Paddock Boots??

[allisona97]

What brands does everyone like/use, and how long do they last? I'm trying to find the most durable, comfortable paddock boots for riding and around the barn. I have used Ariats in the past, and the leather tends to get holes where the boot bends just before my toes. I clean them on a regular basis, etc but they are still garbage after about a year. I should also point out that I am at the barn 5-6 days/week, for a minimum of 6 hours.

[Dune]

Honestly, I wouldn't want to keep barn shoes for more than a year, eewww!:no: :D If you like everything else about the Ariats, go with those again, I have their Terrains because their paddock boots are to narrow for my foot. The last pair of paddock boots that I loooooved were Danskos, but they no longer have their equestrian line, if I remember correctly.

[merrygoround]

I buy the more expensive Ariats, and found they last over a year despite the fact that I live in them. My winter Ariats went 3 years.

[Tory Relic]

I have a pair of Hispars, which are very comfortable. They have a year warranty on them, but I haven't had them long enough to test that.

[Anine]

i'm HARD on paddock boots as I err, tend to neglect them. they get wet, muddy, dusty, sweaty on a daily basis.

currently i have mountain horse protective johd boots. they're super comfy but a little heavy because they have steel caps.
they're just over a year old and look great.


when they eventually die i'm getting blundstones.

[Ambrey]

Honestly, I wouldn't want to keep barn shoes for more than a year, eewww!:no: :D If you like everything else about the Ariats, go with those again, I have their Terrains because their paddock boots are to narrow for my foot. The last pair of paddock boots that I loooooved were Danskos, but they no longer have their equestrian line, if I remember correctly.

There is a Terrain paddock boot on sale in the new Dover catalog. I am not sure if it's discontinued or not. I almost ordered them, but really wanted zips so I found some Mountain Horse paddocks on sale.

[blackhorsegirl]

I LOVE my Ariats. I find they last 2 years plus. However, this past winter, I purchased a good pair of tall rubber boots to wear in the mud and muck. That will mean my Ariats last even longer! No leather can hold up to constantly getting wet no matter what you pay for them. Speaking of paying, has anyone tried the new Ariat Monaco paddock boot or the half chap that goes with it? They're both $250 each.

[CLB15]

My old Mountain Horses lasted for 4 years. And when I had ariats I was going through a pair every year (and they usually cracked around the soles & where your toes bend around 6-9 months). I like to think I take care of my boots (cleaning routinely, conditioning if it's been dry or rainy), but they do get worn 6 or 7 days a week, year-round.

[mg]

I've had my Ariats for...6 years? I think? They live in boot rubbers all the time (I even ride with them), so they have held up really well. They aren't the prettiest to look at anymore (especially since they're a different color under the rubbers!), but they do their job. Once the rubbers wear out, I just buy new ones and pop them on. The soles are in perfect condition and the only thing wrong with them is that the leather near the spur rest is rubbed off more than I'd enjoy, but so goes life! I'm not sure how the leather quality of the Ariats are now. I have the heritages, which aren't super expensive, but they're like slippers. I've been told the Ariat leather is crap now, but don't take my word for it.

[Ambrey]

I have some 8 or so year old Ariats that I assume are Heritage, I know I didn't pay over $100 for them, but the leather quality is similar to my mom's Cobalts which were $170. The newer Heritage has a smooth leather that I don't think would break in nearly as nicely.

Too bad they don't fit me, but at least they are getting lots of interest on e-bay!

[Mallard]

I have 2 pair of summer Ariats and one pair of winter ones. Very comfy.
I take good care of them and I only wear my Ariats to ride in.
They were expensive and I want them to last!
One pair is at least 10 years old and they are just fine.
Water and mud are hard on leather and if you don't take care of your boots then it is not surprising they only last a year!
I wear Mountain Horse pull-ons or Hunter Wellies for general barn work/mucking out/going into the paddocks etc.

[J-Lu]

I abuse my Ariats and they've held up well-for years. I'd say each pair lasted about...3-4 years (?) with regular use. To me, they are one of the few comfortable footbeds that I can wear all day and my feet/arches don't hurt. Their Frostbiters rock in cold weather! They're not too flexible to ride in but they are one of the few things ON EARTH that can keep my feet warm.

J.

[Equa]

I Love Blundies (Blundstones) but RedBacks are even better, more comfy and last longer. But they don't work well with gaiters or half chaps, and they're not really designed for riding.

