people. Is it just because I’ve gotten a slight bigger size of correct fitted boot?
My boots are a hiar tight in with, try double E felt good but when i walk in them they are loose like swimming they are more then a itch riseing from lefting foot,i got strange feet first they are kinda broke in but they will get there.
I want to buy a pair of boots for myself and get it shipped to India. Can you help? I need to understand what will be the best fit according to my foot size.
I'm a sneaker kinda guy I will shell out lots of money on some nice sneakers but I tried my dad's boots on and idk why but I'm in love with th em the feel and everything is amazing
Im a woman and I just got my first pair! I have huge feet, I got 10.5 EE (men’s) ariats. They’re so comfortable, but they are snug and won’t fall off! Thanks for the video. I’ve come to the conclusion my new boots fit perfectly.
Im trying to find pull on work boots and IM a big dude and I cant find any thatll fit I wear a 13 W but I didnt know anything about the EE etc. because I cant get my heel to pop into it
Great video and info. It's crazy all the boots fit different. I have Double H boots that are alittle loose in the instep buying crazy but I have 1 pair that's a 10EE & another that's a 10.5D. What sock or insole would you recommend to take up some of that room?
I start with thicker socks first when there’s room in the instep, to avoid lifting my heel too high. I don’t think the sock type matters to much, just the thickness is what I look for. Usually cotton socks are thicker, wool socks as well though I find they are hotter, especially in my part of the world.
Great advice for guys who have never worn cowboy boots before. I agree, cowboy boots should make that pop sound, that’s when you know it’s the perfect fit. If it doesn’t pop, the boot is too loose. Square toe boots offer more space for your toes. If you’re going for a more narrow or pointed toe boot, then you might have to size up half a size. The only way to tell if a cowboy boot fits right is to go to the store and try them on. Every manufacturer makes them slightly different depending on the cowboy boot and the insoles of the boots. I love your T-shirt. Who makes that brand of short? Thanks for the great review, Luke.
Yeah, the try-on is the most important part. Buying boots online would frustrate me to no end! Thanks, this is a Grunt Style tee shirt: www.gruntstyle.com/products/american-reaper-2-0
GulottasVideo Yeah, frustrating indeed. My boots are all 9.5 or 10 D. Nothing worse than wearing a pair of cowboy boots that are too tight. I always buy my boots from the store. You just gotta try em on. Even when the boots might look good online, it’s hard to tell from a photo. Awesome! I love that T shirt. Gonna order one. Thank you!!
I need help, every time I put on boots I have a hard time getting my heal to do down. I don't know if it's because I need a big size or wider size? Can you please give me some advice.
Will boots ALWAYS slip a little at the heel? I have a 9.5 D pair that takes a bit of effort to take off, but the heel still slips a tad bit when walking, after they've been worn in for some time.
Depends on the boot, generally they slip less as you break in the sole. Though if that boot doesn't fit snugly on your instep (across the top of the foot) your heel may always slip up because there's nothing holding your foot down. Usually means that boot is too big for you, though I have a few pair that do this and it doesn't bother me.
Great fitting video! My question however, isn't about fit, but about how to keep the floral stitching clean on boots! Got a new pair of Corral boots and they said don't put anything on them.😳 The cream stitching is going to get so dirty!! Can/would you Scotchguard them??🤷♀️
I've had customers use Scotchguard to varying degrees of success. I tend to agree with Corral and not put anything on them, but I generally don't mind the worn-in look on even my fancier boots. But the best practice I think for keeping embroidery and stitching clean is a dry brush. Maybe a fine bristle. And just try to keep the dirt off as best you can. I mean, if you get cream colored thread muddy, you may have to try saddle soap and water with a brush. Hope that helps.
When talking about the instep, how “snug” should “snug” be? I’ve seen a lot of videos say “like a firm handshake,” which leaves me to wonder - can there be like a slight space between the instep and your foot, OR should the instep be tighter to your foot?
