On my last pony I used the PE tendon boots which I found were good but I think the current ones are different to what I had. What experiences have people had with other brands (Veredus, Eskadron Woof Wear etc)
Also, hind legs, fetlock boots or something else such as brushing boots or medicine/sports boots? He does have a tendency to pick up scratches from very little and I’m not sure if fetlock boots would offer enough protection for his hind legs or not.
I’d also like to have some form of protection on his legs for when I take him out hacking, would brushing boots do the job or would they make his legs too hot? Bearing in mind that sometimes we go out for quite long rides. I was thinking something like the tri-zone all sport boots or le mieux snug or support boots could be right but I’m not sure how good they are having never used them.
I don’t find Woof Wear to be breathable at all. Neither the traditional Eskadron boots. I personally use Equifits (the dteqs - that is the only model I like). I also like Majyk Equipe. I am currently looking at some offered by Professional Choice for flatting.
Yeah, the regular Woof Wear boots, Eskadron, and Veredus all use plain neoprene as a liner for most of their boots, I believe. Neoprene is closed-cell foam, so there’s no way for air to move through it unless it’s been perforated. (That’s why we use it for wetsuits!) Veredus & Eskadron also tend to use a rubber shell for the outside of their boots, which doesn’t let air through either.
I haven’t seen the Tri-Zones before, but they look like they have bigger perforations on the liner & on the outside; might be worth a try? The Le Mieux snug boots look a little… fake-ventilated, if that makes sense. I can’t find a clear picture of the inside liner, but the blurry ones I’m seeing look pretty solid, like there’s no holes in the neoprene. The solid rubber strike pad also makes me wonder about the ventilation on the tendons. (I could be totally wrong, this is just going off the pictures I can find! I’d love to find some in real life and see what that liner is actually made out of. If it’s solid neoprene on the inside, all the mesh in the world on the outside won’t do anything.)
Some other ideas - I haven’t used Professional’s Choice Pro Mesh boots, but I’ve found their other brushing boots to be super hard-wearing in the past & would give them a try. They use perforated neoprene and a mesh rubber strike pad on the outside, which should be at least a little more breathable than something like a regular Woof boot. Majyk also has the Boyd Martin XC boots, which are pretty much the same design.
Honestly, from the materials nerd side of things, I think ventilation technology for boots is getting better, but a lot of the ‘ventilated’ designs are basically a bunch of breathable materials stacked on top of each other until there’s so many layers that, oh, wait, now there’s no actual air holes, whoops. We tried. I feel like I’m still waiting to see a product that is really-truly breathable and also has enough impact protection to do its job. At this point I would err on the side of getting a couple pairs of cheaper, sorta-ventilated cross-country style boots and just wait to see what they come up with in the next couple of years; I don’t know the newest tech off the top of my head, but with all the helmet/impact protection research that’s going on, I suspect there’ll be some new stuff coming out soon.
(Sorry, that was probably a lot nerdier than you were looking for!)
[QUOTE=RockstarPony;8894039]
Yeah, the regular Woof Wear boots, Eskadron, and Veredus all use plain neoprene as a liner for most of their boots, I believe. Neoprene is closed-cell foam, so there’s no way for air to move through it unless it’s been perforated. (That’s why we use it for wetsuits!) Veredus & Eskadron also tend to use a rubber shell for the outside of their boots, which doesn’t let air through either.
I haven’t seen the Tri-Zones before, but they look like they have bigger perforations on the liner & on the outside; might be worth a try? The Le Mieux snug boots look a little… fake-ventilated, if that makes sense. I can’t find a clear picture of the inside liner, but the blurry ones I’m seeing look pretty solid, like there’s no holes in the neoprene. The solid rubber strike pad also makes me wonder about the ventilation on the tendons. (I could be totally wrong, this is just going off the pictures I can find! I’d love to find some in real life and see what that liner is actually made out of. If it’s solid neoprene on the inside, all the mesh in the world on the outside won’t do anything.)
Some other ideas - I haven’t used Professional’s Choice Pro Mesh boots, but I’ve found their other brushing boots to be super hard-wearing in the past & would give them a try. They use perforated neoprene and a mesh rubber strike pad on the outside, which should be at least a little more breathable than something like a regular Woof boot. Majyk also has the Boyd Martin XC boots, which are pretty much the same design.
Honestly, from the materials nerd side of things, I think ventilation technology for boots is getting better, but a lot of the ‘ventilated’ designs are basically a bunch of breathable materials stacked on top of each other until there’s so many layers that, oh, wait, now there’s no actual air holes, whoops. We tried. I feel like I’m still waiting to see a product that is really-truly breathable and also has enough impact protection to do its job. At this point I would err on the side of getting a couple pairs of cheaper, sorta-ventilated cross-country style boots and just wait to see what they come up with in the next couple of years; I don’t know the newest tech off the top of my head, but with all the helmet/impact protection research that’s going on, I suspect there’ll be some new stuff coming out soon.
