My boots have shrunk (or my legs have grown)

[SOS]

My mother bought me a lovely pair of brown Ariat long boots last year. They are gorgeous and look amazing with my tweed and navy hunt coats.

When I got them the sales assistant convinced me to go for the ones that felt like someone had a vice around my calf as they would ‘give’. I wore them out riding a bit and would come home with a numb foot and calf cramp. They were that tight. BUT within a month or so I remember no longer dreading putting them on and I could walk in them after riding.

Now I got these boots this time last year, I was much much fitter, riding 4+ a day, working hard on a yard 6 days a week and going to the gym a fair bit.

Fast forward to now. I am considerably less fit, have one horse in work and a took a long break from riding/sports/exercise during lockdown and I am yet to get back to it. I am weighing around 5kg more than last year... boots have been safely stored since February.

Since June I have tried riding in my boots. They have been hideously tight and three months in I am still having a battle and almost punching myself in the face to get them done up, and when I do the zip works it’s way down. Hunting is round the corner and I currently have long boots I cannot get done up. They are near perfect condition and the leather isn’t super soft yet.

Now what do I do...
- Sell my lovely boots and buy the next width size up (although funds are very limited currently)
- Lose weight (ha!) but getting back to how fit I was last year would be very hard as no longer a groom
- Try stretching them and risk wrecking them
- Adjustment of sorts by cobbler/saddler??

Please give me ideas so I don’t end up loosing a lower limb for the sake of pretty boots.

 

[Kahlua]

If you can drop the weight or do lots of walking your legs will slim down. Without knowing the style super well you may be able to look at having wider zips put in by a reputable cobbler. I have had to add wider zips and then put back to originals a number of times on my Cavallo’s over the years when I’ve had a break from riding ?

 

[PapaverFollis]

If you loose a bit of weight you probably don't have to get as fit as when you bought the boots as you've probably lost calf muscle too! So a bit of weight off and you'll be in them. My calves are smaller now than when I was really fit but I'm a dress size at least bigger everywhere else. ?

 

[SOS]

Right need to shift these 5kg, back to the gym I go. But no training legs ?

 

[Skib]

I dont wear my very expensive long boots if my weight is above 9 stone 6 lbs. I cant spoil them, they must last till I die. l have put on 2lbs in lock down so if the end of this virus every comes, I need to shift that.

 

[cobgoblin]

https://www.findyourboots.com/boots/how-to-stretch-leather-boots-around-the-calf