Tallboot brands/fit

[rlmatherly]

Sent my good 'ole Ariat field boots to get their second set of zippers in 15 years and asked the cobbler to “go ahead and replace the elastic in my gussets” since they were in the shop. He ruined them - decided I needed larger gussets and cut 3-4 inches of leather out from the INSIDE of the calf. I was in tears as I KNOW I can no longer buy off the shelf boots that will last another 15 years of everyday abuse.

I have now spent several days reading the archives and a very expensive weekend pilgrimage to the closest tack stores and I still cannot figure out what semi-custom options would be best for price/durability. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to try out too many in person relying on in-stock options at Dover and the one local place.

What I do know:
Tredstep is out. Nothing fit in any way.

I am between an regular and full calf in size 6.5 Ariat, short height.

Sergio Grasso’s fit pretty well but I needed to try a 36cm calf to be sure and that wasn’t an option. I measured at a 37, with a 35 being zip-able but no circulation. The 37 was too loose. Foot was a 37 and height a 42; person advised 43cm with a lift as an option.

Tucci’s fit reasonably well too, very similar to the Sergio. Seemed nicer all around but the price wasn’t endearing and they had an oddly excessive roll of leather ‘covering’ either side of the zipper. Their cheaper Egos weren’t zip-able in whatever options they had in stock.

Parlantis are definitely a no-go for me for fit, durability, and the price. Never got any to zip.

Have a Mountain horse dress boot that I got years ago for showing only = not comfortable and the size 7 I had to go with is just too big. Still cannot actually walk in them. I think they are the Victoria style. Currently in use as I shop.

Smartpak is sending a pair of the cheaper DeNiro’s this week for trying on. Not interested in keeping the lower-quality style but I didn’t have to wait 10 weeks to try the Salento or the Dressage boot. They are a size 37 medium/short (35cm/42cm). The 37 large/short is a 36.5cm calf and will be the next one I try, though I am concerned about it being too loose.

Not too interested in the Sergios or Tuccis after reading about how the softer leather wears but they were the only ones I actually got to try on so maybe helpful for comparison?

Am leaning towards Petrie or Konig but have read that these fit drastically different in the foot. I am also not sure on calf sizing as neither offers a 36 cm calf/ 42cm height without going semi-custom and I don’t know if they fit loose or tight. DeNiro is a strong contender still too depending on the fit of the pair arriving soon.

The murdered Ariats were their original zipper field boot that I had had cut down (before shorts) and added gussets, in case anyone was wondering why they fit. I would buy Ariats again except for you know, the current, ongoing quality crisis.

So: I would like a quality semi-custom (off the rack or maybe off the rack +/- 1 cm) that will LAST. Preferably another 15 years… Budget is around $1k, but I always like saving as much as possible. Please let me know the fits compare too!

[ThreeFigs]

I have purchased boots too large in the foot and/or too tall in the calf if the price was right. Found a pair of Cavallos (zippered) and a pair of Konigs (no zippers) that way. Had the boot shafts cut down to fit and made the foot part work with an insole. That might work with your Mountain Horse boots for now. Normally I wear a 7.5 – both pairs of the above boots were 8’s. Insoles improved the fit.

My current Cavallos fit like custom-made and are stunning boots. Have you tried Cavallos? I’ve had Ariats in the long-ago past. Would not have them now.

Also wondering if a better cobbler could repair the damage done to your old Ariats? As an example, I have a very short pair of Ariats (for riding Sidesaddle if I ever get around to it) that I bought used on eBay. One of the boots was completely worn through on the inside calf. My local shoe repair guy applied a nice patch over the damaged part. Voila!

[cyberbay]

Would you consider getting a boot that fits the foot and the ankle and is the height you would like, and if too tight in the calf, to then have them stretched?

[scruffy_the_cat]

I know you said no Tredstep but they came out with a nice quality stiff dressage boot in extremely limited sizes. The fit is completely different than their jumping boots. The height on the 6.5 short is 16.25" so maybe it will work? The medium calf is 14.25". http://tredstepireland.com/size-charts/palladio-size-chart-inches

[fanfayre]

@ThreeFigs

I have purchased boots too large in the foot and/or too tall in the calf if the price was right.

That’s how I ended up with my DeNiros. Foot too large, but calf fit like it was custom, and price was way, way too good to pass up, so a couple of insoles later, and I have boots I still get compliments about.

