You might check the SmartPak/Dover/Stateline Tack/Amazon/etc. web sites for customer reviews.
I did. 
When I searched for the “Dublin Women’s Foundation Laced Paddock Boots”, would you believe that SLT, VVS, SPE, Walmart (lol who knew Walmart had paddock boots?), and TSC all have exactly 7 reviews each and they are all rated at the same 3.7 overall? That’s why I was wondering if anybody here had a pair or knew anyone with them, because it seemed really odd to me that every place had the same # of reviews and the same overall rating. I mean, I guess that could be a coincidence, but it struck me as unlikely.
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OP have you tried The Farmhouse in SC? They have such a good selection and will go through their shop while you are on the phone with them and even take pictures and email you. Their customer service is outstanding and they have so much more than what is on their website. You might try Malvern Saddlery in PA as well and Manhattan Saddlery in NYC used to carry a large selection of GP paddocks. I stopped riding a number of years ago so I’m not sure if they still carry GP.
And no, from what I could see the synthetic paddocks did not soften and break in like real leather.
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Agree with most. Love my Ariats. Fit and feel are great!
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The thing about Ariat boots is that their zippers tend to fail. I am not spending $250 on paddock boots to have them blow out a solid metal zipper in less than a year. I had one pair of Ariats that lasted me through 7 years of abuse and after that have gotten no mileage out of them. I finally got fed up after I had the zippers go out after just 6 months. If they’ve fixed this in the last 5 years I couldn’t tell you about it because I refuse to give them any more of my money for paddock boots after that.
I currently ride in Dublin paddock boots and have been pleased with them. I’m on my second pair. The first (Intensity- style is now discontinued) lasted 4 years before I wore them out. I now have their “Summit” boot, which I got almost a year ago and which could look new if I ever shined them up. They fit similarly to Ariat and have a comfortable footbed for my flat feet.
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Ariat for me, based on selection, comfort, and performance. I consider them to be “acceptable” in the longevity department. It is entirely possible to kill a $200 pair in a year if you regularly bathe horses and/or muck stalls in them, even if you clean them regularly. I also made a pair stink irredeemably in less than two years, I believe just by shutting them in my trunk, sweaty, between rides. (Don’t do that.)
But I think that’s pretty much par for the course with most brands. If you wear them hard, they look it, and if you baby them, they can last years. My experience with cheaper brands is that you don’t get the comfort factor, though that is entirely dependent on individual feet and not necessarily related to durability.
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Thanks for the info on Dublin paddock boots. The “Foundation” boot I was looking at at TSC is evidently their only lace-up model.
My favorites are called Tonics made by Schockemohle
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Ariat anything is horribly uncomfortable to me. I have flat feet. Also always wore Grand Prix, also cannot fit into them anymore. I had some dublins that were comfortable but not good to ride in. Sigh
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I’ve been an Ariat Devon Pro fan for many years – I wear them for everything barn related and my pairs have each held up for several years plus. Ditto for my husband’s. We both find them very comfortable and worth the money.
Less expensive Ariats of various styles that I’ve tried, as spare barn boots, haven’t lasted nearly as long nor been anywhere near as comfortable, so not a bargain for me. Sure, I’d love to find something as durable and comfy for half the price, but it hasn’t been possible, IME.
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My experience has been that the $200-range ariats hold up well and the lesser ones fall apart fairly quickly. If your budget is tight, though, sometimes you can get the pricier ones on sale.
If you just want them for hacking and barn work and don’t care so much that they have a certain look, don’t be afraid to look at some of the men’s work boots. I ended up buying a pair of Ariat Cascade work boots in the men’s sizes (7 1/2 mens when I wear a 10 ladies). They’re tall laceups and they’re holding up great, and I got them on sale at the feed store for a bit less than $100. Also, a pretty brown color.
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My Dublin paddock boots were comfortable, but not super durable. I think they lasted just over a year (died recently). I have wide-ish feet at the toes and I find Mountain Horse very comfortable and durable–my last pair of MHs lasted…five years? I don’t ride in them, but I did just about everything else in them: feeding, mucking, hiking around the farm, bathing, mowing, running errands. Have been dithering about what to get next but will probably go with MH again.
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Has anyone tried Hoof & Woof paddock boots from Riding Warehouse?
Went to Dover’s today. Tried on the Ariat Heritage RT. Did not fit my foot well at all - much too roomy in the toe area (so much for getting those from SLT on that great sale!). Tried on the Ariat Sport and that was much better. Tried both the lace up and zip. The zip was a little snug at the top of my foot right where the zipper starts (the assistant thought I should try them on, because she thought they would work instead of the lace=up). I did like the zip and it did seem nice and snug to my ankle…
I’m going to try to find a TSC that actually carries the Dublin paddock book at the store so I can try them on. Dover only had the Ariats to try on and 1 synthetic boot which I told them I didn’t want to try.
If that’s the same ones offered by a vendor at the 2015 WC in Vegas, I passed at the time. Clearly not as well made, and of lesser materials, than the Ariat Devon Pros and only $30 less (at full price). Explains why they’re for sale at such a steep discount now. Hey, for $35 - $50, they might be a deal.
Second the motion on Dehner off-the-shelf paddock boots.
Mine are the only thing I wear for everything at the barn, riding, bathing, all of it.
I have narrow feet and these are the only boots narrow enough for me.
Mine have lasted >5 years. The soles are still in great shape, but the leather has started to deteriorate.
They are now SO comfortable that I can’t bring myself to start wearing the new pair I bought…
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The Dehner is a nice looking boot, but a bit above my price range, as is the Ariat Devon Pro. Unfortunately, they were out of the size 8 of the Ariat Breeze, so I couldn’t try that on.
I just bought a pair, I have never owned paddock boots before, always ride in tall boots and didn’t want to drop a huge amount on them if I end up preferring tall boots for every day. I have only worn them a few times, but I actually think they are quite nice, especially for $50. I can’t speak to durability yet, but I have a terrible time finding boots that have a footbed that works for me due to multiple foot surgeries and these fit my custom orthotics well and so far are not bad at all!
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