river boots - love 'em, but are Dubarry's worth it?

[AmmyByNature]

I have a pair of Dublin river boots that I bought used off a friend for $100. I love them to death - wear them to the barn every time I go, and wear them all the time I’m not in my tall boots (I only school in tall boots.)

Since I’ve proven that I adore them, I was wondering if it was worth it to save up for the Dubarrys. I like that the river boots aren’t too hot (I live down south now, so no longer need really tosty boots, and I have barn Uggs should I ever need something that warm.

I also wear them out in public with skinny jeans or leggings when it’s rainy down here (and it is often rainy) so I’d wear them quite a bit.

So are the Dubarry’s worth the extra money?

And if any of you have had experience with them both, what’s the calf like. My Dublins are wide calf since that’s what was for sale and they aren’t huge on me. Over jeans I’m about a 16" calf. I do like that they fit over everything easily and aren’t too tight… Not sure if the Dubarry comes in wide calf or if I’d need it?

Thoughts?

[Madison]

[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;8510551]

And if any of you have had experience with them both, what’s the calf like. My Dublins are wide calf since that’s what was for sale and they aren’t huge on me. Over jeans I’m about a 16" calf. I do like that they fit over everything easily and aren’t too tight… Not sure if the Dubarry comes in wide calf or if I’d need it?

Thoughts?[/QUOTE]

Certain of the Dubarry’s do come in a wide calf, but not all, and you will probably need it. Whether they are worth the extra money is a very personal assessment. The look is similar but not identical, so to some people that’s a distinguishing factor that might be “worth it” and also the fit is different. For me the River Boots were bumping the back of my ankle the first time I put them on and were clearly going to rub a blister. That made my decision very easy. So, try both types on, it might make the decision easier!

[Madison]

[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;8510551]

And if any of you have had experience with them both, what’s the calf like. My Dublins are wide calf since that’s what was for sale and they aren’t huge on me. Over jeans I’m about a 16" calf. I do like that they fit over everything easily and aren’t too tight… Not sure if the Dubarry comes in wide calf or if I’d need it?

Thoughts?[/QUOTE]

Certain of the Dubarry’s do come in a wide calf, but not all, and you will probably need it. Whether they are worth the extra money is a very personal assessment. The look is similar but not identical, so to some people that’s a distinguishing factor that might be “worth it” and also the fit is different. For me the River Boots were bumping the back of my ankle the first time I put them on and were clearly going to rub a blister. That made my decision very easy. So, try both types on, it might make the decision easier!

[Scaramouch]

I bought a pair of Dubarry Galways in January 2011 and wear them October-May every year, though not “to the barn” as my barn is in my backyard and I’d rather sacrifice lesser boots to traipsing through mud and doing stalls. But I wear them to work, to horse shows, and everywhere else and they clean up beautifully and I still get loads of compliments. They’re probably only 95% waterproof these days since that time I made the colossally stupid move of spreading manure in a downpour while wearing them and they got soaked through from the inside out. So I just don’t splash around in standing water to prove a point anymore, but in dewy grass or going places in the rain they still keep my feet dry.

TL;DR: I don’t know anything about the knockoffs, but I don’t regret one penny spent on the Dubarrys.

The one teeny tiny drawback (IMO) is that the footbed isn’t very supportive. I’m not sure how it compares to other brands, but if you do a lot of standing around, you may want to upgrade the insole.

Dubarry offers the Galways in an “ExtraFit” model for wide calves. But I am by no means thin (I take a “full” calf in tall boots) and the regular Galways fit me well with room to spare.

[FlightCheck]

I love my Ovations. Even if I had $$ for Duberrys, would not spend that kind of money.

[mjs8]

I had Ovations. Liked the fit, though a little loose overall int he foot and calf. However, very disappointed that I wore through them in 6 months (not an exaggeration) - the leather at the back of the ankle where the boot naturally drops wore through on my right foot (after the fabric liner of course ripped through) and nearly through on the left.

