Sofft Wheaton

If the Sofft Sharnell and the Freebird Wyatt had a baby, it just might be the Sofft Wheaton boot, pictured here in the "whiskey" color, size 7.5, on my small calves.

I love this boot and think you might too -- especially at the bonkers price it has dropped to (!!) in the very short time since I purchased it for almost $100 more. (And frankly, this adjustable, full-grain leather boot was a decent deal even at what I shelled out.)

Elephant in the room: At 3", this is just about the tallest heel I've showcased on this blog. My sweet spot is usually around 2.5" -- walkable, but so flatteringly leg-lengthening -- but these heels work for me thanks to the strategically "pillowed" footbed, just like the Sofft Sharnell's.

The Wheaton laces all the way down, from the very top of the shaft to the ankle. So it's easy to custom-fit to your calf. Without straining the laces, I was able to tighten the top circumference to 14" (though it looks smaller, doesn't it?), the midcalf to 12.75" and the ankle to 10.75 inches around.

Once you get these cuties adjusted, the full inside zip allows for quick on and off without retying each time. 

As with virtually all skinny calf boots that lace up, you will be left with long laces in the back. Not sure what to do about that. Small price to pay for a great calf fit, no?

If looks and comfort weren't enough, Sofft gave us a nice textured sole for slippery surfaces. They've pretty much thought of everything!

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

In black, dark brown & whiskey. Find it at:
Amazon (yes! just checked, and this can still be snagged for under $100 in many size/color combos as of early Sept :)

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

Nordies Anniversary Alert! (Better Late Than Never edition...)

photo c Nordstrom

So sorry, friends. It's been a busy summer, and reviewing boots for skinny calves has had to take a back seat. Just in the nick of time, though, I spotted this pair from Sofft -- super-promising laceup riding boots that could be ideal for skinny legs, with a (presumably) fully adjustable calf circumference. I probably won't have time to grab these for a firsthand try-on before prices go up in three days, on Aug. 8, but the full retail is still pretty reasonable at about $200, so do stop back again later to check for updated pix. If my size is still available after the sale wraps, I may pick 'em up down the road. (Note: The sale's over now, as of early Sept., but the good news is that Nordies now has 4 pretty shades available rather than the original two - and this style, the Sofft Sharnell, is indeed now priced just under $200. Certainly not unreasonable for stylish narrow calf riding boots in leather rather than synthetic materials.)

Besides its hard-to-find back-lacing tactic -- as often before, I wonder why more designers don't use this, as it's a great way to allow calf tightening without breaking up the nice long line of the boot from front & side angles -- the Sharnell offers, per its Nordstrom description, arch support via foam cushioning for the footbed. Another plus is the full side zip, allowing wearers to customize the laces just once and then zip on and off quickly thereafter. That may seem like a small thing, but when you're rushing, it's a huge bonus.

If you grab this boot before I do, please comment and let us know how it fits!