my new ariat boots are crippling me. :( :(

kerilli

kerilli

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 April 2002
Messages
27,417
Location
Lovely Northamptonshire again!
Visit site
bought a pair of high-ankle Heritage II Paddock boots, they are so solid at the ankles that they really hurt to ride in, and rub my ankles.
frown.gif
have covered them with Effax Leather Balsam, but what's the next step, soak them with neatsfoot? really can't bear the pain of riding in them, even though they look so nice.
frown.gif
frown.gif

*sulks*
 
I had that with my tb elite paddock boots they were so stiff at the back, not sure if it was where they put the rubber spur bit or if it was just the leather. They made my heels black and blue and really killed. I was just about to give up on them after about 6 months when all of a sudden they softened now I love them but they were awful to begin with.
 
I soaked my ropers in two bottles of ariat oil when I first got them to soften them. 4yrs on and they are still going strong and they have been in every extreme from the crippling heat of the oz outback mustering to wet muddy winters in scotland and I ride in them all the time.
 
Poor you!

Wear them round the house... or anywherefor a few days. The warmth of your feet will make the oils penetrate the leather and break them in to fit your feet. My husband used to go through agony when ever he got a new pair of army boots. They were always made out of thick carboard like leather. The soldiers used to spend hours massaging dubbin in to their boots and wearing them at home to soften them up.

Warmth, massaging the leather and wearing them in non painful circumstances is the way forward.
 
A great tip from my grandma: to soften leather shoes/boots quicker, put on nylon tights dipped in hot water and wear the boots - this will create a nice steamy internal effect, and they will soften really quickly. Might want to do this in the comfort of your own home rather than a cold stable yard though!

I haven't tried it with riding boots per se, but works great with other boots.
 
OK, don't freak out about my suggestion
crazy.gif
but this is what my granddad taught me to do with stiff leather, and he used to work in a tannery.
Put something with a hard smooth surface, like the wooden back of a dandy brush, or, if you've got access to an anvil or similar, use the bit on the side that's round and comes to a point (sorry if that's not very clear), inside the boots, up against the bit you're trying to soften. If you've got some wooden boot trees those will work also. Put a tea towel or a bit of cardboard over the outside of the boot to protect the leather, and then tap with the flat end of a hammer. You have to go quite hard, about the same as if putting a nail in wood. Do this all over and it will instantly soften the leather. We did it to all our school shoes and never got any blisters.
smile.gif

This really is the quickest way to soften leather, I could understand though if you don't want to go beating your boots with a hammer.
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I soaked my ropers in two bottles of ariat oil when I first got them to soften them. 4yrs on and they are still going strong and they have been in every extreme from the crippling heat of the oz outback mustering to wet muddy winters in scotland and I ride in them all the time.

[/ QUOTE ]

I got these, thought they would be ideal for longlining in etc as waterproof......... 30 mins wear, and I was in agony- open blisters, literaly skinned my heels
mad.gif
mad.gif
mad.gif
mad.gif

Mine are nubuck, what happens when you oil them?
confused.gif
I haven't worn them since- my heels have only just healed.
 
All my ariats have been hell at first to wear. I worked in the paddock boots carefully around the yard, and drove in them alot too to get the ankles more flexible. Ive got a pair of the cowboy boots and god they are still capable of blisters a year on! we are getting there!
 
I found the Heritage boots to be tight around the top and narrow across the toes and could only wear thin socks with them. Not good for Winter. The Devon Pro's are so worth the extra ££££s. I ended up upgrading after persevering for 3 months with the heritage boots!
 
I've had 3 pairs of Ariats: 1 pair of non-waterproof Terrains, 1 pair of Pulse shoes, and 1 pair of waterproof Terrains (my most recent pair). The first 2 pairs were really really comfy, but the new ones give me HUGE blisters on my big toe on 1 foot! Not impressed for £85, and I told Ariat but it seems they don't care. Hmph. I now have a pair of almost-new Ariats sat doing nothing until I get round to eBay-ing them!
kerilli - I feel for you, most Ariats are soooo nice but it kills you when you spend that amount of money only to be in pain!
 
There are two schools with Ariat boots - 1.) those who have them and they fit like a glove instantly and 2.) those that have to break them in.

Mine absolutely killed my feet for the first couple of weeks, really badly rubbed down the inner sides of my ankles. Now they fit beautifully. What I did was stuff the boots with socks to stretch them and then when riding plaster my feet & use very thick socks.

The pain is worth it though
 
[ QUOTE ]
There are two schools with Ariat boots - 1.) those who have them and they fit like a glove instantly and 2.) those that have to break them in.

Mine absolutely killed my feet for the first couple of weeks, really badly rubbed down the inner sides of my ankles. Now they fit beautifully. What I did was stuff the boots with socks to stretch them and then when riding plaster my feet & use very thick socks.

The pain is worth it though

[/ QUOTE ] I seem to be in the fortunate 1st school. I have two pairs of devon pros - one that has been worn to death but still does the job for everyday wear and a new pair. They can feel a little tight for the first couple of weeks, but they don't cause me any real discomfort. Then they fit like a glove
smile.gif
I wouldn't have anything else on my tootsies
smile.gif
 
frown.gif
same here, got a new pair yesterday and wore mine today and have 2 very sore blisters on the back of my ankles!! My last pair were a dream to wear however this pair are not so nice!!
 
Unusually for me my Ariat Heritage II Paddock boots fitted me perfectly from day one and are ever so comfortable. I didn't need to break them in as such but the more you wear them the softer they become. They are so nice I wear them every time I ride instead of saving them for competitions which is what they were meant for
blush.gif
 
I have the same boots and I can't walk around in mine unless the zip is half undone. It is the flesh just above the ankle that is killing me rather than the ankle itself. Even though they are elasticated, it doesn't seem to make enough difference. So for the past month I wear them every day without doing the zip up properly. I thought that I could move the zip up a bit each day, but as soon as I do I am instantly crippled. I am not exactly enormous (size 12 and 5'6) and can't work out why they are so tight at the top. I have spent evenings pulling them apart whilst watching TV but STILL no luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top