Last Updated on January 11, 2026 by Martina McKeough
If you have bought a great new pair of boots that you absolutely love only to find that the shafts start to sag around your ankles when you are walking then you are not alone. I’m going to help you solve the problem of how to stop boots from slouching at the ankle as it is an unflattering look unless you are deliberately going for the scrunched footwear look (Vivienne Westwood was a fan).
It doesn’t seem too much to ask to have a pair of boots that stays in place and doesn’t slip down your leg as you walk so how do people manage to keep them up?
Well here are some tricks I have learned over the years to stop the slouching once and for all.
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Why Do Boots Slouch At The Ankle?
As ever there is no one main reason for boots slouching. The key to solving the problem is going through some of these common issues and seeing which one is causing a problem with your footwear.
I’ve found that these are some of the most common culprits causing the issue:
- Incorrect Boot Sizes
- The Weight Of the Boot Material
- Wide Calves
- The Quality of The Boots
- How You Clean and Maintain Your Boots
- How Your Boots Are Stored
- Elastic Side Panels Wearing Out
- Manufacturing Defects
- Natural Stretching and Wear and Tear
Most of these issues can be remedied with some simple products that can stop boots from slouching.
How To Keep Boots From Slouching By Buying the Right Size And Style
If you want to know how to stop boots from slouching at the ankle then you need to think about the style and size of boots that you buy right from the start.
Sadly not every boot that you see in the store is going to be right for your legs so you need to pick styles that are less likely to slouch and that suit your leg shape.
When you are trying on a new pair of tall boots make sure that the material that they are made from hugs your legs in the right places.
The shaft of the boot should sit firmly against your legs and not be loose. If there is too much room in the circumference then the boots are more likely to fall down.
Think about the weight of the material of the boots as well as that can cause problems. If there is already extra space in the ankle area then expect that to get bigger with wear.
Make sure that you try the boots on wearing what you would normally be wearing. If you like to wear thick socks with your boots then make sure that you are wearing a pair when you are trying on your footwear.
If you have wide calves then buy boots from brands that design specifically for that leg shape otherwise you may find that ordinary boots are baggy in the ankle area.
Brands like Duo Boots are well worth paying extra for as they offer a huge range of boots in different leg circumference sizes both large and small. Brands like this may be more expensive but they fit snugly and feel as if they are designed especially for your legs.
Choose Quality Leather and Suede Boots
Cheaper boots are unlikely to be was well constructed as more expensive brands.
Cheap boots tend to be made from low quality materials and fabric and are not going to fit as well as more expensive boots. Whilst you may save money in the short term you are more likely to have the irritation of boots with saggy ankles.
Soft materials are also sometimes a culprit as they don’t have enough support to stay upright so try and choose stiffer materials that hold their shape.
Boots need good structural support if they are going to keep their shape. So if you are on the hunt for a new pair of boots look for styles that have reinforced ankles, a firm heel counter and a well constructed shaft.
How To Keep Boots From Falling Down
If it’s too late and you have already bought a pair of boots that slouch then there are plenty of remedies that you can use to try and stop the problem.
Here are some of my favorite products that help to cause less slouching and sagging.
Make a Boot Bra
Once upon a time there used to be a great product called a boot bra what was perfect if you wanted to know how to stop boots from slouching at the ankle. Sadly the brand is no more but you can make one yourself really easily.
Get a thick piece of elastic and sew it into a circle so that it can fit over your leg and sits snugly where the top of your boot will sit. On this elastic sew in one half of a popper.
Now get another piece of elastic or material and cut it into a small square and sew the other half of the popper. Stick this to the front of the boot so the two poppers can be attached to each other.
This will help prevent slouching and keep your boots up whilst you are wearing them.
Boot Straps
Boots straps are perhaps an even easier way to stop boots from slouching.
These work on a similar principle to the boot bra but work with velcro.
When you buy the product you are given an elastic cuff with velcro that you can put on and adjust around your leg. then you also have some velcro material that sticks to your boots at the boot.
The velcro from your boots will stick to the velcro on the elastic cuff keeping your boots from falling down.
