How to Fix Heel Slippage in Cowboy Boots Using 5 Simple and Easy Steps?

Purchasing a new pair of boots is not at all difficult. Still, it does take extra effort to choose and put on boots that fit properly, especially cowboy boots, since they come in a variety of designs and materials. If you find your cowboy boots’ heel slips regularly, don’t worry, it’s a common problem among boot wearers.

Briefly, here are 5 steps you will need to do to prevent heel slippage in boots:

For further details on how to fix heel slippage in cowboy boots, read below.

What You Will Need

1. Your cowboy boots

Cowboy boots are such iconic styles. Though traditionally worn by cowboys only, with the sophisticated designs and huge variety of materials and colors nowadays, they can elevate any look instantly. Besides being a fashion statement, the sturdiness and thickness of a cowboy boot is meant to protect and keep the foot firmly while walking or riding. Therefore, your cowboy boots should always fit properly to achieve their maximum potential.

If you are experiencing heel slippage in your boots, even tiny slippage once in a while, go ahead, grab them, and jump right to the next step.

2. Thick socks

The quickest and easiest way to fix heel slippage in boots is a pair of thick socks. Thick socks will help your heels fit better into the boots. A good pair of socks should fit snugly without causing cramps or tingles to your toes. Seams are flat and do not rub or pinch your foot. In case you don’t have thick socks, two pairs of regular socks are fine, but they can’t guarantee comfort. Anyway, if you have socks that you enjoy wearing, pull them out, and they will be very useful.

3. Soft fabric

The soft fabric is a nice boot heel replacement for thick socks if you don’t already own a pair. Since this piece of fabric will make contact with your foot, choose a soft one like cotton, bamboo, or wool. Avoid stiff fabric that might hurt your foot.

4. Heel pads

You can easily find heel pads, heel grips, or heel cushions in a local drug store or supermarket. They are amazing products even when you don’t experience heel slippage. Heel pads are highly recommended to be inserted into shoes that cause you discomfort. They help absorb shock and diminish tension on the heels, leaving the wearer much more comfortable and confident in their shoes.

5. Insoles

An insole or footbed is an added cushioning layer that is inserted under the bottom of the foot. However, they are also sold separately in case the wearer needs extra ones. Make sure you get the right size when purchasing insoles, as they must fit into your cowboy boots.

Steps on How to Fix Heel Slippage in Cowboy Boots

Step 1. Identify the problems

Because leather will start to stretch over time, it’s very common to find your old favorite pair of cowboy boots a bit loose one day. But don’t panic! Put them on, try walking around to identify what parts of the boots are causing you discomforts so you can solve the problem accordingly. Usually, when a pair of Western boots causes you heel slippage, it is because one of these doesn’t fit well.

• The heel: If your boots are brand new, it’s normal to have a slight slip in the heel. A new boot sole will begin to loosen up and fit you better within a few times of being worn. But if you are working with your old boots, the heel should fit snugly.
• The toes: When standing up, your toes should lightly touch the leather. If your toes push against the leather, that means the shoes are too tight.
• The width and instep: Whether your boots are new or old, the width and instep should always fit snugly. When walking with your cowboy boots on, you should hear sharp pop sounds, not long squishing sounds.

Now that you know which parts of the shoes cause your heels to slip, choose a solution correspondingly.

Step 2. Choose the right solution

• The heel

Cowboy boots have unique designs. Most of them don’t come with shoelaces, making it almost impossible to adjust the boots’ size. But lucky us boot wearers, heel pads are excellent cowboy boot heels replacements. They come in a variety of types and shapes. You can easily buy these on Amazon or a local store, but make sure they are the right size for your boots. These pads will not only get rid of the heel slippage issue but also are great for supporting the heel, relieving pain, and tension.

Another option is thick socks. The socks will help fill in your boots and prevent any heel slippage. Even though socks are easier to find than heel pads, they might leave your foot sweaty, hot, and unpleasant.

• The toes

Another unique feature of Western boots is the pointed toes, making the boots look edgy and stylish. But if your feet are a bit short, this feature will cause heel slippage.

The best bet here is to use a soft cloth and tuck it in the tip of your shoes. Make sure the cloth is soft enough. It should allow your feet to be comfy while filling in the tip of the boots entirely.

• The width and instep

If you find your cowboy boots loose at the instep, simply use a pair of thick socks, they can solve the problems.

However, if you don’t like wearing thick socks, an extra footbed that is inserted into your boots is an amazing option. A footbed will not only fill into the space but also support your arch and reduce heel pain.

Step 3. Try them on

Now that you have identified the problem and chosen the corresponding solution. Put the boots on with thick socks, heel pads, footbeds, or a soft cloth of your choice and see how they work.

Try walking around in your house, dancing if you will. Also, try walking on uneven terrain because that is where heel slippage happens most often.

Step 4. Make adjustments

As you are wearing your boots to carry out daily tasks, make adjustments if necessary. For example, you found the toes did not fit well and decided to insert a soft cloth in the tip, but still, you encountered heel slippage. Then try wearing socks to see if it gets better.

In the worst scenario, when you try all of the methods but your boots still don’t fit properly, take them to a leather worker, ask him to skive or thicken the edges of the leather so that they can fit snugly to your foot.

Step 5. Make assessments

There you have your well-fitted boots back! During your wear test, take note of the instances where you felt uncomfortable. Try to assess when something caused pain in your heel or other parts of your foot. That way, you can make further adjustments and ensure well-fitted boots.

If you plan on purchasing new boots in the future, keep in mind the most important features for a boot to fit well: the heel, the toes, the width and instep. As long as these parts fit snugly, you will not encounter heel slippage.

Conclusion

It can be tricky when choosing the right size of cowboy boots due to the stretched nature of leather. However, there are always methods you can apply to fix heel slippage in boots. At the end of the day, it’s most important to ensure protection while being confident and pleasant in your shoe. Do not let heel slippage hurt your foot. Besides of this boots, you also can refer to other boots such as steel toe boots or composite toe work boots.

Share the result you’ve got with your cowboy boots in the comment section. We can’t wait to see it. And if you found our article on how to fix heel slippage in cowboy boots helpful, don’t hesitate to share it with the people around you. It is our pleasure to have you here. Until next time!

Andrew Carnegie

Having worked in the field of personal protective equipment for over two decades, Andrew Carnegie is a specialist in the field.

At EDC, he strives to improve performance efficiency and promote workplace safety for EDC’s readers and customers. He also researches the most up-to-date equipment that has earned relevant accreditation for use in a wide range of industries and specialties.