Ideally, in my mind, snug means no slack. Remember the instep is what’s holding your foot in the boot, so if there’s slack, your foot will travel up and forward, creating excessive heel slip and rubbing. You also have to factor in a bit of leather stretch as the boot breaks in. How much leather stretches can vary with different skins and tanning processes.
There are no rules for what jeans to wear with boots. Generally people just want the leg opening to fit over the shaft of the boot. This can vary from jean to jean. For example, some straight legs fit over boots easy while other straight legs have very small leg openings that would never fit over a boot. Personal preference on where you want the bottom of the jean leg to sit on your boots. A wider opening with sit much lower and cover more of your boot. A smaller opening will sit higher and show more boot.
Got my first pair of boots a couple days ago. They fit “perfect” but I’m just not used to the heel slip after wearing exclusively sneakers or boots with laces my whole life. Does it improve with time/breaking in or will my heel always slip out a little bit?
Most heel slip improve or go away complete as the sole breaks in and becomes more flexible. Also the top of the boot begins to "collapse" and the heel counter forms to your foot, holding your heel down and in place when you walk. In my experience, 90% of my boots have no heel slip after proper break-in. Cheers!
One of Ariat workboot is 11 D and they fit perfect. I just bought another version of Ariat 10.5 D but the 10.5 D very little to no slip i can wiggle my toes but the top part where it holds my foot in place. Is snug and tight. Kinda hurts. Like the leather is stretched should i up it back to a 11D? Or just need to break it in?
The instep (top of the foot) area of the boot is what tends to stretch the most. If you have enough room in the toe box, I'd suggest trying to break them in more, in hopes that the leather gives you just the right amount of room and comfort. When I'm breaking in a tighter boot, I'll wear a thinner sock, spray a "shoe stretch" product before wearing, and possibly wear them for short periods and swap out for more comfortable footwear if possible. Hope this helps
Nice black ones you are wearing what brand is that please? Seems like very classic nowadays it is hard to get that style when comes to western cowboy boots I am very kinda of old school guy even though Iam 33 i love classic things.
What do I do if I have a large foot (size 14 sneakers/13 boots) but the instep and heel is always too loose? If I go too much smaller my toes are touching the tip of the boot. It’s like I have the foot length of a much larger person, but my foot is apparently skinnier than the length would suggest 🥴🥴
Great question, I've had some luck with fitting my customers with an insole to bring the foot a little higher and snug up the instep. The problem this sometimes creates is it changes where the heel sits in the heel counter of the boot. So it depends on the boot, but this is my first solution to this problem. Hope it helps
Should my boot hit my heal a little like a flip flop?. It's a noticable but not to drastic. These new Redwings I just bought does it. But the other two things happen when I put them on. The instep bends before putting them and the pop.
Did I maybe get a size too big? If when I walk after a while the bottom of my foot hurts, as if it was stretching too much like a sharp pain, the current boots I have are a size 11 should I maybe get a 10.5 next time since they would need to be broken in ? Sorry guys first time boot buyer any tips are greatly appreciated… don’t know if this makes a difference but they are a Ostrich Square Toe boots
Could be several factors at play. 1st thought is your feet are maybe not used to a rigid flat footbed and it just takes some getting used to. Sizing could also be an issue where if the boot is too long or short, it flexes in the wrong spot. Western boots have a shank that runs from the heel through the arch and ends before the ball of the foot, so if this doesn't line up properly with your foot, it could cause some fatigue or pain. Lastly, some boots just aren't made for you and aren't a good match for your foot shape. Sometimes an insole can help this. Hope some of this helps! - LG
Man I’ve bought 3 pairs of Ariats... 8.5’s the first two pair and an 8 the last pair. I’m still uncomfortable with the size... I trying to commit to breaking this new pair in but that boot slip takes some getting used to...
