Paddock boots that tolerate abuse?

[amastrike]

I am apparently a serial paddock boot murder. I've been riding for a whole three years, and I've gone through:

Ariat Heritage boots... first time using them, the quick lace hooks started ripping out. Six months later, they had holes on the sides of the foot.

Tack of the Day lace boots. Held up well for quite a while, but got zip boots and lent the lace ones out to a friend... and never got them back.

TotD zip boots.

TotD zip boots.

TotD zip boots. (To be fair, the first pair of TotD zip paddocks lasted well enough, and I got two pairs the next time they were on sale, and those two pairs didn't last at all.)

Dublin boots which were supposedly waterproof.. 4 months of use and they are just about dead.


Six pairs of boots in 3 years! How do I go through paddock boots every six months or so???? Can anyone recommend boots that will tolerate daily use and don't require super-careful handling? And preferably are not terribly expensive, as I'm rather poor.

[STNS]

I've had my Blundstones for 8-10 years and they're still going strong.

[spookhorse]

A second nod for Blundstones- I had my last pair for 5 years til I blew out a sole! Need to buy a new pair, I hate the Ariats I'm wearing right now (a gift from my dad).

[tx3dayeventer]

I third the Blunnies!!! They are awesome! If you have a high arch, you can slip in a Dr. Schoalls blue arch support thingy in and off you go (thats what I do).

They stood up for 2.5 years of being a working student for a **** event trainer/rider. For the first 2 years of being a WS, I went through a pair of Ariat paddocks about every 4 months. They could not take the wet dry of the washrack. Blunnies are the best! No seams to rot out! They just blew a sole out (they were purchased in FL in 2002) and I replaced them. I got mine at Sugar River during xmas and got 20% off and $0.99 shipping. They were at my house 4 days after ordering them.

http://www.sugarriveroutfitters.com/

I have the 500s & the 510s

[Spirit_Rider16]

Quick question to the Blundstone lovers, because I too am frustrated by running through Ariats so quickly - are the comfortable/easy to ride in? They seem a bit bulkier than I'm used to, but I'd certainly be willing to give them a shot given how much you all love them! :)

[amastrike]

Did I mention not terribly expensive? $150 for paddock boots is more than I can spend.. If worse comes to worst, I'll keep riding in my tattered Dublins or my rubber rain boots, but it'd be nice to have proper paddock boots that aren't falling apart.

[Mendin Fences]

I bought a pair of Pytchley...? I think that's what the brand was (on ebay)... laced paddock boots, they're down in my basement right now but it's cold down there or I would check. Anyway, they lasted about 4 years and then the laces started breaking down and the soles started peeling off and they got some cracks in the leather. I heavily abused them. They're still in usable condition and I keep them as spares in case my sister or one of my less horsey friends wants to ride with me.
eta: They cost about $40 including shipping.

[tx3dayeventer]

http://sugarriveroutfitters.com/product_details.asp?wgi=58&wsgi=392&pi=1265

Blemish models, like WHO cares they are going to get dirty and nasty anyways.

$99 bucks :) and I found a coupon for 10% off (OUT10)

[tx3dayeventer]

Quick question to the Blundstone lovers, because I too am frustrated by running through Ariats so quickly - are the comfortable/easy to ride in? They seem a bit bulkier than I'm used to, but I'd certainly be willing to give them a shot given how much you all love them! :)

I think that they are FAR more comfortable than Ariats! I usually wear them for well over 12 hours and loff them! Easy to ride in? yes! I am an eventer and I feel better in my Blunnies schooling XC than Ariat :D

[amastrike]

Did I mention I'm a size 11?

[cleozowner]

I'm a fan of Tredstep. I worked at two barns all last summer, and the boots still look great today. These are my first pair, and when these wear out (that may be a while), I'll definitely be getting another.
Smartpak has size 42 in chocolate for sale...here's a size chart: http://www.bohtack.com/tredstep_size.html
IME they run just a touch small, so the 42 might fit you.

http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=3217&cmPreserveSource=true&cmPreserveCategory=true#fulldescription

[somethingtogamble]

I am wearing Kestars, in truth they only last about a year but that's 2x as long as I get out of ariats.

Admittedly I am tough on them.

[Ambrey]

I really like my Mountain Horse paddocks!

[jn4jenny]

Quick question to the Blundstone lovers, because I too am frustrated by running through Ariats so quickly - are the comfortable/easy to ride in? They seem a bit bulkier than I'm used to, but I'd certainly be willing to give them a shot given how much you all love them! :)

God yes. I used to be a loyal Ariat customer--wore a set of Hexcel Performer Pro Lace Ups for something like 7 years. Then I bought the Ariat Cobalt XP's. What hideous POS'es, even at the bargain price I paid for them. I am a Blunnie girl now and will never go back. Even with my narrow foot and high arch, they feel like a million bucks. Not bulky at all. They may LOOK bulky but they are light as a feather; when I got my first pair in the mail, I honestly thought they were poorly constructed because they were so light. 18 months later, I am sure I will get 3 or 4 more years out of them.

To amastrike: Blundstones don't have to cost $150. You can find them for as little as $85-$100 if you order them direct from Australia or if you buy them in some godawful color from Sierra Trading Post. I bought mine in fawn-colored suede for $65, thinking that they'd wear out eventually and I could upgrade then to a better color. Silly me.

[lesson junkie]

Another vote for Blundstones-the most comfortable year round shoe you've ever worn. They are waterproof, so your foot stays warm in the winter, and breathable, so your foot stays cool in the summer. I garden in them, do barn work in them, ride in them, walk the dogs in them-I do take them off to bathe and sleep!

You can just kick the pull ons off before you go into the house, so no tracking the barn inside with you-another plus for a terrible housekeeper like me.

