Ariat Work Boot Fit Tips

3/15/17

General Fit Tips

1. Ideally, you should have your foot measured with a Brannock device to determine the length and width that should provide the most appropriate fit.  Otherwise, refer to other footwear in your closet and start with your normal boot or athletic shoe size.
2. Be sure to try on boots with the same type/thickness of socks that you will be wearing them with normally.

How to Fit a Pull-On Work Boot

1. When putting on a Pull-On boot, there should be a slight resistance at entry, followed by a slight “thunk” sound, or “pop”, as your foot makes the turn through the “throat” of the shaft into the foot part of the boot.  You should not have to use an excessive amount of force to push your foot into the boot, but it also shouldn’t slide on with no effort.
2. Once your foot is in the boot, there should be:
   1. A snug fit across the top of the foot, at the instep area/the top part of your foot above the arch.  This might feel a bit tight when you first put the boot on.  It should be “like a firm handshake”, but should not be painful.  As you wear the boot, the leather will yield a bit and conform to the shape of your foot, so you don’t want the boot to feel very loose in this area either.  If the fit is too loose in this area, you will experience too much heel slippage.
   2. A small amount of heel lift is normal on a new boot, and should be reduced as the sole breaks in with wear. So, you can expect your heel to move up and down slightly when you walk, but not to the extent that you feel that you are sliding around, or can take your foot out of the boot easily.
   3. Alignment of the widest part of your foot with the widest part of the boot.
   4. About ¼” to ½” of space between the end of your toes and the front of the boot. Your toes should not feel pinched from the sides or from the top.

Problem-Solving/FAQ

Q: What if I have a hard time getting my foot into the boot?

• Those with high insteps often have a more difficult time getting into Pull-On boots. We recommend you try a boot with Ariat’s revolutionary patented U-Turn technology, a built-in stretch panel configuration that will help your foot make the turn into the boot.  This feature is part of our WorkHog, OverDrive, Intrepid, Powerline and Catalyst VX Work collections. 
• You could also try a wider width (EE width in Men’s, C in Women’s).  The throat opening of EE is wider than D fit by about 3/8” for easier entry.
• If the boot you are trying has a Saddle Vamp, try a boot with a Full Vamp instead. The stitching of the saddle overlay can cause more resistance (less give) on entry, compared to a full vamp.
• If none of the above are effective, then we recommend an Ariat lace-up boot. 

Q: What if the boot feels too tight across my instep/top of my foot once I have it on?

• Try a wider width of the same foot size (EE width in Men’s, C in Women’s), rather than sizing up, if the length of the boot is correct.

What if there is tightness or rubbing in the forefoot/toe area of the boot?

• Try an Ariat style with a roomier toe box.  Ariat offers a variety of toe shapes that provide different aesthetic looks and varying amounts of space in the forefoot area.  In general, the Wide Square toe shape provides more width to spread your toes, and the toe shapes designated as “Round” or “Traditional” are roomier than the Roper toe shape.
• Try a wider width of the same foot size (EE width in Men’s, C in Women’s), for a little extra room throughout the boot.

Ariat Fit and Comfort Tips

• Boots with a safety toe are more rigid in the toe area, and if this is your first time wearing a boot with a safety toe, it may not seem comfortable.  You should select a boot style with a roomier toe box/toe shape, or may want to go to wider width (EE width in Men’s, C in Women’s) for a  little extra room overall if this is your first time wearing a safety toe.  We recommend our Contender work boot collection, built with extra room in the toe box area, for those wearing a safety toe boot for the first time. Before purchasing your boots you should flex your foot in the boots, or if you will be kneeling in your boots try and simulate this position in the store or in your home.
• Waterproof styles, and styles with both Waterproof and Insulation features, may not feel exactly the same as the same style without Waterproof.  Ariat adjusts all dimensions of the boots to account for the waterproof (and waterproof insulated) construction so that fit should be true to size, but the waterproof membrane construction reduces the amount the leather will yield to the pressure of your foot, so you may perceive a “tighter” fit.  If you find this uncomfortable, you may want to look at a wider width (EE width in Men’s, C in Women’s) for a little extra room, or go up a ½ size. 
• For those with narrower feet, such as a Men’s B width (and assuming your boot of choice isn’t available in a B width), we recommend going to a lace-up work boot. 
• Pull-On styles with Saddle Vamp are not recommended for those with high insteps.  We recommend either a Full Vamp Pull-On boot with U-Turn technology, or a lace-up boot for those with high insteps. Once the boot is on your foot, you should feel SLIGHT pressure on your instep. This pressure will subside as the boot is worn and the leather breaks in and conforms to your foot. If the boot is loose across your instep at time of purchase, the boot may be too roomy for your foot and you should either try a B width or a half size smaller.
• Ariat’s Contender work boot collection, available for both Men & Women, is built on a Last engineered for a roomier fit in the toe box area and slightly more width across the ball of the foot for plenty of “wiggle room”.  These are lace-up boots, so you can pull the laces tight for a secure fit, while still getting the benefit of extra room in the forefoot.  Contender would be a good choice for anyone with a wider foot, and would not be the best choice for someone with a very narrow foot.

 

 

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