Brogini v S Grasso v De Niro v Regent!

[tigers_eye]

Please could you give me any informed opinions about any of these brands? I'm looking for a new pair of boots around the £200 - £300 mark. I don't want them excessively cut up around the outside of the knee, but am very aware of how much more flattering this can be! What I'm really interested in is the durability of any of these brands, so any help much appreciated! Thanks.

 

[druid]

I have Sergio Grassio's and Regents...

Bought the SG's for dressage/SJing as I have straight cut Regents for showing...much, much prefer the Regents. If I could have the Regents with the SG stiffener I'd have my perfect boots. The SG's dropped more than the regents which causes lots of creasing at the ankle instead of one nice soft crease. They also ahd to be resoled after only about 6 months wear!!

 

[seabiscuit]

I have a pair of SG and I really dont like them AT ALL! Just look completely 'wrong' on my legs, they just look awful, although of course they looked perfect for the first few months.I think if I had done a lot of competitions in the last few years they would be knackered by now.

 

[druid]

Not just me who thinks they look odd after awhile when they finish dropping then!

 

[tigers_eye]

Hmmm, interesting! Don't like it when they start to drop, I have a pair of Cavallo's (I think), they are quite stiff and now have creases below the anle which can be quite painful when walking around in them. They have lasted me about 6 years but are now completely knackered. There was one SG boot I thought looked really nice, these ones , they look really soft and floppy. The only thing is I don't know how much they are and do you think they are less safe than stiffer models?

 

[sevenoceans]

I wouldn't touch SG with barge pole I have one and had it 10 years it still so stiff (i dunno why i still have it... (forrestforever when are we boots shopping??)
SG Was wee bit too long (i have long thin legs) they cut the rim at the top and i hoped it would drop as well, they did drop but very wrongly causing sores round my ankles also the stiffness made me walk stupidly!. At the time i was a teen and very thin and long they were the only boots on the market that fit me... Big mistake...
I would be interested to se other people opinions on other makes...

 

[tigers_eye]

I am the opposite - short and chunky

! Right, think SG have been crossed off my list....

 

[druid]

All boots will drop - most about 1" but my SG have dropped about 2" and it's all wrong!

You can to some extent control the drop by precreasing the boots (leather balm inside and out of the ankle and stand on a step in them, drop heels off the step to mark the crease, work crease with your hands until soft).

I don't think stiff boots are "safer" really but I think they are more durable and give you a better leg position. Have you ever tried on something like a Konig or Petrie? They ahve a whale bone stiffner and really...you CANNOT use your heels to kick, you can only use your upper calf and turn heels in to spur. Correct for dressage btu not so ahndy for eventign I'd wager!

 

[sevenoceans]

I think i have the Firenze cos it looks like it... will take pics of mine and show it to you... but won't be until later. Don't forget it's 10 years old.

Mine does feel soft but is stiff (it's quite thick)

Is perugia the one you wanted? Looks good... I would try one rather buy unseen.

 

[Super_Kat]

*Pssst* Have you looked at the Sarm Hipppique boots? I have a pair and they're comfy, durable and they look good! They retail around the £220 mark

 

[LEC]

I find this thread really interesting as was out hunting moaning about my boots. I have some Ariats which are super boots but they are not zipped and I have odd shaped legs from sport so would like something closer fitting. My next thought was going to be boots in £200- £300 range. I see Konigs are on special offer with Rideaway now £199 from £269.

 

[Governor]

I've got Regali Ricchi boots (owned by S Grasso I think). They're very comfortable and I think they look pretty smart. They are reasonably high cut but they dropped quite alot once they were broken in (the leather is soft to start with) but they still don't look terrible around the ankle (but they do in the pic....). They were about £200 new.

 

[Super_Kat]

Regali and Sarm H are the same aren't they?

 

[sevenoceans]

OOhh not bad...

