Looking to purchase a new pair of fairly inexpensive paddock boots. Which would you pick? I’ve heard great things about the Giotto, but have been an Ariat girl forever. I’m a bit weary to change, but due to the decreasing quality of Ariats I’m thinking it may not be a bad idea. Thanks for your input!
Looked at the H3’s this summer - leather varied from quite nice (for $100) to absurd (for $100): unfortunately the former was leftover from older stock so only one display pair 
(bought an old pair of Cobalts for $100 instead 
)
The Tredstep Da Vinci’s are very nice leather for that price range so I’d give the Giottos a try.
For boot size, you may wish to go down a half size (but the H3’s were also fitting big - 8 1/2 Cobalt vs 7 1/2 H3)
I don’t know about the lifespan of the H3’s but my Giottos lasted about 9 months before the sole started to separate from the test of the boot at the toe. It is bad enough to be a tripping hazard.
I just tried both and ended up getting the Tredsteps, although several people on these boards have recently echoed Peggy’s comment about their falling apart. Sad, because I really like them – super comfy right out of the box. And I really like the spur rest on each side – no spur wiggling.
As for fit, they were really different from the Ariat’s. They are a slightly narrower fit. I usually wear a 6 1/2 or 7 shoe (and I don’t’ think I have narrow feet at all), and ordered the 6 1/2 in each. The Ariat’s were too big.
Thanks so much for the info! I believe I’m going to give the Giotto a try this time around.
Love my Giottos!! Very comfy right out of the box. The only problem is that the zipper is starting to come undone from the boot. It’s very minor for now, but since I bought them from SmartPak, I think I’m going to send them back (I’ve had them since late May).
I had the Giottos for two years before they bit the dust. They were abused by me and honestly they out lasted my Ariat Cobalts that lasted for 6 months for half the price. Just ordered a pair of cheap paddock boots for $30 (half off the $60 price tag) from Horze.com so I’ll see how those shape up.
Bringing this older thread up because my Giottos are very close to biting the dust. I got them in April of 2013. Both soles have split where the stirrup rests on the ball of the foot, and the stitching split over the toe cap. I got them because I liked my older Tredstep SportHorse boots so much, but the Giottos fell apart in record time- worse than Ariat and Mountain Horse paddock boots. I ride one horse about 4-5 days a week, so I wouldn’t say they are in unusually heavy use.
Since you are bumping up the thread I will report on my last pair of Giottos as well. The first pair I owned lasted 2 years which was impressive. I bought a pair 2/3 months after I replied to this thread. They are now ready to kick the dust. The rubber on the sole has worn all the way down into the boot. I step in a puddle and the water comes in from the bottom. The sides have spit from the boot and they are being held together with black duct tape. The zipper is only able to go halfway up on the right boot. The lining on the inside is coming out in chunks.
I’m giving them one more shot because my first pair rocked, but will be disappointed if they only last little under a year again.
I am on about a year with my Tredstep’s and they are starting to separate at the toe. I didn’t wear them much last winter and pulled them out this spring so not so impressed with they way they have worn however my last boots were the Ariat Quantum Pro’s which were about triple the cost and they only lasted a year too. I really like the way the Tredstep’s fit, everything else about them is fine. Guess I need to get the Gorilla glue out!
My Giottos are about three years old and the stitching at the toe cap began to come undone on one boot, but it was fixed with super glue :winkgrin: and I’ve had no issues since then.
I’ve heard bad things about Ariat’s quality nowadays but have no recent personal experience.
Have giottos and love them! My ariat H 3s, hate em. The Ariats didn’t last much longer than 4 months and the heel was flopping off and the sole felt like it had an iron bar down the middle. The giottos were harder to break in, but the feel like heaven now.
I had the Tredstep Giottos and while they were comfortable I inevitably had to return them. The toe of the paddock boot started peeling and they looked terrible and this was only 4 months after use (roughly 5-6 times a week). I also had the Pro Gator chaps which I went through two pairs in 4 months as well. While I loved the look and feel of both I would never go back and get them again.
I then tried the Volant paddock boots and half chaps (they were both on clearance and I LOVE them. They are super comfy and have held up very well to everyday use. I haven’t had them as long but they still look new.
