I currently ride in just plain Ariat Heritage Contours, but since moving to my new barn I’m doing to be riding a lot more. My two horses 5 days a week, and another several I have access to adds up to 8 horses on some days! I know these ariats aren’t going to last much longer, but what boots WILL last? I’d like to not break the bank but I know you pay for quality.
I actually ride in my Ariat Heritage Contours every day and show in them, and I truly beat them into the ground but they still polish up pretty nicely for shows. If I actually treated them well they would probably last even longer. I’m coming up on 2 years with them and they are just starting to fall apart around the toe cap but no one can tell when I’m on the horse. 
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The trouble is that so many of the new higher-end boots are made to fit like leather socks from very soft, thin leather. If you’re really wanting top-quality and durability, I’d look at custom Vogels or Dehners with leather selected for its durability. In picking a more durable leather, you’re going to get more stiffness and less of a super-contour through the ankle, but if, like me, you expect a very expensive boot to hold up to daily wear (with proper care, of course) for years, this is the way I’d go. I don’t think it’s safe to assume that $$$=longevity with boots anymore given the direction show ring preference has gone.
Honestly, I think Ariat Heritage is a pretty good choice for daily use. The leather is more utilitarian than their more expensive and popular counterparts, and, if they fall apart in a couple of years, you won’t be crying as you invariably will with Parlantis, Tuccis, or the like. I’ve had surprisingly good luck with my Mountain Horse Sovereigns, too, for the price.
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This is why I like paddock boots and half chaps for daily riding. They wear a little better, and you can easily replace one piece or the other when it wears out instead of having to make a big purchase. If I was going to wear tall boots every day, I’d probably look to something very low cost versus very high durability–since everything is going to wear out eventually with that sort of use. I must confess i am sort of curious about the Tuffrider “Parwanty” boots that people here talk about.
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another vote for Ariat. They wear well
I’ve got a pair of Ariats. I can’t remember which ones they are, Heritage maybe? I bought them 4 years ago. The first year I only used them for showing, then my half chaps broke so I started wearing them all the time.
They definitely aren’t show quality anymore, the ankles stretched a lot. But the do their job. The Deniro’s I bought for showing last season wouldn’t hold up to what I put the Ariat’s through.
Like others said I think for an every day boot that will last you’re better off buying the “cheaper” ones like Ariats, Tredsteps, Mountain horse, etc.
I personally won’t go back to half chaps. I prefer the look of tall boots and a pair of paddocks plus half chaps are the same price. I would also be more likely to find a place to patch a hole or replace a zipper in my tall boots.
German brands. Cavallo or Koenig. Tough as nails, which means they hurt a bit when they are new and breaking in, but last forever. At least they used to be, I’ve had my Cavallo boots since 1999. Not sure if Cavallo and Koenig have also switched to softer (less durable) leather to please customers that don’t want the painful break in period, similar to a lot of the Italian brands.
I’m not sure how long you are wanting yours to last, but I had a pair of Mark Todds that lasted great for 3+ years and I barely took care of them. I cleaned them, maybe, half the time? I have another pair that I have for backup. I had a pair of Ariat Heritage boots that were nice and help up well, but the buttons and zippers started getting stuck so I sold them on eBay.
I am currently riding in a pair of Ariat Ellipses (I don’t think they are making them anymore since last year) and they are working very nicely, and I’m hardly taking care of them either (whoops).
I heard Parlantis are nice and hold up well, but never liked the look or feel (or price!) of them so I never cared to buy a pair. My friend also rides in Ariats and nothing else, she’s been using her pair for 4 years or so now and they look brand new. Not sure how often she rides, though. I ride in my current ones 5 times week or so (sometimes adding 3-4 rides on another horse). I rode in my Mark Todds probably twice as much. It’s an overlooked brand, in my opinion.
Good luck finding a new pair of boots!
[QUOTE=lmlacross;n9886631]
The trouble is that so many of the new higher-end boots are made to fit like leather socks from very soft, thin leather. If you’re really wanting top-quality and durability, I’d look at custom Vogels or Dehners with leather selected for its durability. In picking a more durable leather, you’re going to get more stiffness and less of a super-contour through the ankle, but if, like me, you expect a very expensive boot to hold up to daily wear (with proper care, of course) for years, this is the way I’d go. I don’t think it’s safe to assume that $$$=longevity with boots anymore given the direction show ring preference has gone.QUOTE]
Agreed. Thin (split) leather is super soft and comfortable, but won’t last nearly as long as the thicker leather that takes time to break in.
Ego 7 boots hold up really well.
