Take Two

My second pair of Tredstep Ireland Raphael Long Leather Boots arrived today. I ordered them a size down from the pair I got last week (LINK). I am annoyingly between shoe sizes and needed to try both to see which fit better. I will be keeping the smaller size methinks.

New size 39 pair

Vs

First pair size 40

The smaller pair fit so much better around my calf. I have also tried to capture comparison shots where the larger pair had quite a bit of excess under my knees. However boot selfies aren't easy to take, so apologies if the weird bunching doesn't really come across in the side-by-sides.

39 on left / 40 on right
39s are much tighter around my calf and
don't have the empty excess beside the tags

39 on left / 40 on right
Massive unnecessary excess bulge behind the calf
and a smaller bulge beside the leather strap at the top of the boot

Again 39 on left / 40 on right
Large bulge still evident behind the calf of size 40
 & bulge by the TS leather label.
 I'm a bit saddened to see the leather TS strap
 also bulging on the 39s. Hopefully this won't cause problems later

I am hoping they will drop a bit behind the knee as sitting on a horse will be interesting till they do ;-)

Close ups of some of the details.
The size 39 right boot is a little floppy @ the ankle when empty
 & the top is a little bent over on itself (bottom left image)
but I am hopeful with proper care and inflatable inserts
when not in use the leather will straighten back out

I remember the bruises I had from my ProG2 gaiters when I got them a few years back and cannot wait for these boots to be like the second skin my gaiters were. Fingers crossed I can ride in these at the weekend!

I can't think of a more inspirational way to "break in"
New boots than watching Puissance jumping from Olympia

These are my first pair of tall boots, can you wonderfully knowledgeable blog readers please give me tips and advice as to how to treat them and keep them in good nick? ☺

Right boot getting tucked in with its inflatable
i'm hoping it will support the floppy top;
there is little difference when on...although
maybe that's why the leather strap bulges
on that boot & not the other one.
Or it could just be that my right calf is chunkier;
it sure seems that way when the boots are on in any case
*blush*

Also I may have tried them on over the skinny jeans I wore to work - so will have to see how I like the fit when I wear them with breeches. Fingers crossed they fit even better!