All About Boot Fit

When it comes to buying cowboy boots, the right boot fit couldn’t be more important. Get the wrong size, and you’ll feel it soon enough — you could get blisters and corns from wearing the wrong size. Cowboy boots should be comfortable and fit snug to the foot, and fitted boots don’t require time to be “broken in.” Additionally, they should not be too tight or too loose.

One of our favorite quotes about cowboy boots is one by Sam Lucchese, Jr.: “In making a pair of boots for a man, we have to be aware that our product is his foundation.” We love to think of cowboy boots as the wearer’s foundation. If you’re on your feet all day, you’ve got to have comfortable footwear on.

When you stop by one of our stores, we’ll be glad to help you find the right fit for your new cowboy boots. In the meantime, here are some guidelines to ensure proper boot fit:

Instep and Boot Fit

The instep is very important, since it’s the only thing a cowboy boot has to hold it securely to the foot. So the instep must fit properly, as it determines whether a boot fits. Is the boot’s throat too tight? Go to a wider width. Is the boot’s throat too loose? Try a narrower width.

Ball

The ball of your foot is the widest part, and you bend it when you move, walk or run. So it’s easy to understand how important it is for cowboy boots to fit the ball of the foot. Ideally, the ball of the foot should fit in between the widest part of the boot. If a boot is too short for the foot, the ball will sit too far forward, forcing the toes into the front of the boot.

Heel

Cowboy boots will slip some in the heel, but as you wear them, you’ll break in the leather so that it moves with your heel and conforms to your heel. Once that happens, the slippage should disappear.

Boot Fit Tip

To help protect against blisters and corns and to ensure maximum comfort, Allens Boots suggests wearing Western Boot Thorlo socks. The thickness of your socks affects boot fit, so keep that in mind. You may want to try on cowboy boots while wearing these socks.