The Best Boots for Your Legs

Boots: Two Annoying Problems and How to Solve Them

“My Favorite Pair Just Doesn’t Fit”

A good shoe-repair shop can make surprising alterations.

• Stretch the shafts up to a half inch: $25 to $50.
• Widen the shafts by adding up to three inches of extra material: $50 to $200.
• Insert an elastic gusset in each boot: $40 to $120.
• Take in the shafts up to six inches: $80 to $140.
• Widen the toe boxes up to a half inch: $15 to $25.
• Shorten the shafts: $40 to $100.

No reputable cobblers near you? NuShoe.com has a mail-order repair service.

“I Can Never Find My Size”

Do your feet fall on the small or large end of the spectrum? Bookmark these especially accommodating sites.

• BarefootTess.com: sizes 9 to 15.
• Endless.com: sizes 3 to 16.
• JildorShoes.com: sizes 4 to 11.
• Nordstrom.com: sizes 4 to 14.
• StuartWeitzman.com: sizes 4 to 12.