Favorite tall boots for under $500

[PnkPanthr]

Hi friends!

I am in the market for some new tall boots, but I am looking to invest in some nicer ones, within reason. Looking for something I can wear every day but also polish up and take into the show ring because well, I have a hard time justifying getting nice boots and only wearing them at shows! I am an amateur with one horse and only ride at the most 3/day, but that only happens every so often. However, I am a poor PhD student so, although I would love them, Parlantis are out of the question. I’ve been looking at the Ego7s, but just curious if you all knew of any that I did not!

[Training_Cupid]

I’m an Ariat girl, the footbed is very comfortable, and they fit me well (in short height). I’ve had my Heritages for just over a year and they are holding up well - I ride one horse about 5x week. Dover has the Monaco on sale now for $499 (down from 740) https://www.doversaddlery.com/monaco-stretch-field-boot/p/X1-380816/)

[Scribbler]

I also have Ariat. I like the footbeds. I have a pair of the discontinued unline d Heritage that I’ve been wearing for 6 years. I’ve had zippers replaced and a few stiches on the foot bed but they still look fine. They fit me perfectly out of the box.

I have a pair of lined Challenge that I picked up on sale a few years ago and haven’t fully broken in yet because the others are still going OK. They are just a hair too tall so I’ve been trying to make the ankles drop.

I bought each of them for under $200 Canadian on closeout through Greenhawk, but the full retail prices were also lower than now at that point.

The general opinion is Ariat isn’t the sturdiest boot around but with the trend to softer leathers and tighter cut, even the more expensive and custom boots might not last 25 years anymore.

[ohmylivia]

I have a pair of Mountain Horse Sovereigns, and absolutely love them. I use and abuse them every day, and they still polish up beautifully for the show ring! I have two pairs (one for schooling and one for shows), but I have worn the crap out of my black pair because I keep forgetting to switch my spurs over, and they hold up extremely well.

[PNWjumper]

I’m another Ariat fan. My go-to daily boots for a while have been my Volant S ($499) and then more recently my Vortex S ($599) boots. Love the footbed (much more tennis-shoe-like than other tall boots) and I’ve worn both at shows.

[BK6756]

My favorite cheap, but OH SO COMFORTABLE boots with soft leather that fit like a glove are the Tuffrider Regal boots (~$200). Absolutely no break-in time required. I buy 2 pairs and use one for everyday and one for showing so they stay nice. My “everyday” pair have held up surprisingly well despite how much I abuse them and rarely clean them, but definitely need a separate show pair. Some people probably don’t consider the Tuffriders expensive enough to be show quality, but honestly I doubt anyone can tell since they fit so nice. They aren’t going to last 10 years, but styles and things change anyway.

The other pair of boots I have that I really like are the higher end Tredstep boots (Medici, I think?). These also have a very nice beautiful slim silhouette and are comfortable, but pricier. I have them as a backup pair of show boots.

[Training_Cupid]

@BK6756

My favorite cheap, but OH SO COMFORTABLE boots with soft leather that fit like a glove are the Tuffrider Regal boots (~$200). Absolutely no break-in time required. I buy 2 pairs and use one for everyday and one for showing so they stay nice. My “everyday” pair have held up surprisingly well despite how much I abuse them and rarely clean them, but definitely need a separate show pair. Some people probably don’t consider the Tuffriders expensive enough to be show quality, but honestly I doubt anyone can tell since they fit so nice. They aren’t going to last 10 years, but styles and things change anyway.

Unfortunately my experience was not so good with Tuffrider boots (forget which model, but were around $150 I think?). The zipper broke on one only a few months after I got them. Then the other one shortly thereafter. After about one year of riding 1 horse, the entire sole fell off one. I wouldn’t buy them again.