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No “new” tall boots (IOW - tall boots made in this decade) will stand up to massive amounts of daily riding + barn chores and work. They’re just not made for longevity the way boots were in the old days. Different styles have led to different/softer leathers being used, and shoes and boots just aren’t designed for longevity anyway. With that being said, you get what you pay for. I love Ariat boots, but the less expensive lines fall apart exponentially faster than the more expensive ones (not that they last forever, though, either!).
I love my Ariat Volants as daily riders. But I’m lucky to get 2 years out of Ariat boots before they start looking pretty shabby. I think I’m at 2 1/2 years with my latest pair and they are SO comfortable! But the seams have split in the foot and there’s no way I’ll be able to keep wearing them once the weather turns wet. But I also abuse my daily boots pretty badly. I do all my barn work in them, frequently wear them all day (running errands, etc.), and ride 5-8 horses 7 days a week.
I also have the Ariat V Sports - also super comfortable, no break-in time, and great to walk around in. But they broke down even faster than my Volants…which was expected given the cheaper price point.
My main suggestion if you’re riding a bunch of horses every day, regardless of what brand you choose, is to find a pair with the tennis-shoe-like bottoms (like the Volants), because I stay a lot more comfortable all day in those style of boots than I do when I’m wearing my show boots (Tuccis and Ariat Monacos) at shows. May not matter as much to you, but I wish all of the boot manufacturers would offer foot beds like the Volants!
What people have said about the current styles not holding up well to heavy everyday use is true, but getting a pair of custom Dehners for everyday barn boots is probably not feasible for your budget.
Consider shopping for a pair of Ariat pull-ons (the Crowne, I think, is one model). They are discontinued (obviously), but you can find them on ebay and used tack sites for very reasonable prices. Sometimes you can score a new or barely-used pair. These were much sturdier than today’s styles and would probably serve you well. Just be sure you include “pull on” as a search term.
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Another vote for paddock boots with half chaps/gaiters for daily riding. A plus with doing this is that you can take the half chaps/gaiters off when you are not riding.
I just got a pair of parlanti for showing and a pair of treadsteap half chaps and paddock boots for schooling. I guess my one lesson a week probably wouldn’t have worn my boots out but oh well I’m prepared.
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My Ariat Heritage Contours are going 4 years with 5x/week riding and semi-frequent use as muck boots as well (because I have yet to find a pair of work boots that don’t give me blisters). Still look very good.
I have a pair of Tuccis that I have used for daily riding and showing for 3 years. They are tough leather ans have the full elastic panel down the back. They still look great and clean up well. They were an investment but totally worth it.
Haha, what? Do explain!
Honestly, I’d just go with the Ariats. I have a pair from almost 10 years ago now and they’re STILL alive. Not the prettiest, things anymore, but they’re alive! They live in my trunk as a backup pair in case of an emergency.
I bought a newer pair of Ariats on sale for like, $220 USD about 6 months ago and they still look like new. I only ride 2-3x a week but I literally just hose them off with hot water after each ride to clean them (I ride a SWEATY horse and don’t want the salt to dry out and degrade the leather) :lol: Sometimes I’ll just take a leather wipe over them to add some conditioner back but I’d say they’ll last a long time for me despite the kinda lazy way I treat them.
Another vote for Ariat, though I do agree with @PNWjumper that they don’t wear like they used to. I had a pair of the (then) top tier Ariat pull on boots from 2000, and those things just died last year. Could. Not. Kill. Them. Frankensteined the crap out of those boots and they kept going. That said, my current Ariat Contours (brown) are 2+ years old and going perfectly strong. I abuse them, I don’t clean or condition them as often as I should ( though I do, probably once a month?), I muck stalls, wash horses, barn chores, etc in them and they just take it. Clean up nicely when I think to do it. I have a pair in black that are pretty much my lesson/clinic boots, and they polish up like new.
I have La Mundials now for shows - very pretty and totally impeccable, but I’m glad I have the Ariats to do the dirty work at home.
If you’re looking for something to invest (repeat: INVEST) in that will last you 10 years or more, I would recommend looking at Dehner and getting something in their Dragoon leather. Dehners wear like iron, but beware the risk of going custom, and Dehners are very much a boot’s boot. Meaning there’s just much more to them if you’re used to the more modern cut and foot on today’s boots.
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they do not last at all. i ride one horse 3-5 days a week and the zippers broke in like 6 months. my volants lasted longer but maybe 18 months and now the foot seam is coming apart. idk what to get next, maybe ego 7. i don’t like paddock boots/half chaps, they feel clunky and i can’t seem to get my spurs to work with them.
