Winter boots: riding/yard. Tuffa or something else?

Gamebird

Gamebird

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I know it's not winter yet but our yard and school are flooded which has got me thinking a bit in advance.

For the last two years I've ridden and gone to work in Ariat short boots but had a pair of Toggi Hamiltons for yard work and work on horrible days. Our school is wet and sandy in the winter and my ariats get trashed by the sand and need washing off every day. Also changing boots between mucking out and riding is a waste of time.

I'd like some long boots that can handle yard work, being hosed off daily, riding and be smart enough to wear with jeans/cords for work (and not so riding-y that I look like I've left my horse behind!). They don't need to be particularly warm, just waterproof.

I thought about the Toggi Calgary but most pro grooms seem to favour the Tuffa boots. I'm not a huge Dubarry fan.

Any suggestions?
 
Moutain Horse for me everytime. I've got a pair of the Rider II boots and they're great. Waterproof, warm, not too bulky, good for riding in. They now stink to high heaven of course, from all the hours of mucking out in them, but I have had them for over a year! :)
 
I really rate my grasmeres but they are a bit chunky for riding in so I tend to go up a stirrup size in the winter (super safety conscious me ;) ). I actually wear them all year on the yard but tend to swop to short boots and gaiters when I'm riding in the summer as my feet get far too hot in my grasmeres. I've had mine for 3 years now and they are just starting to crack but I've not taken care of them at all really...
 
Leg_end said:
I really rate my grasmeres but they are a bit chunky for riding in so I tend to go up a stirrup size in the winter (super safety conscious me ;) ). I actually wear them all year on the yard but tend to swop to short boots and gaiters when I'm riding in the summer as my feet get far too hot in my grasmeres. I've had mine for 3 years now and they are just starting to crack but I've not taken care of them at all really...
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Agree :)

However I have to say I save mine for teaching and don't use them to muck out in. They really are warm though! :p
 
I have Toggi's and I really like them. I waterproofed them with Nikwax and they rarely let me down. I lived in them during the snow as had better traction than my Aigle wellies and were much warmer! I wash them off under the tap and when they are clean and dry I Nikwax about every 2 months to keep them in good condition.
 
I would love a pair of boots like this, but how do they fair with sloshing around in mud - sadly something that cannot be avoided if I'm feeding the zoo ponys that live out 24/7. Is there anything that would stand up to this, or am I best sticking to wellies? Won't ride in wellies though, and changing into other boots is cold and a pain! :)
 
I have some Ariat Grasmeres which I actually don't like (I may be the only person!) as they slip down my leg, as they seem to do on other people I've seen them on, and I hate the fussy lacing thing.

At the end of last winter I bought some Mark Todd country boots

http://www.countrysmiths.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=Mark-Todd-Tall-Country-Boots

And I love them! Highly recommended. Warm, totally waterproof, good with breeches or jeans, yard work, walking the dog and riding in. They haven't dropped significantly on the leg either.

The sizing in a tad generous on the foot but this means I can wear cosy socks in the extreme cold (I suffer from very icy feet.) In the summer I just pop an insole in to take up the slack!
 
I had some Toggi Calgarys and while they were great to ride in they were a bit rubbish for yard work as not 100% waterproof round the zip and not at all warm. I now have Toggi Canyon boots and they are amazing - v warm, v waterproof and v comfy. That said, my friend has the Tuffa Country Rider boots and I have serious boot envy ;)
 
My Dublin River Tall boots leak. I sent the first pair back that leaked, the second pair also leak but I couldn't be bothered to send them back again. I only use them now when it's dry.

I also have a pair of Ariat Grasmeres which I love, but they are slightly chunky to ride in. Ok for hacking, but I wouldn't want to school in them.

I have a pair of Mountain Horse Rimfrost Riders which I thought would do the trick around the yard in winter, but they just don't fit me well so they're going on ebay I think.
 
I have a pair of Sherwood "Furlong" boots, which are like this:

http://www.google.co.uk/#q=Sherwood..._gc.r_pw.&fp=26e5dcdd657b582&biw=1004&bih=434

I've worn them everyday for a year, over the winter, mucking out, riding etc, and they've been FANTASTIC. They have just started to leak, but that's cos my "helpful" boyfriend put them infront ofthe heater to dry, and made them all dry and crispy :( before that, they hadn't shown any signs of wear at all! HIGHLY recommend them, and will be buying another pair this year (and not letting the OH near them!!)
 
these are brilliant http://www.garden4less.co.uk/tyne-muck-boots-riding-boot-black.asp

they keep your feet nice and cosy in the freezing cold, nice to ride in aswell so no cold feet, i found that even though they are neoprene higher up that they were still pretty waterproof i never got wet legs trudging through all the snow and the mud and they got sprayed with rug waterproofer every six to eight weeks to make sure i stayed dry, have never found a pair of winter boots that i like as much as these
 
Saratoga said:
My Dublin River Tall boots leak. I sent the first pair back that leaked, the second pair also leak but I couldn't be bothered to send them back again. I only use them now when it's dry.

