fit: until your new pair of valenki gets to know you, your valenki will feel a little stiff. as you wear them (one to two days of wear), valenki will get softer and mold to the shape of your feet.
size: AKAs tend to run slightly small, so we recommend ordering a larger size than you might ordinarily wear. the flexible qualities of wool allow AKA valenki to form around your feet and provide comfort, even in a larger size. see size chart.
variation: each pair of AKA valenki will vary slightly in height. if you want to shorten your boots, simply cut the top off with an exacto knife. you can also innovate your AKA valenki with a "gypsy cut" -- make a long cut down the back and fold the top over the front of the boot.
shrinkage: because valenki are 100% organic wool, they are susceptible to shrinking after becoming wet. to prevent shrinkage (and for other obvious reasons) avoid drying valenki near radiators and open fires. the discomfort of ill-fitting boots as well as pneumonia can be a nuisance, so wear galoshi with your valenki when the world is wet.
storage: some say that valenki, like fine wine, improve with age. with proper care, your valenki may transcend even the most cliche of sayings. to properly store your AKA valenki during the warmer months, divorce the valenki from the galoshi and store them in a dry area, preferably in a cardboard box with moth repellent.
dye: while white sheep are used to make the white boots, and brown sheep are used to make the brown boots, black sheep are ... well, just that -- black sheep (they are hard to come by and cause the most trouble). the wool used to make the black valenki is dyed before the boots are formed. like any product that has been dyed, the black boots have the capacity to run. the dye is natural and impermanent, but may leave a mark when worn over light-colored socks.