Do Capitan boots run big?
Capitan boots run true to your Brannock size, which is similar to how most sneakers and dress shoes fit. If you’ve ever worn Ariat or Tecovas boots, they fit similarly. Order the size you most often get with shoes and you’ll likely have the right fit for your Capitan boots.
I recently picked up a few pairs of Capitan boots, the new men’s cowboy boot brand from Lane boots.
I ordered two different sizes because I wasn’t entirely sure which to get. One fits just right, and the other is a bit small.
In this sizing guide, I’m going to compare how Capitan boots fit against some other major brands you may have tried, like Ariat and Tecovas. Ultimately, I want you to get the right size for your feet the first time.
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Capitan Boots Sizing
Capitan boots fit true to size. What does that mean exactly?
If you’ve ever gone into a shoe store and had your foot measured on that metal device—that’s called a Brannock device and it’ll give you a number and letter: that’s your foot size.
So for me, my foot size is a 10.5D.
You’re already familiar with the lengths (10, 10.5, 11, etc.), but you may not be familiar with widths.
Standard width for boots is “D.” You’ll also often find wide “E” widths, or even “EE,” and “EEE.”
If it’s been a long time since you’ve had your foot measured in a Brannock device, I highly recommend doing so. It takes five minutes and can save you a ton of time and money in returned boots (I’ve returned enough boots to know).
For example, a lot of guys might be a 10EE size, but they’re so used to D width sneakers that they think they’re a size 11. When it comes to buying boots, that can be a major issue. They get the 11D size when they’re really a 10EE, and that can lead to deflated toe boxes or heel slip in the long run.
Cheyenne features a distressed cowhide leather upper, and while I'm not crazy about the look, some people absolutely love it, and I don't hold it against them.
Capitan boots follow that Brannock device.
So because I’m a 10.5D on the Brannock, I picked up a 10.5D in Capitan boots and they fit perfectly.
I also got a size 10D, just in case Capitan sized their boots more like other heritage boot brands like Red Wing or Wolverine (which are both a half size large), and while the Capitan boots fit and I can wear them, they’re not as comfortable as my 10.5D Capitans.
Capitan boots are good quality and fairly priced. These boots are crafted with a Goodyear welt, butyl-leather sole, lemonwood pegs, and a whole lot of leather in the heel and insole. Personally, I like Tecovas better for a few reasons, but if you love the wide square toe, the quality is fair for the price with Capitan.
How Does Capitan Sizing Compare with Ariat and Tecovas?
I understand if you don’t want to go through the trouble of getting your foot measured.
I’m willing to bet that you might already have a pair of Ariat boots in your garage right now.
Get the same size Capitan boots as you would your Ariats.
So if you’re a size 11D in Ariat boots, get the 11D with Capitan boots, too.
The same is true for Tecovas as well.
In fact, most cowboy boots run true to size in my experience.
However, if you have a collection of cowboy boots, note whether you mainly have square toe or pointed toe boots. Because if you’re used to pointed toe cowboy boots, you may be ordering your boots a bit larger to accommodate your toes.
Does the Square Toe Affect How Capitan Boots Fit?
I’d say about 15% of guys in the US have wide toes, but don’t necessarily have wide feet. The “waist” of their foot (below the ankle and around the arch) might be a D width, but their toes splay out in a manner that you might see more with a wide EE or EEE width.
In that case, a wider square toe like Capitan offers can be a huge benefit for you.
Some brands like Tecovas have a more pointed toe, which I personally prefer over the square toe. I think it looks sleek and awesome, and I don’t have any comfort issues with a more pointed toe. But my toes don’t exceed the width of my foot at all (which is standard).
Do your toes splay out beyond the width of the rest of your foot? If so, you may not need a wider size—the larger square toe box of Capitan boots might offer enough room for your toes to spread out while keeping your ankle and arch supported.
The matte, sanded finish on this bull-hide boot, combined with the square toe means this boot is all about given 'em the business.
Capitan Boots Size Chart
The best method of finding your size is to get your foot measured with a Brannock device. The second best method is to compare to other boots you already have.
But if you’re still not sure, you can use the Capitan boots size chart above to get a different idea of which foot lengths correspond to Capitan’s different boot sizes.
Designed in 1927, The Brannock foot-measuring device is a must in all retail footwear stores. Specially calibrated for men's footwear, measures size 4 to 16, width sizes 3A to 3E.
Still, this size chart doesn’t give you any indication on foot width, which is why it’s imperfect (but I still think it can be helpful).
However, if you’re used to getting your boots in European sizing or in UK sizing, you can easily convert those sizing conventions to US with the chart above as well.
Capitan boots are good quality and fairly priced. These boots are crafted with a Goodyear welt, butyl-leather sole, lemonwood pegs, and a whole lot of leather in the heel and insole. Personally, I like Tecovas better for a few reasons, but if you love the wide square toe, the quality is fair for the price with Capitan.
Giddy Up
Getting the correct size for your Capitan boots is pretty straight forward. But I know how disappointing it can feel when you open up a fresh box of boots, get hit with that beautiful scent of leather, and then try on your boots and realize they don’t fit at all…
If you follow this guide, you won’t have to deal with any returns. You’ll be able to get correctly sized Capitan boots the first time.
Now if you want a recommendation on Capitan boots, you can read my full Capitan boots review.
I got the Cheyenne and Lubbock, and while I found some QC issues on the Lubbock, I must say that it’s been my favorite of the two. I love that sanded bull-hide leather.
Cheyenne features a distressed cowhide leather upper, and while I'm not crazy about the look, some people absolutely love it, and I don't hold it against them.
FAQs
Are Capitan boots true to size?
Yes, Capitan boots run true to size, so you can get the same size as you would with sneakers, dress shoes, or other cowboy boot brands like Ariat.
What if my Capitan boots fit too small?
One thing I love about Capitan boots is that you can remove the insole if your feet are swollen or if they’re a bit tight and that will usually make enough room for your boots to fit comfortably. Even with the first insole removed, these boots are comfortable.
