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If you have wider calves, you’ll understand the struggle of shopping for a stylish winter boot for your wardrobe.
Too many times you may have ordered a pair online only to find the zip barely goes up halfway, or if it does, leaves your legs feeling squashed within an inch of your life.
Standard boots, especially knee-high ones, are often cut with a surprisingly narrow shaft. That means anyone with fuller calves, athletic legs or ankles that swell after a long day on their feet can end up pinched in pain or simply locked out of the season’s best styles.
However, the good news is the high street has finally caught up, with wide-leg and wide-fit boots no longer an afterthought.
So, we made it our mission to trawl all the big brands to find the very best.
Our shopping guide spans glossy knee-highs, western-inspired leather, soft suede riding boots and heeled ankle styles, all made with extra room around the calf, foot, or both.
Before you start shopping, remember: wide-calf boots offer more space around the leg, while wide-fit boots offer extra room across the foot, instep and toe.
Plus, a good pair of boots can see you through all of winter, from smartening up your work wardrobe to wearing to all your Christmas parties, Tube carriages and cobbled streets.
Here’s our favourite styles from River Island, H&M, M&S and more, with options for the budget-conscious or those with more money to spend, across heeled and flat designs.
The best wide-leg boots for winter
River Island Brown Wide Fit Square Toe High Leg Boot
If you’re looking for proper high-heeled boots for party season, nights out and getting glammed up, head to River Island. This chocolate brown pair have a chic square toe, zip fastening and block heel in sizes three to eight. We’ll be wearing them with mini and midi skirts and dresses
Buy Now for £66
H&M Knee-High Boots
This pair are currently on sale at H&M, reduced from £54.99 to £41, and comes with rave reviews from shoppers for their true-to-size, comfortable fit. One five-star review says: 'Love these boots! Love them even more because boots normally hug my calves and I didn't want these to, and they don't. Really lovely-looking boot.' Shop them now in glossy black or brown.
Buy Now for £41 (was £54.99)
Stradivarius Wide-Leg Kitten Heel Boots
If you want to ditch the darkness of black but still need a universal colour that pairs with the rest of your wardrobe, try khaki. These kitten-heel boots have a low heel that’s easy to walk in and won’t leave you with blisters, plus a wide shaft that fits all leg sizes.
Buy Now for £59.99
M&S Chelsea Flat Ankle Boots
A Chelsea boot is a timeless design that’s especially good for slipping on and off easily, for days spent on your feet, and for wearing under trousers. This black pair from M&S is proving popular already with shoppers, and comes in regular and wide-fitting sizes.
Buy Now for £36
New Look Wide Fit Dark Brown Faux Suede Knee High Riding Boots
You can’t go wrong with brown suede in winter, and this flat pair comes in a wide-fit design in sizes three to nine. They have extra room across the insole, joint, and instep, with side loop pulls and a zip, so there’ll be no faff getting them on or off.
Buy Now for £55.99
Mango Leather Block-Heel Boots
Block heels offer more stability, so walking over cobbled streets and uneven pavements is less stressful. We love the western style of these knee-high boots, made in real leather, so they're not only an investment that will get better with time, but the soft, buttery texture is ideal for wider calves.
Buy Now for £109.99
Dune Wide Fit Pointed Toe Heel Ankle Boots
Give your calves a rest with this heeled ankle boot from Dune. Like others on our list, it comes in regular or wide-fit sizing. This review from a customer called Jodi has us convinced: 'Very lovely elegant boots, second pair I’ve bought in a different colour. Wore first pair a lot last winter and amazed at how comfortable they are! They go with everything and I always get compliments when I wear them. Sexy, stylish and you can walk in them without crippling pain! My absolute favourites.'
Buy Now for £139.99Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
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