[normandy_shores]

My ariat heritages have lasted YEARS.. probably 4 or 5. I routinely trucked through nearly knee deep water, never conditioned them or cared for them, etc.

I also HATE the way they fit.

Gave in, and bought danskos. Hard to find now that they're discontinued, but same quality, but more space by the toes. LOVE them.


(Good luck if you're scouring online for a size 38, I've been buying THEM ALL!)

I wear mountain horse tall winter boots, LOVE those. Also have more room by the tootsies.

[allisona97]

Well I just ordered a pair of Mountain Horse paddock boots, as both pair of my Ariats are garbage now! The first pair was the Colbalt Pro, comfy, but the zippers keep splitting, and the leather has a hole by my pinky toe. I wore them for about 8 months. The second pair was the cheaper Heritage, and again, holes in the leather near the seams by the toes. I take care of my boots, and Ariats used to last me a few years, but not anymore!
I ordered the newer mountain Horse boots that are not the winter version. We'll see how those feel and hold up to my everyday use.
Anyone else have these?

[Ambrey]

I just got mine. They are quite stiff right now, we'll see how they break in!

[barbarachloejosie]

just curious, are these the back zip paddock boots by Mountain Horse? I'm thinking of ordering for myself..... Hoping the leather isn't completely stiff as I'm coming back to riding with a newly-healed broken ankle. My 10 year old Cavallo jods are starting to split and leak.... I need a pull on style that isn't completely stiff and tight around the ankle.

http://www.equestriancollections.com/itemmatrix.asp?groupcode=ER00059&ItemType=MG&source=ChannelAdvisor&utm_source=ChannelAdvisor&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=ER00059&CAWELAID=65487368

[Ambrey]

just curious, are these the back zip paddock boots by Mountain Horse? I'm thinking of ordering for myself..... Hoping the leather isn't completely stiff as I'm coming back to riding with a newly-healed broken ankle. My 10 year old Cavallo jods are starting to split and leak.... I need a pull on style that isn't completely stiff and tight around the ankle.

http://www.equestriancollections.com/itemmatrix.asp?groupcode=ER00059&ItemType=MG&source=ChannelAdvisor&utm_source=ChannelAdvisor&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=ER00059&CAWELAID=65487368

I got the front zip type, and they are pretty stiff :(. I sold my old ariats on e-bay and almost cried as I shipped them off.

(I don't think the new ariats are as nice as those either!).

What about the Blunstones for your ouchie ankle? The front zip Mountain Horse would be hell if my ankle was sore (but very supportive, LOL!).

[barbarachloejosie]

you know, I HAD a pair of Blunnies but they were not a good fit for me, at least at the time. Ariats tend to be narrow and make my feet fall asleep. I saw the Aigle paddocks and thought they looked nice, but no store carries them where I could try them first.... Don't they look good??

http://www.equestriancollections.com/itemmatrix.asp?groupcode=AL00008&ItemType=MG&source=ChannelAdvisor&utm_source=ChannelAdvisor&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=AL00008&CAWELAID=65486896

I have tall (broken in) Petrie's but have been enjoying wearing the pull on Cavallo jods with my Tredstep gaitors. They almost look like a tall boot.

So.... I think my best bet would be a trip to the bootmakers to see if they can repair my leaky soles....

Barbara

[Eireamon]

I have elastic sided Blunnies which I have for general barn and paddock work. They last me for years of every day all day wear. In the winter they can get really muddy and I do wash the mud off and apply a good thick coat of conditioner.
They are too wide for my stirrups so I slip off the Blunnies and slip on a cheapie Dublin elastic sides for riding in.

I have two pairs of Blunnies so that if one pair are really wet and muddy I have another. I always buy in lots of 2s. The last 2 pair are still going strong and are 4 years old.

[kansasgal]

I've had my Ariats for...6 years? I think? They live in boot rubbers all the time (I even ride with them), so they have held up really well. They aren't the prettiest to look at anymore (especially since they're a different color under the rubbers!), but they do their job. Once the rubbers wear out, I just buy new ones and pop them on. The soles are in perfect condition and the only thing wrong with them is that the leather near the spur rest is rubbed off more than I'd enjoy, but so goes life! I'm not sure how the leather quality of the Ariats are now. I have the heritages, which aren't super expensive, but they're like slippers. I've been told the Ariat leather is crap now, but don't take my word for it.

