After my thyroid quit a few years ago, my ankles and legs swelled up somewhat (a whole lot until I started taking levothyroxine) and I had to stop wearing boots.
I've been to several western stores in the area, but I can't get any of them to fit properly. I have been thinking of going to a bootmaker to have some made to fit, but I understand that can be really expensive.
I have heard that there are some boots with extra wide shafts, but I guess I haven't seen any in my size. I really hate to buy something on-line without trying it on first. I've tried Cavenders and Boot Barn in Amarillo, Aladino Boots in Dumas, and Wayne's Western Wear in Pampa as well as a two Tractor Supply and two Big R stores.
To be honest, I could do okay without western boots, but after one of my neighbors was bitten by a rattlesnake a couple of years ago, I want something to reduce the chances of getting bitten. I have had plenty of encounters with rattlesnakes including falling on one, but haven't been bitten. The only snake that has actually bitten me was a bullsnake I was playing with when I was in junior high. I never did tell my parents about that.
The neighbor's bills included something like $61,000 to be airlifted to Amarillo, a $3,000 ambulance ride from the airport to the hospital, and $204,000 treatment at the hospital.
He now wears snake gaiters that he built himself -- out of aluminum!
I have been told by several people that rubber boots work quite well. I've never liked them much because of how hot they get inside.
Oddly enough, a loose pair of bib overalls might be enough. I have several pairs of those. My younger brother was working on a plow once and felt something hit his leg a couple of times. He looked down out of curiosity and saw that it was a rattlesnake. The rattlesnake was aiming at the legs of the overalls and not going in far enough to reach his legs.
I have also looked for really warm winter boots, but haven't found any that will fit.
On the question of square toes, I don't like them either. I prefer a rounded toe. If I still rode horses, square towed boots would be out of the question, but since we don't have cattle any more on the farm and the West Nile Virus killed the last horse we had, we don't have any horses now.
I guess lace up boots would still work. I was over at one cowboy's home on Saturday afternoon and noticed that's what he wears now.
Another possibility is some snake-proof gaiters. But not made out of aluminum.