(Sorry, that was probably a lot nerdier than you were looking for!)[/QUOTE]
Thank you 
I also thought the same that there seem to be so many layers of breathable materials that it would negate the point of them actually being breathable. Alas he ends up covered in cuts if he doesn’t wear them (so many that he finished today with ‘only’ two, and his front legs were booted. Some achievement.
I didn’t find it nerdy at all but I admit that I could probably be classed as a bit (or a lot) of a nerd myself. (although not a materials nerd, I’m always up for learning new things)
Woof wear makes a (relatively) new boot that just came out within the last year or so that has a perforated neoprene lining and ventilated shell. Should in theory be more ventilated than their more basic boots and it’s attractive and priced at around $100. I think its the “pro” line that comes in an eventing boot and an open front.
http://www.compositi.be/en/type-produit/protech-front-4/
I bought one pair of these at a local tack shop on sale. I fell in love with them so much that I bought another two pairs. I LOVE them. Legs barely sweat, they are super flexible and my sensitive horse hasn’t gotten a single rub from them yet.
[QUOTE=MoonLadyIsis;8908781]
http://www.compositi.be/en/type-produit/protech-front-4/
I bought one pair of these at a local tack shop on sale. I fell in love with them so much that I bought another two pairs. I LOVE them. Legs barely sweat, they are super flexible and my sensitive horse hasn’t gotten a single rub from them yet.[/QUOTE]
Intriguing… Do you know what they are made out of? The Compositi website is a little light on details and I couldn’t find much anywhere else either.
[QUOTE=Libby2563;8908808]
Intriguing… Do you know what they are made out of? The Compositi website is a little light on details and I couldn’t find much anywhere else either.[/QUOTE]
They seem like a softer rubber or silicone. When you squeeze them, there is some give to the material, but not a whole lot. I can try to see if I still have the tags on the pair I haven’t used yet.
[QUOTE=MoonLadyIsis;8908827]
They seem like a softer rubber or silicone. When you squeeze them, there is some give to the material, but not a whole lot. I can try to see if I still have the tags on the pair I haven’t used yet.[/QUOTE]
Thanks!
I have TriZone open fronts. They are very breathable but not that sturdy, IMO. They are my show boots and I have only used them a few times…they show wear already.
I still like Thinline or eskadrons the best. I school in woofs on the flat. None of them really “breathe” but they last.
Not considered “breathable” or vento, but I am in LOVE with the Prestige boots. My horses legs do not overheat but stay protected and they cost close to $100 less.
Hello!
All of our products are made with non-neoprene materials which allows air flow to move throughout the boot, preventing over heating. Feel free to take a look at our boot lineup at www.equifit.net or if you have any questions please email info@equifit.net!
Thank you,
Team EquiFit
The ThinLine Sports Boots are mazing for ventilation and they are made with USDA approved anti-fungal material to control scratches. The material molds each time you ride with these boots so it is almost like a custom fitting boot. They do come in front and hind sizes.
The Connected Rider has great prices and will price match most retailers if you do find them cheaper! Always free shipping on US orders over $75.00.
http://www.theconnectedrider.com/?tap_a=9643-134fe7&tap_s=54629-678c64
I just got the Premier Air Cooled Eventing boots for my horse. I am restricted in what I can get him as mediums are too big and most leg boots don’t come as small. The smalls for the Premier fit him well. He is 15.1 1/2 hands but is an Arabian cross with delicate legs.
My top two favorites are the equifit d teqs and the veredus vento! Both stay quite cool and dry quickly after washing them off and last a long time.
The PFIFF Avila boots!!!
A top quality boot with excellent protective qualities and super durable.
The most breathable boot we have come across!! This protective boot has a truly a breathable liner. Made with a similar material covering the neoprene that resembles mesh fabric you have on tennis shoes. Soft and cushy lining that is is encased by a hard, high density outer shell to protect the sensitive structures of the lower leg.
Coupled with multiple air vents at key “heat areas” and sturdy snap close brass fasteners that have elastic to provide a comfortable but supportive fit.
Anatomic Shape
High Density Outer Shell
Ventilation Ducts
Ultimate Breath-ability
Easy clean
Snap Closures
And the best party is they are only $59.95 per pair!
Get them at The Connected Rider.
http://www.theconnectedrider.com/?tap_a=9643-134fe7&tap_s=54629-678c64
