With scrawny 11.9-inch calves, I've been on a mission for years (decades!) to find the very best, most beautiful slim calf boots. There have been successes, but for whatever reason, what remain most elusive are the perfect riding boots for thin calves. Heels and wedges are challenging to find with a narrow shaft, but equestrian inspired? The toughest of all. In this blog I'll review riding boots with calf circumferences published, or reported anecdotally, at under 14 inches around. If your legs are like mine, maybe you'll find your dream boot here :)

Please note: Except where otherwise stated in the captions, all photos & text are copyright this "Howdy Slim" blog and cannot be used elsewhere without permission.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Sofft Sharnell

As promised over the summer, I'm giving the Sofft Sharnell a spin! And so glad, too, as these are some of the most comfortable boots for narrow calves I've tried on. They fit great, too :)

The Sharnell's full back lace design allows for a custom calf fit -- rejoice! I was able to tighten these boots down to 13.5" up at the top opening, 12.5" at midcalf, and 11" at the ankle. Not a record setter for us here at Howdy Slim, but pretty close.

As for shaft height, in size 7.5, these measured 15.75 inches tall.
The full inside zipper is handy, because it lets you tighten the back laces once, tie them tightly & forget about 'em from then on. The leather is soft, supple, and has a lightly pebbled texture on my pair of Sharnells; I'm not sure if that's consistent with all the color options.

An extra-nice touch is the thoughtful cushioning provided on the footbed. I haven't seen strategically placed padding quite like this before, but at least to my feet, it feels great.

The toe is maybe a bit rounder than my almond-shaped ideal, but the upside of that is comfort and space for warm socks/tights.

You'll notice in the pic at right that there's a cozy, leopard-print microfiber lining.

And there's a rubbber lugged outsole for sure footing in slippery weather.

I'm pleased with the retail price (just under $200) that will put these cute, comfy boots within reach of many readers' budgets. As you know, that's no easy find when we're hunting for a good calf fit.
Thanks Sofft!


Rating:
Beauty/style: ****/5
Value: ****/5
Calf slimness: ****/5

In black and three different brown hues. (The one pictured in this post is "Cafe Brown" - probably the darkest of the three.) 
Find it at:
Amazon (as of late 2018, I'm seeing just a "Sharnell II" version; not sure if it's the same product renamed or slightly tweaked - anyone know?)

photo c Nordstrom Rack

PS: I just stumbled across another pair of back-lacing tall boots for skinny legs that I need to share with you: Charles David's lovely Jayne style, nearly half off at Nordstrom Rack.







And finally -- if neither of the above lace-back options are available in your size and you are taller than average, consider the Vince Camuto Parle style (pictured below). I'm not nuts about the metallic accent on the heel, but at a sale price under $100, in some color/size combos, I might be able to overlook that!
photo c Amazon