You know your shoe size like the back of your hand. While it may fluctuate a half size or so, depending on the brand or as we get older, it is fairly set in stone.
But how many of us have bought a pair of long boots and have had to send them back as they don’t fit your calves?
Calf size is as essential as shoe size when finding the perfect footwear. If you don’t know how to measure calf size, use this step-by-step guide to find your measurement and shop shoes with confidence.
MASTERING CALF MEASUREMENT: STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Your calf is a muscle so it can fluctuate more often in size and shape throughout your adult life. Because of this, it’s important to take updated and accurate measurements to reliably find perfect-fitting footwear, therefore ensuring your boots don’t feel too tight or too loose around your calves.
Maybe you’ve been working hard in the gym or maybe a lot of walking has shaped your calves. Perhaps you just have wider calves, as many of us do, and want to know how to measure for wide-calf boots before you make a purchase.
No matter what shape or size your lower legs are, this fail-proof guide will teach you the best method to obtain and interpret your measurement.
Understanding Your Measurements
If your calf measures 16 or more inches around, you’ll likely want to shop for wide-calf shoes. If your calf is somewhere between 12 and 14 inches around, you may want to consider a medium-calf shoe.
Now you know the basics of how to measure your calf. But for the best results and the perfect shoe fit, let’s graduate to the big leagues with enhanced tips and tricks to ensure a more precise measurement.
Pro tips for accurate calf measurements
Whether you’re looking for a replacement for your everyday go-to boots or trying a new style, use these expert tips to find the optimal fit for your calves:
• Measure both calves – If the measurements for each of your calves differ, go with the larger of the two measurements. If you have an imbalance in the muscles of your calves, this will ensure that each boot is as comfortable as possible and one doesn’t run too small.
• Planning an outfit? Wear it while you measure – Want to wear your new boots over your favourite leggings or jeans? Take your measurements while wearing these items of clothing to ensure your boots will fit over them comfortably. The same goes for if you like to wear thicker tall socks with your boots.
• If you’re close to the cut-off, go for the larger size – If your calf size falls right in between medium calf and wide calf on the fitting guide, opt for the wide calf
• No flat tape measure? No problem – If you don’t have a fabric tape measure handy, fear not. You can use a string or a ribbon to get an easy, accurate measurement. Simply tie the string or ribbon around the widest part of your calf, and then remove it and measure. You can also find printable tape measures on the internet in a pinch.
Remembering these quick tips while measuring takes all the guesswork out of matching you with your new fit. Still, there are a few pitfalls to avoid if you don’t want to give your new boots the boot.
MISTAKES TO AVOID FOR ENSURING PRECISE MEASUREMENTS
Avoid the pain of returning and exchanging by keeping these frequent mistakes top of mind when taking your calf measurements:
• Don’t order your exact calf size – While it may seem like common sense, this is an easy mistake to make. While you may want a secure fit and a sleek look, your legs need some room to move around when walking or sitting. Make sure to account for room for movement in your footwear selection.
• Don’t go it alone – If you’re having trouble accurately measuring your calf or doubt your measurements are accurate, it’s time to call in some backup. Ask someone to help you measure your calf and compare their measurement with your own. This can help you avoid a hasty inaccurate measurement that results in an ill-fitting purchase.
• Double check – Hand in hand with the previous point, it’s important to take your time and not rush the measuring process. When using the flat tape measure, double-check that there’s no space between the measuring tape and your leg. Also, be sure not to pull the measuring tape too tightly. If the measuring tape leaves a mark on your skin, you’re pulling too tight.
Knowing the ins and outs of calf measurement is foundational knowledge in your quest for footwear that will prioritise comfort while taking your style to the next level. The next step is finding your ideal fit based on your unique size.
Styling Boots: Which Height is Right?
With so many variations and styles to choose from, determining a comfortable and flattering boot height for your style can be overwhelming. To thin your choices down and steer your search, here are some tips to find the most comfortable boots for women with the right height.
Traditionally, curvier or more athletic calves can be difficult to get into long boots. If this has been your experience, opting for boots with adjustable laces, buckles, or elastics can help, such as Rhiannon (above).
Some boots are made in varying widths, so do yourself a favour and check the sizing guide to see if the wider sizes are available and accommodating to your shape. Shantelle (above) is a wider fit ankle boot which may solve your problem if you are struggling to find long boots.
Thinner, slimmer calves have the opposite problem. Keeping longer boots from falling down your legs can be a challenge, so for you, laces are likely better than elastic.
Vionic has three styles of long boots in its AW23 collection, all of which have medium calf sizes. Just go to the product description for each style, scroll down and you’ll find all of the details.
Phillipa is our classic, equestrian-inspired boot, crafted from luxurious water-repellent leather and finished with a side zip for easy on/off. Phillipa is available in black or brown, price: £250.
Looking for a non-leather alternative in a long boot. Look no further than Inessa. Made from leather-free, tough to scuff microfibre, this on-trend boot screams quality and is available in black, full price: £180.
Our third and final long boot is Ashburn, which is lightweight and luxe, built on our most popular footbed, featuring plush, water-repellent microfibre to keep you comfy and dry all season long. Price: £190.
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