Patent boot tops

[Painted Wings]

Well, I got my colors. Now I have to figure out what to do with boots. I have an ancient pair of Dehners that I normally hunt in but they are pretty ratty (20+ yrs and reworked twice already). Then I have a nice pair of Dehners that I only ride the dressage portion of eventing, they are almost too nice to take foxhunting (lots of multiflora and locust trees in our area).

So I'm thinking I have to break down and order a new pair of Dehners although I haven't ruled out the thought of having them put tops on one of the pairs of boots I have.

So do most people have sewn on tops or detachable? (pros / cons?)

Has anyone tried the insulated foot that Dehner has as an option? Are they truly warm? My feet are about the only thing that gets cold on me. If they are really effective this could be what pushes me over the top to get new boots.

My other boots have not been fully lined, should I get fully lined?

Any other ideas, suggestions on boots for hunting?

Oh, and another question, since it looks like it will take a while to get tops is it appropriate to wear colors on your coat without tops. I'm thinking it's going to take me a while to get coordinated. Buttons, collars, vests, etc.

[Equibrit]

Dehner will make you removable tops. I had patent for "field" days and tan for "whip/fieldmaster" days. Good for any occasion (never had a problem with them) and you can show in the boots too.

[Beverley]

Congratulations!

Patent tops are optional w/colors (unless you're wearing a shadbelly). Unless of course your hunt has decreed otherwise.:)

I've never owned any, myself- just use plain black with my standard black melton coat, though I do have a pair of Dehners w/brown tops from my staff days.

[JSwan]

Congratulations!

I ordered my Dehner's with removable patent tops. They're lovely and so well done they look like they're permanent. I can't feel the snap against my leg at all.

Mine are not lined, but the footbed is generous enough that thick wool socks or toe/foot warmers may work if that's what you prefer.

[kookicat]

Can you take a look on ebay and get a cheapie pair to use until then?

Congrats!

[SLW]

Congrats on earning your colors! A hunt buddy of mine has a pair of sheepskin lined Dehners and oh, how I envy her toasty warm boots!

[SidesaddleRider]

Patent tops are optional w/colors (unless you're wearing a shadbelly). Unless of course your hunt has decreed otherwise.:)

Patent tops should also always be worn with a frock coat, not just a shadbelly, by tradition, as a lady did not wear a frock coat unless she had her colors or was awarded her buttons (and hence the right to wear patent tops). This has fallen out of custom, obviously, with many wearing frocks.

As a general rule (often ignored),
Hunt coats, with or without colors/buttons = no patent tops
Frock coats, should only be worn with colors or buttons = patent tops
Shadbelly, only to be worn by those with colors or buttons = patent tops

[citydog]

Congrats on earning your colors! A hunt buddy of mine has a pair of sheepskin lined Dehners and oh, how I envy her toasty warm boots!

Dehners or Vogels? I was *just* looking on Dehner's site and they have some sort of insulation (looks like foam) but don't say what it is. Vogel offers teh sheepskin, though.

[Romany]

You could buy yourself a pair of insulated Cavallos and just get a decent cobbler to make patent tops for them.

I've got a pair - very roastytoasty, and look nice, too. They've got decent zippers up the back, the legs are insulated with I don't know what, but it's warm, and the feet are lined with sheepskin. Available in a decent variety of size options, of course, and the price doesn't break the bank.

I bought mine via an Ebay.de seller, and they were here in next to no time.

http://sport.shop.ebay.de/items/_W0QQProduktartdfbf6b3cZLederreitstiefel4c8fb7faQQ _dmptZReitstiefelQ5fstiefeletten?_nkw=cavallo+pola r&_sacat=27031&_fromfsb=&_trksid=m270.l1313&_odkw=cavallo&_osacat=27031

Edited to add: just found these - pukka Cavallo dress boots in sheepskin, drool:

http://cgi.ebay.de/Reitstiefel-Gr-42-wie-neu-Leder-Lammfell-Cavallo_W0QQitemZ280282866907QQcmdZViewItem?hash=i tem280282866907&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1229%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318

[Equibrit]

You could buy yourself a pair of insulated Cavallos and just get a decent cobbler to make patent tops for them.

I've got a pair - very roastytoasty, and look nice, too. They've got decent zippers up the back, the legs are insulated with I don't know what, but it's warm, and the feet are lined with sheepskin. Available in a decent variety of size options, of course, and the price doesn't break the bank.

I bought mine via an Ebay.de seller, and they were here in next to no time.

http://sport.shop.ebay.de/items/_W0QQProduktartdfbf6b3cZLederreitstiefel4c8fb7faQQ _dmptZReitstiefelQ5fstiefeletten?_nkw=cavallo+pola r&_sacat=27031&_fromfsb=&_trksid=m270.l1313&_odkw=cavallo&_osacat=27031

Edited to add: just found these - pukka Cavallo dress boots in sheepskin, drool:

http://cgi.ebay.de/Reitstiefel-Gr-42-wie-neu-Leder-Lammfell-Cavallo_W0QQitemZ280282866907QQcmdZViewItem?hash=i tem280282866907&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1229%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318

Cheaper here though! http://www.calevo.com/cgi-bin/calevo/process/locale/en_US/page/2130157.html

[Painted Wings]

Those are very interesting. I need to get new soles put on my brown dress boots. I will ask the Russian boot cobbler if he does tops when I go in.

