Custom boots for the rider

[SnicklefritzG]

I ordered a custom pair of Koenigs recently and have been very pleased with the fit. They only needed a small adjustment in the width at the top otherwise they were an awesome fit out of the box.

This was a very looooong time coming. Given the amount of time I’ve been riding, I decided it was finally time for a nice pair of boots. If I take good care of these, I think they will make more sense financially compared with buying Ariats and replacing the zipper every year and the boots every 2-3 from how badly they wear.

So this brings me to my next question. The custom Koenigs I got will be primarily for showing and special occasions. I’d like to get another pair of boots, not so stiff to use for every day riding and possibly jumping. The shop I got my boots from is one of the best fitters for Keonig and is very knowledgeable. At first they told me that they could get a softer boot for jumping. Then several weeks later they suggested I go with an Italian bootmaker instead. They said they would be happy to sell me another boot but Keonig is really for dressage boots and even though they do make a jumper boot they think I’d be better served by trying DeNiro or Parlanti.

Not sure what to make of that response, but thought I’d post here to see if anyone has tried Koenig for a softer style boot the the same purpose that I’m looking for.

I have to go with custom to get a decent boot since I’m short and have a small ankle and wide calf. Off the rack boots don’t last for more than two years (i.e. Ariat) and need zippers replaced every year. For what that costs I’m better off putting money into customs.

Any suggestions where to look next?

[see_u_at_x]

DeNiro has come out with a new custom boot that is less than $500. They come in navy, black, or brown, and I think that certain leather upgrades are free. I would go that route for boots before the Parlantis. I work in a tack store that sells Parlantis and am not a fan because I don’t think they last. The leather is TOO soft, and IMHO, I think it’s silly to pay that much money for boots with a freakin’ elastic panel up the back of them. The H/J crowd seems to go nuts for them, though, and I can’t for the life of me fathom why. There are so many other better options out there if you’re going to spend that much money on a pair of boots.

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

And to confuse you more, I work in a tack store that sells DeNiros and I wouldn’t buy them either. One of the heels fell off of my barn manager’s DeNiro boots when they were less than a year old. She was just walking and it fell off. She hadn’t noticed it getting loose at all before that. I’ve also seen a few pairs where the leather on the outside of the shaft of the boot warps funny. And the zippers are ALWAYS busting. We don’t have a ton of happy DeNiro customers.

I don’t have any better suggestions to offer you either. :no:

[CrotchetyDQ]

Maybe try Tucci. Italian made, and BEAUTIFUL.

[SnicklefritzG]

I kind of feel bad the folks where I got the Koenigs from changed their minds on doing a jumper boot. I checked Koenig’s website and they do make a jumper boot.

I definitely want something that is going to last for a while. The concern I have about some jumper boots is that they have this soft sock-like feel which I don’t think is going to lend itself to lasting for a long time.

[keysfins]

I have had Cavallo Piaffe Plus dressage boots and have been very happy with them. They do make jumper boots:

http://www.cavallo.info/en/riding-boots/jumping/

I don’t know how the footbed and rest of the boot compares to Koenigs, though. I would probably stick with Koenig, possibly finding another vendor to order, if you know you like how they fit.

I have no input on leather quality, softness, etc. in the Cavallo jumper boots. But I do love my dressage boots.

[pluvinel]

Kroop Boots
http://www.kroopboots.com

Buy American, in a small, family-run shop in Laurel, MD. I own several and saw Michael Matz paddock boots waiting to be picked up while waiting for mine.

[ElBe]

I have Koenig field boots and love them. They have held up really well - not super soft but have broken in super comfy but still look great. It took longer than expected (much longer) to arrive, and the first pair were completely wrong - dress boots instead of field boots, but second time was a charm. A bit of a headache but they fast tracked the fix and were beautiful. I would buy another pair.

[JLR1]

For daily use DeNiro’s have a shelf life of less than 2 years! Comfortable right out of the box, but even with meticulous care, riding only one horse mine literally fell apart (the lining on the inside disintegrated) within 2 years.

[happilyretired]

I have a pair of DeNiros I use for schooling and love them. I ride two horses a day 5-6 days a week and have had the boots for two and a half years. They’ve held up pretty well but the leather is starting to wear and I figure I’ll get another ~ 6 months out if the boots before I need to think about replacing. I would get another pair.

[exploding_pony]

Honestly I would just ride daily in the Koenigs. They last for years.

Personally, I find it really difficult to switch from a super soft boot to a super stiff boot, so the last thing I would do is just show in super stiff boots. People do, but I would be a wreck.

[HJdaydream]

I have 2 pairs of custom DeNiro’s and I think they are VERY nice quality. I find it so sad to hear about all the negative DeNiro stories- makes me wonder if they have quality control issues or something. Both my pairs (ordered 2 years apart, because I wanted brown for schooling) fit perfect right out of the box, and I had great communication with the company during the whole process. The leather is pretty heavy duty (not glove soft like some brand) and seems to hold up VERY well to lots of wear, but that is just my experience!

[Lucassb]

[QUOTE=HJdaydream;8843299]
I have 2 pairs of custom DeNiro’s and I think they are VERY nice quality. I find it so sad to hear about all the negative DeNiro stories- makes me wonder if they have quality control issues or something. Both my pairs (ordered 2 years apart, because I wanted brown for schooling) fit perfect right out of the box, and I had great communication with the company during the whole process. The leather is pretty heavy duty (not glove soft like some brand) and seems to hold up VERY well to lots of wear, but that is just my experience! :)[/QUOTE]

I agree. I have several pairs of custom DeNiros and love, love, love them. I have a pair of lace up clinic boots, a pair of brushed brown leather ones for daily schooling, and a dark navy pair, also brushed leather, that are my show boots.

