As the weather changes and as things start to get colder, wetter, windier and rainier down here in the Merry old Land of Oz…it’s time for a change in footwear.
Away with the huaraches, the sandals, and the loafers or whatever…and out with the boots to slosh through the rain and sludge that inevitably comes with winter weather.
And also, out with the constant struggle to PULL YOUR GODDAMN BOOTS ON! Right?? Oh lord above…
If you’re a fan of “Chelsea”-style boots – of either the suede, or leather variety, or of slip-on boots in general, then this is a struggle you’re probably far too painfully familiar with. No doubt you’ve twisted your ankle or snapped a shoehorn or two, just trying to leave the house in the morning while pulling your boots on – but what’s the alternative?
Well – the alternative is a neat little Victorian-era invention known as a boot-hook, or boot-pull.
Most pairs of boots will come with a little leather or cloth tab or loop at the back of the boot, above the heel. If they’re large enough, you can just shove your fingers in there and pull your boots on and you’re done. Easy.
But what if those tabs are really small, or what if you have huge fingers? What if you just can’t get a grip on those tabs, and instead, they stare up at you, mocking you for your incompetence and lack of lateral thinking?
Well – in situations like that – you use boot-pulls!
Boot pulls come in all lengths, shapes, sizes and styles. They can be brand-new, they can be plastic, they can be antique, like mine, they can be fixed, or they can even be compact, folding models.
Regardless of style or age, boot-pulls are typically between 6-12 inches long, and usually have a grab-handle at the top, which you can hook your fingers around. Under that is a shaft, with a flat, angular hook at the bottom.
Why flat? So that the pull-tabs on your boots get even pressure put on them when you pull. A curved hook would compress all that force into one point and damage your boot tabs…plus, a curved hook is harder to slide into the tab-loop.
They also come with flat, blunt hook-tips, so that they can slide easily in and out of your boot-tabs without cutting, snagging or pulling on them accidentally. Once you’ve mastered using them, you’ll be able to pull your boots on with no problems at all. Simply slip your foot into your boot, feed the hook through the tab or loop at the back, and pull firmly upwards. It may take you one or two attempts to get the hook through the hole, but once you’ve done it, all you need is a firm tug to get your boots on.
Apart from just making boots faster to pull on when you’re getting dressed boot-pulls are great for people who might have back or leg issues which prevent them from bending over, kneeling, or reaching behind them with ease. If you have any of those issues, and hate wearing laced-up shoes, you might consider changing to boots and buying a set of boot-pulls for yourself.
Where to Buy Boot Pulls?
Boot-pulls can be found easily online on sites like eBay and such-like. My set is an antique pair with round, bone handles. I bought them at the local flea-market about four years ago, for like $20.00. You can also find antique sets on antique dealers’ sites, or on eBay, with handles made of wood, or bone. They can either be bought for next to nothing, or can cost several hundred dollars. Of course, how much you want to spend is up to you. I once saw a single hook for sale for about $450.00!! I love my boots, but not that much!