video of Rod Patrick giving a presentation on cowboy boot shoe fitting at the 2013 National Finals Rodeo
- boot fitting like 50 or 60 years ago
- 4 to 17, EEE to AAAA (“quad A”)
-
everybody can wear about 2, 3, 4 different sizes, but boot fitting is really two sizes: it’s length and width
- fit front metatarsal back to heel [arch length]
- built to flex at a particular point [vamp crease]
-
at end of the steel arch in there
- hinge on the foot
-
lie those two hinge points up
- need widths “to hold you in through the arch with a snug fit”
- Ds and EEs in store
- most people fit a bit short
- have to go short to keep boot from falling off
- cramping toes
- Japanese boot binding
- “as we age, our feet get bigger anyway”
- example fitting
- look at current boots
- rolling over in the heel?
- pushing out over the welt
- toe pressure further forward than would like
- pull boot off, should be snug
- shape of toes
- little toes curling under => wearing boots too short
- Brannock Device
- “not an exact science”, starting point
- most important: arch length
- use sitting down
- don’t worry about toe measurement
- measuring 12½
- in 11Ds now
- volume constant as go down in lenght, up in width and vice-versa
- try a 12½B
- silicone spray, since his sock is damp, for easy entry
- “critical fit”
- fit chairs built about 32 inches off the ground
- guys cross legs and try to slap boots on their toe, end up pulling on crooked
- hear thud when boot pulled on
- a little snug through entry
- check snug across instep
- not drum-y tight
- find metatarsal at break point
- find toe void
- no pressure on toes at all
- in a year, might be a 13A
- “I used to wear a 9B, I now where a 12½AAAA”
- put a 13A
- metatarsal still good, toe space still good
- walk around a bit
- customer will probably try a boot and say “you got me!”
- all hand-lasted
- all leather
- lemonwood pegs expand and contract
- 10/11 iron sole
- built in León
- thousands of leathers available, stitch patterns
- 25 in-stock styles
- have EEs to AAAs on hand at the event