Via Spiga Bufu

With August & September will come a new crop of riding boots, including -- I am sure -- at least a few promising boots for skinny calves. But almost none of these will come at the reasonable prices we've come to expect in the offseason. So this may be my last "bargain alert" post for a while.

Luckily I've got a pretty Via Spiga boot to offer up, perhaps especially appropriate for those looking for something polished enough for the office as well as more casual environments.

In a size 8, the Bufu boot measures 14.75 at the very top. Not so impressively slim, right? But at midcalf it's a nice slim 12.5", and the ankle is 10.5, adding up to a decent overall slimness.

There's a 2-inch-wide stretch goring panel on the inside and outside of each boot, plus a very pretty buckle detailat the ankle -- one of the subtlest I've seen, thanks to its soft silver finish.

I'm less nuts about the slightly curved-in-back shaft that adds the illusion of calf curve where I've got none. (The idea appeals; the reality, not so much.)

This is a pull-on boot -- no zipper. I had no trouble getting it off and on, but I did need to use the loops at top back to do so.

The sole isn't very textured at all, so if you need an industrial-strength grip, these aren't the boots for you.

Shaft height in size 8 is about 16 inches -- right around my ideal height, but if you're on the short side, measure your calf to see if that's going to be too tall.
 
Rating:
Beauty: ****/5
Value: ****/5
Calf slimness: ****/5

In brown or black.
Find it at:
Sold out at all the usual suspects -- only ebay has this one as of early 2018

PS: Via Spiga's Prish is another promising pair of tall boots for skinny legs. Heavily discounted in some color/size combos.