[wateryglen]

Wow lets all give Painted a standing ovation and hip-hip-hooray!!! Your Coth fans all congratulate you! Wowee!! I tip my flask & hat to ya!!

I think the patent tops have fallen outa favor due to costs & the very dilemma you describe. I mean we can't ALL have some custom Dehners ya know!! :winkgrin::winkgrin: I never wanted any cuz I think they make your calves look fat, and that's a problem!! And I'm cheap......But I hear they are quite grippy...is that true? I'd guesstimate that here in Ole Virginny...maybe less than a third of the ladies w/colors have patent tops these days. Some hunts it's seen more often. Never noticed if it's related to the frock coat! How nice to be reminded about this! Forgot I guess!!

[JSwan]

What do you mean they've fallen out of favor?

Everyone I know (with colors) has patent tops. You can have them made at any local cobbler. It's not a big deal, and it's not expensive.

[wateryglen]

Maybe I used the wrong wording here! :D I dunno! I guess I mean I just don't see it much. Probably your hunt does it but some others don't? Or maybe it IS what SideSaddle said...most of the women who hunt around here are wearing regular meltons, not frocks. Yup, that's probably it!!!

The 2 hunts I have my colors with sure didn't. Hardly saw any at a recent opening hunt I attended recently. And of course....I have never seen any with our basset hunt!!! :eek::D:lol::lol::lol::lol: But we can always start a trend!!! :yes::yes::D

[JSwan]

Like I said - I see them all the time.

Journeyman's will put them on - but I didn't time it right and wasn't going to be able to get them back in time.

Guess it also depends on the person - some folks I know don't wear the doodads regularly as their frock is too light a fabric and they get cold. So it's hunt coats and plain boots most of the time. Doodads for warm days or high holy days. I like my frock because it's cut longer and it's heavy and lined (I'm cold unless it's over 80 degrees)

The downside is that the pocket is deeper and I have trouble getting my hip flask out. Must do something about that. :D

[SidesaddleRider]

Yes, Journeyman's puts on patent tops. It was around $200 :eek:, if I remember correctly. They had my (spare) boots back to me within a week when I took them in in October. The patent does make them stick pretty well, although I've found that using saddle-tite on regular boots and knee patches gives just as much grip. ;)

[JSwan]

They had them back in a week?

Geez - I have terrible timing. I must drop stuff off at the same time everyone else in the area does. (smacks head)

There's someone else in the area that works with patent leather..... not Skeeter but someone further south. Um...... uh..... can't remember the name but will think on it some more. There's a cobbler on Main Street in Warrenton that does a great job resoling boots if anyone needs that done quickly and inexpensively.

Jeff told me that he'd do patent leather tops on newish boots, but not boots older than 5 years. Have no idea why 5 is the magic number.

[ArtilleryHill]

The downside is that the pocket is deeper and I have trouble getting my hip flask out. Must do something about that.


Keep a few paper towels in your pocket and put the flask on top of them. Not that I have personal experience with needing to get to a flask quickly or anything ...

[linquest]

Keep a few paper towels in your pocket and put the flask on top of them. Not that I have personal experience with needing to get to a flask quickly or anything ...

Ugh, my flask ripped through the pocket yesterday and was flopping around inside the jacket lining, kept hitting me and the saddle. While galloping, I had to hold the reins in one hand and the errant flask in the other so it wouldn't rip the lining (and more importantly, so I wouldn't lose the flask or whiskey :lol: ) I was relieved we soon had a check so I could fish out the darn thing and put it in the other pocket! Now I need someone to sew in a deeper pocket with sturdier material!

[JSwan]

I had that trouble with peppermints.

The good thing is that they work their way around the lining and act like drapery weights and keep your jacket from flopping around.

Bad thing is that horses keep trying to eat the jacket at checks.

[Beverley]

Journeyman added brown tops to a pair of black boots for me back in '85 or so. They did a fine job, BUT- recognize that the addition of the tops makes for a tighter fit at the top of the boot! Okay, actually, it was mainly only an issue for donning said boots for the Bryn Mawr pack class on a hot day after running around showing hounds all day...but I'll offer up the warning anyway.:cool:

[Painted Wings]

Ok, I spoke with the Russian cobbler and he can put tops on. He wasn't sure what he would charge and I need to call back. He said he makes them to snap on/off. My husband is also checking with Dehner to see if he still has an account if I want to go that direction. If he still has an account that means dealer price which will probably sway me into getting a pair of hunting specific boots made. It would probably be my last chance to get dealer price on custom Dehners. It's not much of a discount but it is something.

On frock coats. I'm confused. Do I get one with three buttons or four on the front?

