Ariats

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Bambi.

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Ok, so I've decided to invest in a pair of Ariats after reading so many good reviews on here. Currently in winter I wear my Toggi canyons most of the time but I find them a bit too short so if I ride in them they get stuck under the saddle flap!
So reading the reviews on ariat grasmeres/glaciers; they are good to ride in, warm, and are long lasting. But I keep my horse out 24/7 and the field can get very deep mud in the gateways. So my question is do I get the grasmeres or glaciers or are they both good in mud and stay in good condition after hosing them down? I know the grasmeres have a kind of suede upper so are they ok in the mud?
 
I have Grasmeres and I love, love, love them. I live in Canada where it is extremely cold in the winter and in the spring when we get the melt there is water running everywhere! We don't really have mud on my farm as it has underground drains through all fields but we might get an inch or two around gateways or at the drinkers. I hose my boots down after being in the pond/water and they come up like new every time. I do waterproof them a couple of times every winter though with Dubbin on the leather upper and I Scotchguard the suede side. Mine have never leaked and my feet are toasty warm riding out in the winter. The only criticism I have of them, and it's so slight as the pros of them by far outweigh the one negative, is that the soles have absolutely no traction on ice but you get used to walking like a Canadian in winter here.
 
I have the glaciers which are all leather and was very precious with them last year, trying not to step in gateways etc and planning my movements around them lol

They did get a muddy around the bottom but I never risked them in knee deep mud, sacrilege!
 
I have the Grasmeres, LOVE them, really keep your feet warm. Never really got them too muddy but they wash of great, I do this all the time because my greasy nags leave white grease marks on them. Really comfy to ride in too.
 
On my second pair of Grasmeres, they are the best ! They cope with freezing cold, wet, mud and keep the heat out in summer too.
Hose them off and they're fine. Also long enough not to catch on the saddle flaps, which my leather Le Chameau boots do, unless I wear the fleece liners with the turn up tops,
 
Mine split after 2 months. Im constantly washing horses off at work so figured maybe I got them too wet?! Ariat did replace them but the second pair did the same. Maybe I was very unlucky!
 
Spring Feather said:
Is that the soles have absolutely no traction on ice but you get used to walking like a Canadian in winter here.
Click to expand...

I thought it was just me!!! I lived in Austria for a while and could not understand why I had so much trouble staying upright in the snow. They look like they should be pretty useful in those conditions too............:)
 
Will also add that I am on my 3rd pair, first lot lasted 3 winters, second pair were not great after the first winter. I am hoping that the 3rd pair will last a bit longer. I was told recently that they are now made in China so I hope this is not the reason quality has dropped. I shall be pretty fed up if they don't last.

I was working on a trade stand recently and the amount of people moaning about the poor quality of Ariats now was worrying. I have always been a big fan but seeing as my short boots are not looking too hot after 3 months of light wear I think am going to have to look elsewhere. Its not like they are a cheap option either :(
 
I'm just about to replace my grasmeres with glaciers. I've had the grasmeres for about two years and worn them a lot, including in mud etc. However, I never cleaned or treated them, just hosed them off and now they have cracked badly where the ball of my foot is. The glaciers have a seam across this part so I'm hoping they'll last a bit longer - I might also take slightly better care of them too!
 
There's a label in my grasmeres saying 'Made in China', so maybe that's the case for all of them, now. That said, they're the nicest boots I've had. Agree about the traction on ice, though. I get the snow boots out for that, or my Caterpillars. Caterpillars are another that have decreased in quality since being made in China. I got mine in 1999 and they're still great. Bought some for my OH last year because of this (same model), but they split across the sole within 3 months. Some companies are waking up to the fact that you get what you pay for in manufacturing, but alas, some are being slow to cotton on!
 
I have Bromonts which keep my feet super warm, Grasmeres which are like slippers, Volants for best and Windmeres for walking the dogs / poo picking.

All super comfy (Bromonts did require some breaking in). I love Ariat boots and they all have lasted well considering I don't really look after them.
 
I have the Glaciers and use them all year round for dog walking, horse out 24/7 and riding. They scrub up well with little to no maintenance, I walk wonky and always wear down the inside of boots and my feet slip inwards but these have remained level. Had them for over a year now and I love them. Highly recommend them!
 
I rate my Grasmeres very highly. However the leather has cracked, but I think that's because I muck out in them, not because of puddles and mud and hosing them off. They have remained waterproof due to the goretex lining. I've just repaired the cracks with silicone so hopefully get a few more years of use from them.
 
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