Not wanting to spend more on boots that could fall apart so quickly, I tried the Middleburgs but the foot didn’t fit well (felt sloppy in my ankle but too narrow across the ball of my foot). Additionally, the heel felt oddly high. I can’t explain it, but it almost felt like I was being pushed onto my toes like I was wearing pumps. Returned them.

Splurged against my better judgement and bought the Dubarry’s and couldn’t be happier with the quality and fit. I have a 15 1/2" calf, and didn’t go for the ExtraFit and though I could use a squeak more room, the fit is actually good and wear them often over my skinny jeans etc.

I have a different pair of boots for mucking (and we have no shortage of mud so rubber boots are a must!), but the Dubarry’s I wear to shows, client meetings, teaching, etc. They fit great, are comfortable when I’m on my feet for 14 hour days, and opting not to clean stalls in them makes it easier to keep them clean and in great condition.

Since the Ovations were my ‘everything’ boots (mucking, teaching, shows, etc), I wonder if that’s why the wearing out so soon. I wouldn’t think leather could fray and tear so quickly, but I was living in them for those 6 months so maybe that’s why.

Nonetheless, didn’t want to spend on the Dubarry’s but ended up being happy I did.

[50ShadesOfHay]

I actually have both! :eek: I bought my Duberry’s while on a trip to Ireland. They have a Dubarry outlet in Ireland, but I didn’t make it there; they are actually a little less $ there. I have the Galway boots in brown/brown and I wear them to work and out. I actually don’t wear them to the barn… lol. I wear the Dublin boots to barn in the winter.

There is a difference in quality. I noticed with the lining of the Dublin boots they are not as thick and the lining started to sort of shift/separate from the boot, maybe that is somewhat due to the fact that they get worn more often then the Dubarry’s. However the Dubarry’s are warmer then the Dublin boots.

I personally love my Dubarry’s and get lots of complements on them. So if you want them, I know I’d definitely get them again!

[AmmyByNature]

[QUOTE=50ShadesOfHay;8511955]
There is a difference in quality. I noticed with the lining of the Dublin boots they are not as thick and the lining started to sort of shift/separate from the boot, maybe that is somewhat due to the fact that they get worn more often then the Dubarry’s. However the Dubarry’s are warmer then the Dublin boots. [/QUOTE]

I have that, too, with my Dublins. It’s like my heel slides in past the boot while kind of dragging the lining down with it, then I sort of have to pull the lining back up into place.

[Pennywell_Bay]

[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;8511959]
I have that, too, with my Dublins. It’s like my heel slides in past the boot while kind of dragging the lining down with it, then I sort of have to pull the lining back up into place.[/QUOTE]

I have both, and I have a wide calf. I wear my Dublins every day and really prefer them to the Dubarry for my foot support. I have the same issue with lining in Dublin, but I think it is because it doesn’t have the pull tabs and it is a non-issue. I personally wouldn’t have spent the money on the Dubarry- mine were a gift. Now that I own a pair, I wouldn’t necessarily buy them unless I wanted to be able to say “I own Dubarrys”. Totally subjective.

ETA- I just bring myself to slog around in my Dubarrys. I wear them as more of a fashion statement- which is a stretch for me.

[Flypony]

I live in them at the barn, Except riding. I do stalls and bath horses in them. They last me about 2 years a pair in heavy use. Well worth the money IMO.

[StormyDay]

[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;8511959]
I have that, too, with my Dublins. It’s like my heel slides in past the boot while kind of dragging the lining down with it, then I sort of have to pull the lining back up into place.[/QUOTE]

Mine did that too. I cut out the liner. Problem solved! :lol:

[2horseowner]

Love my Dubarry’s. Worth the money over the knockoffs because they are so well made. I put an arch support in mine because they are rather flat.

[sockmonkey]

I agree completely about the lack of foot support. I am on my feet all day in an office and my Dubarry’s just plain hurt. But arch supports are helpful. I have pretty thick calves and got the regular sized ones and they fit great. I love them!

