Boots again - sorry - which 'country' boots can I safely ride in

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Summer pudding

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I need some boots I can wear to do yard stuff, so waterproof...but don't need to change out of to ride. I notice some describe themselves as having some sort of stirrup friendly soles?! Thank you in advance.
 
how much do you have to spend? I have splashed out on some grasmeres this year after discovering the derwents I bought cheap last year weren't up to the job - they were too soft and sunk a lot!

Dublin do a few similar which now have a membrane but they just don't fit me as well I need the half sizes for walking around in all day at badminton and alike ;). Same with kanyons, i tried them on too.
 
I love my toggi calgarys, they are waterproof and I much prefer them to ride in than my short boots and chaps as nice and supportive of my ankles.
 
Don't forget that if you want to ride in your country boots, you may need to change the size of stirrup you are using. Many country boots can be wider than regular riding boots, so if you are looking at the safety angle, just bear this in mind :)

Re makes - well I have had my Grasmeres nearly 4 years and they scrub up really well. They are super comfy and warm. Yes, they are pricey, but well worth it :)
 
Princess Rosie said:
I love my toggi calgarys, they are waterproof and I much prefer them to ride in than my short boots and chaps as nice and supportive of my ankles.
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A yard friend would say that hers definitely aren't waterproof (no membrane and zip) and she has gotten through 2 pairs in the last year!
 
To be honest, I don't like riding in anything that does not fit snuggly around my calf, which rules out most country boots. I find it interferes with effective communication with the horse.
 
I bought a pair of Dublin boots from Hoys - they are called 'Edge' I think.

They are a country boot but also designed to ride in and have a narrower foot and good stirrup grip, so are multi purpose. They are supposedly waterproof and have an internal waterproof membrane too - so far they have been fine for dog walking and field jobs too, and no sign of any leaks. They are very comfy too ride in and is nice not to have to keep swapping boots.

I would normally avoid Dublin as know a lot of people have had problems with their River boots leaking, but although these are a plainer looking boot, think they have put more into the design.
 
I think they have improved since they stopped expecting just leather to be waterproof rather than also adding a membrane, they have pinnacles which are their grasmere equivalent too.

Wagtail, quite a few brands now do a boot with a lacing system similar to that on a grasmere to get the calf fit.
 
Either HKM Scotland fashion boot (fur ALL the way down to my tootsies) or HKM Madrid with either summer or winter membrane (winter has the fur too)
Water proof and warm and ridable and both under £100
 
Thanks everyone..really helpful...Has anyone tried the Ariat Windermere boots? They look a bit lightweight but maintain they are waterproof. I have some of their short boot which are brilliant, still waterproof in spite of being ancient. I'm short so I would prefer boots that aren't too chunky. Btw does anyone ride in Dubarrys?
 
Toggi canyons are my boots for everyday yard/riding. Although i do agree they are quite chunky and i find i think i'm putting my leg on but i'm not! It's the thickness of the boot affecting my feel. I really need to break my Ariats in and ride in them more.
 
ester said:
A yard friend would say that hers definitely aren't waterproof (no membrane and zip) and she has gotten through 2 pairs in the last year!
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I can only say that perhaps your friend is a little hard on her boots, expecting a pair of leather boots to do the work of wellies, I've had mine for two years now and I don't use them for wading through deep puddles as the rear zip comes right down the back, they are oiled waxed leather so cope with rain, water on the yard etc and never had any issue with leaking, I wear wellies in deep mud and puddles as I wouldn't wear other leather boots in this situation either.
 
Summer pudding said:
Thanks everyone..really helpful...Has anyone tried the Ariat Windermere boots? They look a bit lightweight but maintain they are waterproof. I have some of their short boot which are brilliant, still waterproof in spite of being ancient. I'm short so I would prefer boots that aren't too chunky. Btw does anyone ride in Dubarrys?
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I ride in my ariat windermere's, also have friends that ride in windrush, consiton and grasmere's no problem at all. I have had my ariats for 2 yrs, they do the same work as wellies and have been abused and are still going strong (just not looking as pretty!). I do find them a bit short on my calf when riding in them if that bothers you :)
 
Princess Rosie said:
I love my toggi calgarys, they are waterproof and I much prefer them to ride in than my short boots and chaps as nice and supportive of my ankles.
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could not agree with rosie!! my other half brought me a pair 18 month ago as a surprise and i have lived in mine!! i even come to work in mine!! they are easy to keep to! just stick them under the hose and take the mud off!!

sadly due to knee injury i don't walk straight any more and have worn mine down so tomorrow they are going to go in for there first ever re-sole but i love him!!!
 
leflynn said:
I ride in my ariat windermere's, also have friends that ride in windrush, consiton and grasmere's no problem at all. I have had my ariats for 2 yrs, they do the same work as wellies and have been abused and are still going strong (just not looking as pretty!). I do find them a bit short on my calf when riding in them if that bothers you :)
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Thanks..Windermeres are my no1 choice at the moment, good to hear they are really waterproof - thanks for pointing out the short calf bit, shouldn't be a problem as I'm short. Very helpful!
 
