For anyone in the future reading this thread, I got measured at The Surrey in MD and my Dehners fit perfectly! No need to fly to Omaha. I even have different width legs and high “man calves” that leave stock women’s boots with a bulge halfway down my leg.
I do wish I had been able to spring for the custom boot trees I have an old used pair of Dehners that have a big wrinkle at the top of where the trees ended. I imagine they would still look new if they had better fitting trees.
Are there other brands out there that folks like, for a ladies hunt boot with patent tops?
[QUOTE=MichMort;7375732]
Are there other brands out there that folks like, for a ladies hunt boot with patent tops?[/QUOTE]
The best at Dehner, Der Dau, and Vogel. Hands down.
The flight to Omaha was worth it though…besides a great fit, the airport is closer than the nearest Dehner fitter! And I got to see options that were not shown in the materials I was given. You can also see what the different leathers look and feel like on boots that are already made, which really helps the choice.
Mine are calf skin, fully lined, insulated foot with the snap on patent tops. I personally don’t like the Spanish or especially the Italian tops in a hunt boot and prefer the more traditional tops.
[QUOTE=Painted Wings;7386240]
Mine are calf skin, fully lined, insulated foot with the snap on patent tops. I personally don’t like the Spanish or especially the Italian tops in a hunt boot and prefer the more traditional tops.[/QUOTE]
I’ve never heard of snap on patent tops. That sounds very practical and comfortable. How exactly do they attach??
The old Dehners with patent leather tops I have rub the inside of my calf where the patent leather was sewn in. They were added later so it was nothing Dehner did but it has made me wary of getting a pair of new ones.
You can’t tell the difference between the snap on and sewn on by looking at them. I figure if I ever become full time staff I’ll be able to get a brown top and interchange them as needed. I think it also helps when you want to give the boot a thorough cleaning and polishing. I take the tops off and clean them and the boots up separately and then put them back on. It only takes a minute. Also if you wanted to show in the boots or wear them as a guest at another hunt you can just take the tops off completely.
Thank you all for the suggestions! I have been out of town, and now with the snow am finally getting back to catching up on here.
I can’t wait to get to Marian at Horse Country and get measured. Unfortunately, a flight to Omaha is just not in the cards at the moment- especially since so many people have had such great experiences with Marian. The rough out leather certainly seems like a PIA, so I will either go with the Dragoon or the calf leather. I would only go with the Dragoon if it truly holds up that much better, but I still haven’t decided on that aspect. I will wear superthick socks, etc when I go to get measured for sure!
I know I want the flat tops, as I don’t like the look of Spanish or Italian for hunting. I will probably order the snap on patents as an add on if they will do that.
I am so excited! Thank you all so so much for the input and suggestions!
I will update with how the fitting process goes if I can ever get off the farm- this weather is supposed to last through the weekend 
What SLW said - they will last you f.o.r.e.v.e.r. Mine are at least 30 years old - can’t remember that far back. I spent $100.00 on them - they have swam in the Fraser River frequently, been through blackberry bushes and show it, been rained on every single Saturday for the hunting season for years and years and years. Them and my Passier saddle are made for a lifetime!!! They are ridden every time I ride
(no back-up boots) and while showing the honourable scars of duty, they still pick up a shine. They are double lined, leather sole.
Once, at the hunter trials in August, it was hot and dry. I’d been walking round in these Dehners on the dry grass and, unknown to me, the grass had been polishing the soles of my boots. Until I the steeplechase - then I learned. I rode most of those jumps with no stirrups… eventually falling off at the ditch.
Foxtrot: Your story is a great ad for quality leather boots!
My handmade leather boots are so old I can not recall quite how old they are. I regard the scars on them as honorable signs of use. They still take a polish better than any other boots I own. Calfskin, lined, ‘butcher’ boots.
