After many years I finally outgrew my old (they were old when I got them) Dehner field boots, thanks to a bunion on my left foot. I could no longer get them on. Have been looking for used boots on eBay but thanks to my big wide feet paired with skinny legs, I’m not finding any that would fit. I was considering bunion surgery to make my foot fit my boot lol! Anyway I’m probably going to bite the bullet and order custom Dehner’s. I don’t especially care for the skinny-ankle look that is currently in vogue so I prefer a field boot without a zipper. I picked the leather (dynatan) but am torn between leather and composite sole (Dehner advised composite but I like the look of leather) and choice of lining. Any suggestions? Thanks much!
I’ve had both composite and leather. Composite is better for hunting in my experience as I’m on and off for gates and the sole doesn’t get as slippery in mud and wears well. For whatever its worth, I’ve never had zippers either, but after many foot surgeries, the need for a custom insole and some permanent swelling, my newest pair is going back to Dehner for zippers.
Never had composite but would probably go that way were I to order custom boots. Would agree with Socprof that you should consider zippers --two reasons --the up coming surgery —if you do have it, you will really want a zip on boot, and ultimate resale. After all my kids left (granddaughter left home this year) I sold 15 pair of boots on ebay in various stages of use -from really worn and only fit for practice riding, to almost brand new. In a nut shell, English boots without zippers did not sell. Not at any price. Ultimately, I gave them to the Pony Club for an art project that they sold at a fund raiser (made them into planters). The zippered boots did sell —FYI one can hope to make 1/2 back on well maintained common sized English boots, regardless of age. Just make sure you polish them nicely and take good photos (stuff with newspaper) and ideally have a couple of photos of them actually being used when riding a horse on the hunt field —photos sell!
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I like composite and I would agree with those that say get zippers, Once you’ve had them there is no going back. My other recommendation is find someone that is well schooled in measuring for custom boots, especially in the brand you want.
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My observation is that American horsepeople have a strange belief that new riding boots should be excruciatingly painful to wear and require imaginative means to make them stretch and drop into comfort.
Out of curiosity, at Badminton last year I asked David Davies bookmakers (complete works of art!) about measurement and correct fit. Mr Davies said that both right and left leg should be measured carefully because they will be different and he always checks by phone, most especially if something looks odd on a self-measured form. The boot should be comfortable from the moment they go on - since they have been made to fit - and that they should drop no more than half an inch.
My experience is that zips are easier to put on but boots without zips keep the rain out and don’t break at inconvenient moments.
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Make sure they are measured really well by someone who knows how to do it. I’ve had six pairs of Dehners and although I love my first four pairs, my last two just did not cut it. My new dress boots sit in a lovely carrier unbroken in and in used. I’ve gone to Ariat zip boots. No pulls, no jacks. Yes, miss having tops, but hey, that’s life.
Thanks everybody, for the advice. I guess I got lucky selling my old zipperless Dehner’s plus another unbranded pair of boots on eBay last fall because somebody grabbed them a day after I listed them. There is a pair for sale on eBay that would fit me perfectly other than they are too tall. I called Dehner to see what the cost to shorten them would be but I need the boot # because if they’re too old, they won’t work on them. Not sure why… Half of me wants my own custom pair, something I’ve always coveted, while my logical half says $75 plus shipping on eBay compared to around a grand for customs? $1000 is a lot of hay :). Even with the cost of shortening them it would still be significantly cheaper. There’s a woman in town who does leather repair but I have no idea as to the quality of her work. I have altered chaps myself - I got a beautiful pair on ebay that were much too big in the thigh for me, although the calves fit but a boot is a lot more complex.
I grew up in Omaha, and used to know the Dehner guys pretty well. They were amazingly generous to our Pony Club - they donated “orphan boots” to our PC for us to try to sell to fund the club. I know they are very protective of the work they send out, or used to be, so working on old boots to turn out a sub-par result may be why they are not willing to do so. They tend to be pretty open, so you could always ask why they won’t alter older boots?
If you live close enough, you could always visit the factory and see if they have a pair of orphans that fit you. “Orphans,” by the way, was the term used for custom boots that weren’t purchased, never got picked up, or didn’t work out for one reason or another. My foot and calf size is just too typical for orphans to ever work out for me.
Good luck!