[nycequestrian]

I just bought a pair of Dubarry’s in October and I can safely say that I’m in love with them. I was originally in the market to buy any winter waterproof boot, but due to slim selections at Dover and my local saddlery combined with my wide calf, I ended up with the Dubarry’s.

So far they have been fantastic. Like others, I also don’t wear them for serious barn work but do wear them to horse shows and to classes etc. They have been great and I haven’t had any serious issues. They kept my feet nice and dry while I was digging my car out after the snow storm!

My only complaint would be that they scratch very easily (to the point where I’m careful when I take them off because I’ve scratched them taking them off a few times). That being said, the scratches do buff out fairly easily so I’m not too bothered.

[Lord_Helpus]

Love my Dublins. I have never had duBarrys but I see no need to since I am looking for comfort, practicality and longevity – and the Dublins give me all that.

If I was looking for status, I would go for the duBarry, so it all depends on what you really want in a pair of boots.

[lcw579]

I have had the Dublin and a different knock off thanks to Tack of the Day. Loved them both and wore them constantly. I found that after a year of hard wear they started to lose their waterproof quality and ended up with cracks where the leather attached to the sole. Not fun to find out just how far those cracks go on a cold wet day! Brrrr since I always bought them deeply discounted I didn’t mind tossing them at about the 18 month mark.

A little over a year ago I was given a pair of Dubarrys that have led the same rough existence. I’ve found them to be warmer in the winter but not too hot in warmer weather. They are standing up to my abuse much better than the knock offs and I expect they will last years longer. I was always put off by the price before but I think that in the long run it will be less expensive to replace these eventually with another pair rather than go back to my knock offs. Plus, I always hate to say goodbye to a perfectly worn in pair of boots.

[RugBug]

So, I do not have the river boots, but do have the Dublin Pinnacles. I adore them and wear them constantly…but never at the barn because I like them so much and don’t want to ruin them.

I went on a 5-day, 6 state cross country trip last year and they were the only footwear I took with me. I traipsed all over New York City, I ran from one end of Newark airport to the other and never had a complaint about them. I went from 90 degrees in one state to 14 degrees in the next state the next morning. The boots were perfect for both.

My experience makes me think if I was in the market for another pair of boots, I wouldn’t hesitate to go with Dublin.

[BITSA]

I ordered 4 different less expensive boots from SmartPak and sent them all back. Another gal at the barn had Duberrys and I asked “are they worth it?” She said “Yes!” I begrudgingly shelled out the cash 2 years ago (almost three) and love them. Love love them. I live in a rainy state and I wear them all the time, not just to the barn. I’ve never needed the liners, but I also feel like they don’t overheat my already sweaty feet. I have literally stood in puddles half way up the boot and no water in at all. I just rinse them with a hose and they still look great. You can sometimes find them used on eBay if thats doesn’t creep you out…
http://www.dubarry.us/shop-by-look/womens-country-casuals/country-boots/dubarry-longford-leather-boot

I have these ones and adore them

[Simbalism]

My friend has a pair of Dublins that she has had for about 3 years and she wears them year round and rides in them at least 3-4 times per week. She has been very happy with them. I personally would be able to find something else to spend the price difference on, but that is just me.

[ecileh]

I have a pair of Dubarry Galways (extra fit) that I bought about 5 years ago and I absolutely love them. I wear them to the barn, to hound walk, and as a generic winter/snow boot unless it is very, very cold. They have worn like iron.

Until a couple of weeks ago, the only cleaning I had ever done was to hose them off after particularly muddy treks through the pasture so they were looking pretty beat, but I used the cleaner and conditioner that Dubarry sells and they look like new.

I agree that the footbed is not particularly supportive, but a pair of Dr. Scholl’s insoles works wonders for me.

The price point is painful, for sure. I bought mine as a treat to myself after spending a four day horse show shooting the pony ring in the rain (photography, not guns). I look at it this way: I could spend $100 on a new pair of Dublins every year or so, or amortize the Dubes over the lifetime of the boot; they have already paid for themselves in that regard and I know I will get many more years to come.