riding in leather wellie type boots

[racingdemon]

all the various winter leather welly style boots.... grasmeres/dubarry/river things/ & the such like... what are they actually like to ride in?

i'm considering (like every year! ) whether to get some for riding in the winter? but i really don't like a boot that feels loose around my leg (like normal wellies do)

so... what do you think?

 

[Starbucks]

I think they are great but used to wear normal wellies before hand. You can get quite slim fitting ones though so they might be better for you.

 

[CaleruxShearer]

I dont personally ride in my dubarrys as I find they slip down and pinch my legs black and blue. I will get on a horse in them if I'm literally just going to be sitting on it for 10 mins to walk it off say, but I'd also put my boots and gaiters on for anything else. Don't know about grasmeres but I do have a friend who rides in hers, I think because they're a bit tighter round the leg they don't slip down

 

[georgiegirl]

I personally wouldnt - I think it looks awful when people have the big rubbed patches on the inside and you can tell that they ride in them! - just a pet hate of mine really!

I keep a pair of short boots/chaps dow the yard that get put on just before I ride - keeps my yard boots looking goood and the boots I ride in looking good!

 

[katherine1975]

I ride in my Dubarrys all the time, they are really warm and comfortable. They are not very supportive around the ankles and if I go for a long ride my ankles ache a bit.

 

[kirstyhen]

Grasmeres are meant for riding in (unlike dubarrys) and the drawstring means they are fitted to your leg. I find the foot bulky for proper schooling in, but for yard jobs and hacking/fast work they are fine.
Plus they are much warmer than my Dubarrys! Although no boot beats my dubarrys for normal wearing!

 

[Foxford]

I have toggi canyons, and while they are great boots and I have accidentally ridden in them a few times - and it felt terrible. Am weighing up whether to bite the bullet and get a pair of ariat h20s instead of my tredstep half chaps and jod boots over the winter.

 

[kirstyhen]

I also have the Ariat Windermere boot (me, boot addiction, never!) but they arent insulated or fitted to the leg like the grasmeres.
My next purchase is the Dubarrys that are fleece lined, but I am still saving up for them!

 

[kirstyhen]

The Ariat Insulated Bromonts are lovely to ride in and so snug! (I have those too, I am seeking help for my problem, honest!)

(sorry for the multiple posts, phone won't let me edit!)

 

[ElvisandTilly]

I usually ride in Ariat H20 bromonts but have just purchased the Ariat glacier boot to use over winter as they are waterproof and insulated.

Im fed up of changing in and out of boots when doing yard work to riding. Have ridden and schooled and done mucking out etc in these boots and they are fab! My feet have been lovely and warm in the old were currently having

They are tight fitting as you adjust the laces to fit as loose or as tight as you feel comfortable.

 

[ecrozier]

Lol Kirsty I'm glad I'm not the only one with numerous boot alternatives - at least you have an excuse of working with horses!
Op I do ride in my dubarrys now and again but only hacking and tend to find them a bit 'clunky' if that makes sense? They also drop round the ankle, and I have fat calves!
I have ariat short boots, the h20 yard boot, and they are FAB, but for cold days I have a pair of fleece lined mark Todd winter boots, which I am slightly unconvinced about for schooling but are great for longer hacks etc. I also have bromonts which I keep for competing, they are fab, but too good for general yard work! Just bought myself some ariat wellies too which so far I love!
So all in all, I'd say the dubarrys are my least favorite to ride in but fab for everything else - but too expensive to trash mucking out (learnt that to my cost!)

 

[OneInAMillion]

My mum has these and rides in them every so often and finds them comfy

I have the ariat windemeres and saved up £130 to buy them and don't want to ruin them by riding in them.

I rode in these all of last winter (mine were only £15 a per new from DH) and found them cosy and good for doing yard jobs in too - very good quality for price (though I know not everyone likes to ride in them)

 

[LizzieJ]

I ride in my Dubarry Clare boots pretty much every day I do have Ariat Glaciers and Bromonts which are definitely warmer and the Bromonts are definitely better for schooling. I find the lacing on my Grasmeres pretty annoying but I don't find them bulky I do occasionally use various short ariat boots with half or full chaps but tbh I'm a bit too lazy to bother most the time! Hmmm, I also have a lot of boots

 

[MissSBird]

I ride in my Ariat Windermeres all the time, and love them!

