Spinoff Thread: Does no one like Ariat Tall Boots Anymore?

[ThreeWishes]

Also had a terrible experience with Treadstep. One boot felt like a serial killer strangling my calf the other was fine and I am not asymmetrical. Bought Ariats instead. This was 2012. As a shorty 5’ tall with average calf they fit off the rack. First pair lasted about 6 years before the leather began to degrade. Bought another pair in 2018 (the Heritage)
I ride everyday. And I am meticulous about cleaning them after and storing them out of the heat and humidity that is Florida. I just have never found a boot that isn’t custom that I could buy being so short. Plus I don’t walk around in them or hose my horse. They go on before I ride and get pulled off immediately after

[Jo]

@ThreeWishes

Also had a terrible experience with Treadstep.

Add me to the list. I got a deal on one of the higher end Tredsteps (I forget the model name) at the Dover basement sale and the panel separated from the zipper after just a few months. It was the strangest thing and even Dover couldn’t explain it. Back to Ariat I went…

[PNWSunnyDay]

@mvp

If riding boots were modeled after a hangover, Treadsteps would be it.

Poetry.

[Linny]

The Heritage Contour is available in slim short from ladies size 5.5 to size 9.

[Spud_amp_Saf]

The TreadSTONE (not Treadstep) Tuscany boots are wonderful quality for the price, come in a variety of off the rack sizes and are comfortable to wear and look nice. You can find them for an absolute steal, as well. I switched to these after my old Heritages died.

[Posting_Trot]

I just googled Treadstone Tuscany and saw that they’ve gone out of business. But there are some retailers that still have stock that is pretty heavily discounted, and might be a good deal if they have your size.

I have no experience with these boots, so I’m not pushing them. Just thought I’d let people know about the deals (nobody has my size, unfortunately!).

[cnm161]

@Libby2563

I do not feel like I got what I paid for or what I thought I was getting, based on old reviews of Dehners lasting for decades.

I am skeptical of any “My boots lasted for 15 years!” claims in general, probably because I am a cynic. However, had a pair of Dehners that I thought would stand the test of time.

In 2 horses/day, 5x/week riding and no abuse (i.e. not worn in the washrack, cleaned and conditioned regularly, the whole nine), the leather at the ankle wore out within the first 2 years, which is the kind of lifespan I can eke out of an off-the-rack non-premium-leather boot. Which spooked me off of the whole brand. Things may have improved in the intervening decade, but it doesn’t look like it.

[mvp]

@Libby2563

@mvp

The Dehners story is bad and unexpected. She said the soles on hers were flat and that’s not how I remember Dehners being for a very long time. They have had ribbed soles, but I had a pair of off-the-self paddock boots with the flat soles in the 90s.

FWIW, @Night_Flight had smooth-soled Dehners that fell apart and mine were ribbed. I don’t think that affected how they fell apart since it was a matter of splitting, not wearing through. If you order custom Dehners you can choose from a bunch of different soles: https://dehner.com/guides-info/customize-your-boot/#soles--heels. At every step of the process I asked the dealer, “What is the most durable option here?” and picked whatever that was, because I was concerned with durability over appearance. Joke’s on me I guess!

As someone who has had both—ribbed and flat soles in off-the-shelf paddock boots, and also custom tall boots–, and someone who has known lots of people in yestercentury who had Dehners, I’m surprised and disappointed to hear about them falling apart this way. That’s really not who that company was for most of its very long history.

As to rushing back to Ariat because Treadstep sucks worse, well that’s entropy for you.

[mvp]

@cnm161

@Libby2563

I do not feel like I got what I paid for or what I thought I was getting, based on old reviews of Dehners lasting for decades.

I am skeptical of any “My boots lasted for 15 years!” claims in general, probably because I am a cynic. However, had a pair of Dehners that I thought would stand the test of time.

In 2 horses/day, 5x/week riding and no abuse (i.e. not worn in the washrack, cleaned and conditioned regularly, the whole nine), the leather at the ankle wore out within the first 2 years, which is the kind of lifespan I can eke out of an off-the-rack non-premium-leather boot. Which spooked me off of the whole brand. Things may have improved in the intervening decade, but it doesn’t look like it.

Hehe. I knew a huntsman (who was a woman) whose brown (no less) Dehners were worn through at the ankles. And she wore them all the time anyway. Complete and total badassery to have your boots worn through at the ankles. This isn’t like pre-ripped jeans you can just buy; you have to make those holes yourself.

[Night_Flight]

@mvp

As someone who has had both—ribbed and flat soles in off-the-shelf paddock boots, and also custom tall boots–, and someone who has known lots of people in yestercentury who had Dehners, I’m surprised and disappointed to hear about them falling apart this way. That’s really not who that company was for most of its very long history.

I’m curious; was the thread that shows on the bottom of the sole made of a tougher material that didn’t wear through at all?

Wondering whether the difference is due to a change in materials, or whether the thread still wore through back in the day, but that the sole was still fastened to the bottom of the boot in other ways (i.e. the visible thread was more a step in the manufacturing process to hold the boot together while it set).

[dynamite0319]

Dehner. But you are going to spend more than $1k. I don’t know anyone with Dehners that lasted less than like 20 or 30 years. Plus, they are still the main boots you see hunters (as in foxhunters) wear. I have Ego7s that are I think 7 years old now and they are in fabulous condition, but I don’t school in them.

I also think you get longer boot life with dress boots than field boots because you don’t have to worry about the laces. Fun fact; foxhunters generally don’t wear black field boots at all.

[Spudsmyguy]

I had a similar experience at a recognized 3 day. However, these were my ancient Ariat fieldboots that I bought used years before. The zipper finally gave its last gasp as I was dressing for my stadium run and I had to go to Plan B which was half chaps and paddock boots. For the record, I have never had a problem with Ariats going south and cracking, breaking, zippers failing (just the one time), etc. I must have incredible luck I guess. I have had multiple pairs of paddock boots, tall boots, lace ups, zippers, never an issue. Oh wait, one pair of lace up paddocks squeaked with every step which drove me nuts.