Ariat Heritage Boot - Zip vs Lace

Lippyx

Lippyx

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I am looking at getting some Ariat boots and gaiters. Now I have always had lace up boots, as I find when I ride in tall boots (without laces) my feet get a little "lost", with the laces you can tighten them up.

What do you ride in, lace up or zip front? Is there much difference? I know I should try them on, but as always with shoes, there is a big difference between trying on, and actually wearing all the time!
 
Hi I have lace up ariats and they are great, easily adjustable for thick socks in winter or thiner ones. The only thing I would say is that I always wear mine only for riding in(not mucking out or round the yard) and this way they have kept looking good for 4 years !!!!
 
The ariat zip ups fit suprisingly well considering there is no adjustment, I was quite suprised!! I also only ride in mine, they go on just before mounting and come off as soon as tack is off - they are too expensive to mess up!
I do like the look of the laces, and of course they are cheaper to replace than the zip, but I am lazy so love the zips!
 
I prefer the look of the zip, when you have the gaiters on, they look more flush. I would only ever ride in them (don't have a horse to muck out yet!) but even if I did, I would only ride in them anyway!

I just need to decide on the gaiters. I loved the Concords, but then found out they had the suede inners, and didn't like that, so am now looking at the close contact chaps.
 
I'm also trying to decide between zip and laces! On the one hand, zips are easier and look better under chaps/gaiters. On the other hand, with Ariats I always find that its the zips that finally give up the ghost, so lace up boots might last longer?
 
I have the lace up ones and love them. I've had them for 7 years and take good care of them (never worn them to muck out).

As for the zipper ones, wouldn't it be a pain though to have to take them to the cobbler to get it fixed if it goes? It's so much easier to just buy new laces.
 
CanadianGirl said:
I have the lace up ones and love them. I've had them for 7 years and take good care of them (never worn them to muck out).

As for the zipper ones, wouldn't it be a pain though to have to take them to the cobbler to get it fixed if it goes? It's so much easier to just buy new laces.
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Very true! I realy want the Ariat RT lace ups, as they have the rounded toe, but Ariat don't ship outside of the US, and no one in the UK sell them :(
 
I have the llce up ones, they are 2-3 years old now and good as new but I do keep them for riding and don't do yard work in them. A friends daughter wore them the other week for her 1st BE event as her zip ones have gone really loose round her ankles (the elastic has stretched) and she found mine supported her ankles much better - I struggled to reposess them at the end of the day ;)
 
I have them both :D Love them both equally, but the laces feel more snug on my foot. The lace up ones are my everyday riding boots as I dropped a wheelbarrow on my foot and scratched them :( So the zip ones are my competition boots. I don't notice a difference in smartness with them on, so i was suggest trying them both on a seeing which you prefer.

I love my Ariat boots and gaiter, wouldn't swap them for the world!
 
Lace ones every time they last a lot longer and as people say you can replace the laces. mine tend to last 2 - 3 years but they get heavy use zip boots only lasted 6 months! so I wont buy them again.
 
Over the years I have had both - but prefer the laces

There is a fantastic company in the States that does ship to the UK, and they have more Ariats than I knew existed - I ordered some boots and half chaps and they arrived by UPS in three days! (mind you, that was in the days when the dollar rate was a whole lot better!)

Try www.sheplers.com

There is an awful lot of Western gear on there, but they do have a large range of 'English style' and they are soooo helpful!
 
I have 2 pairs with zips, have had the Devon Pro for about 8 years & zips still like new. Bought the cheaper version (can't remember the name) about 2 years ago and one of the zips has recently gone. I'm sure they are the same zips so not sure why these went so quickly but I sent them back to Ariat to repair the zip as I thought they'd do a better job than someone locally.

I put a note in explaining that they weren't under warranty but could they please replace the zip and invoice me and I would pay so that they could return the boot to me. Less than a week later I received a brand new pair of boots in the post - no charge.

Absolutely brilliant service, I was so surprised considering the boots were about 2 years old & definately hadn't been looked after :rolleyes:

In their defence I would say it could be my fault the zip went because the boots are always covered in mud, live in a damp tack room & they only cleaning they get is a go under the hosepipe about once a month!
 
I have the zip and matching concord chaps the fit between the chap and the boot is very flush
I have skinny ankles and they fit really well
I like that It takes 2 seconds to put them on rather than faffing around with laces!
 
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