[rlmatherly]

I have large insoles and heel lifts in my Mountain Horse which make them manageable for riding and mounting but the ankles rub terrible blisters if I try to long rein with them on. Or walk to and from the tack room too often.

DeNiros came early. Fit my smaller calf perfectly but the larger one had no blood circulation when zippered. Also were almost too short at the 42cm, would need 43cm for my idea of perfect. The footbed was larger than I like as well, but not nearly as bad as the Mountain Horse, though I would be fine with the looser foot IF everything else fit.

Do Petrie fit like the DeNiros and Tucci? I have read several posts saying that they are a little on the slender side. Cavallo is an option as well but one I can’t try before buying. Have read those ones are better for wider feet… so wide like Tredstep? Those 37 seemed like a half size too large and I can’t remember when an eu 37 hasn’t fit me.

Have read that Konigs fall apart but mostly seems restricted to stitching issues. Have also read that Petrie don’t last though others disagree. Have seen decent reviews for the DeNiros when sticking with their higher end models. Some people have sworn by Vogels or Dehner (sp?) Realized I’ve done a lot of reading and that I need help comparing the fit of the brands that seem promising to the limited selection that I was actually able to try on.

Oh, and can anyone tell me if rind leather is more or less durable than calf leather? Different options on Petrie.

[scruffy_the_cat]

I have ultra wide feet and have had Petries and Konigs. Both were very comfortable. My Petries are 10 years old though so I don’t know how they fit now. I’m very mad at my Konigs. For the $$$$$$ I paid, they are not a fabulous quality boot. I won’t buy them again. First there were big rubs near where the stirrup hits. My stirrups the normal size for my foot- nothing weird. No other boot of mine rubs like this. Then the zippers went about a month into wearing them. Then the stitching let go behind a heel. And then I noticed the inside of the calf is wearing into the leather. I only ride one horse a day and they are a year and a half old.

[LPG]

I bought semi custom DeNiro Raffaellos and have had to replace the zippers twice in 3 years. A friend got the same boots and the zippers went within 2 weeks. I like everything else about them, but for the price, I expected the zippers to be better quality.

[scruffy_the_cat]

The coil zippers they put in these things are the worst. I put “Vislon” zippers in my Petries and when I replaced the zippers in my Konigs I put them there, too. MUCH more durable. Like, not even in the same league better.

[Guyot]

I have the Deniro boots. I forget the model but the 1k plus ones.

First pair looked and broke in beautifully but were very tight in the foot. I’m a size 8 and they were a size 8. Had them for three years riding about 7 horses a day. The last year I even wore them in the wash stall to hose horses off. Zipper went end of third season! I was so happy to toss them.

I then bought the second pair in size 9; oh my goodness they fit perfectly!! Yay, no more sore or raw ankles and toes. I’ve ridden in these everyday for a year and just bought a second to save for shows.

From my experience the foot space is narrow from bottom to top and the ankle is a bit snug. One size up was perfect.

I will also say the first pair size 8, I abused and used and rode a lot. Walked they mud, etc. they wore like iron and no issue with the zippers. Actually if they fit me better would have replaced the zipper and if I cleaned them up still could have showed in them.

[rothmpp]

I have both cavallos and petries. The cavallos are much more comfortable in the foot. Have a slightly wide foot. Though the caveat is that the Petries are a half size smaller so that prob has something to do with it. My cavallos have worn like iron.

[JLR1]

I have a slim calf and ankle and the Cavallos and Deniro’s fit me best. While I loved my Deniro’s right out of the box I was so disappointed to literally have them disintegrate within 3 years…even with meticulous care and riding only one horse. The lower end Cavallos are still better quality than Deniros. I usually order my Cavallos from the German retailer calevo.com at a much better price than can be found here in the US.

[MysticOakRanch]

@rothmpp

I have both cavallos and petries. The cavallos are much more comfortable in the foot. Have a slightly wide foot. Though the caveat is that the Petries are a half size smaller so that prob has something to do with it. My cavallos have worn like iron.

I find the Cavallos more comfortable in the foot too. Also with a wider foot, and even when wearing the same size. I also like the softer inner calf of the Cavallo - lets me wear a stiffer boot without it feeling so stiff. And I like the cut back behind the knee much better. They come in a huge variety of sizes - I didn’t need to go custom.