[OutsidersOpinion]

I’ve had horrible experiences with Ariats and Tredsteps. They don’t hold up, hurt, and don’t look great to me. Ego7s are great, but have friends who have had issues with snaps and zippers. I would suggest the lower price point sergio grasso boots, they hold up beautifully. Or try to find a european vender that sells parlantis/tuccis. They will be considerably cheaper in europe.

[fordtraktor]

I love the Volant S Arian’s as well. Hands down the most comfortable everyday boot around. I think they look good enough too show as well.

[Ladylexie]

I have a pair of Treadstep donatello II that are very nice. I only rode in them twice because I realized I didn’t have the feel I had in parlantis so I bought the Parlantis. I would recommend the Treadstep if you are trying to be more budget conscious.

[largo]

For about $700 you can get Tuccis from justriding! I’ve had mine I think going on 3 years. I got them just for show originally but I’ve been using them daily for awhile now. Riding 3 or so horses a day 5/6 days a week and they polish up great still.

[Cabaret_SK]

My Tredstep Donatello’s STILL shred my ankles even after 4 years. They do hold up well, though.

I love my Mountain Horse Sovereigns - broke in easily and SO comfy.

[woodhillsmanhattan]

Another vote for Mountain Horse Sovereigns. I have the brown ones for schooling. My zipper broke in my 10 year old Sergio Grassos…I may have a larger calf than back then ;). I will probably just buy a black pair of the Mountain Horse tallboots for showing.

[bluepece2]

@ohmylivia

I have a pair of Mountain Horse Sovereigns, and absolutely love them. I use and abuse them every day, and they still polish up beautifully for the show ring! I have two pairs (one for schooling and one for shows), but I have worn the crap out of my black pair because I keep forgetting to switch my spurs over, and they hold up extremely well.

I have these too, great boots. I get lots of compliments on them.

[mmeqcenter]

Ariat fan here.
I have a pair for schooling and a separate pair for showing. The schooling pair are 3+ years old not, worn for 5+ rides a week and feeding and cleaning stalls, in the rain, and still in great shape.

[gymangel812]

@Training Cupid

Unfortunately my experience was not so good with Tuffrider boots (forget which model, but were around $150 I think?). The zipper broke on one only a few months after I got them. Then the other one shortly thereafter. After about one year of riding 1 horse, the entire sole fell off one. I wouldn’t buy them again.

same, i had those tuff rider boots like 6 months before they fell apart (riding 1 horse ~5 days/week). my ariat volants fell apart after a year (toe stitching came undone, still wearing them for now). the volants are very comfy tho. i have some deniro boots on order to try next. i wanted to try the ego 7s next but i found the deniros for ~$270.

[AcrossTheCountry]

My barn is on an Ego7 kick right now - they are beautiful boots for the price! Haven’t heard of any issues with the hardware, and they seem to break in so easily! I thought they were a bit non-traditional, but I’m coming around to really love them.

[emandnemo]

Heritage Ariats all the way! They are reasonably priced and can last you years with good care. They are very comfortable and break in very quickly. I use mine for both shows and regular rides.

[PNWjumper]

@gymangel812

same, i had those tuff rider boots like 6 months before they fell apart (riding 1 horse ~5 days/week). my ariat volants fell apart after a year (toe stitching came undone, still wearing them for now). the volants are very comfy tho. i have some deniro boots on order to try next. i wanted to try the ego 7s next but i found the deniros for ~$270.

You ought to reach out to Ariat. I’ve heard that their responses can be all over the map, so no guarantee that they’ll do anything, but when my first pair of Monaco’s burst at the zipper they repaired them and replaced the zippers in both boots free of charge and fast. Sounds like a toe stitching problem might be something they would repair?

[lmlacross]

@bluepece2

I have these too, great boots. I get lots of compliments on them.

I also love these and have them in brown. I went down a full size in the foot from my usual and a size down in calf width; despite measuring a regular on the chart, I needed a slim
(which I’ve NEVER needed in my life). Great boot, wonky sizing, IMO.