Am I the only one who hates Zipper Boots? aka how I disappointed DH

[Xctrygirl]

Maybe I am the anomaly but John was very sweet and got me a pair of Treadstep Da Vinci’s. Lovely boots but I cannot stand zipper boots. John’s thought processes was apparently that with zipper boots he wouldn’t have to help me pull off my boots at the end of show days. Valid thought but I am still planning on returning.

So am I the only one who dislikes the zippers?

Oh and what is the best brand of custom non zippers boots nowadays? I have a pair of Frankenstein Dehners but I am curious about Der Dau’s or Le Mundials.

Thanks in advance,

Emily

[PNWjumper]

I say give them a try…you might be pleasantly surprised.

I hated them in theory when they first came out. Then I broke my ankle and they suddenly seemed like a much better (and even necessary) idea. In those first few months upon returning to the saddle I decided that I would never go back to boots without zippers again.

I have a few pairs (Sergios, Vogels, and Ariat Monacos) and have had the zippers fail once (the Ariats, right before a big class, natch), but they were the original style Monacos that basically had a dress zipper in them, and Ariat fixed the immediately and free of charge, and they’ve been in use for the last 4 seasons and held up as well as any of my non-zipper boots.

With that being said, I think both of the brands you mention make great boots, and I don’t think you’d be disappointed in either of them, though Der Dau seems to have a more consistent product (I’ve had a couple of friends LURVE their LMs and a couple of friends totally burned with poor fitting boots that they can’t seem to get fixed). But I can’t speak from recent experience because I’ve gone well over to the dark side of zippers :lol:

[froglander]

I’ve never owned a “nice” pair of tall boots, but the ones I do have have zippers. I must say they came in very handy for getting my boots on and off after I’d sprained my ankle one summer and my ankle just could not bend far enough to have gotten in or out of pull-on tall boots.

[tua37516]

I must say Em I’m curious what do you hate?? I had a pair of Tredsteps that the zipper SHREDDED the back of my achilles’ tendon no matter how hard I tried to break them in… replaced them with the cheapo Dover Middleburg boots and they fit me like customs. I actually have quit riding in paddock boots and half chaps. Maybe the right boots with zippers would work?

Kate

[Xctrygirl]

I should add, part of the problem is that I have owned one pair of boots since literally 1991. They are Veltheim’s made in Switzerland and they cost a whopping $100 when I bought them. Now I did have Journeymen improve their fit in 1995 but ever since they’ve been perfect.

A couple years ago I tried to contact Veltheim’s about making me a custom pair. Sadly I would have to go to Switzerland or Germany to get measured for them. Really?! So I found my Dehners on eBay used, 10 years old and bought them for $100. They too were improved by Journeymen and have been OK. Pretty good but not great.

So I am overly spoiled with the 2 pairs I have had. Both are fully lined and comfy.

Emily

[fourmares]

You are not the only one.

[tinah]

No, you are not the only one who feels like high ticket items like saddles, bridles, and boots should have to be bought once and not replaced during one’s riding career, which should hopefully last four or five decades or longer. Nor should said items fail during use, as that is the sort of thing that can potentially get one killed.

To the person with the broken ankle: there is no good reason you cannot wear your boot to the hospital, have the back seam slit, and the boots sewn back together by a cobbler.

[PNWjumper]

[QUOTE=tinah;7332867]
No, you are not the only one who feels like high ticket items like saddles, bridles, and boots should have to be bought once and not replaced during one’s riding career, which should hopefully last four or five decades or longer. Nor should said items fail during use, as that is the sort of thing that can potentially get one killed.

To the person with the broken ankle: there is no good reason you cannot wear your boot to the hospital, have the back seam slit, and the boots sewn back together by a cobbler.[/QUOTE]

Have you not had a broken ankle?

They actually pulled my boots off in the hospital while I begged them to just cut the seam. It was horrifically painful! But the boots came off uninjured.

It was the act of having to point my toe to pull them back on after the cast came off that wasn’t going to happen (not that I wasn’t wiling to try, but with the hardware and inflammation it was a complete and total no go for a good 12 months after the injury).

I actually still have the boots sitting in the closer (along with 4 or 5 other pairs of well-worn boots from throughout the years). It’s just that my zipper boots are more flattering and more comfortable to the point that I have no reason to venture back into the closet to pull the old ones out.

[MHM]

[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;7332779]
A couple years ago I tried to contact Veltheim’s about making me a custom pair. Sadly I would have to go to Switzerland or Germany to get measured for them. Really?! [/QUOTE]
Wow. I guess they must feel they are busy enough without selling boots to the rest of the world?

I have never worn a pair of tall zipper boots, although my paddock boots have zippers. My tall boots are not that hard to get on and off without zippers.

There was a picture a few years back from the George Morris Horsemastership clinic that perfectly illustrated the problem with the zippers. They fail. The kids in that clinic are among the kids who ride and show and win the most, and probably at least half of them had some sort of zipper issue with their boots that was visible in the candids of them setting jumps. Plus… they’re kids! It’s not as if their boots could be that old.

[fatappy]

I’m not a fan of them either.

