Broken Tall Boot Zipper - AHHH!

[DallasES]

I need some suggestions (and a slight rant...)

I was in my first show this weekend in 8 years, and on the morning of my first class while getting ready, the zipper busted on my brand new Ariat Crowne Pro Zip boots. I mean, the second time I had worn them, geez! I called Ariat to see if they would replace the boots, and they said no, but that they would repair the zipper.

My problem is, they are a little too tight. I even stretched them where they fit with my schooling breeches, but they did not fit well (obviously) with my thicker show breeches.

Do you guys have any ideas on getting them repaired, and also gaining some extra room just in the top part of the calf? They already have gussets, so I was thinking maybe an elastic strip aligned with the zipper down the back?

Anyone have any suggestions on what has worked in the past? Thoughts??

[Abbeyroad1791]

I bought mine a little too tight too, and rode with the zipper 1/4 of the way down until they stretched out and now they fit really good and snug. I wouldn't have anything done to them until you ride in them more and get them work in. As for the zipper, I'm thinkin the Ariat zippers arn't the best because I popped one in the store and got stuck in another one before I found a pair of boots with a good zipper.

[Paint Hunter/Jumper]

I think you can get them stretched and have the zipper put back on at a shoe repair place. I know for sure that you can get the zipper put back on at a place like that (the same thing happened to me), but I don't know if they stretch them.

[Misty113]

That also happened to me. I bought the Pro Crowne boots and the zipper popped the day after I bought them and then again at the store. I don't know where you bought them but I got mine at Dover. I went back to the store and they sent them to get the zippers replaced with YKK zippers and paid for it. I haven't had any problems since.

[Cookiewoo]

I work in a tack shop. Time and again we advise customers not to buy boots with zippers. either custom or off the shelf. Particularly when the measurements may be a little too tall and the zipper prevents proper breaking down at the ankle. My advice? Stock that black electricians tape in your tack trunk at a show. Sooner or later you are going to need it.

[RockinHorse]

I work in a tack shop. Time and again we advise customers not to buy boots with zippers. either custom or off the shelf. Particularly when the measurements may be a little too tall and the zipper prevents proper breaking down at the ankle. My advice? Stock that black electricians tape in your tack trunk at a show. Sooner or later you are going to need it.

This is all well and good except I am not comfortable ordering boots online and none of the tack stores in my area carry the boots without zippers any more. Believe me, I have looked :sigh:

[Hunter Mom]

You might also try the spray stretch after you get them repaired if they're a little tight. My old boots needed to stretch just a smidge, and it worked like a charm. Spray it on, then zip in stages. I also find if my legs are a little swollen (when I ride in the evening after work in heels all day) I usually have to zip my boots in stages.

[Hunter/JumperMom]

tall boots with zippers are very difficult to stretch, and by getting them stretched, you probably messed up the zipper. I took daughters Ariat Crowne Pros to three different places before I found one that would touch them. Well they were perfect, then about 3 months later the zipper broke! Took them in to have the zipper replaced. Another two months went by and zipper broke again!!! They are now sitting in the basement, we were at HITS saugerties and had no choice but to buy her a new pair of boots. Bought the Beval boots, she loved them until the thin leather inside tore from the seams. Got them repaired (she rides daily in her talls), but in the meantime went and ordered Vogels, without zippers!!!! hopefully they fit and we won't have issues! I can still remember her going into the ring with the black vetwrap all around her boot!!

[IsolaBella09]

This happened to my Challenges. The first time, Ariat replaced the boots, but the second time, I had Horsemen's Outlet in Lebanon, NJ replace the zippers. When I got them back, they had a little extra room in them, which didn't work for me, but may work for you. :D

[caradino]

this also happened to my ariats at a show (thankfully i had a teammate whose boots fit me that i could borrow!) and i took them to a local shoemaker to get repaired. after he re-aligned the zipper, it popped again the next time i wore the boot. so i took them back and he replaced both zippers entirely, and added a small strip of leather to make them a bit wider. they now fit perfectly and i haven't had any issues with the zippers in about 2 years. but that said, i don't think my next pair of boots will have zippers. the added ease isn't worth the hassle and expense of having zippers replaced!

