Dublin River Boots - Anyone else have issues with the heel?

[Deltic Blue]

As above!

I've had my Dublin River Boots for just over a year now, maybe more.
Recently I've had real issues getting my foot in the boot if I'm wearing long socks over my jodhs.
If I'm wearing short socks it's fine, but long socks, I feel like I'm having to almost break my ankle to get my foot in!

I've heard it's a known fault with the heels collapsing, I'm assuming it could be the reason why I've been struggling to get my foot in?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Yes. The next stage is the heel inner will tear and one day you will find yourself unable to remove them
They are ok if you use a boot jack to put them on religiously (will stop the problem from happening in the first place). Maybe using one now might help?

 

[rhylis]

I didn't have the River boot so can't comment on those but I did have a similar problem with my Dublin pinnacle boots. I absolutely loved them and to be fair they had a bit of a hammering in the year I used them. It was the heel that finished them off though. Like you I struggled to get them on and eventually struggled to take them off. I stopped wearing them after one occasion when my foot was stuck in the boot for over an hour no matter what I tried to do to remove it! My family found it far more funny than I did at the time!

 

[nato]

Yep! And if I push my foot down too much they tear as poiuytrewq said. Love them though, thats the only real issue, I've had mine two years and haven't really taken care of them, they still look great after traipsing round in mud up to my calves all winter, and are still waterproof!

 

[Deltic Blue]

All your replies are exactly what's happening to me.
I've stopped wearing long socks now as it felt like I was breaking my ankle to get them on, and the heel was tearing!

Does anyone have any good suggestions for similar yard boots that will last slightly longer?

 

[Crackerz]

My last pair of River boots i wore daily and it took 18 months for the heal to go, and lasted another 6 months after that

I bought another pair before winter as i think 2 years wear was pretty good

 

[Deltic Blue]

I'm sure I've had mine for longer than a year and the heal went a long time ago, they get worn to death though!
I ride in them out on hacks, do all mucking out in them and poo picking
I was worrying my legs had suddenly got fatter, but I'm glad that isn't the case!

 

[Country_gal]

I don't have the river boots but had similar problems with my Ariat Windemere boots....only the left though lol! Its like the inner heel has collapsed and I can only wear with short thin socks and seems to take an age to manoever my foot in by which time I am sweating and swearing...ALOT...lol but I love them so much and they are so comfy when they are on......

 

[Deltic Blue]

I don't have the river boots but had similar problems with my Ariat Windemere boots....only the left though lol! Its like the inner heel has collapsed and I can only wear with short thin socks and seems to take an age to manoever my foot in by which time I am sweating and swearing...ALOT...lol but I love them so much and they are so comfy when they are on......

That's the same as mine, I love them but I've given up wearing thick socks now, as it was taking me a good 5-10 minutes to get them on!
At least we're (hopefully) coming into summer, so I won't need to wear thick socks

 

[teddypops]

Get a long shoe horn. Then your foot will just slide in avoiding pushing the back of the heel down.

 

[Country_gal]

That's the same as mine, I love them but I've given up wearing thick socks now, as it was taking me a good 5-10 minutes to get them on!
At least we're (hopefully) coming into summer, so I won't need to wear thick socks

Haha it makes me really angry when I am trying ot get them on!!!! But they are just the best footwear ever...

 

[Cowpony]

Yes I had this too. When the lining tore I couldn't get my foot into the boot any more, so I binned them and bought some Toggi ones instead. Just as comfortable and waterproof, but cheaper and the heel doesn't collapse.

 

[Deltic Blue]

Yes I had this too. When the lining tore I couldn't get my foot into the boot any more, so I binned them and bought some Toggi ones instead. Just as comfortable and waterproof, but cheaper and the heel doesn't collapse.

Which are the ones you have if you don't mind me asking?

 

[rhylis]

After my Dublin boots, which I got my foot stuck in, I bought some Kanyon Gorse boots. Cheaper than the Dublin's and really comfy. I've had them well over a year now with no problems.

 

[Clare85]

I have a pair of Toggi Canyons which I have really put to the test over winter. They've held up fantastically, and I definitely haven't looked after them as well as I should. When I first got them, I felt they were a bit baggy around the ankle, but I'm used to it now and I love them. Maybe the fact they have more room around the ankle means they don't throw up the same issues as the Dublin River Boots

 

[Deltic Blue]

Just had a look at the Toggi Canyon boots, and they may have to be the ones I purchase when my Dublins finally give up or I get my foot stuck in them haha!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

To echo teddypops above, get a long shoe horn.
My Ariat Grassmeres are STILL going strong, used at least 6 months every year & have just done their 5th winter of slogging of yard work, field traipsing to poo-pick, walking dog and also riding just about every day
I clean them when I do my tack on a Sunday, I use the long show horn every time, have only had to replace 2 of the laces to date.

 

[Cowpony]

Which are the ones you have if you don't mind me asking?

Umm, the ones that were on special offer at the Royal Berks show about 3 years ago Sorry,I never really looked at the name. They had my size and the boots felt comfortable, so I just bought them! I've always sort of assumed they were Canyons, but that's just a guess.

 

[taraj]

I didn't have the River boot so can't comment on those but I did have a similar problem with my Dublin pinnacle boots. I absolutely loved them and to be fair they had a bit of a hammering in the year I used them. It was the heel that finished them off though. Like you I struggled to get them on and eventually struggled to take them off. I stopped wearing them after one occasion when my foot was stuck in the boot for over an hour no matter what I tried to do to remove it! My family found it far more funny than I did at the time!

Exactly this happened to me! They had a fair bit of wear. I got a bit panicky as I thought I would never get one of them off!.