I’m looking for suggestions on the most comfortable and good quality tall black riding boots?
If you truly are looking for a field boot I find the Ariat Challenge Contour to be fantastic, and the cognac ones are just gorgeous. They’re only 350 dollars and I get a ton of compliments on them, they look great.
If you are looking for a dress boot, even though I hate mine because the zippers slip down when riding, the Petrie Sydney is unbeatable for comfort. These boots are sold on the premise that there is no breaking in period, you can buy them and ride in them the same day, that really is true. They are so soft it’s unreal, a very comfortable boot to ride and handwalk in. Plus they’re super cheap, 300 I think?
I am six feet tall. and its all leg, so I have always had to be a custom kinda girl. But I recently found EGO7 boots. They come in a wide selection of calf and height sizes and are the first boots in my entire life that are tall enough and fit me as well or better than any of my customs, they are super, super comfortable. Most comfortable boots I have ever had, right from the get go. And they are beautiful. Mine are dress boots, not sure if they come in field boot style. I am seeing fewer field boots in the jumper/hunter rings down here; not sure what national trends might be.
The EGOs are about 500. I think my model is Aria?
Parlantis are awesome
Mountain horse!
Plainfield, interesting! Are H/J people riding in dress boots or like a Volant cross-over type boot? I’m so out of the jumpy world
I have great luck with everything Ariat. I currently have a pair of Heritage Contours and love them. Actually got them as a replacement from Dover when my Mountain Horses blew their zippers… at a show… had to ride with black vet wrap holding them in place. My first pair of Ariat tall boots were the Crowns when they first came out, and they lasted me for 15 years of hard use.
I love Ariat, I have a pair of Heritage Contour for schooling and pair for showing. My schooling ones are 3+ years old, worn around 5 days/week, and only show some wear on the toe from walking through wet grass to feed the last few months.
Blinding glimpse of the obvious: the ones that fit you.
I was looking for dress boots in the $300 range. I wanted the sock type (i.e., fit more like Parlanti’s than like super stiff dressage boots). I ordered Mountain boots in several sizes; none fit, they all went back. Ditto the Tredsteps. At some point, the closest tack shop to me (an hour away) was having their annual sale, so I headed over to try on everything they had to offer. I tried on everything the had up to $700, I can’t even remember all the brands and styles. No dice.
It so happens there is a Dover store another 20 minutes further on, so I headed over there and found an Ariat style that maybe fit. The fitter suggested a different size that they had to order, so I ordered the two sizes she suggested and two weeks later, made the drive again. The net was a pair of dress boots nice enough to show at the lower levels (through Second, easily, and who knows, I might use them forever) for $300. I subsequently ordered on line a pair of Ariat Volants (they are discontinued) for everyday wear for around $200.
I don’t think I’m hard to fit, I’m 5’5", 125 pounds, size 8.5US foot, but I tried on probably 12-15 boot styles and sizes before I found one that worked.
I’m torn on eventually moving up to a stiffer, more ‘dressage’ boot. I really like being comfortable, and I find the fitted, ‘sock’ style boot comfortable and easy to use. I’d like to think my horse will eventually be doing the FEI levels. Honestly, I think it will come down to stumbling on just the right boot that I can try on and be happy with to upgrade.
I really love my Ariat boots. They broke in fast, and feel like a second skin. For schooling now I wear Ovation Moorland boots. They have a rugged tread on them so are great in snow/mud/whatever the barn can throw at me, but still have come to just under my knee like a traditional tall boot.
Going to second the Ovation, only the Olympia tall boot model. They are lovely, and comfy right out of the box (like literally pulling them out of the box and using them in a lesson…comfy).
