Looking to buy casual, water-resistant, low boots for both riding and light hiking (3 hours max over hilly terrain). I’d like to be able to take them from horseback to hunting on foot. Any feedback on Ariat Terrains, Justins, Intec Heels Down, etc?
I love my Ariat Terrains. I wear them all day long for teaching, walking and trail riding. They fit MY feet and keep them comfy.
But not every shoe suits everyone.
I hike in Ariat Terrains as much as I ride in them. Too cheap to buy a pair of real hiking boots, lol. My only complaint, is that coming down some steep hills that are hard-packed clay with a loose scree of dirt…you might as well start on your butt because you’re going to end on it one way or the other.
I usually ride in my Dunham Clouds. They don’t have much heel, but I can’t fit in standard riding shoes and Dunham makes 4E widths.
I also have to say if you are wearing spurs, you may need longer straps to get around the hiking boot.
These boots I speak of don’t have super grippy tread, so I have no problem dropping and picking up my irons again.
Went on a riding jaunt followed by 4 weeks of backpacking & wore Ariat Terrains the whole time. I had regular version, but they also come in waterproof.
I have wide feet so I hate Ariats. Just a warning, if you wear wide shoes. I love regular hiking boots and many have a heel that will let you ride. I used mine for a trip back home to Colorado where we both rode and hiked extensively in the Rockies. Merrills are great hiking boots.
Watch out for the soles.
Hiking boots tend to have aggressive soles for better ground gripping. This is a Good Thing for the hiker. But an aggressive sole is often going to “stick” in a stirrup (particularly one with a rubber or other “gripping” tread). You can get an almost “velcro” effect and find getting rid of a stirrup can be a real chore (and a real danger, grossly increasing the risk of getting “hung up”).
I found this with a pair of boots I bought a couple of years ago.
If the goal is to ride to a destination then move some distance on foot I’d bias the boot toward the riding and accept some degradation of ground performance. YMMV.
Good luck in your search.
G.
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Guilherme has some good points.
I have had Ariat Terrains in the past and really liked them when I spent all day on my feet teaching! They are a comfortable, sturdy boot that should stand up to light hiking.
I like the Ariat Terrains, but they aren’t super grippy, for sure. You might also need slightly wider stirrups if you are riding in this type of boot vs. regular paddock boots.
Decades ago I broke my foot and had to wear hiking boots for years afterwards, even to ride.
I used Vasque hiking boots for everything, from starting colts, to galloping horses and even ranch work, that I did mostly in my English saddle with Peacock stirrups for safety.
I never had a problem.
IF someone doesn’t has an absolute need for hiking boots to ride, that definitely is not indicated, western or English boots made for riding are best there.
BUT, if you have to wear hiking boots, you can do so, with the right precautions and awareness.
I’ve done quite a bit of light hiking in Ariat Terrians, but I wouldn’t trust them to support me on wet slopes and they don’t flex well enough to grip on rocky trails.
I took a pair of Ariat Terrains as my only boots on a trip that included trail riding as well as shorter day hikes and they were perfect.
Blundstones are another option, but I don’t like them as well for hiking as I do the Terrains because I have a bit of heel slip in my Blundstones.
Oh, if you wear hiking boots for riding, don’t lace them past the top of your arch, leave the last 1-2 holes open, at least to ride in them, so they can slip off your foot, if by any chance you get hung on something.
They will still be fine to walk around and if not, you can re-lace them for long hikes.
I’ve hiked A LOT of miles in my Ariat Terrains- including a week on the Appalachian Trail in Maine (ie lots of steep up and down, rock face, etc).
I have hiked in my Ariat Terrains as well, and found them comfortable. I did add a insert tho, which makes a huge difference for me.
I should probably say walked, not hiked, because I generally get off my horse 1/2 way thru the ride to walk for a mile or so to loosen up a bad knee.
But if you are hiking in serious terrain and can only bring one pair of boots, I’d use a riding boot, and pack along a pair of Yakktraks. They slip on in seconds, are lightweight to carry, and don’t take up much more room than a camera.
Another vote for Ariat Terrains. My pair is extremely well broken-in and still very comfortable. Since I have wide and thick feet, I get them (and other non-dress shoes) in men’s sizes.
[QUOTE=laskiblue;7108750]
Another vote for Ariat Terrains. My pair is extremely well broken-in and still very comfortable. Since I have wide and thick feet, I get them (and other non-dress shoes) in men’s sizes.[/QUOTE]
Mens sizes don’t go small enough for many women’s feet.
Generally they start at 7, some may at 6, but being 2 numbers behind, a woman with a 7 just can’t find a men’s 5.
Some times, youth sizes may fit the smaller women’s feet, but the quality is not always as good as adult shoes.
I too vote for the Terrains. They fit very differently than Ariat’s paddock boots. I went down from an 8 to a 7.5 because they are roomy enough to handle my wide feet.
Not only do Terrains run wider than Ariat paddock boots, they also come in wide widths, although the wides are harder to find. I have to size up to an 8 in regular width Terrains but can wear my normal 7.5 in the wide width. I normally have to buy extra-wide shoes to get a good fit
I bought my last pair of Terrains, in wide width, online at shoebuy.com.
[QUOTE=lawndart;7108739]
I have hiked in my Ariat Terrains as well, and found them comfortable. I did add a insert tho, which makes a huge difference for me.
I should probably say walked, not hiked, because I generally get off my horse 1/2 way thru the ride to walk for a mile or so to loosen up a bad knee.
But if you are hiking in serious terrain and can only bring one pair of boots, I’d use a riding boot, and pack along a pair of Yakktraks. They slip on in seconds, are lightweight to carry, and don’t take up much more room than a camera.[/QUOTE]
Outstanding!
Dismounting and walking for a while is a great way to be nice to your knees and your horse’s back. 
G.
