Fitting & Care

FITTING & SIZING YOUR BOOTS

Your handcrafted, artisan-made cowboy boots should be the most comfortable pairs of shoes you own. Here are some tips and guidelines for ensuring that you get the perfect fit. 

HOW SHOULD MY BOOTS GO ON AND FIT?

Your boots should fit firm across the instep at the top of your foot, like a solid handshake where shoelaces would normally be. Your toes should have room to wiggle, and should sit back 1" to 1 1/2" from the tip of the boot. It is important to have a bit of heel slippage in a new boot, with the heel coming up 1/4" to 1" while walking. Once the boot breaks in, the slip will lessen. 

If you encounter a little resistance getting boots on at first, this is normal! It is best to slip your foot into the boot while seated, and then stand up and pull the side tabs. If you have a high instep, you may have to pull harder and/or use the plastic bag we provide inside the box to assist you until the boot breaks in. You may also feel some friction in the ankles. If that happens you can put your hand in the boot with some conditioner and rub the area until it get softer. Gradually, the slippage and any tightness will go away as the leather breaks in.

IF YOUR BOOT FEELS TOO TIGHT:

  • Have a shoemaker or repair shop stretch it
  • Send it to us to stretch
  • Wear a thick sock with the boot for the a week
  • Wear a thinner sock
  • Have a friend with bigger foot wear 'em around a little :)

IF YOUR BOOT FEELS TOO LOOSE:

  • Insert padded insoles for size adjustment and extra cushion
  • Wear a thicker sock
  • Re-last the boot to a smaller size (we can do this for you, so contact us!)

CARING FOR YOUR BOOTS

Congratulations on your new boots! The handcrafted boots we sell at Space Cowboy are of the highest quality and are built to last for many years with only a little care. That being said, here are a few tips we recommend taking in order to ensure that you and your boots stay happy. 

  • Get a pair of shoe shapers. We recommend retaining the boots' shape by putting in the shapers as soon as you take them off. They will preserve the original shape and prevent the boot from potential sagging. Shoe Shapers by Planet Cowboy will soon be available to purchase online at our shop.
  • Preserve the leather sole with mink oil. Mink oil is a must if you want to preserve the original leather sole, and especially if you live in inclement weather. We suggest applying the oil on the sole, sides of the sole, and heel of the boot at least once a month or as much as needed. Doing so will prevent the soles and heels from drying out and splitting. Mink oil is also a great waterproofer (not that you should go trekking through rivers or ponds). 
  • Condition the leather. At Space Cowboy we highly recommend Blackrock Leather n' Rich which you can find here. Use the Blackrock monthly or as needed to condition and moisturize the leather. Be thorough and neat when conditioning. For an aged look, conditioning is not needed as often.
  • Keep the welt stitch clean. You should brush the welt stitching with a soft bristle toothbrush or any small brush every month or so.
  •  Get Vibram rubber on bottom sole. If you walk around on pavement a lot, soon enough you're going to put a hole in the original leather. Re-lasting a boot is expensive, so rubber is the way to go. You'll want to add rubber after the boot is completely broken in, which should take around one week depending on how often you're sporting your new kicks.
  • Dry boots at room temperature, not with heat or a blow dryer! If the boots do get very wet, just set them down in a room temperature area. When your boots are dry, condition them using the Blackrock Leather n' Rich to retain the leather's natural moisture. Any applied heat will dry out the leather and cause it to crack, so please avoid!