Ariat vs Dublin boots

webble

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Sorry I know this has been done to death, I have looked at reviews on here but quality tends to change over time eg Hunter(!) so just wanted some up to date opinions.

I am looking for boots to ride in occasionally, wade through muddy gateways in and be able to fit a pair or warm socks in that will last more than a year and wont leak.

I am going to my local country store tonight and their website suggests my choices are Dublin Kennet or River boot or Ariat Ambleside or Windermere. Price difference isnt massive so HHOers what should I buy? (assuming they both fit of course)
 
If you don’t have wide feet I’d say Ariat I had a pair that were lovely and would have been comfortable but they were too narrow for my feet :(

I currently have Dublin Pinnacle. They are very waterproof but because one boot is a big of a snug fit, the lining goes down when I put it on so I have to use a shoe horn. I had a pair that did this years ago but hoped they’d fixed this problem by now.

See which are more comfortable to you and don’t forget to take your socks too to try.
 
I had a pair of dublin river boots and they were fab, bought for under 100 in a black friday sale they have done 2 and a half years. They have finally come away from the bottom but i do also work with cow much which weakened them and i'm rubbish at looking after them. I found them a little uncomfortable in the beginning but once bedded in great for any job and riding.

I have finally treated myself to a pair of Ariat (conniston i think, with laces) boots this summer when they were on offer, they are immediately comfortable no bedding in required. I haven't subjected them to anything rough yet but have fed the horses in them and just washed the mud off, but they are to be kept for best so ask in a couple of years how they get on. My ariat riding boots are fantastic though and i have had them as long as the dublin boots i hunt so they are well used to some mud and show no signs of giving up yet.
 
Ariat are miles better, I have several pairs of various types and have only (almost) killed one pair but they have had daily wear for over 2 years in all conditions and virtually no care. I am still wearing them as they are so comfy but they leak a bit and the lining is worn through in places. I have even worn them up a volcano!

My dublin river boots were crap, they developed a big leaky hole on about the 5th day I wore them but because I had had them too long by then I couldn't return them. I bought them to wear on our tradestand so they never saw a horse just stood around in marquees at country fairs etc.
 
I have wide feet yet all my Aryat boots are fine. For winter tho I have Mountain horse - they have lasted for years and I bought same brand for OH. Ours were shortish but they do long ones too and some are currently reduced on offer.
 
Ordinarily I love Ariat. I’ve got the Grasmeres, Devon Pros and the Terrains. But I would not have the Windermeres again. Although they were comfortable I found the lining on both the pairs I had detached from the boot making them difficult if not impossible to take off. The second pair I had to cut off after about two weeks wear and Ariat refused a refund. I know of friends who had the same issue but did get a refund.
 
I've had both and both liners went at the heel. Lesson learned - Ariat give you a long shoe-horn and if you use it your boots last longer! Both were equally waterproof and warm. Until I wrecked them 😥
 
Ariat definitely. Good foot support, close fitting and v hardwearing. I've worn Ariats for years. V reluctant to look at anything else. May well depend what fits you be best though.
 
I've had both and both liners went at the heel. Lesson learned - Ariat give you a long shoe-horn and if you use it your boots last longer! Both were equally waterproof and warm. Until I wrecked them 😥

I used my shoe horn religiously with my first Windermeres but when my feet got hot they stuck to the liner and because it is only glued in it became unstuck as I pulled them off. I remedied this somewhat by wearing wool socks which made them easier to pull off. I even bought a half size bigger the next time but they were even worse.
 
Ariat are much better. My grasmeres last at least 4 years of heavy use. My Dublin river boots lasted 6 months, I had them replaced by shop and the replacement pair lasted 7 months.
 
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