Your Chelsea boots should be snug but not constricting. With no laces, you’ll want to make sure the boots grip your ankle and heel. This will keep them from coming off your feet. That said, you don’t want the boots to be so tight they pinch your foot, as the break-in process will be unnecessarily painful.
It’s hard to beat the style of a good pair of Chelsea boots.
Every closet deserves a pair of Chelsea boots. That said, if you’re just dipping your toes into the world of Chelsea boots, you probably need some help finding the right fit for you.
Chelsea Boots Sizing Info
The Heel
The first thing to consider when gauging the fit of your Chelsea boots is the snugness of the heel.
Because the boots lack laces or any other tightening mechanism, the fit of the heel is crucial. You want the heel to be snug, with just enough room to keep from actively pressing into your foot.
This snugness will keep the boots from sliding off as you walk around in them. You want just enough room to get your foot in without having to get overly aggressive with the heel tab.
You’ll know you have a good fit when the ankle opening is big enough for you to get your foot in, snug, but still comfortable once you’ve gotten the boots on.
Keep in mind that they will stretch a bit as you break them in. Still, you shouldn’t rely on the leather stretching if the boots are far too tight. Repeated wear can only do so much.
The Toe Box
Next you’ll want to consider the toe box.
Like the heel, you’re aiming to strike a balance between snug and constricting. You want your toes to have room to breathe, but not so much room that the boots are sliding against your feet.
A good rule of thumb is that you want about a half an inch of space between your longest toe and the toe box. This should provide plenty of wiggle room for your toes while still keeping the boots at the appropriate level of tightness.
That said, this is only a general rule of thumb. It can be OK to have as much as an inch of space between your toes and the toe box. This will depend on the unique shape of your foot and how the boots fit overall.
The important thing is that your toes feel comfortable and that the boots aren’t sliding all over the place as you walk.
So long as both those criteria are met, you can play around with slightly more space for your toes. Just make sure you aren’t tripping over your own feet as you walk.
A pair of dark brown suede Chelseas should be in every man's closet for their versatility alone. These are blake stitched for maximum sleekness with high quality suede calf leather. What I love about Velasca is you can choose your sole for each style---pick from Vibram or Dockers rubber (most versatile and better for winter) or leather (most dressy).
The Width
You may be sensing a trend here: the width of your Chelsea boots should be wide enough that your feet fit comfortably while being snug enough that they aren’t rubbing against the sides of your feet. We know, you’re shocked.
It’s important to note that your feet can swell quite significantly as the day goes on. As you stand, your feet become wider. This means that a perfect fitting Chelsea boot in the morning can become a foot binding come evening.
For this reason, we heavily recommend that you try on your boots towards the end of the day. By doing this, you’ll get boots that actually accommodate your feet as they swell.
If you must try them on in the morning, try to find a pair that feels a bit wider than you need. As your feet widen, they should fill out the extra space.
The Arch
The vast majority of Chelsea boots don’t have any built-in arch support. Luckily, the vast majority of humans don’t need arch support. Works out beautifully, doesn’t it?
That said, there are some instances where you will need arch supports. Those with flat feet or those who are constantly standing for the majority of the day might need inserts. In these instances, you need to reassess the way your Chelsea boots fit.
The solid plastic insert featured in Tread Labs insoles offers much more support than any gel or foam product I’ve tried. The amount of customization you get, from arch height to flexibility, makes Tread Labs a must-have for anyone who has flat feet, plantar fasciitis, or just wants more comfort from their boots.
The simplest way to ensure your arch supports fit into your Chelsea boots is simply to bring them along when trying your boots on.
Slide the insert in and evaluate the boots as you would otherwise. This is the easiest way to ensure that your boots fit properly with your inserts.
That said, if you already have a perfect-fitting pair of Chelsea boots that you want to add an insert to, you may consider finding a slim arch support. There are plenty of options on the market specifically designed to avoid changing how your boots fit.
Your Socks
Now that we’ve laid out how your Chelsea boots themselves should fit, let’s turn out attention to your socks. It’s important that the socks you wear when trying on your Chelsea boots are the same thickness as those you plan to wear with the boots.
