Ariat Women's Barnyard Side Zip Boot - Western Riding Boots for Cowgirls, Comfortable & Durable Equestrian Footwear - Perfect for Horseback Riding, Ranch Work & Country Fashion

These boots are thoughtfully designed by someone who has spent a lot of time working in a barn. They are, in fact, my dream barn boots! They are easy on/off, provide excellent protection against stomping horse feet (less, maybe, than construction work boots but good enough unless your are spending your entire day working with fractious stallions and/or youngsters), reasonably light weight, with excellent oiled leather and sole construction for fast breaking in and some measure of water/mud resistance.The collar on the top of the boot is very stiff to start with but you can soften it a bit by flexing with your hands. The boots are comfortable with the zipper pulled pulled to just below the collar. After a week, I found I could even walk comfortably for short distances with the zippers undone. This is nirvana since the barn is only a little more than 100 feet from my kitchen door. I'm constantly back and forth all day and HATE to fuss with barn shoes. For doing chores like cleaning stalls, turning horses out or feeding, it's no biggie to lean down and pull the zippers up.BUT... Quality control sucks. This is why you're seeing so many different opinion about the fit.The first pair of these boots arrived and fit absolutely perfectly. I'm a 9 1/2 medium but require a wide toe box due to an old metatarsal injury. The fit was close without being tight. The insole in the foot bed was good but not perfect for my particular needs. There was just enough room to add another thin insert for a perfect correction. However, there was thread knot (from a badly finished seam) on the collar of the boot next to the top of the zipper. The knot pressed so deeply into the skin above my ankle, it left a bruise after the first wearing.Fortunately, Amazon's return/exchange program is painless so I opted to try another pair. This pair did not have the knot. Yippee!! However, the fit was just a little bit roomier. Not a wrong size. Just a roomier fit. The footbed also fit differently. Fortunately for me, this time it was perfect!! so no additional inserts required. My foot didn't move around at all in the roomier boot and there was additional space for heavy socks in the winter.A note on socks. I'm not a foot sweat-er, but my feet did sweat wearing these boots with thin nylon socks. However, I was OK in thin cotton socks and should be fine in heavier wicking winter socks when the time comes. Interestingly, the inside of the boot is well enough finished (if you don't get a pair with a thread knot) that they are comfortable (and sweat free) enough for bare feet.I've only had the boots for a few weeks but am already wondering how I survived without them. As beloved as they are, I still would have given the boots 4 1/2 stars, if possible, due to the uneven quality assurance.