If you've never bought them before, I would recommend trying them on-they are sized very differently than American shoes. And, some folks consider them a fashion risk, so be prepared to walk proudly.

[Arcadien]

One vote for Ariats - the pull on ones I have on right now seem to be indestructible. I prefer lace ups, but those have only lasted a year or so each. These Ariat pull ons aren't pretty, they are made of some kind of hard rubber with elastic inserts, but I have to admit they are total work horses. About 6 yeas of abuse now, and once I even got stuck where I had to hike 5 miles on foot in them - I thought I'd have blisters everywhere but not a one.

That said, I'll check into Blundstones after all those good reports. Are the laceups as good as the pull ons?

Arcadien

[caffeinated]

I like tredsteps :) The last pair I had lasted quite a bit longer than the Ariats I had before that :)

I have ariats again, but they were a gift. We'll see how long they last! (though so far they're doing better than the ones I had several years ago, which started tearing after a few months).

[Ambrey]

I wonder how much of the durability of blunstones is in their design? Has anyone tried the waterproof pull-ons from other makers? I'd think the a) waterproofing and b) lack of a zipper would make a big difference in durability.

I'm way to cheap to buy blunstones (and no, my ocd-level-cheap brain will not accept that they are worth it if they last) but I've been coveting pull-on waterproof boots for a while.

[cb06]

I stumbled on an older version of these Mountain Horse paddock boots...

http://www.horsemasters.co.uk/competition/special-offers/mountain-comfort.aspx

at the Middleburg Tack Exchange. I don't think they are sold in the U.S. though? They should be. They are Super comfortable and tough as nails.

[amastrike]

jn4jenny, thanks for the Sierra Trading Post tip, it didn't even occur to me to check there! I just ordered a hideously ugly pair of tan suede Blundstones :lol:. And the larger version of the picture shows the "500" on one of the pull tabs, so it's the same model Dover sells for twice as much. Just... uglier, lol.

[Ambrey]

I stumbled on an older version of these Mountain Horse paddock boots...

http://www.horsemasters.co.uk/competition/special-offers/mountain-comfort.aspx

at the Middleburg Tack Exchange. I don't think they are sold in the U.S. though? They should be. They are Super comfortable and tough as nails.

Oh, I love those!

[Watermark Farm]

I have the Blundstone "Cuthbertston" --- narrower last. This is the model supposedly best suited to riding. I have abused these boots without mercy in mud, pee, manure, sun, rain and they have lasted way beyond my expectations.

I just ordered a second pair, the 500s, I am so impressed.....I just bought a new pair on ebay for just $70!

[Sandy M]

I have a pair of the pull-on Ariats with the elastic insets and the dull waterproof finish. Don't know what the model name is. I've had 'em re-soled/new heelsseveral times, but they're about 8 year old now and going strong and clean up nicely. They are definitely my "every day" boots and get a lot of abuse.

[jn4jenny]

jn4jenny, thanks for the Sierra Trading Post tip, it didn't even occur to me to check there! I just ordered a hideously ugly pair of tan suede Blundstones :lol:. And the larger version of the picture shows the "500" on one of the pull tabs, so it's the same model Dover sells for twice as much. Just... uglier, lol.

Good, so now I won't be the only one running around the barn with black breeches and fawn-colored Blunnies. :lol: If it makes you feel better, it is the PERFECT color to camouflage mud and muck. Even when they're filthy, it kind of looks intentional.

The Blundstone you bought is the 512, which is indeed part of the 500 series. As you said, it's a 500...just in an uglier color and with a suede exterior. You will LOFF them.

[texang73]

Blunnies!!! :yes:

[billiebob]

I too am a paddock boot murderer :) and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Brit Middies. They've lasted through three years of near daily abuse---mud, urine, walking through creeks and getting water in them....you name it. They aren't warm in subfreezing weather and they're a little hot in 100 degree weather, but man do they last.

To put it in perspective.....the next most durable boots I had were Dublin ones (probably the same ones you have as they're waterproof) and those only lasted me 2 months. That's how much I abuse my boots!

[cb06]

Oh, I love those!

I had looked around for waterproof, pull-on paddock boots for awhile. I've always found Ariat boots to be a bit narrow and ...well...'chinsy'.
When I stumbled on these Mountain Horse Comfort paddock boots purely by accident...it was like :winkgrin: Even though I bought them 'well used' three yrs ago, they have been GREAT! They are a little roomier than Ariats, which is great for my wider foot, and just unbelievably comfortable...great around the barn, perfect for riding.

I will definitely be ordering another pair (new this time) from the UK if I have too. I just can't believe they don't carry them in the US, they are SOOO nice!

[Brio]

So what did I do to my Blunnies to make them not hold up? The leather cracked. The cracks are right where your foot bends/toes. These are about 3 years old of course so that's something.

[2horseowner]

My blunnies blew out after 11 yrs of abuse! The sole simply turned to mush and fell off. Being a frugal person at the time, I bought a pair of Ariat H20 pull on paddock boots. I agree Ariats are flimsy and don't hold up. I have been very pleased w/ these, because I am very hard on boots. I normally wear an 8.5, and these were HUGE! Sent back for an 8-perfect. You can google these and get them for around $90 and free shipping at some sites.

[Ember]

Justin Ropers wear like iron. I used to wear them when I worked as a groom. I had a pair last like 6 years and the soles wore thin first! They can be had cheap too. Spotsmans guide has them as does Shnieder's. Just take the kilties off so they loos less western :)

[vbunny]

Ariat terrain PADDOCK boots, not the sneaker type. I loved them so much that I bought a couple extra pairs - thinking they would wear like regular paddock boots. 3 years later they are still going strong and the extras I got are in their boxes. I figure I have a lifetime supply here.