@@tylersdaddy2066 honestly your going to have to try them and see what feels good, I ditched those boots because even following these fit videos and the help from the store they still felt like shit and they are definitely broke in now… I won’t buy another boot in these style again… I put on a cheap 5.11 boot I had laying around and they felt way better hands down instantly… Im an 8.5-9 as well in everything else and I dropped to an 8 I believe in this style boot, 7.5 were too small… That 5.11 boot is a 9 and fits me perfect but it’s a lace up and side zipper not a pull up like these. Idk what those who say their Ariats are the best boot there ever had did to fit there size.
I bought a 10 1/2 EE boot (my normal size) and the instep fits me loose as well as my heel (my foot slips a little) Should I exchange for half a size smaller or should I exchange for D width? Thanks in advance! Great video btw!
Not enough info to say for sure, that's why trying on is important. I would try both of the things you mentioned to start. The girth of your foot will play a bug role in proper boot fit so paying attention to the 3 keys here when you try those on will steer you well I think. If a 10EE is too short for you, the 10.5D might be perfect and get rid of that slack you feel in the 10.5EE.
Not necessarily, that depends more on the shape of the boot sometimes, I have a few pair that require some work to take off but fit great. Usually gets better when broken in.
I’m a 10.5 in regular sneakers/shoes/work boots. I ordered Ariat Ramblers in 10.5 and they were waaaay too big! So I got a 10. Still a bit too big. Read some reviews and some people are even going down a whole size. So I’m waiting on the 9.5 ramblers. Hoping it’s a good fit. I like the basic, no frills look of the rambler (antiqued grey)
In my experience, people who always have to use a boot jack, tend to have high insteps. I have a wide foot but not a particularly high instep. Never needed a boot jack. Could be several things though, like low ankle mobility, for example.
What should I do when I have one foot that is almost a different size? My left boot fits perfectly but the right one is a little loose. I’ve got just a little too much slip but I mean I can’t buy 2 different sizes lol.
Couple things to consider: Go down a half size and have the left boot professionally stretched, wear a thicker sock on the right foot, add a thin insole or replace existing insole with a thicker one on the right boot. or just get as close as you can and give the time to break in and conform to your feet. I find the last one solves most problems.
@@GulottasVideo thanks they’re starting to break in much better after I oiled them. I’m the future I may look into stretching. Or insoles for existing pairs
I couldn't tell you. I do know that every brand's sizing is different and the differences in shoes and boots can be very dramatic. I would suggest trying boots on in a store. I realize that may defeat the purpose of online buying, but you're really just guessing online.
Brian Tanner i agree with what he replied. Try to go look for the same brand at a store and try on the boots. Some online companies do offer free shipping returns so you can also do it that way. But I recommend starting with a size of your regular black dressing/business shoe.
@@rugged2050 my uncle told me to buy a shoe a half size too small. Go through a bit of pain for a few weeks in order doe the leather to form to your foot
Buy 2 different size boots. jk 1 - Fit your boots to the bigger foot, loose is better than tight. 2 - Wear a thicker sock on the smaller foot 3 - Use a thicker insole in the boot on the smaller foot 4 - Have a boot store stretch the boot on the bigger foot
I want to buy a pair of western boots for my elder brother as a surprise. If he wears 8.5 on running shoes, should I buy half a size up or down? I can only guess as its a surprise.
Impossible to say, as sizing can differ dramatically from different manufacturers. I find leather boots to be rather true-to-size, but as mentioned in this video, I fit into several sized boots. If I were just guessing I'd start with an 8.5D and keep the receipt.
Dang.... you slip in and out of boots SO easy. I just got a pair off ebay, nice boots but I can't get my heal anywhere NEAR into the things. Is there a size for the cuff? upper part of the boot that I need to look for? Not shoe size, but that tube my big ankle is somehow suppose to go into?
@@GulottasVideo Hi, I finally got the things on, but it IS a struggle. Don't wear them often, just my going out duds. Only ever owned boots once before and those were a royal pain to get on too.
