As far as actually riding goes, they are obviously not designed for proper riding. However I did wear mine in a long polo lesson and they were fine. I’d say they’d be alright for hacking, but I probably wouldn’t do intense flatwork or jump in them.
I have a pair of Kanyons, the ladies’ Oak wide-leg model.
For what little use they’ve gotten, I’ve been pleased with them. They were on TOTD a few times last fall, and as I wanted a pair but couldn’t justify the price tag of Dubarrys, I opted for these. Unfortunately we had a rather warm and dry winter, so I didn’t get to wear them often.
They were less than $200 on TOTD, IIRC.
In the interest of full disclosure, I will admit to being an utter ‘boot whore’ and wont’ go into how many pairs I own… But, after lounging in the booth and getting tipsy on free champagne, I was charmed into Dubarrys.
Bought my pair at Rolex in 2008, so they are now 4 years old with lots of miles on them. I don’t treat them like $400+ boots; they get plenty of abuse - they now look lived-in and just as stylish as the day I got them.
However…
While they are FANTASTIC for mucking stalls and are ‘easy-on, easy-off’ (great for doing night check in your PJ’s 
), they are most definitley not comfortable enought for all-day wear as there is no support in the footbed. They do keep your feet nice and dry, and are protective enough to wear around horses.
The sizing may have changed, but when I bought mine they were only available in whole sizes… This means that if you add a gel insert and wear anything beyond a silk boot sock, they are too small… This sizing also works against you if you buy the fuzzy insert to wear them during the winter; again - it’s too much bulk and makes them too small. (These boots are not, IMHO, ‘winter’ boots - no insulation…give me my leather Ugg ‘Brooks’ over them any day!)
They are fabulous quality boots, and very stylish (love the new colors that are available), and DO hold up to the company’s claims of durability… but they are just not super comfortable.
The Dublin Pinnacle looks great - and to confirm, it has arch support, and Dubarry’s do not? I have to say I’m not happy with this thread, though, because I’m pretty sure there will be a purchase of one or the other in the very near term. Bad influencers!!! Bye bye money! : )
[QUOTE=bathsheba8542;6300797]
The Dublin Pinnacle looks great - and to confirm, it has arch support, and Dubarry’s do not? I have to say I’m not happy with this thread, though, because I’m pretty sure there will be a purchase of one or the other in the very near term. Bad influencers!!! Bye bye money! : )[/QUOTE]
My Dubarry’s definitely have adequate arch support. I used to wear them all day, every day - both walking outside in crap weather (above ankle deep snow, in a city!) and at lectures/the library. In other boots my feet would kill me by the end of the day, but never in my Dubarry’s.
Adding that my Dublins are super comfortable. They’re the only shoes besides my Uggs and running shoes that I could wear all day. I have to get out of my riding boots and/or paddock boots immediately. I keep the Dublins right by the cross-ties. ETA: I have long narrow calves and wear Size 9 1/2, so all of these boots (Dubarrys, Dublins) tend to be wide on me.
I have the Fuller Fillies version and I LOFF them. They are super comfy- I even once ended up hiking a few miles on some rough terrain before in them and they were still comfy:)
I caved and got the Dubarry’s this past year at Equine Affair. I don’t regret it for a second! It was definitely a huge investment for me but they have been worth the price 100%. I literally wore them all day, every day during the winter. I wore them at my job with jeans, and then if I ever got to the barn I wore them there too for mucking/ barn work. Then, when I was done I hosed them off and wore them again the next day!
They keep my feet warm without ever making them too hot and sweaty, and they’re so comfortable that they’re the shoe I choose to make my 8 hour drive home in.
I have never really liked the looks of them for short me, but if they make them in black, I may consider them.
To look nice in those clunky looking boots, you need to be tall and lanky, with long legs.
Of course, in this drought, with about 5" of rain a year the past few years, who needs a puddle jumper boot anyway?:lol:
I wear my dubarry’s year round, through muck, manure and mud, through the rare snow, out in the field when the grass is especially high, sailing, the grocery store and the mall (where I got loads of compliments). Those things are tough and worth every cent.
In terms of comfort, I can walk from one end of the Rolex xcountry course to the other and then back again in them with never a worry. I have knee issues and in any other shoe, my knees would swell after less than 1/8 of a mile. Don’t know what it is, but my dubarry’s are the ultimate in comfort for me.
In terms of the (new?) all black dubarry’s, my daughter emptied her bank account and bought the black ones at Rolex this year. Let’s just say that it’s a good thing her foot is bigger than mine else I would steal them!
I’ve got the Treadstone knock offs that were on tackoftheday way back when. I wear them all the time and they are really comfortable. I like to wear them with thick socks and there was plenty of room. Kept me nice and toasty all winter. With the warmer weather and thinner socks they are a little loose around the foot but still comfortable for all day.
I regularly refer to my Dubarrys as the “best investment I’ve ever made.” I wear mine for hours every single day. They are comfortable, hardy, and never feel too hot or too cold. The sole has great traction for icy winter days and the Gore-Tex is waterproof while still being breathable. I wipe mine down with leather cleaner every couple of weeks and they clean up really well.
Sure, rubber muck boots accomplish the same sorts of things. But I got sick of all my rubber boots splitting along the back and having to replace them all the time.
I would not be able to justify spending that kind of money for “pretty” boots to keep clean and only wear occasionally. But the incredible amount of use and beating I get out of these boots makes the price totally worth it.
I bought them and then almost immediately sold them. They just didn’t fit me right, but my former trainer who bought them from me wears them all the time. I would buy a boot of this type in a heartbeat, and am looking at Toggis and other brands (google country boots) that are much less expensive, but still nice (I don’t like the Dublin River, which do just seem like lesser knock-offs)
I would love a pair, but just can’t seem to come up with the $$. Last year at Rolex, 4 of my friends went in the tent-- they all bought Dubarry boots. I was outside the tent watching our swarm of children, while in the trade fair, my husband blew our budget on a bunch of Cutco knives. I was the only one at the fence without Dubarrys. This year, we had a bad tire blowout on the RV on the way to Rolex, so there went any hope of purchasing anything except new tires.
So, being the practical and very frugal Italian (by marriage) that I am, I made these:
http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae187/Timelyimpulse/Daguidos.jpg
I’ll sell you the instructions: $19.99 
Love my dublins.
I have Tackoftheday.com Treadstone Donegals too (also have Treadstone field boots) and love them. They were much cheaper ($140), I get tons of compliments on them, they keep my feet warm & dry, are very comfortable, and when I feel like it, they will make great riding boots as they have a leather patch on the inside of the calf. I LOVE Dubarrys and sometime when I have an extra $500 laying around, I will get some, but until then, I love my knockoffs For those of you who muck out in your DBs, I was at a party awhile back where someone wore their DBs. She obviously mucks stalls in them and they STUNK to high heaven. YUCK!!! If/ when I get some, they will never see the inside of a stall. I can’t imagine having a pair of boots that I paid that much for only to have them smell like pee & horse poop.
:lol:
I have the Ariat Baker plaid version (Windermere, I think). They do the job - make me look trendy, keep my feet dry, and satisfy my need to have everything possible in Baker plaid - but you won’t catch me riding in them.
Did I mention that they make me look trendy?
Well obviously I’m in the definate majority of not owning a pair nor really liking them! :eek: :lol: But, on the other hand, I love my Hunter Wellies like nothing on earth! :lol: :lol: :lol:
