I recently ordered a pair of Ariat Heritage II Field Zip Boots from Stateline Tack in a size 7, full calf.  When they arrived, I found them to be unbearably tight around the calf.  I figured they would get better if I just rode in them.  Not so!  The only way I could ride in them was to leave the zipper down about three inches.  I couldn't walk more than 200 feet with the zippers up all the way.  I finally decided to throw in the towel and exchange them for a size 7, wide calf.  But they are ridiculously wide.  I'm apparently between a full and a wide (my calf measures 14.5").  I had my heart set on Ariat because I love my Heritage II Paddock boots, but it doesn't look like the field boots are going to work for me.  Does anyone know of a similar quality field boot that would better fit a 14.5" calf?  I live really far away from any tack shops, so I'm pretty much forced to do the mail-order thing.  Paying the shipping costs to return the boots is getting old!  Thanks!

  Ovations are decent for the price, just be sure to put some gel inserts into the bottom of the boots, or just get them resoled like I did.

  You coud try a different style of Ariat's some of them just fit differently.  I have heard that the Crownes are really nice!

Sidesaddle1026:

You coud try a different style of Ariat's some of them just fit differently.  I have heard that the Crownes are really nice!

You could look at the Ariat Challenge boots too. That's what I am going to get. We couldn't find any Heritage boots that fit me. The Challenge are a bit more expensive than the Heritage but still not as costly as customs. 

I have a pair of ariat tall boots that were pretty tight (cut off the circulation on my calves and make them throb!). Unfortunately I'm between Slim and a Regular and I didn't want to buy another pair. I took them to a boot repair store and they used some special device to stretch them out in the calf area. They're still pretty snug, but comfortably so. And there are no visable signs of being 'messed with'. I think it was like, $10? And completely worth it! 

I've got Sergio Grasso's. They're pretty pricey, but  they're a better quality boot than Der Dao, Ariat, Vogel, etc. I really dislike Ariats. I feel they're overpriced for the quality and the fit. Most people like Ariats but most of those people have never owned anything other than Ariat. After having my sergio grasso's, I will never ever buy a pair of Ariat field boots. Before I got my sergio grasso's, I had grand prix field boots and I actually like those a lot. They're obviously not the quality of the sergo grasso but they're far better quality than ariat.

Thanks for your suggestion about the Grand Prix field boots.  After sending back the two pairs of Ariat boots, I was all set to order a pair of Elite boots by Grand Prix.  Unfortunately, they were on back order for several weeks and I wanted them sooner than that so I would have a chance to break them in a little before my next show.  I ended up going with Tuff Rider zip field boots.  They were less expensive than the Ariats, but to be honest, I don't really notice much of a difference in quality and they fit perfectly.  As I get more and more serious about showing, I'm sure I'll end up with custom boots, but for right now the Tuff Riders will do.  And thanks for the tip about Sergio Grasso's.  Good to know you prefer them to Vogel.  Thanks for your help!

Darn - I wish I would have known that before I sent that first pair of Ariats back.  I guess I just assumed anything done by a boot repair shop would cost a fortune.  But at any rate I found a pair of Tuff Rider's that fit great.  Thanks!