Why do I need to measure my calves before ordering?
As the leading online wide calf boot store, we carry a vast variety of wide calf sizes from 16 inches to 24.5 inches. Depending on your height and shoe size, you may fall into a different calf width category than what your measurements are. Please take the time to measure your calves and use our calf size estimator tool. An accurate calf measurement ensures the best fit and reduces returns. Please do not order your exact calf size as the boots may be too tight on you.
I’m in between calf sizes. Should I order a smaller calf size?
A smaller calf size will be too tight, may not fit at all, and will be very uncomfortable. We recommend choosing the next larger calf size category. Example: Your shoe size is an 8, and you are shopping in the Extra Wide size calf category. If your calf circumference is greater than the calf measurement listed for the size 8 Extra Wide Calf boot, jump to the next calf size category and look for size 8 boots in the Super Wide Calf category.
What’s the difference between shoe size and calf size?
Your shoe size is the length of your foot. Your calf size is the circumference of your calf (the part of your leg below your knee). The M, W or WW foot widths have no bearing on the calf circumferences and they refer to the foot widths. For each product, WideWidths.com lists the shoe size plus the actual calf circumference of that particular boot so that you can experience the best fit. We offer many suggestions on our site but unfortunately we cannot guarantee the fit. For each boot, you’ll notice the calf circumference increases as the shoe size increases. Our calf size estimator tool will help you determine your closest calf width category based on your shoe size, calf circumference and height.
What’s considered a wide calf?
Standard women’s boots are made with a 14 to 15 inch calf circumference. If you are under 5’4” tall with a 14-15 inch calf width, standard boots may be too tight for you. We explain this below.
Do you carry wide width shoe sizes?
Yes, in addition to offering many wide calf sizes, most WideWidths.com boots are available in three different FOOT (shoe size) widths: Medium (M), Wide (W) and Extra Wide (WW). Helpful tip: The letters, M, W and WW, next to the shoe size (i.e. 7WW) refer to the width of your foot, not your calf. If you are in between sizes or if you sometimes need to wear a larger size, please order the larger size or width since they can be made to fit smaller with an insole but they cannot be made to fit larger.
What is the boot shaft height?
Shaft height is the length of the boot from the base of your bare foot (not including any heels) to the top of the boot. The majority of our wide calf boots have a 14" - 15" shaft height. The shaft height of each boot is listed in the product description. All of the calf circumferences listed on the website are always measured around the outside of the boot at the very top of the shafts. Using a tape measure, please measure the circumference of your calf at 14" - 15" up from the base of your foot to find your correct calf measurement. If there is a portion of your calf that is wider than that measurement, then please order using the larger of the 2 measurements.
Why does my height matter when determining my calf size?
Please watch our video for petite ladies on this page. All boots are made for women who are of average height (5’5” and up), and the largest part of their calves generally line up with the widest part of the boot. Therefore, if you are petite (5’4” or shorter), your calf is larger at a point that is several inches lower down inside the shaft of the boot than on someone who is taller.
If you are under or at 5’ 4,” please measure the circumference of your calf at its widest point instead of at the top of your calf. We cannot guarantee the fit, but we suggest ordering a style that is approximately 1.5 - 2 inches larger than the measurement of your wider calf. This is accurate 95% of the time and we offer many suggestions on our site for you to try to make the best choices. If your torso is shorter and you feel you have longer legs, then you can choose a boot closer to your actual calf measurements. Remember, it is always preferable to have more space in the boots than to go to a smaller calf size.
Here is an example: One woman is 5'2" tall and has a 19" calf. Another woman is 5'6" and she also has a 19" calf. They both wear the same shoe size. When the taller, average height woman tries on her 19" calf boot, the largest part of her calf is exactly at the very top of the shaft where the circumference is 19." The shorter 5'2" woman tries on the same exact boot but now the widest part of her calf is 4" lower down inside of the boot because she is 4" shorter and her legs are shorter too. Since a boot shaft is graded from the ankle going upwards and is in an almost "V" shape, it begins smaller at the ankles and gradually gets wider and wider until it reaches the top at 19." Because the shorter woman's legs are 4" below that spot, the shaft is not anywhere near 19" yet inside of the boot - it is considerably smaller at that point by as much as 2-3 inches and the ankle and shin will not zip up either. This is why we recommend that you order a boot that is approx. 2 inches more than your measurements if you are petite.
1. Once you try on this larger calf size, you may find that you have space at the very top of the shaft even though the ankles and mid-calf fit you well. This is because the widest part of your calf can be up to 5” below the top of the boot because of your height or because your legs might be shorter and your calf is widest several inches below that portion. We suggest tucking your pants into the boots, wearing them the way they are or having the very top altered by a shoemaker or tailor since any boot with a smaller calf size will not fit the lower part of your calf. In addition, the boots have been in a box with the shaft folded flat since they left the factory. Once you wear them and the leather softens, the top will not be as stiff and they will look more natural. Most people do not have a perfect fit in their boots (even in standard 14" calf sizes!) and it is very unlikely that you will have a better fit any other way unless you have boots custom made for you and the cost for that is prohibitive, if you can even find anyone to make boots for you.
2. All boots are made for women who are of average height (5’5” and up), and the largest part of their calves generally line up with the widest part of the boot. Therefore, if you are petite, your calf is larger at a point that is several inches lower down inside the shaft of the boot than on someone who is taller. This is the same concept as to why petite women fit into petite clothing better - because they are proportioned differently for them. Although our cutoff for petite ladies is 5’4,” the information on this page suggesting that you add 1.5 – 2” more if you are under 5’ 4” is most likely valid for you if you are 5'4" (or even 5'5") as well. If you find that your legs are shorter than your torso and/or petite pants or skirts fit you better than standard (average) inseams on these clothes, then you should definitely consider also adding some extra sizing to your calf size measurements the way we recommend that people who are under 5’ 4” should do. If you chose a boot whose calf size is the same as yours, then the ankle and shin would not zip up because boots with your calf size are graded for taller women and they would be too small on you.
3. Each foot size has a different calf size and on the sites where you see a general calf size (i.e. 17”), it is generally based on an average size 8 foot size. Since we specialize in this market, we list each calf size because we are very well aware of the needs of women who require plus calf boots. Anna, the owner of our company, had a retail shoe store for 21 years and she came into contact with hundreds of petite women who wore wide calf boots. In addition, we have also had feedback from tens of thousands of customers since we began to sell wide calf boots online in 2001. With this experience, she was able to determine that the reason their calf measurements didn’t coordinate with the boot calf sizes was because of the fact that their legs were shorter and the widest part of the boots (at the top where the measurements are taken) did not line up with the widest part of a petite person's legs.