It might. The vamp of the boot will typically stretch as much as is needed to fit your foot. However, I wouldn't advise anyone to purchase a pair of boots with a tight instep
@@GulottasVideo oh okay I've never seen that skin in person so I couldn't figure out what they were made of. Haha Thanks for the info. Very sharp boots!
Same for Chelsea but not necessarily for lace ups. Instep is not as critical on a lace up because it can be adjusted (tightened or loosened). Width is just as important. Heel may not slip as much with a lace up, again, because you can tighten it down, though you may still have some slip until you break in the soles. Hope this helps!
@@GulottasVideo Thank you for the reply. They look great, that very thin broken texture gives it depth and reflects light just from certain angels and it looks realy smooth because there are not these big broken chunks like with lizard, crock or ali. With that toe style, perfect every day vibe. Any recomendadion where to by from europe? Always an issue that high quality and originality from the US is hard to come by. Because ordering/ trying several to find the fitting one means heaps of import tax/ shipping fees/ returning /restocking fees etc. Again thanks.
@@johnnyknoxville5003 Oof, that's a tough problem. Lucchese has some gorgeous boot options in that look, but not seeing any stingray available. Maybe a bullhide, or ranchhand (if you want smooth) would work for you. Those are significantly less than exotics. Shipping fees must eat you alive out there 😬
It is realy difficult to find any good boots and especialy exotics. Well Lucchese and the other big brands are kinda available but just here and there. Yeah but import tax is realy killing it, for EVERY item... totaly misled protectionism in my oppinion.
@@GulottasVideo dang! Beautiful Boots! I haven’t seen anything like those! If you ever get tired of them! I’ll gladly buy them from you haha! I think were same size too! 9 1/2 boots are a hard find, idk why.
No cowboy boot has ever given me a pop when I stick my foot in. When I try to get it it just gets way too tight in the instep and there is 0 heel slip. So far the boot I got seems to fit though a bit loose.
Cafelogis it sounds like you May have a high instep. A boot repair shop and some boot stores have instep stretchers that they can use to get a better fit out of a tight boot. Probably won’t help your loose boots but keep that in mind for your next pair.
Maybe look for boots with elastic instep seams. Durango and Ariat make styles like that, that might help you get in there. Alternatively, shaft stretching can help with ankle tightness sometimes.
I must be blessed. If you have a tough time getting in and out, but the boots fit good when wearing, you may have a high instep or lack of mobility in your ankle. Sometimes a little stretching of the instep of the boot will alleviate that problem. Hope that helps!
Just ran into your very informative vid! 2 issues I have on boots from a Dallas "discount" but reputable boot store over 22 yrs ago. First I got 10c lucassie (sp?) black cherry dress are awesome, but wonder best method to hide a not real deep surface skuff 1/4 inch sq.? Also sales person sold me 2nd pair narrower as "only one left" Brown. Both same brand & style pointed toe box, over $120, each BUT brown pair. were size to narrow he said "the'll break in" well, not really !!! As Could fit in then so not ever returned.... Now, as I'm older...can't fit in & wonder any method to stretch out one with in size? Wish knew you back then! Few boot stores around any more, not living in Texas now, so never took to proper location if stretching even possible.... told if got totally wet like wading or swimming in them and wear them to dry would work??? Never tried this, sort of like Levis stf 501 jeans recommend to totally wet / swim in & wear them to dry shrink down for snug fit.. Any suggestions on boots I'd appreciated or I should just sell them somehow, market place on FB , eBay? Big Thanks!
Not sure about other places but at our store we stretch boots that were purchased here for free. So, boot stores or high-end footwear stores would be my first try. As for stretching them yourself, the water method is fine as long as you dry them properly and condition them after, otherwise you'll get an opposite effect (shrinking).
@@GulottasVideoHey there, many thanks for reply!! Seems quality shoe/boot stores, repair " cobblers", are few/far between any more for dress shoes & boots as well. Dallas store closed years ago, thought contacting brand manufacturer directly, but may try the wet " wear' option with your advice too on that method. Have to find your location to visit in future! Thanks again for quick reply, cheers!
