Long leather boot recommendations, Brogini Roma any good?

Walrus

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Having had the embarrassment of my battered Mark Todd boots zip giving way as i trotted my horse up in the ring at Equifest last week (fortunately I was wearing fairly neutral brown socks!) I am now on the hunt for a new pair of riding boots.

The Mark Todds have done a sterling job and taken a total hammering but they were a bargain from Equestrian Clearance and are maybe a tad baggy. My budget is now slightly more so looking for a nice pair of long leather boots that will work miracles on my rubbish leg position (OK, maybe I'm being a bit over-ambitious). I've looked at the Brogini Roma boots online and like the fact that there are lots of height and width choices. Has anyone got a pair and what do you think? Also any other recommendations. Ideally would like to spend about £150ish but have an absolute max budget of £200.

Thank you

:)
 
i had the mark todds and didnt really rate them and had a pair of Brogini romas and they were amazing, so so comfy and always polished up smart - i got mine off of ebay as seconds for £90 i neverfound the scratch they said was on them - they were from equestrian clearance but via ebay if you search brogini seconds they usually come up! unfortunatly after a year of hard graft the zip bust on one boot and i didnt have time to get them fixed so bought a pair of treadstep donatellos they too are lovely and were £200, The donatellos were a nightmare to break in but we seem to be getting there now and they are pretty comfy! i am keeping the broginis and will get the zips replaced so i can keep them for at home and x country. i only got the tredstep as they were the only ones i liked and were within budget at the shop i was in and needed to get them urgently - if the romas had broken at a more convinient time i would have got another pair (shop didnt stock them) either another pair of romas or the Gallipoli, which are the same boot but with the laces.
 
Ariat bromont. At full price they're over budget, but I managed to get mine in the sale for £150 and I love them. Worth the money IMO.
 
Had a pair of Brogini Romas, as well as a pair of their short boots and chaps. Can safely say that I'd never buy anything from them again, I'm afraid. Zip bust on the Romas after 6 months of (riding only) wear); the chaps fell apart (literally; stitching coming apart and the covering flaking away) after 5 months or so; and the short boots were leaking through the soles almost immediately. Currently have a pair of Ariat Volants (got them in the sale for £200) and though they're only a couple of months in, they feel a much better quality and far sturdier.
 
I looked at buying some HKM boots a while back, the Italy and Spain HKM boots are about £150 and looked nice when I saw them.
They come in lots of sizes too.
I cant say how well they wear as I didn't buy them as they didn't have my size in stock and I'm impatient!
Might be worth a look?
:-)
 
I don't know anything about Brogini Roma boots BUT I absolutely adore my Brogini Gallipoli boots. Must have owned them nearly 3 years (?) and still intact (they are just ridden in). Also, love my Tredstep Donatello boots, which seemed to do miracles with my leg position!
 
If the brogini long boots are anything like the short ones in quality they definitely wouldn't make my top 1000 list - my paddock boots lasted only 6 weeks before the heel disintegrated and every time they got slightly damp I'd find them covered in mildew the next morning.

They went in the bin and I'm personally not willing to ever consider them as a brand to buy again for myself as they were way poorer than I would have expected for their price.
 
Thanks everyone - so much to think about. The Treadsteps seem to be getting a good write up as well so might have to look at those. Definitely having second thoughts about the broginis as reviews seem to think they fall apart quite easily (although I have brogini short boots for the yard and they take a hammering). Ariats are an interesting one - lots of people love them but then some reviews i've read say the leather is very soft and they tend to crease very heavily and not really be smart enough for competitions. Decisions decisions!!
 
I have Brogini long boots (don't know which model sorry) - they have stayed in good shape but I keep them for good- have tredstep short boots and gaiters for every day.
I know LOADS of people with Donatellos and they love them. I would have got them myself but I got the Broginis in a super sale cos they fit my stick-like legs :-)
 
Ariat bromont. At full price they're over budget, but I managed to get mine in the sale for £150 and I love them. Worth the money IMO.

This. I got mine before they even hit the UK (got them from the USA) and they still look good so they last ages. They're totally waterproof too which is so handy. Ive got the insulated ones so they're cosy for winter and not too hot still for summer.
 
I have a bit of a boot fetish. Ariat Bromonts every time (I also have the volants). Without doubt the best every day boot. Comfy, smart and durable. Honestly you won't be disappointed. I have loads of others but these are the ones I would recommend over any other.
 
Thank you. Do we think the ariat bromonts are smart enough to compete in, I've read a few reviews where they are rated for everyday but maybe not for competing? Any thought? :)
 
I'm on my 3rd pair of Broginis. Nothing else in my price range fits my leg (all wrong height/width!), and makes like Tredstep are way too narrow in the ankle. Apparently I have fat ankles & comparatively thin calves or something :o I do think the leather quality is not so good as on my 1st pair (which lasted 2+yrs of daily wear, riding, mucking out & splashing to the muck heap in winter & always cleaned up well, then the stitching gave) 2nd pair only went because I ordered a pair which were slightly too tight & then grew a bit & decided it wasn't worth getting them stretched :) For the price I think they're alright really. :)
 
I have exactly the same my Brogini boots are 15 years old and are immaculate, but I do keep them for competition use. I have found Tredstep short boots infinitely better than Ariat but I have bought a pair of Ariat Bromonts, still in the box but i'll use them when it gets colder for hacking and schooling, I don't think they are suitable as competition boots but I have a friend who wears hers on a daily basis and she loves them.
I have Brogini long boots (don't know which model sorry) - they have stayed in good shape but I keep them for good- have tredstep short boots and gaiters for every day.
I know LOADS of people with Donatellos and they love them. I would have got them myself but I got the Broginis in a super sale cos they fit my stick-like legs :-)
 
OP - don't forget that with any boots, how long they last will always be directly proportional to the correctness of fit and how well they're looked after. Poorly fitting boots that are not well maintained will always break down more quickly. Well fitting boots that are cared for will last longer :)
 
Thanks everyone, went and tried the ariats on today, tried the bromont dress boot but it was really baggy round the ankle and I thought I was a bit clumpy. At least that's made a decision on that, can't find anywhere locally that stocks the tredstep so may have to wing it with an online order!
 
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