Boot Shaft Height

[Trouser Bark]

I've always had several pairs of boots in rotation and I've bought what appealed to me ATM rather than researched what might have been a better decision. I've got some that are 4" and others that are 18" and I mostly wear them as daily footwear to the office and client meetings, etc. though every once in a while I can be found in a trench, construction site or industrial facility so what I wear often needs to be capable.

Several of you have put more thought into your boots than I've ever considered and I'd like your view on shaft height. IMHO a tall and narrow boot shaft is a hassle and having to buy pants to accommodate a wide boot calf doesn't sound fun but height... is there an ideal?

I've been looking at picking up a couple pair, one a shoe; Wesco's Romeo. The other something closer to a Wesco Morrison or maybe even a motor patrol or engineer although I don't need a full on clunky boot. The decision though keeps worming its way back to shaft height.

To put this in perspective I'll peddle ten or more pair of boots and buy something in a CXL that I could enjoy much more regularly. I want to make an informed choice rather than just buying another novelty.

What say you?

 

[TartuWolf]

I've tried "heritage" style heavy shoes or shoe height boots a few times and did not like the feeling at all, just does not hug the ankle enough.
My 5" White's semi-dress feel very nice and seem like an absolutely minimum in terms of shaft height for a pair of proper boots in terms of lock-in / comfort..
Anything above that just increases the feeling of security and stability, especially off road.

I'd love a pair of 8" lugged waxed-flesh logger tanks but probably would not taller than that for laced footwear.
Also a big fan of how these 8" leather soled soft toe White's packers look:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DHRVDM5vTjA/?img_index=1

Although, for example, the Clinch 12" Hi-liners are an attractive novelty boot with the slim, slick and soft-toe appearance. Gives off very old-timey vibes. Like a cavalry horse riding boot.

Visually it only makes a difference if you wear your pants tucked in or rolled up, otherwise everything gets covered up by pants anyway.

In terms of feel / comfort the extra hug and stability should feel pretty nice with taller boots.

Non-laced boots are a different story. There at least 8" seems like a no-brainer to me, hate the look of short engineers or other types of pull-ons. But in that case the pant leg width comes into play where as with laced boots it does not.

 

[Guppy]

I think for most people the ideal shaft height for boots is between 6" and 10".

There's a practical need for hip waders, so it's not like there's a "stopping point" above which a boot becomes ridiculous, exactly, but they're really specialized.

I personally prefer 8" shaft height as a good balance overall between ankle support and stability and not too much stiffness or weight. 6" is a good height, as it offers some ankle support and good protection, and is easier to wear, put on, and take off. 8" is a little extra work to put on, but minimal, and it offers more support and protection. 10" is also very supportive, but pushes the limits of what I'd consider for all-day, everyday wear. It's definitely overkill if you aren't spending a lot of time outdoors and on your feet, but it's still a very wearable height. Putting them on and taking them off becomes an event.

Above 10" I think you start getting into impractical territory. There are some professions where a 12"+ boot is really practical or even necessary, but very few people do that sort of work, and I haven't done it myself, so I'll refrain from commenting, other than to say that having worn 10" boots, it's difficult for me to imagine how a taller boot would offer advantages or enable the wearer to do things better than they could in a 10" boot. But if you're a logger, a lineman, or fight forest fires, and you prefer a 12" or taller boot, I'm not going to argue with you.

The other group of people who like boots with a shaft 12" or higher tend to be boot ******ists, or just wanting to make an extreme fashion statement.

Below a 6" shaft height, and boots start to feel more like shoes. A <6" boot still has a more rugged construction than a typical shoe, but it feels more like wearing a shoe to me.

 

[Bfd70]

Lace ups = 6 or 8
Western/engineer = 10 or 11

 

[Trouser Bark]

The other group of people who like boots with a shaft 12" or higher tend to be boot ******ists,

Oh man. I never really thought of myself as being in a category but I think you may have nailed it. Ouch!

I'll post a pic tonight that'll probably shed some light on the problem.

 

[Trouser Bark]

Lace ups = 6 or 8
Western/engineer = 10 or 11

Interesting. Makes sense and dovetails w/ Guppy's comment about putting lace ups on being an event w/ tall boots.

 

[AeroFan_07]

I think for most people the ideal shaft height for boots is between 6" and 10".

There's a practical need for hip waders, so it's not like there's a "stopping point" above which a boot becomes ridiculous, exactly, but they're really specialized.