The worst adventure my boots have had was when I checked a house for friends who were away over Christmas and New Year in Australia. I walked in through the front door and into several inches of water flooding down the walls and all over the wooden floors. Wading through this for a couple of hours, sorting out the emergency services to come and pump the water out, caused the soles to start coming away - they are old boots! I developed a sort of tide line in the leather. The insurance man was very doubtful about getting them repaired but changed his mind when I told him how much new ones would cost. Now, repaired, as good as they always have been.
Ha, ha! Dehner should take our boots in for a sort of archive of old boots for display!
My boots are definitely ‘lifetime’ boots, because this pair will see me out past my horseriding days…and they have seen it all, hunting, trails, show, events, and my imitation of cowboying. Still shiny, though.
[QUOTE=BCGirl;7388096]
I would only go with the Dragoon if it truly holds up that much better, but I still haven’t decided on that aspect. I will wear superthick socks, etc when I go to get measured for sure! You will be able to feel samples when you’re at Horse Country.
I know I want the flat tops, as I don’t like the look of Spanish or Italian for hunting. I will probably order the snap on patents as an add on if they will do that. You want “regular” tops. They do make strait tops, you don’t want them.
I am so excited! Thank you all so so much for the input and suggestions!
I will update with how the fitting process goes if I can ever get off the farm- this weather is supposed to last through the weekend :([/QUOTE]
You’re welcome. Be sure to make an appointment for measuring because Marion’s going to be going away soon and maybe unavailable.
UPDATE: I ordered the boots through Horse Country and they look beautiful and fit very well. So far I have been walking around the house to try and break them in before riding in them. Marion advised me not to do the old dunk trick/ Ko Cho Line or anything else, just to walk around in them until I can bear to ride in them.
I am losing patience! I didn’t wear them to opening meet, but really want them to be ready for Thanksgiving Day!!! Any advice on what I should do? I really don’t want to mess them up but my current boots look awful so I need to fast track this process!
Well the dunk process really does work :), but alternately, you can use alcohol and rub it with a rag on the inside, to moisten the pressure points, and then wear around the house til dry.
I have no doubt my Dehners will outlive me. I’ll have to arrange to be buried in them.
I believe Vogels and Der Dau boots are of equal quality to those boots. Dehner simply has a higher visibility in the Middleburg/NoVa area.
I’d always vote a leather sole; a nice thick one! And skip zippers!
I did the dunk/bathtub/washstall soak of my Dehners when I first got them and they fit like a glove after it. And they are now about 10 years old. So, no after affects so far !! Not sure why they told you not to do it, mine were a pair of orphans and they fit well, but after the dunking, they fit like a glove.
I had a business trip to Omaha, so I stopped by Dehner and got measured, and adopted some orphan dress boots and paddock boots. Paddock boots are still going strong at over 10 years old. If I needed new boots, I would definitely do a day trip to Dehner again just for the orphans.
I dunked mine, too. Walked around in a stream for a few minutes until the ankle area was softened and then wore them unto they dried out. Instant break in!
Late to this thread but I just got a new pair of Dehners from the orphan room when I was there last spring. I am from Neb and grew up riding with the Ketzler boys… got my first pair back in the 70’s for $163 LOL. I am not a foxhunter, just hunted for the first time last spring and wonder if these were ordered by a foxhunter as I am having a terrible time getting a shine on them and they are fully lined… FWIW, the break in time was not NEARLY as painful as I expected, the gusset really helped… they squeaked for the first several rides, but they are fabulous and seeing as I am now nearly 60, I expect these to be the last boots I buy…LOL
Another shout out for Dehners - mine are - gosh don’t know - probably over 30 years old. They are durable leather, lined, and I’ve put a new sole/heel
on them for $100.00.
They were used for showing, hunting, eventing, lessons, etc. and have had a tough life being dragged through brambles and swimming in the Fraser River, yet despite a few scratches can still take a shine and are very comfortable.
Still my favorite riding footwear.
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