Measure the boot as a three-part object

Record the foot section, heel and shaft separately. The marked EU size describes the foot but does not show shaft height or opening. Two boots can share a size and still form a poor pair if their shafts, heel angles or toe profiles differ. Use a simple measurement sheet for sampled pairs rather than relying only on visual similarity.

Stand every sampled pair on a level surface

Compare heel contact, toe lift and whether the boots rock. Look for unequal heel wear, loose top lifts and movement where the heel meets the sole. Turn the pair over and compare tread loss from side to side. A stable stance is a condition decision; the words comfortable or stylish in the legacy specification are not measured evidence.

Also compare the toe boxes. Crushing, twisting and deep asymmetric creasing can change the pair even when the leather surface is still presentable. Write the permitted level of shape loss into the grade brief.

Open the shaft and inspect the lining, seams and top edge. Pull tabs should be compared across the pair, and decorative stitching should not hide a split or weakened panel. If insoles can be removed, record their presence and condition without assuming every construction uses the same insert.

Read leather and stretch fabric as different care paths

The record names genuine leather and stretch fabric as possible uppers. Leather can show dryness, cracking, scuffs, staining and seam wear. Stretch sections can lose recovery, tear at stitching or separate from adjacent panels. Do not describe every boot as leather when the stored data explicitly allows more than one upper construction.

Possible outsole materials include PVC, PU, EVA, TPR, TPU and rubber. Inspect the actual sole for hardening, cracks, layer separation and uneven wear. A material name by itself does not determine remaining condition.

Build an EU 35-45 curve with boot dimensions attached

The record supplies the size boundary but no count by size. Ask for exact pairs or approved shares within EU 35-45. When shaft dimensions matter to the sales channel, record them beside size rather than creating one average for the lot. Unreadable size marks and unmatched shaft profiles should remain outside the confirmed curve.

Protect shafts and heels during packing

The bag options run from 45 kg to 100 kg. Heavy compression can fold shafts, press hardware into adjacent uppers and distort toe boxes. Ask how pairs are oriented and whether shape-sensitive boots are separated from heavier constructions. Maximum bag weight is not automatically the best choice for a structured boot.

Receiving staff should compare the opened shape with the approved sample before extended storage. If boots arrive folded by design, document the recovery method and the point at which permanent deformation becomes a grade exception.

Store reviewed pairs so shafts are not trapped under heavier bags while the receiving count is completed. A boot that passes at opening can be damaged by poor temporary stacking before it reaches the final storage area.

Use a boot-specific reason code list

1. GEO: unmatched shaft, toe or heel geometry.
2. HL: unstable heel, worn top lift or unequal stance.
3. UP: leather, stretch panel, seam or pull-tab issue.
4. SO: outsole crack, hardening, separation or wear issue.
5. ID: size mark or pair identity cannot be reconciled.

Cowboy-boot questions

Conclusion

Set the pair upright, record shaft and heel geometry, and attach those observations to the marked-size count before packing. A protected shaft and a stable heel are separate acceptance decisions. Use the used cowboy boots category as the assortment reference while the current lot sheet controls dimensions and disposition.