How To Get Boots On With No Zipper

Last Updated on January 11, 2026 by Martina McKeough

Have you ever tried to get boots on with no zipper and found it can sometimes feel impossible? If not you are not alone as certain types of boots are harder to put on than others.

Boots without zips are everywhere but they aren’t as on your feet. Yet there are some simple tricks that you can use to make things easier for yourself.

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Pull On Boots Are Hard To Get On

Zipped boots were invented because pull on boots aren’t easy to get on. Whilst they may look great in a shop the practicality of pulling them over your foot and ankle is something many people don’t think about until they try them on.

I never really thought about how to get zipless boots on until I had a hip operation which impacted my flexibility. It soon became apparent that certain types of shoes and boots were much harder to get on without a huge effort.

Before I used to be able to slip my foot into the boot whilst standing up and pull it on. Now I have to sit down and be part contortionist to get them on.

I realised however it wasn’t just me who had a problem but anyone who wanted to wear certain types of footwear such as:

Riding Boots
Wellington Boots
Cowboy Boots
UGGS
Knee High Pull on Boots

Over the past 14 years since my operation I have slowly learned the knack of how to get boots on with no zipper. Here’s what I found works and makes life a little easier.

How Do You Put On Zipless Boots? – Use Baby Powder

Remember the episode of Friends where Ross wore leather trousers and couldn’t get them back on when he took them off to cool down. He used baby powder to try and ease the leather pants back on (it didn’t work).

Whilst the baby powder didn’t work for Ross because they needed to make the scene comedic it can work for a tight boot.

Just sprinkle some baby powder on your calves and see if that is enough to help ease your feet back into your leather boots. I’ve used liquid talc as well in my time and that works as well.

Wear a Boot Slip Sock

A game changer for me was discovering sock liners to help get on boots that were a snug fit.

Trying to put your foot and leg into boots without zips can be difficult especially if you are feeling hot or your legs are a little swollen.

This is where a boot slip sock can make a difference. Find one made primarily from silk and the liner socks can help your feet to glide into your boots rather than them sticking to the sides.

There are plenty of different types of slip socks makes out there you can try but I like these.

Why Can’t I Get My Foot Into My Boots? You Picked The Wrong Design

An obvious problem for many people struggling to get boots on without a zipper is that the type of boots they have bought doesn’t suit their leg shape.

If you have large calves then you are always going to have a problem trying to force your feet into boots that are made for thinner legs.

I have a wide calf so I simply can’t buy ordinary boots. I tend to look for specialist retailers selling boots to fit wider calves. There are plenty of wide calf boots out there now that are easier to get on your feet.

If its too late and you already own a pair of boots that you need to adjust you can read my article on how to alter boots for wide calves.

Use a Boot Stretcher or Spray If Your Boots Are Too Tight

Yes you can try and force your legs into boots that feel tight but why bother when you can simply stretch them.

There are two methods I love to do this. One is expensive but will work on all your boots and one is cheaper but may not stretch them as far as you want them to go.

So firstly you can invest in a FootFitter Professional Cast Aluminum Combination Boot Instep & Shaft Stretcher. This isn’t a cheap piece of kit but it will make light work of stretching your knee highs, wellingtons and cowboy boots.

All you need to do is place it in the shaft of your boot and turn the handle and let it do its work. This will absolutely save you from having to throw away boots that are too tight.

If the cost of this puts you off then think about using a shoe stretching spray on your leather boots. This can help to increase the size of the boot shaft by just enough to make it easier to put on boots.

Plastic Bag Trick To Get Boots On

Learning hot to get boots on with no zipper isn’t difficult if you use the plastic bag trick.

Very simply get a plastic carrier bag that you would use for shopping or groceries and place it over your foot. Now slide your boots on over the bag.

Plastic bags tend to create very little friction which means that as you slide your feet into your boots it should be much easier that usual.

The only problem is that once your feet are inside your boots you will need to cut the plastic bag so that you can pull it out. Clearly this works more easily with shorter boots rather than longer ones.

Also it isn’t that great for the environment as you will need to use a new plastic bag each time you put on your boots. This is why products like the boot slip sock make more sense and will last far longer.

Buy Elasticated Boots Without a Zipper

Not all boots are easy to get on so choosing styles that are going to make life easier for you makes sense.

I tend to buy boots with elastic panels in the sides as they are so much easier to put on.

As I slide my foot into the boots the elastic start to expands and gives me more room to get them over my calf. Then when my foot is in the boot I find they tend to be nice and snug because the elastic contracts slightly making them fit better.

Buy Stretch Boots

You can buy boots made from a synthetic material that are completely stretchy.

These stretch boots remind me of socks only with a shoe on the end. These can be rolled down completely so they are easy to get on your foot and then rolled up your legs and calves.

As the material is stretching they are so much easier to put on.

Use Boot Hooks On Boots Without Zippers

Most people have never heard of my next solution to help get on boots without zippers as they are a relatively obscure tool.

They are called boot hooks and are just long hooks that can help you get into boots that have the loops either on the side of the boot or on the back. Cowboy boots for example often have these loops.

Basically you place the hook into the loop and then put your foot into your boot and pull. The book hooks help to slide the boot onto your foot. Try and do this whilst you are stood up so that gravity and your body weight help to make it easier for you.

Try a Long Handled Shoe Horn

When I lost some of my mobility in my hip I got a few products to help me immediately after my operation. One of these was a long handled shoe horn.

This helped me get into my shorter boots and shoes without having to bend over which I wasn’t allowed to do for a few months after the operation.

These can be a really useful tool if you have just had an operation like I did or if you have back pain so that you don’t have to bend over.

Roll Down the Top Of Your Boots

If you have boots that have a certain amount of flex in them it is usually possible to roll them down at the top to make it easier to get your feet into them.

This is only temporary as you once you have your foot secured inside your boot you can just roll the boot back up your leg.

Do be aware that this solution shouldn’t really be done on expensive boots in case you damage them or cause creases.

Apply Anti Chafe Balm

Finally my last solution for how to get boots on with no zipper is to use anti-chafe balm.

Usually this is something you might use in hot weather to stop chafing things or shoe bites but there is no reason you can’t put some on your legs.

Just apply some to your leg to help reduce friction as you are putting on your boots and your feet should slide into your boots much more easily.

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