Get me out of my boot! (update: Freedom!… and retail?)

[AllTheCarrots]

A real time plea for help!

The zipper broke while I was riding — the kind of fail where it’s attached at the top and bottom but gaping in the middle. (And I’ve lost weight, dammit!) Of course, there’s no one here at the barn to help me.

The “zip” bit will slide up and down one row of teeth, but seems fixed/jammed on the other. I can’t feel anything wedged or stuck, but then again my creaky, inflexible body isn’t able to contort myself to get a really good look. (Note to self — time to get back to yoga.)

Short of heading home and having Mr. Carrots force things, anyone have any magic tricks I can try? Help me, COTHi-wan Kenobis! You’re my only hope!

[JBCool]

Show sheen on the zipper teeth or down into the zipper piece? Good luck!

[Jo]

I’ve never had much luck getting out of mine by myself but with a friend, I lay down, she sprays the hell out of them with WD-40 and is able to get them down that way.

[Raincityrider]

The show sheen is a good idea but if that doesn’t do it I think it’s not worth fighting the darn thing solo. It’s likely to take some brute force and twisting around to do it yourself sounds like a pulled something or another about to happen. I’d just make life easy on myself, gimp home and take the help.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

Hopefully, you’re out of the boot by now, but the side of the zipper is likely either caught in the fabric or has some dirt wedged in, interfering with the teeth gripping.

I just replaced my very cheap pair of tall boots for this reason (it wasn’t worth repairing the zipper because they were kind of shot, anyway). WD40 will provide a decent fix, and they do sell zipper repair kits (a cobbler will also help).

It’s not weight–the ones that failed me were on the loose side.

[Fiesta01]

@AllTheCarrots
I’m on tenterhooks. How did you get out of it??

[KBC]

@Fiesta01

@AllTheCarrots
I’m on tenterhooks. How did you get out of it??

Yes do tell, you can’t leave us on tenterhooks

[AllTheCarrots]

I did not, in fact, have to sleep with my boots on. But I did have to run a bunch of errands, including grocery shopping, while sporting the busted zipper.

Ran into a friend at the Safeway, who helpfully pointed out that I had “forgotten” to zip up one of my boots. Not quite, I told her — at the barn, busted while riding, had to walk around like this until I returned home and got some help to escape. “Ohhhhh,” she said, “I was wondering why you looked so… sporty.” (I think she meant to say “filthy” but caught herself.)

Bless his horse husband heart, Mr. Carrots was perfectly willing to stop what he was doing to free his wife from her latest predicament. The WD-40 did not work, but brute force did (sort of). We broke the pull tab of the zip in the process, but he did manage to get it down far enough for me to get my foot out.

I’m going to spend some time this weekend with the boot and some pliers to see if I can get things literally back on track. If not, it will be another repair and/or replacement.

Anyone have a recommendation for a good price on size 5.5 US, short height, regular calf? Maybe a UK retailer to take advantage of the £/$ exchange rate?

[outerbanks77]

@AllTheCarrots

Anyone have a recommendation for a good price on size 5.5 US, short height, regular calf? Maybe a UK retailer to take advantage of the £/$ exchange rate?

Not sure what sort of boot you’re looking for, but Reitenleder in Germany always has discounted Celeris sample boots in all different sizes. It takes about two weeks to get them delivered to the US.

With your small foot size, it’s probably worth combing the clearance section at SmartPak, Dover, etc. to see if they have something deeply discounted in your size.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I’m 5’1 and wear Tuffriders, but they don’t come in half sizes. You could probably fit in a kid’s size:

TuffRider Kids Baroque Leather Back Zipper Field Boots in Black

Ariats are on sale at Smartpak in your size, but don’t come in short (although I’m no a fan of Ariat, myself, because of zipper issues):

https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/eliza-ii-tall-field-boot-by-smartpak-24023

And there are replacement kits on Amazon:

Amazon.com: Zipper Rescue Zipper Repair Kits – The Original Zipper Repair Kit,...

Having been through the same thing, you have my sympathies!

[hoopoe]

cannot help you with shopping for new boots.
would suggest taking your boots to whomever does repairs for your state patrols. Motorcycle cops often wear Dehners. Also check out boot repair near military bases. They can put in new zippers. Your old boots can be your work a day or rainy weather boots saving your new boots for better things.

[Montanas_Girl]

Definitely see if you can find a good shoe/boot repair shop in your area. New zippers are a fairly easy “fix” and much, much cheaper than new boots.

[AllTheCarrots]

@Montanas_Girl

Definitely see if you can find a good shoe/boot repair shop in your area. New zippers are a fairly easy “fix” and much, much cheaper than new boots.

I have a good local all-around cobbler ($$) and a tack-specific leather repair place a little farther away ($$$). Did a zipper repair just last year, so I’m a little up in my feelings about having to do it again on a pair that is also wearing out in other ways.

But as you point out, the repair bill will be lower than the bill for a new pair. Sigh. Hor$e$.

[Pokerface]

@AllTheCarrots

I have a good local all-around cobbler ($$) and a tack-specific leather repair place a little farther away ($$$). Did a zipper repair just last year, so I’m a little up in my feelings about having to do it again on a pair that is also wearing out in other ways.

But as you point out, the repair bill will be lower than the bill for a new pair. Sigh. Hor$e$.

Did they replace the zipper? How much did that cost? I just had a zipper replaced on one boot, both boots had some minor sole repair, and the boots were polished. Cost me $38 USD. I do think that was a steal of a deal, but I would hope the price would be comparable in other places.