They all broke in quickly and were very comfortable but have held up nicely. I also have a pair of Tucci boots that I bought when I first started my dressage adventure a few years ago, and they are great quality and even nicer than the DeNiros. But they were also two grand, compared to the DeNiros which were quite a bit less than half that.

[SnicklefritzG]

After investigating several options, I talked with a local rep about Koenig field boots. They emailed the office in Germany and got a response saying that they could make field boots but I would have to sign a form stating that the boots would not be returnable if they did not fit. They also added that they do this for calf measurements that are over 40cm as they often have issues with getting those boots to fit.

Koenig did a nice job with my dressage boots so I don’t see why the field boots would be a problem. Anyway, this makes it feel like field boots with Keonig are going to be too much of a risk.

Meanwhile Randy from Kroop said that she could measure me for boots but would have to put zippers in which she really does not like to do. She said she would be open to it though because it would be the only way to get them to fit. She also said I would most likely need to come to the shop because if I didn’t get measured there and the boots didn’t fit it wouldn’t be on her. They are only a few hours drive, so I could do it. Her response seems reasonable.

[pluvinel]

Of course I am a big fan of Kroop. Randy made some final “custom tweaks” to even-out small differences between the left and right foot and left and right calf when to my satisfaction I went to pick up the boots.

Even if you don’t buy the boots there, it is worth a drive to see their store in Laurel. There is also a leather work shop down the street…or there used to be…if you need any repairs.

[PNWjumper]

For lovely custom boots that are less expensive, I have heard very good things about the Eiki boots (TidyRabbit has a pair).

I have a pair of Tuccis that I absolutely love, but they’re for show only.

My go-to day-to-day riding boots are all Ariat. I have a pair of Volant S and a pair of V Sports. I absolutely love both of them…mostly because of the tennis shoe-type foot. Also love my Ariat Stretch Monacos. But I see that you’ve already ruled out Ariats. I am curious about what you’re having to replace…up-the-back zippers in the tall boots? I haven’t had that issue with mine. And if they fit otherwise, how about the Volants with the front zippers? Mine lasted for 3 years of daily riding and then I gave them to a kid who rides her occasionally and they’re going strong a couple of years in to her use of them.

I’ve heard good things about Kroops. A friend of mine has a pair and absolutely loves them and raves about them every time we talk about boots. But she’s East Coast and I’m West Coast, so I haven’t ever looked too closely at them. Just can say that my friend rides a lot of horses every day and hers have held up beautifully.

[SnicklefritzG]

@PNW: The issue I’ve had with Ariats is that they look grubby after 2 years of almost daily use, but with only one horse. The problem I have is that the only boot that fits off the rack is one of their mid to low range boots that isn’t the best leather or most durable construction. The higher end Ariats don’t come in anything wide enough.

I did look at some of the boots made for people with a wide calf. Unfortunately those manufacturers seem to assume that if someone has a wide calf, that their leg is wide everywhere else which isn’t always the case.

For what I would spend every 2 years to buy a pair of Ariats and then have the zipper replaced every year, I figure I might as well get a nice custom pair that I can have (hopefully) for quite a while.

The local rep for Keonig looks like they don’t want to take a risk with the boots. The office in Germany wrote back to say they won’t take the boots back to fix them if they don’t come out correctly. The rep is saying that they can’t assume the risk on their end either. It’s disappointing because all I would be looking for is for them to guarantee they can fix the top if it has a gap. I can’t imagine it would be that difficult to do because my stiff dressage boots were fixed appropriately. I had to laugh because what about my risk in purchasing boots that would cost $1600+??

Kroop would be about a 3 hour drive from me, so it’s probably worth checking out if Randy thinks she can do it.

Good to hear these boots hold up well for daily use on multiple horses.

[Forte]

[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8914677]
@PNW: The issue I’ve had with Ariats is that they look grubby after 2 years of almost daily use, but with only one horse. The problem I have is that the only boot that fits off the rack is one of their mid to low range boots that isn’t the best leather or most durable construction. The higher end Ariats don’t come in anything wide enough.

I did look at some of the boots made for people with a wide calf. Unfortunately those manufacturers seem to assume that if someone has a wide calf, that their leg is wide everywhere else which isn’t always the case.

For what I would spend every 2 years to buy a pair of Ariats and then have the zipper replaced every year, I figure I might as well get a nice custom pair that I can have (hopefully) for quite a while.

The local rep for Keonig looks like they don’t want to take a risk with the boots. The office in Germany wrote back to say they won’t take the boots back to fix them if they don’t come out correctly. The rep is saying that they can’t assume the risk on their end either. It’s disappointing because all I would be looking for is for them to guarantee they can fix the top if it has a gap. I can’t imagine it would be that difficult to do because my stiff dressage boots were fixed appropriately. I had to laugh because what about my risk in purchasing boots that would cost $1600+??

Kroop would be about a 3 hour drive from me, so it’s probably worth checking out if Randy thinks she can do it.

Good to hear these boots hold up well for daily use on multiple horses. :)[/QUOTE]

Have you looked at Petrie boots? After owning Ariats, Koenigs, De Niros and Cavallos, I finally measured myself and ordered custom Petrie boots from this website https://www.dutchridingboots.eu/
They fit much better than any boots I had professionally measured at a tack store and they were half the price than if I ordered locally. I haven’t tried the field boots, but I love the Petrie Rome boots that I ordered. Mine are dark brown with cognac accents : )

[Bem55]

Celeris? I don’t own a pair but I desperately want some! http://celerisuk.com/#Home

[dfsaz]

Have you looked at Dehner?