But i am looking for a pair of pull-ons and it’s slim pickins out there. I may have to jump on the bandwagon…

[foursocks]

I used to be anti-zipper and very crabby about it (very much: you kids and your newfangled technologies! ;)). But my lovely Dehners from my junior days were simply too short when I got back into riding, so I had to do with off the rack zipless tall boots. I stubbornly resisted zippers for several years, but I finally caved because I could never find something not custom in a pull on that really fit. I will never go back. I love the zipper boots- they fit me perfectly and aren’t a struggle to get off my high-arched foot.

I have never had the zipper fail, across several different brands, I have to say. I usually wear through my boots in the calf and foot, and have to buy a new pair of semi-nice ones every 2-3 years. I have one pair of customs from Argentina that are only for show use, and they fit like a glove- I would not be able to get them on without a zipper.

I don’t like the fact that I wear through my boots- I fully agree they should last longer- but I do ride two horses in them every day, and it is the leather that is the problem, not the zipper.

[Luseride]

I HATE the zipper boots. I have been looking for pull on boots for a couple of months with no success. It looks like I will keep leaking sand for another season as mine have been repaired as much as can be done at this point.

[hunterrider23]

I’ve had both, but the no zippers simply can’t give the same slim line that is popular now. Plus I can’t believe any of you actually enjoy the grab onto the back of someones truck and pullllllll to get nonzippered off without a jack.

[alto]

[QUOTE=foursocks;7333312]

I don’t like the fact that I wear through my boots- I fully agree they should last longer- but I do ride two horses in them every day, and it is the leather that is the problem, not the zipper.[/QUOTE]

You can have a protective panel “installed” after-market, or if you order custom, more durable leather used etc - one of the boot manufacturers discusses this option for heavy use riders.

[MHM]

[QUOTE=hunterrider23;7333399]
Plus I can’t believe any of you actually enjoy the grab onto the back of someones truck and pullllllll to get nonzippered off without a jack.[/QUOTE]

I’ve never done that in my life.

I keep a small boot jack in my boot bag, and I have no problem getting my boots off on my own. No truck or assistant involved.

It’s great that some people have had good luck with the zippers, but I’ve seen enough zipper fails in action that I would be very, very leery of them myself.

[Pennywell_Bay]

[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;7332533]
Maybe I am the anomaly but John was very sweet and got me a pair of Treadstep Da Vinci’s. Lovely boots but I cannot stand zipper boots. John’s thought processes was apparently that with zipper boots he wouldn’t have to help me pull off my boots at the end of show days. Valid thought but I am still planning on returning.

So am I the only one who dislikes the zippers?

Oh and what is the best brand of custom non zippers boots nowadays? I have a pair of Frankenstein Dehners but I am curious about Der Dau’s or Le Mundials.

Thanks in advance,

Emily[/QUOTE].

I am not a fan, either. No real reason, same as I don’t like colored show shirts…I just don’t. I’ve never had an issue with getting my pull on boots off, and I’ve seen firsthand zipper boots get cut off by EMTs in an emergency. To say zippers will save the boot in case of an accident is not always accurate.

[Bogie]

I gave up on non-zippered boots when I was breaking in a pair of Koenigs. I put them on at home, wore them around the house for a couple of hours and then took the right boot off. My boot jack broke taking off the left boot.

There I was at 10 p.m., alone (DH was traveling) with one boot not on and not off. My calf was throbbing, not access to a boot jack, and an important business meeting in the morning. We had only just moved to this town and I didn’t know anyone well enough to call them to come over and pull my boot off.

Eventually I got it off by laying on the floor with my foot up against the wall, then prying the boot off inch by inch on the stairs.

Eventually those boots did fit great (and I did buy a metal boot jack) but when they wore out, I decided to buy boots with zippers.

[Jumper_girl221]

I have never been able to get my boots ON without zippers. I’ve an extremely high arch and just can’t make the turn, even with the laces loosened as far as they go.

My very very very first pair I bought, then took to a local cobbler crossing my fingers and praying they fit to get zippers.

[kmwines01]

Ive had the zippers in my ariats fail but not while I was actually doing anything. Just stopped being able to get them to zip properly. The zippers take a bit if maintenance to keep in good shape.

My zippers also rub the heck out of my achilles if i walk in them. I’d prefer pull ons for that but I like the slim lines of the zips

[anmoro]

I’m with you Emily. I hate zipper boots. I still wear my “vintage” pull on Grand Prix’s I got 17 years ago (I’m the fourth owner) so they are incredibly well broken in. I can’t count the number of times I had the soles replaced, the leather dyed, stretched, conditioned, etc… I just can’t give them up. I needed new, “pretty” boots for showing again so I went on a mad hunt for pull ons. I finally found a pair of older, excellent used condition Grand Prix’s from a local person that quit showing. I took them to a cobbler and had them stretched to fit me. I have a freakishly high instep so this cobbler has been great over the years at stretching that particular part. I also do not like the super slim look of the new zipper boots. I have thick thighs and thin ankles. The newer styles accentuate my less than attractive pear shape!