I personally prefer 8" shaft height as a good balance overall between ankle support and stability and not too much stiffness or weight. 6" is a good height, as it offers some ankle support and good protection, and is easier to wear, put on, and take off. 8" is a little extra work to put on, but minimal, and it offers more support and protection. 10" is also very supportive, but pushes the limits of what I'd consider for all-day, everyday wear. It's definitely overkill if you aren't spending a lot of time outdoors and on your feet, but it's still a very wearable height. Putting them on and taking them off becomes an event.

Above 10" I think you start getting into impractical territory. There are some professions where a 12"+ boot is really practical or even necessary, but very few people do that sort of work, and I haven't done it myself, so I'll refrain from commenting, other than to say that having worn 10" boots, it's difficult for me to imagine how a taller boot would offer advantages or enable the wearer to do things better than they could in a 10" boot. But if you're a logger, a lineman, or fight forest fires, and you prefer a 12" or taller boot, I'm not going to argue with you.

The other group of people who like boots with a shaft 12" or higher tend to be boot ******ists, or just wanting to make an extreme fashion statement.

Below a 6" shaft height, and boots start to feel more like shoes. A <6" boot still has a more rugged construction than a typical shoe, but it feels more like wearing a shoe to me.

Guppy summed it up perfectly here.

I would only add - for me Engineer's should be 10 - 11", I also am not a fan of shorter shaft pull-on boots.

And I have no interest in any Zip-open boots either.

 

[TLW '90]

Below a 6" shaft height, and boots start to feel more like shoes. A <6" boot still has a more rugged construction than a typical shoe, but it feels more like wearing a shoe to me.

That is very true.
I love my Jim Green bellies but they wear and feel like a rugged high top shoe, not a boot even though they technically count as a type of boot as far as I know.

 

[Pandemic]

I mostly wear 5” Chelsea boots, but for engineers 8” to 10” (though they all collapse to something closer to 8-9” eventually) and lace-ups 6” is most practical. There is a nice feeling strutting around in 8 to 10” lace-ups, kinda like 25oz denim … though no practical advantage. My army issue dress boots were 8”, but I bought my own 11” boots because they looked better

 

[AeroFan_07]

You know there is one very practical reason for 8"+ height shaft boots, which honestly most of my lace-ups are. I first saw this sign in South Dakota, and was glad I had 10" tall Whites on my feet.

 

[Trouser Bark]

You know there is one very practical reason for 8"+ height shaft boots, which honestly most of my lace-ups are. I first saw this sign in South Dakota, and was glad I had 10" tall Whites on my feet.

A good set of snake boots are commonly 17" high and irregular terrain or brush can make that seem low. Be careful.

 

[Tom71]

Lace ups = 6 or 8
Western/engineer = 10 or 11

+1.

 

[8 0722]

My sweet spot is 8" lace ups and 11" engineers.

 

[Trouser Bark]

Thank you for the insight, Gentlemen. I've attached a couple pics to show you what I've got now and my hope is to trim it down by 1/2 or more, this time with some well thought out choices.

That pair in the middle foreground are Doc Martens that I've tweaked for walking in the woods during winter months. Martens **** on snow and ice... they're probably at least as slick as a leather sole but short screws make up for that in a huge way. Pic below of how to mod.

The pics are a little tough to put in order within the site's jpg loader but...
Left to Right and Back to Front:

- Frye (I think) harness
- Cowboy boots custom made in Mexico
- Lineman's boots
- I *think* they're YSL's and made to look like an engineer's boot but mid-duty at best
- Herman Survivors / -20*f insulated / tan
- Herman Survivors / -20*f insulated / green
- Chippewa m/c boots / wrecked in, tough, and worth much more than they cost
- Fox MX
- White's Semi-Dress
- Stoners
- Doc Martens
- Danner Pronghorns / super comfy - love 'em
- Stoners
- Doc Martens / screwed
- Danner light wt hikers / handmade in Portland, OR

Not sure which all I want to put in the wind but I've got too many pair beside the bed so the herd will be thinned.

 

[Trouser Bark]

Back row / left
- Not Frye... they're Double H

Back row / right
- Not YSL... they're Ralph Lauren

 

[AeroFan_07]

Nice collection and honestly does not seem excessive to me either.
Something for nearly every situation.

 

[Trouser Bark]

Nice collection and honestly does not seem excessive to me either.
Something for nearly every situation.

You Sir, are an enabler of the finest kind.