I was so sad to see the rip
Right now I am riding in field boots, but it is highly unlikely that I am going to be doing any jumping in the future so I am considering the option of dress boots. This is where I am running into trouble. Stinker has had very strong opinions about my footwear choices in the past (total meltdown over switching to half chaps and paddock boots) and obviously he has gotten much better about life in general in the past year, but I am still hesitant to start switching things up on him.
I might have gotten annoyed and ridden with it like that the one day
The other is is with the move and everything my budget is a little tighter than I would like. I had an idea in the back of my mind that I would limp through another year to year and half with my current boots and hoard money so I could get a higher quality pair the next time around. I have a fairly average calf size (38 cm/15 inches), but my feet are on the larger end of the scale (9.5-10/41) and I do need a tall height.
So what would you do? Dress boots or field boots? Cheap or say to hell with it what is a little more money? What are your favorite boots and why?
I hear you. I think my next set of dress boots will be zipper less. I don't ride in them regularly. I school regularly in some Tuffrider Sport boots but they don't make them anymore. Which is too bad because I LOVE them.
ReplyDeleteI was on the Riding Warehouse page and found these two boots that are interesting: http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/TuffRider_Regal_Dress_Boots/descpage-TRDB.html & http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Dublin_On_Air_Stretch_Dress_Tall_Boots_-_DEAL_/descpage-DDD.html
I haven't looked at the tough riders. Thanks!
DeleteUghhhh boot zippers are the worst :( I currently have 2 dead pairs of boots that need zipper replacement hiding in the back of my shed (out of sight, out of mind apparently haha). Lots of people seem to have luck with ordering midlevel boots from Europe -- perhaps that's an option?
ReplyDeleteI'm so paranoid that I will mess up the sizing (again) 🤦♀️
Deleteexactly why my boots do not have zippers.
ReplyDeletethe tredsteps i believe make dress boots and they have the largest off the rack variation (imo). good luck!
My old ones are tredstep. I really like them but the zippers were crap.
DeleteOh man, I can't lie I HATE HATE HATE tall boots with a burning passion. I love to ride in them, but the way they're made now is awful -- I've tried Ariat, Tredstep, DeNiro, Mountain Horse... you name the off the rack brand and I've had it on. They either don't fit right or they break after a year. So frustrating :-(
ReplyDeleteI love riding in them but buying/breaking them in/keeping them functioning is a PITA
DeleteI bought the only pair of brown boots I could find that came in exactly my size specs and were about $200. So far so good! Good luck in your searches
ReplyDeleteI've been so tempted by brown boots but since I can't afford more than one pair at the moment I need to stick with black.
DeleteIf you never ride, this isn't an issue IME.
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't ride I would be locked in the looney bin and couldn't shop so I'll stick with riding
DeleteI only do zipper boots, they're way too hard to get on otherwise. It helps I've had my current pair for 4 years and they were $100 on clearance... and I've replaced the zippers at least twice, had tooth repairs more times than I can count, and I just had the soles replaced because I broke them at the ball of the foot and wore the heel down to the inner nails. Last time I dropped the boots off for a tooth repair, the cobbler was like, "Please bring these back, I can fix the heels." I put so much into these boots simply because I have a wider calf than most xw sizes and a strange foot size for riding boots (10.5). I simply can't replace these boots without going custom.
ReplyDeleteI'd buy another pair of tall boots. Stinker may have been surprised by the full leg contact that half chaps allow (Penn sure was). He's so sensitive, I wouldn't mess with it. Any local tack shops having last season sales?
There is one I haven't been in that might actually carry some clothing.
DeleteDress boots are totally acceptable to jump in too :P
ReplyDeleteI prefer zip boots, and field boots too because tradition I guess though dress boots are fine, as I stated above. I recommend custom, there are some great low cost options! Lower than some off the rack boots - I am also hard to fit and it was the best decision I ever made. I'd check out Peony's Blog - Now That's the Spot - she got Fama 4 All and I believe they were under $500 - she orders from them all the time and has a great relationship with them. Also I think Heather at Graduated Equestrian purchased from a Mexican company for under $400 for customs.
Interesting. I'll check those out thanks!
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