Help me with my hatred of tall boots.

[ceciley13]

So, I admit it, I hate tall boots.

First of all, I must be a physical anomaly. Tall boots just don’t fit me. I had to exhaust the stock at three tack stores to find boots that fit. Apparently, my calf is too wide for a regular, but too skinny for a wide. I also have abnormally short legs from knee to ankle. Finally found a pair of tall boots that “fit” with the addition of heel pads inside, and the promise that they will eventually drop, and not cut into the back ofmy knees hard enough they draw blood.

In the year I have had them, this has not happened. I wore them around the house for a month when I first got them. But now they are only drug out of the closet for shows. I tried wearing them routinely while riding, but they are so uncomfortable they are very distracting from any actual work I am trying to get done. I have put athletic tape on the back of my knees, which helps. But after going through a whole roll, and they still hadn’t dropped enough to wear without it, I gave up.

And custom boots are so out of my price range right now, it’s laughable.

Any suggestions? Anyone else HATE tall boots and want to commiserate? Any suggestions on how to learn to embrace my nemesis?

[Big_Grey_hunter]

If they zip up the back, just leave the top inch unzipped. Worked fine for my dad, you can’t notice it unless you’re really looking for it.

Or try the bathtub method. Set aside a whole day, climb in the tub and get the boots soaked all the way through, then wear them until they are 100% dry. It will help the leather stretch and drop and make them fit your leg better.

In addition, they probably aren’t as broken in as you think. It took my boots a good 4 months of daily riding before they were fully broken in, and they went through various stages of pain during that time (first the back of the knee, then the ankle, and then finally no pain). Definitely use heel pads (or two) until they drop enough to stop hurting.

[GoForAGallop]

I hated tall boots until I ponied up the $$ for some that actually fit. (Vs making do with $100 pairs during my poor teenage years)

Heel to back of knee, I measure 13.5" (I’m 5’2", with SHORT legs.) Just great, when most boots start at 17" height! And I have a wide calf to boot…14" around.

I did okay with a pair of short Ariat Heritages for a while. But then I found a pair of Volants on sale, and I just died and went to heaven. They don’t drop much, but somehow the short height was short enough for me, with a wide calf, and man are they comfortable.

Everyone made fun of my ugly boots for a while, but I can walk around in them all day and my feet don’t hurt, and more importantly, they FIT. I’m no longer taking off my boots to find weird bruising and pinching and struggling with zippers and getting tops cut down.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Yup disliked tall boots until I could afford REALLY nice ones. Turns out tall boots are a lot like high heels. Once you’ve had the high priced heels with butter leather that actual fit…you like them. So stop trying to make stock ones fit. Buy some nice paddock boots and half chaps. Save your money until you can afford good custom boots that you will love.

[_Trinity]

I’m sort of in the same boat. I hate crappy tall boots. I like a fairly stiff leather for good ankle support, so my lace up paddock boots that I can really snug up are my absolute favourite. I have an “X-Slim” calf, which is too puny for nearly all boot companies out there, so I’m stuck with Tredstones right now. Exact same as the Treadsteps - super thin leather that makes me feel like I’m not even wearing tall boots. Augh. Oh, to be able to afford customs!!!

Edited to add: If anyone knows of stock boots with SOLID leather (none of this ‘felt broken in the first time I wore them’ crap) that will fit a size 8, 12 1/2" calf, please share. Please. I’m even considering trying the infamous La Mundial company, I’m so desperate…

[subk]

Affording customs: I bought my first pair of customs when I was 16 for $600. (I got a deal!) I’m 51 and still wearing my second pair of customs that I bought for $1000. I’ve worn better boots and spent less money over time than my friends who spent just a few hundred dollars and wore their boots for a few years before having to buying more.

Coming up with the cash all at once is a challenge, but for me they’ve actually been a cheaper option over time.

[Big_Grey_hunter]

[QUOTE=Trinity;7865234]

Edited to add: If anyone knows of stock boots with SOLID leather (none of this ‘felt broken in the first time I wore them’ crap) that will fit a size 8, 12 1/2" calf, please share. Please. I’m even considering trying the infamous La Mundial company, I’m so desperate…[/QUOTE]

Have you tried the tredsteps? IMO, they are miles better than the treadstones. The leather isn’t super thick, but it’s certainly not thin like a lot of the higher end boots. I’m the exact same calf measurement (and 19.5" height) and I LOVE my tredsteps. I have the more expensive version (da vinci I think?), not sure if that makes a difference. They fit better than my custom boots and are already proving to be more durable!

[runNjump86]

Ariat Volants. They are worth every single penny. Mine haven’t dropped enough for me to take out my inserts, but they are still comfortable. I have to remind myself to take them off after a ride because they are so comfortable!

[baref00t]

[QUOTE=Trinity;7865234]
If anyone knows of stock boots with SOLID leather (none of this ‘felt broken in the first time I wore them’ crap) that will fit a size 8, 12 1/2" calf, please share. Please. I’m even considering trying the infamous La Mundial company, I’m so desperate…[/QUOTE]

I’m not sure if they even still make them as I got mine off Tack of the Day a year and a half ago at half the retail price, but my Grand Prix Elites are STIFF. I did the bathtub method (multiple times) and they did break in relatively easily once I got the calf to stretch and ankle to fold/drop, but they are pretty sturdy and have great support through the ankle. I did have zipper problems with them for the first year but I seem to have finally had them fixed correctly and I now MUCH prefer them to my Tredstep DaVincis.

[scubed]

Also on the Volant bandwagon, but I always have liked the less structured boot. I like this Ovation boot as well at a lower price point.

[Ajierene]

Paddock boots and half chaps. I have a pair of show quality ones that I wore last summer. I think my problem is finding a size 5.5 foot in tall boots. I had to order my paddock boots from a tack store in upper NY (off eBay - I think it was Green Valley tack and it was awesome) because neither Dover nor Bit of Britain carried them, even though the company made them.

They work great, no issues showing recognized and I feel like I can ride my horse properly.

[Cameraine]

I hate tall boots but not for the “I can’t find a pair in my price range that fit” reason. I hate them because I feel like I can’t feel my horse when I’m riding in them. I prefer the closer feel of my half chaps but for shows I have an older pair of Ariat zip backs that are the high end model that was out before the Volants. Though from all the good press on here I may try the Volants.

[HorsefaceDee]

try these:
http://www.treadstone-inc.com/index.php?option=com_tienda&view=products&task=view&id=1286&filter_category=36&Itemid=11

I used to hate boots…LOVE these…there was no break in time and they come in many different sizes and heights.

[arapaloosa_lady]

Half-chaps are allowed at many of the lower-level competitions & you can’t really tell the difference if you buy nice half-chaps (which are infinitely cheaper than nice, custom tall boots!).