[Tivas_a_Diva]

I think you can get them stretched and have the zipper put back on at a shoe repair place. I know for sure that you can get the zipper put back on at a place like that (the same thing happened to me), but I don't know if they stretch them.

Just be careful going to a regular shoe repair place.... I made this mistake when the zipper wore out on a pair of my schooling tall boots. I took my boots to a place in the mall, and they repaired the boots alright, but the zipper they put in was a gaudy gold color with a large zipper head at the top :eek:. It looked awful! But the zipper held up for a long while afterwards. Just make sure you check what kind of zipper they put in. :cool:

[KnKShowmom]

I work in a tack shop. Time and again we advise customers not to buy boots with zippers. either custom or off the shelf. Particularly when the measurements may be a little too tall and the zipper prevents proper breaking down at the ankle. My advice? Stock that black electricians tape in your tack trunk at a show. Sooner or later you are going to need it.

When DD got her first pair of tall boots 2 years ago, we had a long debate in the tack store because all of her friend's boots have zippers so she wanted them too. To me, its just a weak link and I don't think they look as nice so I finally won the battle (it helped that I was paying for the boots). My pet peeve is seeing kids walking around with their boots 1/2 zipped!

Anyway, 2 years later, DD needs a new pair of boots and Dover doesn't carry any without zippers!!!!! Tried to order the Crowne Pros w/o zips, but they are sold out. Don't really want to order customs for a 14 year old but may not have any choice.

Why do boots need zippers anyway, thats what boot pulls were made for!

(ok, that said, the flame suit, with zipper, is on - fire away)

[chawley]

While my customs and schooling boots are both pull ons, I can see the purpose for zippered boots. I know several people with bad ankles, knees, etc. that can't wear boots without a zipper. That being said, the OP already has these boots and needs suggestions to fix her problem. I would take the boots to the place you purchased them and work with them to resolve this issue.

A good friend recently had the zipper break on her 1.5 year old Ariat Challenge boots and Ariat replaced the boots for free. This was the second pair she had that were replaced over the past four years. So, I'd try again with Ariat because if they did it for her, I'm not sure why they wouldn't do it for you. Especially since your boots are new.

[Rhody Ram]

Try the GP Elites


When DD got her first pair of tall boots 2 years ago, we had a long debate in the tack store because all of her friend's boots have zippers so she wanted them too. To me, its just a weak link and I don't think they look as nice so I finally won the battle (it helped that I was paying for the boots). My pet peeve is seeing kids walking around with their boots 1/2 zipped!

Anyway, 2 years later, DD needs a new pair of boots and Dover doesn't carry any without zippers!!!!! Tried to order the Crowne Pros w/o zips, but they are sold out. Don't really want to order customs for a 14 year old but may not have any choice.

Why do boots need zippers anyway, thats what boot pulls were made for!

(ok, that said, the flame suit, with zipper, is on - fire away)

[SaddleFitterVA]

Took 18 mos for my Dehner zipper to split apart, and to be honest, I had underarmor, super thick cord breeches AND tall socks. They fit perfectly in my summer attire, ankle socks and normal weight breeches. I didn't think that the Dehner zipper looked very durable when they arrived, but the boots are perfectly fitted.

The repair place just put the zipper back together, but that didn't hold for 10 minutes and I actually broke zipper teeth getting the boot off, but the boots fit so nicely that nobody but me noticed it for the rest of that ride.

They are off getting new zippers now. I'm going with the recommendation of the repair place. "coil zippers". She thinks that the ankle is the problem space, but that has not been my experience.

My Mountain Horse boots are still doing well with 3 years of daily use.

The convenience of zippers is worth the expense of repairs IMO. I have my old field boots in the trailer and can always pull those on if it breaks at a show, or take my ugly Mountain Horse boots.

I am toying with the idea of getting a pair of Dehner field boots though. The custom fit is worth the added expense.

[DallasES]

Thanks for all the replies. As my boots have zippers that broke after the second ride, I appreicate all the responses for help.:)

When I called ariat they said bc I bought my boots on ebay (brand new in box), that they would not take them back and replace them, just replace the zippers for $80.

I am going to try to take them to a local shoe shop, and get the zipper fixed, and also some extra room if possible with some elastic.

If anyone has any other suggestions, please keep them coming!!