Fitting Footwear
Fitting Tall Boots
Fitting Tall boots can be a bit of a minefield, we know! However, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to find the right size for you, so here is our first installment of fitting footwear - fitting tall boots!
First of all, give this video a watch, kindly shot by Ariat, and then, take a look at our additional handy tips below.
Top Tips
1. Long Boots need to start tall, in he crease of your knee, as the nature of all leather is that it stretches, and once the leather on the leg on your boots stretches, they will also drop and settle, so you want them tall enough that when they drop 1-2cms that they wont then be too stort.
2. When trying on your boots don't lift your foot off the floor and bend your knee to test how they will feel, this is not the angle you ride with your leg at (unless you are a jockey), for an accurate idea of how they will feel when riding, keep both feet flat on the floor, and drop your hips and bend your knees (squat like position) - look in a mirror as you do it and drop to the point that looks comparible to if you were sat in a saddle (dressage riders - not very much at all, jumpers, more so) - This is what your boots will feel like at first, however you will also have your heel down, so they will be lower again.
3. Make note of where your elasticated panels are - for example on the Ariat Heritage contour, near the top the elasticated panel swaps from the outer side to the inside panel, so if your zip stops going up at this point, you probably just need to stretch that inner pannel by pulling the popper tab round.
4. If you're boots are 1cm to tall, but fit great everywhere else, you probably just need a pair of Ariat Heel Raisers (these are free) - please contact us and we can provide them for you.
5. When measuring your leg and then comparing to the size chart, take your measurements with a pinch of salt, as the leather will stretch and the tall boots all feature an elasticated stretch panel, so if your'e on the boundry of two widths size wise, we recomend you try the smaller size first.
6. FAVOURITE TIP When doing up the zip always keep one finger behind the zip, whilst pulling the zip up with the other hand - This will protect your leg / breeches from the zip, and also, prevent your leg/breeches from getting in the way of the zip, and this will make them a lot easier to do up.
Fitting Half Chaps
Fitting half chaps, like tall boots, can seem like a bit of a daunting task, especially when there are so many different height combinations available in so many different styles. We've included this handy video from Ariat to help you out, plus some inside tips on finding the right style and size for you!
Top tips:
1. When looking at the different Ariat styles, we have found from experience that the Concord and Chorus, typically, suits a normal to straight calf, whereas the Classic Chap and the Close Contour Chap tends to offer a more flexible fit, so a curvier shaped calf, tends to suit these two styles better.
2. If you need a chap to compete in, we most recommend the Ariat Concord or Chorus Chap or the Ariat Close Contour Show Chap, as these chaps are all very elegant and smartly fitting leather chaps, with the zip at the back, a spanish topline and a zip retainer, amongst other features. The Close Contour Chap is Ariat's most premium competition chap, offering a hung leather lining, full leather exterior, elasticated fit enhancing panel and superior support, and is complimented most by the Ariat Devon Pro VX Boot as a full riding system, however it is helpful to know that any Ariat Chap can be worn with any Ariat Short Boot.
3. If you are a teenager with a very slim calf with a relatively larger foot size, or a gentleman with a slim calf but a relatively larger footsize, we find the Ariat Concord Chap, or Chorus Chap, is the easiest for people to put on themselves as they are cut slightly more generously around the ankle and over the foot, in relation to the width of the calf. The Close Contour tends to be a little more difficult as it is cut very close around the ankle, however if that is the chap you particularly want, then once ordered if you can do them up but they are just exceptionally tight, then bare with, watch some telly in them and walk about in them to warm the leather and you should find the leather and the elasticated panel does stretch off and become more comfortable.
4. If you are particularly short in the lower leg, all of the chaps come in a short height option, however specifically the Classic Chap does come up shorter, and is cut away more at the back of the knee, so this chap tends to fit a shorter leg best.
5. When measuring your leg and then comparing to the size chart, take your measurements with a pinch of salt, as the leather will stretch and the chaps all feature an elasticated stretch panel, so if your'e on the boundry of two widths size wise, we recomend you try the smaller size first.
6. FAVOURITE TIP When doing up the zip always keep one finger behind the zip, whilst pulling the zip up with the other hand - This will protect your leg / breeches from the zip, and also, prevent your leg/breeches from getting in the way of the zip, and this will make them a lot easier to do up.