Try Double Sided Tape
Double sided fashion tape can also help a boot to stay in place.
The only issue with this method is that will you need to reuse new tape every time you wear your boots which can be annoying.
Just stick some tape on your boots and the other half of the tape to the skin on your body, tights or leggings and the two will stick together.
This should be enough to keep your boots from falling down.
How To Make Boots Fit Tighter Around The Calf With Thick Socks
If you are wearing a pair of knee-high boots and you find that the circumference is a little too large then you are going to find that your boots will start to slouch.
One of the easiest ways to try and stop the problem is by wearing a pair of thick knee-high socks to see if that helps to narrow the gap.
Wearing your jeans or leggings tucked into your boots can also help to get rid of the extra room so your boots feel a little more snug.
Use Knitted Boot Cuffs
If you don’t want to war a full pair of thick socks to make your boots tighter then there are products called knitted boot cuffs.
These are knitted cuffs that sit just under and over the top of your boots giving the illusion that you are wearing full socks.
The knitted material around the top of the boot may be enough to keep your boot upright and stop it from falling down.
The great thing about these is that they can be used for ankle boots as well as knee high boots.
Wear Soft Shin Pads
Shin pads are usually worn by people to stop injuries to the front of the leg whilst playing sport.
You can buy hard shin pads but obviously they aren’t particularly flexible so I suggest you find some soft shin pads and wear them underneath any knee high boots so that they fit more snugly.
You might have to experiment to find a pair that works with your particular boot style but this is a simple and easy solution that can be used again and again to stop your boots from sagging.
Use Roll On Body Adhesive
Body adhesive is another temporary solution to stop your boots from bunching around the ankle.
This is usually just a simple roll on device that puts an invisible glue onto the item you are wearing and then when it is pressed against your skin it will stick and stay in place when you are wearing your boots.
It is easily washed off and shouldn’t cause any harm to your boots (but do test it first in an inconspicuous area).
How To Make Slouching Boots Stay Up By Cleaning Them Correctly
Whilst the sizing and shape of your boots can be a big reason for problems with slouching boots its worth noting that there are other things that you can do to stop the problem as well.
Proper cleaning and caring for your boots can help to keep them looking good and stop them from losing their shape.
Leather boots in particular need to be conditioned regularly to keep the leather supple and to keep them looking good. This shouldn’t take you very long with a good leather conditioner but will keep them looking good for much longer.
How To Make Boots Tighter Around Ankle
I’ve give you plenty of solutions to help make the shaft of your boot fit tighter around the calf but what about the ankle?
Sometimes your boot will be upright and not slipping very much but you have a bunching of material around the ankle area which ruins the look of your boots.
Thick socks around the area can help but so can ankle guards that you use for sport to protect your feet. Choose one made from soft material rather than hard so that you can walk easily whilst wearing them.
Using Boot Shapers To Maintain Shape
It also makes sense to use boot shapers if you can to help keep the shape of your footwear and prevent slouching.
Boot shapers come in different shapes and sizes and are simple devices that fit into the shaft of your boot. These help keep the shaft of the boot in an upright position and prevent them from flopping or slouching.
You can buy boot shapers in all sorts of different materials but I invested in cedar ones for my closet. This is because cedar wood helps to reduce moisture and also prevents odors.
Stop Scrunched Boots With Proper Storage
Storing your boots is also important if you want to keep them looking good for longer.
I store all mine standing upright with the boot shapers inside them.
Do not even think about throwing your boots into a big pile at the bottom of your closet and hoping that they will continue to look good because they won’t.
A hanging boot organizer can work for some people as well but try and stuff some material or paper into the shaft first so that the shape of the boots is maintained.
Dealing With Repairs
If your boots suddenly start to slouch when they haven’t before then check to see if the boots have any repairs that are needed.
Typical culprits are problems with zippers or elastic inserts that have stretched over time and become too loose.
A good local cobbler can usually repair these relatively easily so that your boots don’t fall down as much.
Learning how to stop boots from slouching at the ankle isn’t particularly difficult if you follow these tips. Even annoying boots that tend to fall or scrunch down can usually be remedied with some of these solutions.
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