OP, there is no footbed as comfortable as the Ariat, I am pretty sure They are amazing that way and I still have a pair of Ariats for trail riding. But they are SO soft, I finally got to where I needed something stiffer. So - if you don’t want stiff, realize that limits your choices. If you like soft, you need to try a stiffer boot before you go that direction - you may hate the stiff boot feel!

I use to ride in Mountain Horse Boots as my “spare boots”, and found the MH Victoria was a totally different fit AND foot then the other MH boots - so if you like the soft boot, you might find a place that carries some of the other ones and try them on. The pair I had (lasted about 10 years, seriously!) were super comfortable - I showed in them when my Ariats got too ratty looking. But then I tried a Victoria, and was sorely disappointed in a totally different fit.

JLR’s comment on the Deniro’s - I have a friend who has the same issue. She only shows in hers - and they are less then 3 years old, and need repairs. And the Deniro dealer in our area won’t help her since they are the “cheap boots”. That alone turned me off the brand.

I’ve tried a few Konigs - a friend who is same size had 2 pairs, and was trying to sell one. They are NOT comfortable, even broken in, I found them hard and stiff and not a comfortable footbed. I think, going from soft and comfy Ariat, you would hate them!

Not sure if that helps - I tried a LOT of boots when I left my Ariats and MH - luckily, had some friends that wore the same size, AND visited a big tack shop that had a lot of brands (nothing in my exact size, but at least a chance to try things on and get an idea. And for those thinking, please support local tack stores - my friends and I spent a small fortune on other stuff there :eek:).

[rlmatherly]

@MysticOakRanch

OP, there is no footbed as comfortable as the Ariat, I am pretty sure

Good to know! They have been my only real pair of tallboots so that helps. They were stiff in comparison to the italian boots but I guess nothing like I imagine Konigs.

Thank you all for the comparisons! And I love calevo and will be buying from them if I go with Konig or Cavallo. And getting more breeches since, you know, I can’t let the shipping fee go to waste. The current model options they have for Cavallo are the Grand Prix Pro, Linus, and Insignis. Any preferences? Also, their calf chart has a 10cm span (30-40cm) so is that ever an issue with too tight/loose?

[MysticOakRanch]

[quote=“rl![](atherly,post:14,topic:444482”]

Good to know! They have been my only real pair of tallboots so that helps. They were stiff in comparison to the italian boots but I guess nothing like I imagine Konigs.

Thank you all for the comparisons! And I love calevo and will be buying from them if I go with Konig or Cavallo. And getting more breeches since, you know, I can’t let the shipping fee go to waste. The current model options they have for Cavallo are the Grand Prix Pro, Linus, and Insignis. Any preferences? Also, their calf chart has a 10cm span (30-40cm) so is that ever an issue with too tight/loose?

[/quote]

I have the Passage Pro and the Insignis - the PPs are my every day boot, and the Insignias are for showing only. They fit identically, but the Insigni has a much higher bow. I find the calf measure is pretty accurate. Here is one of their size charts I copied from Calevo’s website:

[IMG]https://www.calevo.com/calevo/images/items/2130166pic1.jpg)

[The_Blonde_amp_The_Bay]

DeNiro DeNiro DeNiro! I’ve ridden in a little bit of everything and DeNiro wins for so many reasons. We only sell items in our shop that we use daily and believe in wholly and they really fit the bill. The fit is fantastic especially for off the rack stock sizes, the foot bed is incredibly comfortable and the leather is the perfect blend of thick enough to last but supple enough to be comfortable. I am absolutely utterly in love with their products and while they are a bit more than the average Ariat, they’ll also last you much longer. My oldest is about five years now and the majority of wear is in the toe where I scuff it when tripping. I personally am not a fan of Cavallo’s fit and the quality isn’t comparable though you can get a good price. Konigs will be your best bet for sheer longevity but they can be terribly uncomfortable for some people and are especially ouchy for breaking in. If you have any fit questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! Good luck, yay new boot day!

[FlamingoRider]

Last year the finish started peeling off my lightly used Petries on the outside ankle. I contacted the company and was told that they were “too old” for the company to stand behind–a whole whooping EIGHT years since manufacture. Based on the memory of the friend I bought them from, about 6 years in service, for showing only. So if you want any kind of decent durability, don’t waste money on Petrie!