I truly believe the secret to preserving your paddock boots is to keep them covered.
I also keep rubbers/ overshoes on my tall boots, and they look great.

They also add a little more grip to the irons.

I have a new pair of the Ariat cobalt XR's waiting, and though they are super comfortable, they don't look nearly as sturdy. But I was able to find them on sale, and paid about the same as I did ten years ago.....

The XR line, which is more expensive, IMO is the way to go, though, if you do decide on Ariat.... I tried the old model Cobalt performer pros, and they were very UN comfortable, no padding, pinchy at the ankles.... also, cheaper, thin, plasticy, shiny leather.....yuck. And still expensive, not that much less than the XR line.....

Good luck in your search!

[Appsolute]

Ok, I have one pair of Ariats that I have been wearing since 1997:eek:

Granted, some of those years only consisted of part leasing, going out barn twice a week... but, they also lived through a few years as a working student, MANY hours at the barn, on horses, walking, bathing etc. The zippers died long ago, I stitched them shut and used them as pull ons. Leather is still in one piece (but I DO condition them!), they are stretched out, but they are SOOO comfy, and great when I know I will be doing messy stuff at the barn.

I heard a lot of bad stuff about Ariats on the boards, so I was planning on replacing them with some thing else. But, as a gift, I just recieved a pair of "Ariat Colbolt XTR Devon Pro's" (sounds fancy huh?).

Well.. hum, at first I was very unimpressed (especially for a retail value of $175). They were stiff and HURT (left my ankles red), and the leather wasn't well matched. One boot has a nice smooth wrinkling leather, the other.. has creased oddly, the leather instead of forming one nice crease, is "kinkly"? Just weird, small wrinkles. I don't expect the left boot to last as long as the right boot from the look of the leather. DH even asked, what is wrong with the leather on that boot?

But.. they are breaking in, and growing on me. They are comfy, and I can walk in them all day (I have a few horses that need daily hand walks.. we head out on the trail for around an hour).

[camohn]

I am hard on boots between riding and barn chores....Ariatsfor me! A pair lasts me for about 2 years of serouis abuse. I can't complain. Each year Ricks Heritage has a good tent sale where I get em cheap! I have a summer pair and a lined winter pair.

[normandy_shores]

Danskos.

MMM>.. I miss those. I got a nice pair of the zip up paddocks, and when they discontinued their equestrian line, bought what I could on ebay. Got a pair of jod boots that still look FABULOUS. Spacious in the foot, particularly the toe area, and sturdy.

And they look fantastic with the matching half chaps (had for YEARS, and they still feel amazing, nice and snug and somewhat stiff support like tall boots well broken in at the ankles)

[Lexi]

I have a pretty hard time wearing out my Grand Prix paddock boots .
can't wear the zip ups (feet/ankles too skinny) but the lace ups are a dream.

I find them very comfortable but I've never tried Ariats, so maybe I don't know what I'm missing!

[allisona97]

Well so far my Mountain Horse paddock boots are holding up well. The only problem is for some reason my back hurts pretty bad when I wear them. I don't know if its the lack of arch support, or the narrow base. So I take them off when I teach and do a lot of walking and go back to sneakers. The leather is holding up, as well as the soles and zippers.

[RedMare01]

I'm also in the market for new paddocks and am shopping around. I had a pair of Ariat's that lasted for 3+ years and current pair are Dansko's that are going on 4 years. The only problem I've had with both of them are the zippers not staying up...has anyone else experienced this? The zippers unzip to the ankle even when walking, not to mention riding. And both pairs did this almost from the beginning. Maybe I just have weird leg conformation? :lol: I think I'm going with pull-ons this time around to solve that problem!

Has anyone tried the Sergio Grasso paddock boots? I saw some on a French website and they looked lovely. But, if I buy both the paddocks and the half chaps, it's almost the same price as a pair of tall boots...hmm....

Caitlin

[Ambrey]

I am loving my MH paddocks. They broke in perfectly and are working out well. They are less than a year old, though, and don't get used very hard.

[stryder]

I wear these. Not fashionable, but long-wearing and very comfortable. And my half-chaps fit over them just fine.

http://www.redwingshoes.com/productdetails.aspx?prodid=1159

I have Ariat Heritage paddock boots too, but they aren't nearly as comfortable as my Red Wings.