Are 14 inch calves huge?

[MinesaBottle]

I'm 5'2" and my calves are 14 inches. I'm a size 10 and I walk a lot and swim, and I think I look in proportion! I'm trying to find some knee boots and everything I've tried on is too tight or won't zip up. (I'm a shoe size 6). Yet I do have a pair of knee boots from the 70s from my mum, who was about my size then, that fit fine! Do I have giant calves or is everything now made for women with legs about the size of a ten year old?

[Intomyarms]

OP I also bought Gabor boots although I'm fairly certain I bought wide fitting ones and I still have to squash my legs into them. Still at least I managed to fit into them (more or less).

[hunibuni]

I'm convinced that it's my lower leg length that's the issue at 5'3, whereas my shoedrobe sharing friend is several inches taller. She seems to have a longer distance between the bulk of her calf and her ankle so boots tend to sit just about on the calf. I have stumps and what would be calf length for most is closer to my knee than my ankle. I've given up on long boots, if I combine them with a coat and brolly I look like a walking mushroom!

[hiddley]

I'd be willing to bet Kate Middletons legs are around my size. So 11 maybe 12 inches on the calf.

[MakeItStopNeville]

I'm now going to go and measure my calves because, apparently, I'm the only person who has never done it!

[Intomyarms]

The same legs (not mine but the left are very similar to mine), so obviously the same height/shoe size. www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cosmosclinic.com.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fcoscli%2F2013%2F04%2FAK-Calves-21.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cosmosclinic.com.au%2Fbody%2Fcalf-contouring%2F&docid=Vqpn8JjCELu4IM&tbnid=CgMG7ye1RPNuqM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjPy-j31ZTXAhWTSxoKHUsaAVc4yAEQMwhDKEEwQQ..i&w=992&h=496&bih=885&biw=1745&q=women-calves-large&ved=0ahUKEwjPy-j31ZTXAhWTSxoKHUsaAVc4yAEQMwhDKEEwQQ&iact=mrc&uact=8

What causes the difference? Fat, lack of definition, shape above ankle. I still think height and probably genetics determine calves more than anything else though. Even if I trained for the olympics I could never have legs like this as mine simply aren't long enough to begin with
www.google.ie/search?q=kate+middleton%27s+legs&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2_82e15TXAhVMvBoKHW5JBd4Q_AUICigB&biw=1745&bih=885#imgrc=-Ic3gDuVPA_JnM:

[lalalalyra]

Maybe it is a height thing, plus my inside leg is only 27 inches. I wonder if anyone makes petite boots?!

Depending on your shoe size have you tried the kids section?

I'm a size 5 and a short arse. My last winter boots came from the John Lewis kid section. They are a good 3 inches shorter than all the pairs I tried on in shops (I ordered them online after spotting them in store) and fit just nicely length wise.

[Intomyarms]

I'm now going to go and measure my calves because, apparently, I'm the only person who has never done it!


I will hazard a guess that you don't have any trouble getting boots that fit. I have spent countless hours looking online for boots, buying them only to return them as I couldn't get my fat legs into them. I have been known to email brands my measurements to ask if they think my legs will manage to fit into their boots!

[BinkyandBunty]

I just measured my calves for the first time ever for this thread!

They are 16 inches. To me they look slender but I'm very tall, and my thighs and bum are pretty curvy so it's all proportionate I guess.

I've never had any trouble finding long boots to fit, in fact can't ever remember trying on a pair that didn't fit.

[MaidenMotherCrone]

I've got bigger than average calves, spent years trying to get boots that fit and now I have found the place that does them and I have lots 👏🏼👏🏼.

Try JD Williams

www.jdwilliams.co.uk/shop/footwear/boots/knee-high/_/N-1ytvwf7/products/show.action

Many width fittings for calves and for feet.

And they are cheap too!

[sandgrown]

I have the same problem . I have bought boots from Evans and If you don't mind paying quite a bit I believe Duo boots do lots of width fittings.