I also have a pair of Ariat Grasmeres which I love, but they are slightly chunky to ride in. Ok for hacking, but I wouldn't want to school in them.

I have a pair of Mountain Horse Rimfrost Riders which I thought would do the trick around the yard in winter, but they just don't fit me well so they're going on ebay I think.
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Really? I've not had a single problem with mine, absolutely love them!
 
Leg_end said:
I really rate my grasmeres but they are a bit chunky for riding in so I tend to go up a stirrup size in the winter (super safety conscious me ;) ). I actually wear them all year on the yard but tend to swop to short boots and gaiters when I'm riding in the summer as my feet get far too hot in my grasmeres. I've had mine for 3 years now and they are just starting to crack but I've not taken care of them at all really...
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agreed! I put dubbing on mine when I get to the yard so mucking out doesn't affect them
 
Katie_A said:
I had some Toggi Calgarys and while they were great to ride in they were a bit rubbish for yard work as not 100% waterproof round the zip and not at all warm. I now have Toggi Canyon boots and they are amazing - v warm, v waterproof and v comfy. That said, my friend has the Tuffa Country Rider boots and I have serious boot envy ;)
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I have a pair of the canyons - 12 months and they're still going strong after being worn evey day, and I hammered them in all the snow we had last winter. You can wear them for riding but I only do if I've forgotten to change out of them - they are very easy to slip on and off so I don't find it too much of a pain.
 
Ive just bought a pair of tuffa country rider boots for the winter, Only because i have wide legs and find all the usual slip on long boots don't fit my calf and I cant get my foot round the ankle bit as its too narrow ( I am only a size 5). My tuffas have a sheepskin lining in the foot up to the ankle and fitted fantastic when I put them on. Not that expensive as far as long boots go either at £160.

Normaly I always buy rimfrost paddock boots, but the last two pairs I have had have deteriorated to unwearable after 3-4 months and I sent both pairs back. Wont buy them again.
 
Nobody has mentioned Cabotswood, but I've had a pair of these (they do a few different styles) from last autumn, and have worn them every day with just ordinary socks underneath, even through the big freeze. My feet were never cold, but have not been hot in the summer either. They have been totally waterproof throughout. I ride in them too. One of their styles has the extra bit of sole at the side of the boot where the stirrups would rest although mine don't. They are a bit more expensive than some of the others, but I'm hoping to get another pair this autumn. This is only cos mine are not quite as long as I'd like them to be but some of the other styles are longer. If you need welly types for bog- walking(!!!) then the best value for money are the Dublin deluxe ones which are neoprene lined and totally warm. Mine were 25 quid last year but they are in the Robinsons book this autumn for 39.
 
Just bought a pair of Equitectors at the trade stand at Blair. The claim is that they're waterproof, keep your feet at an even temperature, and they have a toe cap. First, I was impressed at the level of service---the guy really knew how to fit a shoe, and they had different models to suit different foot types (I have a lot of trouble in the UK with my long, skinny feet). I've only worn them for a week, but so far, I'm very happy: walking all day for 2 days at Blair, tromping through yucky sucking mud at the yard, and riding in lessons and on long rides. I was worried about how thick they are, but that doesn't appear to cause a problem at all. So far, so good! :) Will report back in a year or two? ;)
 
Thanks for all the replies. Have been flat out and no time to reply (or to comment on people's comp reports :().

I can't do Grassmeres - had a friend who had some and they looked awful, and worse as they aged. I think the lacing thing isn't really me either. Having said that I spend every waking hour in either ariat short boots, ariat mules or ariat cowboy boots so you could say I have some company loyalty!

I think it boils down to the Toggi Canyon (which model do you have LEC?) or the Tuffa Countryman boots.

Dizzydusty - were the calves fairly adjustable? I have long skinny calves and while I'd like them non-flappy for riding I'd like plenty of room to tuck jeans into.
 
I know they are technically wellies but I bought Ariat Mudbusters for the exact reasons you mentioned. They are warm, waterproof, incredibly comfortable (same sole as Ariat jod boots) and nice to ride in - I even wore mine to Reading Festival and was cosy, dry and comfy in them for 12hrs, they don't look to bad either. Would love the Tuffa boots but the Mudbusters were over £100 cheaper and do everything I need.
 
Another vote here for the Toggi Canyons! Got mine last December, wore in rain, mud, snow, to do the horse and elsewhere, they are too 'horsey'! And I ride in them all the time. I have skinny calves, but they don't slip / fall down, and drawstring is useful to keep snow out the tops! Totally waterproof, I have to fill my field-buckets from a stream and I just climb in when I've got my Canyons on. I'm a big MH fan too - but rear zips let the water in, and the rimfrosts don't conform to my leg very well, they're a bit cardboardy...
 
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