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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    How is Boot Height Measured

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    • GilesG
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined:

      Courtesy Big Black Boots…

      The official height specification for a pair of boots refers to how high the boots are on your leg when being worn. So the height is measured inside the boots from the sole up to the boot top... usually along the back of the boots. The measurement on the outside of the boots from floor to boot top is not what we refer to when we say "boot height".

      For pull-on boots things make sense. A 16" pull up boot should come 16" up your legs when new. As they break in they'll sag some as the ankles crease.

      Lace-up boots, on the other hand, don't make much sense. All US made lace-up boots sold are about an inch shorter than the stated height. That includes the standard 10" combat boot.

      Here's how this all came about. When you look at the standard regular-toe logger boots there are 10 sets of eyelets in what is called a 10" boot and 12 set of eyelets in a 12" boot etc.. The lace-to-toe styles have 2 extra rows of eyelets - the semi-lace-to-toe styles have 1 extra row of eyelets.

      Since the eyelets on US made boots are 1 inch apart, people used to estimate the height of lace-up boots by the number of eyelets because of the curve in the row of eyelets as they bend down the instep towards the toe, the boots are actually about 1" shorter than the number of eyelets. So a pair of boots that is described as 10” high is usually about 9" high and this goes for all heights. A pair of 20" lace up boots will come 19" up your legs. This 1 inch discrepancy applies to all lace-up boots made in the US including government issue combat boots.

      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • O
        Omega Man
        Haraki san Student
        Joined:

        Wesco mentioned this in their custom build menu:  http://www.westcoastshoe.com/wesco/home.asp click on Men's Custom, click on Jobmaster, custom-build your boots and go to Demo build.

        Edit:  Should work now.

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • GilesG
          Giles
          IHUK Crew
          Joined:

          Link no work (for me at least)

          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • bagley920B
            bagley920
            Joined:

            Works for me. Not a fan of anything higher than a 6" boot, or technically a 5" boot.

            If I am not I, who will be? -Henry David Thoreau

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • C
              CLJ
              Raw and Unwashed
              Joined:

              Interesting post.

              When does a shoe become a boot and vice versa?

              To me, a 5" cut Whites semi dress looks more like a shoe. 8" and up it looks like a boot.

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • injunjackI
                injunjack
                見習いボス
                Joined:

                Boots don't have laces…

                But that reflects the finnish language in my thinking.

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • GilesG
                  Giles
                  IHUK Crew
                  Joined:

                  Must do, because everyone of the good bootmakers calls their lace-ups boots.  But hey, maybe none of them know what they are doing…..

                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • scroogenS
                    scroogen
                    Joined:

                    Boots are
                    leather or some other sturdy material
                    may or may not have laces
                    protect your feet
                    bigger than a shoe
                    hefty enough to smash a cat
                    ….ok i think its bed time

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • injunjackI
                      injunjack
                      見習いボス
                      Joined:

                      @Giles:

                      Must do, because everyone of the good bootmakers calls their lace-ups boots.  But hey, maybe none of them know what they are doing…..

                      Well, in finnish language all footwear that have laces are called something that translates to "shoes" and the ones without laces translates "boots" then ofcourse there is different definitions of the purpose.

                      exception; ski boots, cross country or slalom are called "monot" which is plural, "mono" is singular.

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • supersalamiS
                        supersalami
                        Joined:

                        then how are boot laces measured? i'm still lost as to what length to buy!

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • Finn666F
                          Finn666
                          Joined:

                          @supersalami:

                          then how are boot laces measured? i'm still lost as to what length to buy!

                          from end to end buddy!
                          just measure the laces and cop some in that length (or longer/shorter)!…

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • urbanwoodsmanU
                            urbanwoodsman
                            Banned
                            Joined:

                            @Finn666:

                            @supersalami:

                            then how are boot laces measured? i'm still lost as to what length to buy!

                            from end to end buddy!
                            just measure the laces and cop some in that length (or longer/shorter)!…

                            Haha. Who knew it could be so easy!

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • Finn666F
                              Finn666
                              Joined:

                              😉

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • supersalamiS
                                supersalami
                                Joined:

                                Haha I know that's 1 way! but I wanna buy for my new pair of white's that are coming in that are of a different height than my current! so….... there is really no way for me to measure something that isn't here yet!

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • natehateN
                                  natehate
                                  啓蒙家
                                  Joined:

                                  email whites and ask them?

                                  don't you know there ain't no devil? only god when he's drunk!

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • tatmantallT
                                    tatmantall
                                    Joined:

                                    @supersalami:

                                    then how are boot laces measured? i'm still lost as to what length to buy!

                                    Buy the longest ones you can find 72" plus…. Cut to desired size once in boot.....

                                    Assuming rawhide I guess

                                    "I know to you it may sound strange, but I wish it would rain…"- The Temptations

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • GilesG
                                      Giles
                                      IHUK Crew
                                      Joined:

                                      I always buy the longest leather laces I can and then cut to exactly the size I want…

                                      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • Chiba J.C
                                        Chiba J.
                                        Joined:

                                        So, based on the very helpful info in this thread, if I want to know how high a 16" lace up boot (LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoe) will ride up my leg, I can measure up 15" from the floor when standing barefoot?

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • J
                                          jdl1279
                                          Joined:

                                          If the heel/sole measures around 1 inch, then yes approximately 15" from the floor barefoot. One thing about wearing cowboy boots frequently, you learn how to measure height quickly. 😃 That's a pretty tall boot, even for someone with long legs.

                                          Bourbon: because living in Kentucky just makes you want to drink

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • Chiba J.C
                                            Chiba J.
                                            Joined:

                                            Thanks. Looking around at comments over on the Bean site, it looks like their 16" comes up about 14".

                                            I think these 16" look pretty good.

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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