It doesn’t matter what socks you wear when trying on Chelsea boots so long as they are consistent with what you intend to wear the majority of the time. Having socks that are too thick or too thin will impact how you assess the fit of your boots.
If you wear thick winter socks for the fitting, you might wind up with boots that are too loose on your feet come spring. Likewise, wearing extremely thin socks might result in boots that are too tight when you switch back to your normal socks.
Camel City Mill makes our favorite socks for wearing with Chelsea boots. Their Lightweights are a solid every day choice, while their Heavyweights are ideal for winter or for a little extra padding if your Chelseas fit a little loose.
Made in the USA from Merino wool, these work socks really are something else in terms of quality. They feature compression through the arch and calf which helps your feet recover after a long day. Plus, because they're Merino wool, they're breathable and help reduce foot sweat.
When Should You Use Arch Support in Chelsea Boots?
As mentioned above, most Chelsea boots don’t have any built-in arch support. Most of us just don’t need it. There are a few exceptions though.
If you have very flat feet, you may need to use insoles in your Chelsea boots. Otherwise you may often find yourself in pain without proper arch support.
If this sounds like you, we recommend bringing your insoles with you when you go to try on boots.
If you stand for the vast majority of the day you may also need arch support.
This will vary significantly from individual to individual, but if you’ve noticed that your feet tend to hurt by the end of the day, it’s probably a good idea to use arch supports in your Chelsea boots.
The Superfeet GREEN insole is the brand’s flagship and original product. With its extra high arch support, it’s an excellent all-rounder insole and worth considering if you have foot pain or Plantar Fasciitis, especially if you have flat feet.
Conclusion
Finding the perfect pair of Chelsea boots is a lot like the story of Goldilocks. You want them to be neither too snug nor too loose, but just right.
The heel should have a bit of grip to help keep the boots from slipping off your feet. The rest of the boot should hug your foot gently.
When trying on Chelsea boots, make sure you wear the same thickness socks you plan to wear with the boots on a regular basis. If you need arch supports, bring them with you when trying on boots.
Bookmark this article and bring it with you when you go to try on Chelsea boots, and give our YouTube channel a follow for more boot sizing tips.
Decked out with a heavy Vibram lug sole and thick pebbled leather, the Velasca Avocatt is an excellent Chelsea for winter.
FAQs
How should pants fit with Chelsea Boots?
Because Chelsea boots offer a unique silhouette, you want to be careful about the fit of the pants you pair them with.
Chelseas tend to look better with slimmer pants. Their sleek, narrow shape blends well with slim cut jeans or trousers, as they flow into each other nicely.
By contrast, baggier pant legs can make your feet look disproportionately small when paired with Chelseas. This can give you a somewhat cartoonish appearance.
A good way to tell if your pants fit correctly with your Chelsea boots is if the ankle of the boots are snuggly covered by your pant leg. If so, you’re right on the money.
How narrow should Chelsea boots fit?
Chelsea boots are pretty narrow compared to other types of boots. That being, that doesn’t mean they should be unbearably tight.
You want them to be slim enough to stay on your feet as you walk around. Because they lack laces or any other tightening fixture, the snug fit is what will keep the boots from sliding.
You don’t want them so tight they are constricting though. Your foot should slide into the boot with just a bit of gentle effort.
The toe box should have between a half an inch and an inch in space in most cases.
Since your feet expand throughout the day, you’ll want a bit of extra room when wearing your boots in the morning. The boots should be just a bit wider than your foot when worn in the evening.
If the above criteria are met, you’ll wind up with the perfectly fitting, sleek but comfortable pair of Chelsea boots.
How do you make Chelsea boots fit tighter?
Chelsea boots aren’t like most other boots or shoes. They don’t have a simple tightening mechanism.
This means that your options for making them fit tighter are pretty limited. One thing you can try is wearing thicker socks. This may help you fill some of the empty space between your foot and the edges of the boot.
Besides this, the best solution is really just to find a pair that fits correctly. Take your time and try on numerous pairs to ensure you get the right fit for you.