[sandgrown]

I have the same calves as my mother (like inverted milk bottles) I put it down to growing up somewhere very hilly in Yorkshire and walking a lot. Unfortunately DD has inherited the same calves and we now live somewhere very flat!

[youarenotkiddingme]

I'm 5"7 size 14-16 and size 7 shoe.

My calves are also 14" - Ive not bought knee highs for years but never had a problem.

I'm going to try some next time I'm in town and see if they are tight now!

[GuinevereOfTheRoyalCourt]

Fascinating thread. I've always considered my calves to be slim, and I tend to find most knee leg boots to be unflatteringly baggy. So I measured them and they're 13 inches, which isn't particularly small judging by what everyone has written here. It must be about leg length and where the calf bulges - I have reasonably long 31" legs

Have just looked at pictures of Kate Middleton - my calves look similar, but I'm a lot shorter than her so I wouldn't be surprised if her measurement is slightly higher.

[MrsKoala]

My calves have always been huge. I remember trying to buy knee boots when i was 16 in Shellys (whatever happened to them?) and two assistants threading a lace thru the zip hole and gradually heaving the zip up while i pushed and poked my flesh in to no avail. I also have a high instep so just getting my foot in is often enough of a challenge before i even try the zip.

I now buy Gabor boots in a style which always have laces down the front or a buckle at the side so i can loosen it even more.

I can't get most skinny trousers up either because i',m 5ft 10in and they are usually too short and the ankle cuts into my massive legs. My legs are muscular and athletic tho, so no amount of dieting and exercise changes anything.

[MrsKoala]

Mine are 16.5in

[Etymology23]

I'm 5' 4", size 4.5 feet and have 14.5inxh calves. I've had high st boots from m and s and timberland before but I've also had many many boots where I tried them on ad give up half way up my calf. I also buy skinny jeans from m and s to avoid this issue. Im heavier than I'd like to be at the moment but it was still a problem when I was 8st and I looked quite skeletal at that point, on my frame.

[koalab]

JJfootwear do an excellent choice of calf widths. I have a pair of brand new ones for sale at the mo because I ordered the wrong size then went into hospital and forgot to send them back within the time last year. I'll come back and let you know which ones they are and size.

[blueskyinmarch]

I have just been to measure mine. They are 15 inches (i am 5'6" and size 5 feet). I sometimes struggle to buy knee high boot as they don't zip up. When i do find some that zip up they have too much leather round the ankle as i have very slim ankles. I have some Gabor ones which are perfect.

[dudsville]

I'm 5'7" and a 1/14. I come from sturdy looking people though. Our legs tend to be v strong looking. My calves are a whopping 16 in. Timberland has a nice knee high for me.

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

I have the opposite problem. I'm size 8 with slim calves, but boot manufacturers assume that people with size 8 feet are much bigger than me, which to be fair they generally are. So all boots flap around on me.

I buy boots from Duo as they will make them to your calf size. They are more expensive than high street boots but fit perfectly and last for years. I've got 5 pairs, one of which is 10 years old.

[BinkyandBunty]

Ooh I'm getting quite demoralised here, reading how 14 in calves are on the large side and 16 is mahoosive.

I've attached a pic of my 16 in calves. They're not skinny but they're not THAT bad, are they? I'm a size 14, for perspective.

[Coastalcommand]

I have huge calves. Always have. Hate them!
Size 12 but have to buy boots from Evans! On the plus side, boots do disguise big caves quite well.

[koalab]

Just measured mine. 16inch and I'm a size 14 too.

These are the ones I have for sale is anyone is interested. They are 44-49.9cm at the calf, Size 5.5 foot (I wanted a 4.5). They are real leather with a lining that is like a thin fleece. Stretchy panels up the back. They are a very dark brown ( espresso I think the colour is called). I paid £180 but looking for £100 including postage. Never been worn. Bought last winter from JJfootware. PM me if you're interested

[Heratnumber7]

Mines I have two pairs of Duo boots, and am also large of thigh.**
My boots are 15 yrs old and going strong.**

The zip went in one of them and Duo replaced free of charge.**