Finding Boots That Fit Like a Glove
Boots. It’s a word that’s built into our culture. Not just in Texas, but everywhere in this country. They’re the footwear for the Cowboy, and the Cowboy could argue his place as the mascot of this whole dang place. Tall tops, short tops, spur ledges, cutter toes, snakeskin, etcetera and the list goes on. Just about everyone has worn boots at some time in their life. There might not be anything that feels better than a pair of great fitting boots. As with everything, there’s a process of making sure those boots feel as great as they look.
This week we’re taking time to visit with Joy Ritchey, one of Crazy House’s boot department gurus. Joy shared her secrets to getting that perfect fit in a new pair of boots. “The first thing people need to do when shopping for a pair of boots is to be prepared to try on several pair of boots, and be open-minded about sizes and widths,” says Ritchey. Especially in quality, handmade boots, no two boots are made the same. There can be quite a lot of variation between brands, or even between styles of the same brand. Boots come in numbered sizes and lettered widths. The standard width for men is D, while most women find that a B width fits them best. Changing sizes will move the widest part of the boot forward or backward in relation to the heel, while changing widths gives more overall room across the toe box through the instep of the boot. For someone with no experience wearing boots, Joy recommends starting a half size below their casual shoe size and working from there. Using that as a starting point, Joy and the other members of the boot department can help by recommending size and width changes to get to the right fit.
“Customers sometimes worry about the toe box too much. Our focus is to get the boot to fit snug across the instep and get the widest part of the foot in the widest part of the boot. From there we can adjust to make the toes fit right,” Joy says. She also reminded us that leather has a great memory, meaning that it will always tend to go back to its original shape. This fact makes it important to have the right fit before leaving the store. Keep in mind also that certain leathers will stretch more than others. In general, boots made from reptile leather will be less conforming than, say, calfskin, giraffe or ostrich. Leather from a reptile is usually thinner and won’t give much to the pressure of the foot. One exception to this rule is having some slip in the heel. Ritchey says a new pair of boots should have between a quarter to a half inch slip in the heel. That slip will go away as the boot breaks in and result in a great fit. Next time you find yourself in the boot aisle keep these things in mind, don’t be afraid to take your time and try on multiple pairs, and remember to make sure the boot is snug across your instep. Joy said her goal each day is to focus on customer service, including listening to customers and helping them get exactly what they need, a great pair of boots. She added, “We’re here to help our customers get the exact boot they want, not rush them out the door with boots that don’t fit.”
- Martin Bryant