Summer pudding said:
Thanks..Windermeres are my no1 choice at the moment, good to hear they are really waterproof - thanks for pointing out the short calf bit, shouldn't be a problem as I'm short. Very helpful!
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I broke my ankle when wearing these. I don't blame the boot really the fall broke the ankle but I went over on it when I fell and I always wonder if I was wearing something more supportive on my ankle would I have broken it...so I don't ride in them anymore.
 
Have to agree wth above poster most country boots wouldn't give much support in event of a fall- I badly damaged my ankle but avoided a break and that was due to supportive boots. I had toggi calgarys on at the time And am paranoid now about supportive ankles on boots
 
Summer pudding said:
Thanks everyone..really helpful...Has anyone tried the Ariat Windermere boots? They look a bit lightweight but maintain they are waterproof. I have some of their short boot which are brilliant, still waterproof in spite of being ancient. I'm short so I would prefer boots that aren't too chunky. Btw does anyone ride in Dubarrys?
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I have a pair of Windermere for general use but I wouldn't fancy riding in them. I do ride in my Ariat Trent boots all the time though and they're brilliant - really close fit around the calf so really not that different from proper riding boots.
 
Ariat grasmeres. Done three winters, about to go into their fourth. Warm snuggly feet, even waterproof enough to walk through the water XC!
 
Princess Rosie said:
I can only say that perhaps your friend is a little hard on her boots, expecting a pair of leather boots to do the work of wellies, I've had mine for two years now and I don't use them for wading through deep puddles as the rear zip comes right down the back, they are oiled waxed leather so cope with rain, water on the yard etc and never had any issue with leaking, I wear wellies in deep mud and puddles as I wouldn't wear other leather boots in this situation either.
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Nope she only rides in them! has a pair of wellies to do all the hard stuff but the soles seem to come free. They just don't really fit the spec of a multi purpose country boot for me. Having waded around badders a bit this year I was keen to have something more waterproof myself.

I think windermeres are two loose for general riding in/will sink a bit like the derwents. I know someone who likes her dubarry clares but more expensive again than ariats ;)
 
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My Ariat Grasmeres now starting third winter. Lovely waterproof and warm with no cold toes when riding and nice and fitted but a bit of a PITA to get on and off as I still need to use a boot horn otherwise my heel pulls down the lining and you have to do up or undo two sets of laces each time. I will definitely get another pair though when they wear out.
 
Another one for Grasmeres! Mine are going in to their fourth winter and still going strong. Waterproof, warm and fit beautifully via the lacing system. Worth every penny IMO.
 
ester said:
Nope she only rides in them! has a pair of wellies to do all the hard stuff but the soles seem to come free. They just don't really fit the spec of a multi purpose country boot for me.

How on earth does someone go through two pairs of waxed and oiled leather boots in a year by just riding in them? They're very strong and mine are going very strong, I only ride in mine and when finished riding they get cleaned and I regularly re proof them and stored in a boot bag. I guess it's how you treat them, I'm just surprised by this as know a number of people who would want to be buried in their toggis as they loved them as much as I love mine! :)
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montanna said:
Ariat grasmeres. Done three winters, about to go into their fourth. Warm snuggly feet, even waterproof enough to walk through the water XC!
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Ditto for me too :)

LOve mine, went on this morning for the 1st time this winter as it was 4 degrees at 6am.
I ride in them too through the winter, but I DO look after them - cleaning them as required, hosing off if they get really muddy, and they have boot trees in when stored over the summer :)
 
The zip on my Toggi Calgary boots died within 6month of not particularly hard work and minimal riding. Toggi weren't interested in helping me sort out a replacement zip either. They are an odd shape at the calf if you have slender legs. On the plus side, they were very warm and reasonably waterproof once I had given them a good clean with saddle soap.
 
sarahann1 said:
The zip on my Toggi Calgary boots died within 6month of not particularly hard work and minimal riding. Toggi weren't interested in helping me sort out a replacement zip either. They are an odd shape at the calf if you have slender legs. On the plus side, they were very warm and reasonably waterproof once I had given them a good clean with saddle soap.
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I'm so surprised that two people have had issues with the toggi Calgary and must have been very fortunate with my toggi calgarys as they are still going very strong (unlike my 11month old Ariat storm stopper wellies!!!).
 
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