Let me tell you about my latest pair of ladies Justin boots. They have pink tops and brown ostrich vamps. The vamp is the lower part of the boot, or the foot section, as I call it. These boots feature a walking-style heel and the newer, broad-toe design. They're very striking! As with my other Justin boots, I'm happy with the fit.
The B-width is good, not too wide, so your feet are secure and comfortable. This is important, because the A-width is not commonly offered by many bootmakers or shoemakers either, it seems. Everyone has gone to "medium." How to get the best fit? Once you have a good boot, it's in the socks! Tailor your choice of sock - do not wear bulky socks. This may be good with clod-hoppers or motorcycle boots, but not western or cowboy boots. The tighter the boot, the thinner your sock must be. Choose smooth socks; avoid the nubby, chunky knits. Socks with silk content are good. Dress-type socks are good, such as the Gold Toe brand that's made of nylon. The finer and smoother the sock material, the happier your feet will be.
Craftsmanship on this pair of boots is great - and they're made in the USA! Unlike some companies, Justin still makes many of its products here in America. Justin will list whether the boot is made in America or overseas. Stitching along the soles is tight. Stitching up on the tops for the western design is precise, with three colors of thread. Watch for the stitching; make sure it's neat and lined up. Even if you've never evaluated this before, I feel sure you'll know when you see bad stitching! But Justin has good quality control, so if you see stitching that's "off" you're not looking at a pair of Justin's!
I've been a customer of Justin boots for years. In fact I've always been happy with their product, and so have many others, because Justin has been in business for over 100 years. Let's talk price. There are cheaper brands out there, but don't waste your money. The lesser brands are often uncomfortable and of course are not as well-made. Go ahead, try some on and you'll see. Don't compromise your foot health. In this case you will get what you pay for. Your Justin boots will last for years.
The Internet has made sale shopping easier than ever before, so if cost is an issue, look for the sales, plus some stores offer free shipping on your boot purchase. Justin now owns Chippewa Boots, and offers logger, packer, and traditional work boots through them. They even offer a snake-proof boot built for women! Often women who need these specialty types of boot will purchase men's boots. For instance, if you wear a women's shoe size 8, you probably already know you take a man's size 6. But more than likely, such boots won't be a perfect fit. They may feel OK in the store, but your feet will hate you later after you spend hours standing and moving around. But don't worry, ladies Justin boots are here too.
Justin makes its boots for women on a women's last. The last is the foundation they build the boot on. This ensures a good fit for a woman's foot structure. A cowboy told me once, "There's no reason you should have to wear a boot made on a man's last!" He said that since it wasn't a good fit, my foot was compensating and moving wrong. Would you disagree with a man who had the guts to climb onboard an angry bull? I don't think so! Take my advice; look at ladies Justin boots the next time you're shopping for footwear!
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Millard Hiner editor of
New Balance Women Walking Shoes and author many footwear articles and reviews has a collection of these on the new website
New Balance Clearance Shoes which has a lot of footwear information on a wide range of brands.
