Good Value Long Leather Riding Boot recommendations please

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Patches

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Ok, so I've agreed to join a friend hunting next year.

I know it's early to be thinking of such things, but I was wondering what type of boot to buy.

I usually ride in MH High Riders or Rimfrosts. However, my High Riders need a new zip in one boot and the zip on the other is a bit "sticky". Not prepared to pay £40 per boot to have them replaced.

Now, bear in mind that I might only ever go once (well we don't know how it'll go) I don't want to pay hundreds for a pair of boots. I would consider buying a more decent pair IF things went well. I certainly don't want to be that person in all the flash gear, sat on a cob with a green ribbon in her tail!

So, any suggestions/recommendations? They need to have a zip as I can't point my toes down far enough to get in unzipped boots owing to an old ankle injury, black is the colour too.
 
My sister has just bought a pair of Dublin boots for £88 at Robinsons sale, they are like a slimmer version of the Mountain High rider boots, hers are to 'put her on' till her leg is back to normal (hoprfully) after she broke it at spring bank.
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Was just looking at those.

They look very comfortable and not too chunky at the sole. My Rimfrosts and High Riders are a 5 1/2. What is the sizing of these like around the foot? I have a sore big toe joint so would have a 6 1/2 if the boot was quite narrow across the foot.
 
I know someone in Shifnal, Shropshire who would do your zips in the MH boots for £32 the pair - she did mine last Winter and they're still going strong? You are in Staffs, I think so not too far away?
 
Ooo that's really interesting!

Not sure whether I could hunt in them though, people seem to think the soles are too chunky for hunting attire.

Do you hunt? Only asking incase you're close enough to my area to ride out with the 4 Shires Bloodhounds?
 
I've ordered Dublin lace front long boots with zip back from Derby House website for £129.99.

I haven't got them yet as only ordered today, so no idea how comfy they are - but they seem good value!
 
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Ooo that's really interesting!

Not sure whether I could hunt in them though, people seem to think the soles are too chunky for hunting attire.

Do you hunt? Only asking incase you're close enough to my area to ride out with the 4 Shires Bloodhounds?

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I don't hunt but I have seen quite a few photos of people hunting in the Sportive MH boots (The pair I had the zips replaced in are the Sportives)

I am too wimpy to hunt
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I quite like the look of those too. It's so hard to know what to buy.

I am really liking the look of those softy tops though. They already look broken in.
 
PS The Saddlery at Eccleshall, Staffs has a HUMUNGOUS room with about 50 paris of secondhand hunting boots - might be worth a trip???
 
Cool. That's not all that far away, in the grand scheme of things. We're actually bang on the Cheshire Border, very close to Crewe.

Couldn't be more North Staffordshire and yet still be in Staffordshire if we tried.
 
I have found that MH boots come up REALLY big, most people I know, and myslef have had to get anywhere between half a size and a size and a half smaller than their normal size.

Many hunts nowadays are more relaxed on attire, particularly for those on 'trial' days and at cubbing. Call the hunt secretary and explain your predicament and choice of attire, they are usually very helpful and full of advice. This may save you purchasing an £80 pair of boots followed by a £??? pair of boots if all goes well.
 
This is true, so very true.

We're not planning on going till next season though, so I might look an idiot if I call up this early. I just had some money for Christmas and wanted to buy something constructive, rather then end up using it at the co-op when we run out of bread/milk etc.
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Last Christmas I bought myself a pair of Tuffa Norfolks. They are incredibly comfortable, very soft leather, with a zip so easy to get on and still look really good now. I ride in them a lot and they polish up lovely for hunting, showing etc. I bought them on line for £100. Thoroughly recommend them even for everyday use.
 
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I've also seen quite a few people wearing the Saxon Equileather boots which are cheap and look quite convincing?
These ones:
http://www.4dobbin.com/productDetail.aspx?product_id=3065

That photo makes them look more plasticy than they actually are: they're really quite convincing!
My show boots are Regent Graftons but they're more like £165.

[/ QUOTE ] I've just bought my daughter the Saxon equileather boots and there fab! not at all plasticy and really comfy , she wanted leather for dressage but I got these because knowing her like I do she will do it once and give up!!
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I really liked the Toggi ones I saw on the net but they didn't have a zip in them. I wouldn't be able to get them on as I simply don't have enough range of movement in my ankle to flex down at the toe after the injury last year.

I ended up ordering the Requisite Softy Tops as they look so comfortable. I wouldn't mind a pair for some of my happy hacking in summer, so I'm giving them a whirl. I may well upgrade them if I take to the drag hunting and go more than once.
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Saxon Equileather - I'd recomend 'em!!

Had mine nearly a year, durable, comfy etc - but NOT waterproof around the old zips!!!

Bargain price for a pair of truly convincing boots!
Check the bargain bucket at Robinsons - £22!
 
Someone one is ripping you off charging £40 per boot for zips, my sister just took her to a shoe place in town and they charged £12 to do both.

The Equi leather boots look really nice - and if they fitted me I would have bought a pair.
 
That's Mountain Horse themselves DD.

Because I've not worn the boots much, the saddlery said to send them back to MH as they assess them and decide whether to replace the zip free of charge if they deem them to be at fault.

However, if they think the boots are worn enough to expect the zip to be showing signs of wear, they then charge you £40 to have them done per zip.

The saddlery won't just do them, they want you to send them away you see. I might get them sent off, but if you don't want to pay for repair apparently they have been known to chuck the boots away and not return them to you in order for you to shop around for a cheaper repair.

Of course, this is just what I got told from the saddlery, no personal experience of sending boots to them.
 
I sent my first pair of Sportives back to Ride-Away where I'd bought them - the zips went after 5 months but I'd only worn them about a dozen times and then for riding only and not walking about!
MH replaced them free of charge with a new pair of Sportive IIs. The zips on these lasted about 2 years with almost daily wear. The zips were replaced by a local saddler for £32 the pair last year and are still going strong. How old are your boots Patches? If less than a year I'd give it a go getting the sellers to return them to MH for you!
 
I think the boots are over a year old now but it must be a good 6 - 8 months since I've worn them.

Mine were only the High Riders though, not the sportives.

I might just get somewhere to mend the zip for me. I'm sure that MH won't replace them now the boots are older, even though I probably only wore them a dozen times.
 
I'd get the retailer to ring MH - if you only wore them a dozen times the zips must be faulty! I know there must have been a faulty batch with my Sportives as Ride-Away told me they'd had loads back!
 
Regent Pro-Rustler Ranch Rider
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You can pick them up for under £80 and they are very very comfy, generously sized and not as chunky as they look in the picture. I hunt and show in mine as well as everyday use and they have lasted well.
 
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