 

[LEC]

Yes Regali is same as Sarm H

 

[nicnag]

I've got Regent Cotswolds, I've had them for more than ten years and they are still fantastic despite LOTS of use! I've also had Sergios and some of the other cheaper ones like mountain horse (mostly due to fashion changes really) and found they were too soft and just didn't last. My only gripe with the Regents is if I'm using them for dressage I feel like I can't get my leg around the horse properly as they are so stiff, but also they hold your leg position so well so there is a pay off!

 

[seaofdreams]

I love my SG's i got them January 2006, i was starting to think i would have to have a made to measure pair of boots as nothing fits me i had tried everything till SG but they have such a wide range of sizes and fittings although they do mark easily as i found out when Mouse fell on me in a showjumping round ! and also take a couple of times to ware in.
but i would get another pair tomorow
i have this pair
http://www.paulemorin.com/sergio_grasso_boots.htm#VICENZA
Hx

 

[druid]

Konigs are fabulous...those will be my next pair

 

[tigers_eye]

Thanks all! Guess i really ought to take myself off to Frogpool and try some on... but sounds like Regent has plenty of followers, and I'm quite taken with Sarm Hippique but remember having a pair of their breeches which fell apart so that put me off! So no-one's tried De Niro?

 

[I_A_P]

i like my regali ricchi too, i wish mine were slightly tighter, but thats only because i have grown upwards, and bought them to allow any width of my leg growth, so they have ended up being slightly baggy round my ankle

 

[Allykat]

I have a pair of broginis that I bought off ebay..Half price brand new

Again they have dropped which has left huge folds at the ankle, often causing agonising blisters. I have has the Zips replaced as one broke after a year of little use. They are super smart boots, but given the choice I wouldn't buy them again.

 

[Santa_Claus]

Another Regali fan here!

Vicky you know what care (or lack of) i take with my stuff and mine still come up as new!

Glad your finally getting a new pair though as yours were looking decidedly sad last time i saw them!

 

[MissDeMeena]

I know you've not mentioned them in the title.. but what about some Sarm Hipppique... i've had mine for getting on 10 yrs, they've had a new zip in the back of one of them, and a little bit of the stitching has started to break (actually where the new zip was put in).. but not bad for 10yrs old, and they've had a pretty hard life...
I also had some Sarm Hipppique breeches, which also fell apart pretty quickly...

Deffo go for the SH boots tho!!

Only problem is, i could swear they were over the £300 mark (like about £350).. but even if they are.. you get what you pay for

 

[Emily99]

I have Brogini's.

Brought them 2nd hand off ebay.. yep they've dropped a bit but they don't hurt me around my ankle.

ignore me/horse young horse doing his first v. informal unaff test whilst spooking at the white boards!!

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a40/purpleemz99/DSC02520.jpg

 

[Happy Bird]

I had a pair of Regents which were so stiff I couldn't bend my legs - they were awful things - but that was years ago, so quite possibly they have improved since then. I bought a pair of Sergio Grasso's a couple of months ago and I love them !!! I can walk about in them for long periods of time - something I definitely could not do with Regents. My SG's are soooo soft and comfy !!!

 

[Bananaman]

Another vote for the Sarm Hippique boots. I am fairly short, and reasonably chunky too now

, and my SH boots fit like a glove and also take a fair bit of abuse

!
I've had mine for about 10 years too and unless they've come down in price, could have sworn I paid about £350 for them too.
They're still going strong, had one zip change and apart from being dropped round the ankles they otherwise scrub up almost as new.

 

[miller]

I love my regali's - had Regents (2 pairs) and hated both with a passion.

Loved my Rectiligne boots but got to fat for them!

Also got a pair of lace front Dublins that I use every day - had them 10 years and they are soooo comfy.

 

[Fiona]

I have a pair of regents which are 17 years old and have worn extremely well. The only marks are scrapes on the outer feet bit from hunting (v sharp hedges in our part of the world). Also have lovely brogini boots about 4 years old, but would never wear them hunting as the leather is so soft and v easily damaged. I scraped them just doing one XC ride.
Just wondering what you want them for as that would make a big difference to which ones to recommend.

FIona