Dubarry- Are they worth it?

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Dizzle

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Thinking about getting a pair of these for dog walking and general pottering (plus I need to start dropping pre-Christmas hints!), I have my beloved Ariat Glaciers for riding in but wanted something I can get away with wearing 24/7 over winter (including in the office as I have a 10 walk in in the mornings).

Firstly, do they last? My ariats are 12 months old and the have lasted beautifully, I always wear the inside of boots more but these are still fairly level, when I bought a pair of dublin rivers I was walking off the side of the boot in under a year and no cobbler could repair them (plus the million other issues with them).

Secondly, what are the calf fittings like? I have tiny calves and I love the Ariats because I can tighten the laces up so they don't look like I've borrowed a giant's wellies! When I had the dublin rivers they were far too big and I couldn't ride in them as they caught on the saddle flap and ended up being pulled down like a pair of 80's leg warmers.

What style/type of Dubarry do you recommend?
 
I really would NOT recommend Dubarry's! I had mine barely a year before the toe split! And it wasn't exactly wear and tear either, I mean I used them for ONE winter... I'd hardly call that wear and tear! For the amount of money they cost I would have expected much longer use! I know of an awful lot of people who had the exact same problem.

I love Ariat!! Best quality boots around, and they last years!! I've had my short Ariat boots for about 6 years now and they are still going strong (I haven't really looked after them either). I've recently invested in a pair of bromonts too, and they are fab!!

Ariat all the way for me :)
 
I second ariats... I have the grasmeres to schlep around in, ride, muck out, turn out etc. Have lasted two winters (I don't wear them in the summer as find them a bit too warm!).

I would go for those over dubarrys - which to me are now directed at people in white jeans for badders!
 
A few years ago I would have said 'YES ! soooo worth it' but these days, agree with the above, really wouldn't bother ! My first pair lasted for 4 years and only in the end stated to split across the foot (base of toe crease) and I lived in them, at the yard, dog walking etc but when I replaced them, the next pair started to go after about 6 months already, so 1 winter season.
Will not bother with them again and will look at the ariats as they alwasy seem to get great reviews !
 
I do like Dubarry's but I agree they don't seem to last, my Clares split across the foot and the stitching down the side has come apart after about 18 months of hard wear. The calves are quite wide, I have narrow calves and my boots are always full of bits of hay where there is a gap at the top and it falls down when filling haynets!

I've just ordered some Ariat Windermere. Dubarry's are so expensive, I don't mind paying it if they last but at double what I have just paid for the Ariats I would expect them to last better.
 
Lynsey&Smartie said:
The calves are quite wide, I have narrow calves and my boots are always full of bits of hay where there is a gap at the top and it falls down when filling haynets!

I've just ordered some Ariat Windermere.
Click to expand...

Oooh can you PM when they arrive to let me know what the calf fitting is like?! :D
 
I've never had a problem with my Dubarrys. They're coming up for 2 years old and get worn everyday at the yard to ride in and muck out etc love them! Also have a pair for going out in general and they're fab. It's the Galway model I think, the country boot ones . I'd say I have 'normal' width calves and they fit nicely . If you had really skinny calves you may have a problem.
 
I've always bought Dubarry Galways and I have a number of pairs of them in varying states of condition. My original ones bought about 10 years ago are still alive and in not bad condition, however the few pairs I've purchased since then have not lasted in the same way. I bought Ariat Grasmeres about 3 years ago and I have to say I've never looked back! They are fabulous boots and they still look brand new even though I trudge through snow and water for months of the year. I'd never buy another pair of Dubarrys now, Ariats all the way!
 
My friend sells them in her shop. They always seem to be getting returned. They won't replace them if they have been near horses! For me, if I paid that much for a boot I'd expect to do everything countrywise in it.

Ariat are still my favourites and they replace them without question! (They even allow you to stand near horse pee without complaining that you're mistreating their boots if you then have to return them.)

Would definitely recommend ariat over dubarry, unless you just want them for fashion type activities.
 
That is interesting, as I was looking at Dubarrys compared to Dublin and someone was even offering to buy me a pair of Dubarrys as a present. Sounds like we are better off with Ariats. I have had three pairs of Ariat short boots. One I just put in the dustbin after 6 years, the others are still going strong, although I found that they are quite narrow in the foot and the leather ones took a bit of wearing in.
 
I have Ariat Windermeres and the calf is quite wide - probably not quite as wide as a Dubarry but certainly not like a riding boot. I think it a shame as I wanted to ride in them but they do sag when ridden. V comfy for everything else though and a very good yard / walking boot for the price.
 
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