Amazing how I never paid much attention before but most of our colored ladies do have patent tops and at least half of them wear them with a regular hunt coat. I'm taking my heavy coat off to get colors and buttons put on this weekend. I think I'm going to order a Frock coat with the lighter weight twill but with the tattersall lining which would put it in between the two coats I have. I have the lighter weight and heavier weight hunt coats from Alexander James. Fortunately the pound is in worse shape than the dollar so they coats don't seem to be priced too bad right now.

http://www.alexander-james.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Ladies_Riding___Equestrian_11.htm l

[SidesaddleRider]

On frock coats. I'm confused. Do I get one with three buttons or four on the front?

Three!! :D

3 buttons, rounded corners = member of field
4 buttons, rounded corners = MFH
4 buttons, square corners = MFH that hunts his own hounds
5 buttons, square corners = professional huntsman

Amazing how I never paid much attention before but most of our colored ladies do have patent tops and at least half of them wear them with a regular hunt coat.

Oh, my eyes...:eek:
Obviously, they didn't read their "Riding to Hounds in North America" book... ;)

[Ray]

... If he still has an account that means dealer price which will probably sway me into getting a pair of hunting specific boots made. It would probably be my last chance to get dealer price on custom Dehners. It's not much of a discount but it is something.[/url]

Get the custom Dehners. You will be glad you did. Mine fit perfectly, are tough as nails, and I can even walk in them :)

btw, congrats on earning your colors :winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin:

[Beverley]

3 buttons, rounded corners = member of field
4 buttons, rounded corners = MFH
4 buttons, square corners = MFH that hunts his own hounds
5 buttons, square corners = professional huntsman





Actually, MFH/huntsman would be 5, too, but MFH not hunting hounds would be 4. To state it another way, the huntsman wears 5 buttons.
And 4 buttons, square corners for whipper-in (I had to remove the top button off the old coat I bought from a retired Master and tweak the lapels a bit with an iron:)).

[Painted Wings]

My mother-in-law said the reason that the huntsman has five buttons is so that the buttons are spaced closed together so the huntsman can stick the horn between buttons and the horn won't fall out.

I do have "riding to hounds in North America". I'll have to see what it says on the subject.

[Beverley]

I think the difference in buttons originated with English military uniforms, but I can't remember what I was told about the details!

[NancyA]

I had that trouble with peppermints.

The good thing is that they work their way around the lining and act like drapery weights and keep your jacket from flopping around.

Bad thing is that horses keep trying to eat the jacket at checks.

Oh thank you, I'm now weeping with laughter at the thought. Thank you!

[Painted Wings]

I know this thread has been dead for a while but I went out Sunday and my feet were cold. I was wearing my cubbing boots which are not insulated at all so haven't had a chance to try my new Dehners with the insulated foot in cold weather yet.

But my question is:

Does anyone have a pair of thes Cavallo Winter boots? If so how do they run size wise? I normally wear a 7 1/2 and buy a Euro 38 but I'm wondering if I would want a Euro 39 so that I had plenty of room for socks since my Dehners are insulated and I would only use these when its really cold. But on the other hand I can sometimes wear a 37 so a 38 might be large enough.

I'm still thinking I might want a pair of these for the really cold days.

http://www.calevo.com/cgi-bin/calevo/process/locale/en_US/page/2130157.html

[SteeleRdr]

Cavallos run a bit small. It's kinda funny. I have a pair of their paddock boots, and I normally wear a 40-41 Euro, but I had to go up a size (or two) to get the right fit.

[Mach Two]

Ugh, my flask ripped through the pocket yesterday and was flopping around inside the jacket lining, kept hitting me and the saddle. While galloping, I had to hold the reins in one hand and the errant flask in the other so it wouldn't rip the lining (and more importantly, so I wouldn't lose the flask or whiskey :lol: ) I was relieved we soon had a check so I could fish out the darn thing and put it in the other pocket! Now I need someone to sew in a deeper pocket with sturdier material!

Or rig up a daypack with a hydration system that fits under your coat, and run the hydration tube under your helmet harness. THAT won't flop around:lol:

[everyequine]

Definitely Congrats! Even if the thread is a year old....
I sold a pair of detatchable patent tops last month on ebay. Had I known you needed them, I would have GIVEN them to you, PaintedWings!

[Elghund2]

Quick question. Anyone know where I can find detachable brown tops?

[Equibrit]

Dehner.

[everyequine]

Check some of the fox hunting shops in Va, they may have some used ones in stock. The Old Habit, Middleburg Tack exchange.... or maybe the Foxhunting shop in Ar might have some, or be able to order some for you. they are fairly inexpensive for their brand of custom boots. Possibly the Horse Mall too, in Ct.

[KateDB]

I cannot recommend highly enough Journeymens for this kind of job! On my black hunting boots, Paul just did a beautiful job both taking in and then replacing the brown tops, making them detachable, so that I could switch to patent tops when I needed to. The attention to detail was fabulous, they were REALLY quick, as completed within a few days and as always charming and entertaining!!!