 

[MinxGTi]

I used to ride in my dublins all the time, then one day I parted company with my horse and landed on my feet and broke my ankle. I'm sure it wouldn't of broken so easily if I had worn more supportive boots. Since changing to my leather riding boots to ride again, I'm shocked at how bulky my dublins were to ride in. I now just wear my dublins round the yard and change to ride.

 

[smac]

I dont like riding in my Dubarrys. -Galways not Claires. Claires are 'designed' to ride in. Apart from ankle support etc as above they have an inside seam which as someone said gets rubbed- it also rubs the saddle flap. However with the liners are toasty for yard work.

I have Grassmeres that are brilliant. Can be ridden in but I ony hack in them. I have Bromont Non ins for schooling in butfind they are warm enough in winter. And have short boot and chaps as well if ness.

The Grassmeres are a little cheaper than Dubarrys but whatever you buy if you know they.are.going to get trashed, a very good albeit unattractive investment is a proper pair of boots from the Muckboot Co. No cheap knock offs compare. These are neoprene. Warm and waterproof and of various styles. ugliest things in world but I reckon have doubled the life of my leather boots!

 

[lillie07]

Dubarrys are brilliant yard boots but awful to ride in! The offer no support at all, sit at a funny height so either catch on the bottom of the saddle or rub the saddle and the foot is too chunky.

Grasmeres/ Glaciers and Conistons are all nice to ride in and also stand up to yard work (I have a long boot addiction)

 

[Polotash]

I ride in my Dubarrys occasionally and yes they do slip down, so i normally change into half chaps.

A word of warning on Dubarry's, I'm on the 4th pair in as many years, they always split around the sole and let in water.. this pair has also cracked on top of the foot... not impressed and won't be buying them again!

 

[smac]

My dubarrys are 4 yrs old and i got given a 2nd pair as a present few months ago. never had an issue with either. i muck out between 1-8 a day. and in them for everything but riding. i walk xc courses- and straight through the water jumps etc. dry feet. But once a week a I wipe them over with a little bit of conditioner- takes two seconds!

 

[applestroodle]

I to have dubarrys but don't ride in them, I hate not having support around my ankles! I have a pair of ariat grasmere which are great for the winter & riding in, they are a little bit bulky for schooling so I do have a pair of ariat Devon pro & chaps.

 

[Llanali]

I have beautiful ariat conistons, which I adore riding in.... When im not too busy on the phone trying to get the zips replaced... Again.

 

[Alibear]

Dubarry country clares, designed for riding and oh so comfy and great for round the yard too. Although 2 pairs of socks required in winter.
Love them, only now starting to get a bit baggy but I've had them for 2 years and recently lost a fair bit of weight so I think thats the reason.

I used to always wear my proper leather riding boots for schooling but I don't bother any more dubaarys do the job just fine.

 

[racingdemon]

thanks everyone..... i think i will try on some Ariat Bromonts, not really what i had in mind, but i like that there are insulated.... i think i'm going to struggle with leather wellies, i haven't got particularly skinny calves, but already notice a difference between chaps & proper leather boots

got to love Ariats!

 

[smac]

Just a thought then- in relation to what you class as skinny calves. The bromonts Full calf is only about 15" and take it as tight as you can bear as they WILL stretch and drop.

The Grassmeres and the Dubarry both do wide fit calves- the grassmere full calf being the most generous.

I love boot /shoe shopping!!

 

[ecrozier]

That's a good point from smac - I have fairly wide calves and the wide fit bromonts JUST fit! Whereas my ariat half chaps are only medium size I think? And dubarrys fit fine. And my old MH boots were a much wider fit i think! Def try several pairs on before you buy!

 

[Leg_end]

Agree about the bromonts.. I've got the insulated pair in regular and found them pretty tight to begin with, almost cut off circulation tight But after a couple of wears they are now perfect. I take a small in the half chaps.

 

[racingdemon]

Just measured my calf... Just under 13" maybe I have got skinnyish calves.... Now to find a stockist nearby!!

 

[smac]

Just measured my calf... Just under 13" maybe I have got skinnyish calves.... Now to find a stockist nearby!!

Oh gosh- I class that as normal calves (because that is same as me!! ) I wear regular bromonts, regular grassmere and regular Dubarry!

Enjoy shopping

 

[racingdemon]

phew... they should fit then!