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There comes a time in ones life when one can throw good sense and financial probity out of the window and get made to measure boots. Do it! Ignore eBay. Ignore Ariat and Mountain Horse. Embrace the beauty of that gleaming leather lovingly constructed to fit just you… 
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I had my custom Dehners, which were about 35 years old at the time, stretched after a long break from riding. The tack shop owner explained that the leather, especially the lining was still very supple, which was important because otherwise old, dry leather can easily crack and split. That may be why Dehner doesn’t want to work on very old boots.
I agree with Willesdon that everyone should have a custom pair of boots at least once in their lifetime, buy them! And all of my boots, both custom and off the rack, are without zippers, I hate that skinny ankle look!
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I hate the skinny ankle look too. Also hate the exaggerated tops and any extra bling. I’m not so far gone channeling George Morris that I object to raised bridles with a little stitching on the browband or noseband or a brass nameplate but the blingy boots with skinny ankles? Absolutely hate them. Reminds me of someone trying to pass off a fashion boot as a riding boot.
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I can’t say anything to leather vs. composite, but keep in mind if the boots are for hunting, you might not want slick bottomed leather soles if you have one of those days and end up leading your horse back to the trailers.
THIS.
I see so many posts here (and everywhere) with tips and tricks and hacks to make your boots fit and…why not just get boots that fit to begin with?
I know that customs are expensive, but the right pair will last years if taken care of and when you amortize the cost, it seems worth it to me.
I used to spend a decent amount of time stressing out about my boots—will they zip? Will the zipper break at the wrong moment? It’s going to hurt ALL DAY, isn’t it? Removing those worries from my life with a pair of customs made them worth their weight in gold…let alone the cost of the boots.
My experience is that zips are easier to put on but boots without zips keep the rain out and don’t break at inconvenient moments.
Generally speaking, zippers fail in boots because the boots do not fit properly and, as the weakest part of the boot, they are going to take the strain. Or not, as the case may be. That’s not to say that zippers in custom boots are indestructible, but you’re going to reduce the chance of a blow out monumentally if the boot actually fits you.
I love my Dehner field boots (no zipper) and I am traditional with the flat butcher top, although many people tried to talk me out of it- I love the look. I have had many ankle issues and had to have mine made to accommodate orthotics/heated insoles and thick socks/lined breeches so lots of factors can go into getting them sized correctly. I highly recommend going somewhere to be measured as opposed to doing it yourself if that it at all feasible or talk to someone really knowledgeable. Marian at Horse Country in Warrenton, VA is fantastic even if you just want to talk to her on the phone. She has done Dehners since before I was born!
My trainer’s daughter got fitted in Dehner’s in NY. She had to send the boots back twice before they got it correct. There is a local guy in Devon near the Devon show grounds. I was in there a number of years ago and he had a row of Dehner’s that were for a police department in Delaware. The officers were all measured by Dehner. About a third of them didn’t fit and he had to fix them.
Both of these instances were a number of years ago but for a while I was hearing issues with Dehner getting custom boots fitted correctly even when measured by their own employees.
OP- I think you should get the EBay ones, have them cut down and still get the custom. This way you have a back up pair. You can use the old pair for cubbing and the good pair for regular hunting. Even if you spend $125 to get them shortened you still have only spent about $200. You will likely get those before the end of this hunt season. The custom Dehner’s you might not be able to use until next hunt season.
No one has said anything about Vogel’s! My first pair of custom boots were Vogel’s that I got in 1990, and my grandaughter is wearing them now! They feel like gloves when they are on, because I didn’t know anything about hunting yet and wanted them to be comfortable! But as soft as they are they have lasted all this time. No zippers for me! Oh and I ordered brown Dehner’s for cubbing around 1998-2000, but they weren’t measured as well and have always been a little tight in the foot. Thank goodness for laces that can be loosed! But they have lasted very well. Tough country too! And no zippers.
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My latest pair of Vogel’s are going strong after about 10-12 years. I had them made with a much more rugged sole and toe, and maybe even outer leathers. I got the option of no lining in the ankles, which makes for real comfort. No zippers!
Boot with zippers is what makes those ugly “skinny ankle” boots possible. The only way you can put on a boot with a skinny ankle is if it has a zipper. If you are going total custom, forget the zipper. Then for sure the ankle will not be skinny because otherwise you couldnt get it on. Zippers are a pain; they break, let in water, look ugly. If you are getting totally custom boots measured correctly they will fit beautifully and there will be no need for a zipper. Just my experience 
