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freedem
New Member
10 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 09:59:47 AM
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My very comfortable old faithful everyday boots are coming to the end of their useful life so I am on the lookout for something which will be comfortable for longer periods in the saddle.
Can I ask what boots you have found good for endurance riding?
I am awkward to fit in that I have different sized feet, one a 3 and one a five and also different sized calves, a fat one and a skinny one!
Half chaps tend to slip and twist around my skinny leg so up to now I have had most success with long boots in my larger foot size. My short mountain horse boots and tuffa gaiters are smart for shows but not overly comfortable.
Any advice most welcome!
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Etoile
Silver Member
275 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 2:39:44 PM
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| I use walking boots, they're very comfortable, have good ankle support, and are breathable and waterproof. There's a lot more choice than horsey brands, and you can go to an outdoor shop where you should be able to try a variety of boots on and find something that suits you. I hate to say it but with such different feet/leg sizes the only way to get something that's comfortable to wear riding all day might be to buy two pairs of short boots/chaps or two pairs of long boots. It's annoying and expensive, but surely any other way you're either going to have boots that fit well and are comfortable for one foot and not the other, or boots that don't really fit either foot properly. |
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freedem
New Member
10 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 3:44:59 PM
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thanks for your reply, I hadn't even considered walking boots although I did eye up some ariat walking type boots.
You're right, for so many years shoes have been the bane of my life, the amout of money I have spent on two pairs over the years makes me . The worst is anything with a heel as you sometimes find the heel sizes differ. At least that wouldn't be a problem with walking boots!
I am only planning on doing 32km rides this year so nothing hardcore but obviously makes sense to be comfortable as possible. Can I ask if you wear chaps too? Does the type of saddle make much difference as I see I lot of endurance riders use treeless saddles? I will be using my gp with a heather moffett seatsaver!
sorry for all the questions but good to find out what works well for other people. |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 4:20:51 PM
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I wear Ariat boots (of the non-trainer variety), and although I have a choice of long and short my absolute favourites are my Ariat Glacier (long) boots, although they are rather warm in high summer. Having ridden in Ariats you get used to the gel sole etc. in them, and other boots tend to be a bit hard under the sole of your foot. I would say that I probably prefer the Glacier boots because they have thicker soles and a wider foot than the other Ariat boots I have, (they also lace up the side, so having different sized calves shouldn't be an issue). Some people ride with ankle boots and thick long socks up their legs - would this be easier for you than trying to find half chaps to fit? I have ridden in short boots and chaps, but I tend to go back to my Glaciers...(which look very similar to their Grasmere boots - have worn them constantly for 5 years and still going strong). I had already decded to try out my walking boots this summer though for warmer days - I probably won't bother with half chaps, just the long socks.
You will have no problems riding in a GP, as long as it fits you and your horse, and the seat saver will be fine (although they annoy me so I don't bother) - it's whatever is comfortable for you. I have known people who have bought all the kit and then decided it wasn't for them - very expensive! |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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Etoile
Silver Member
275 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 5:01:14 PM
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Yes I wear chaps as well, though these need replaced more often as the stitching on the inside of the chaps where they rub against the saddle eventually gets worn away. I haven't personally tried the long socks idea that Callisto mentions, but have seen quite a few people doing it, so assume that it works well for them. The advantage of walking boots does seem to be that they're designed to be used in all weather, so my feet don't tend to sweat in the summer or get too cold in the winter.
Re. the type of saddle we use treeless on ours, the ansur classic/solutions energist, which is a completely treeless dressage saddle. However, we didn't get them because of endurance, we went treeless prior to even thinking about endurance as we literally couldn't find a treed saddle to fit Salladin, and he went so well in it that we swapped the others over as well. Salad and Senj have made it to 64km and 80km respectively, and so far no saddle problems, so fingers crossed that it continues that way.
However, saddles in endurance are very much whatever suits the horse and rider, people compete in all sorts of different saddles, not just treeless. If your horse goes well in the gp then I wouldn't worry about it. Just keep an eye of the fit, as the horses fitness increases their shape can change quite a lot, Senj went from a barrel shaped Thellwell escapee to quite a lean muscled looking animal. |
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Cinnypony
Gold Member
1160 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 9:52:25 PM
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I train and ride up to 40k in Ariat Grasmeres
However for longer rides at the end of last season because I suffer from burning toes I tried a pair of old Rohan trail boots with mountain horse chaps which were fab |
    
Cinnabar Moth --------------- -----------CF Matilda ----Red House Gaia
Susi
https://www.facebook.com/CinnabarEndurance/ |
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Kelly
Platinum Member
England
1571 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2012 : 3:03:07 PM
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I don't do endurance  but I can recommend Ariat Terrain short boots. They're marketed as endurance boots, for riders who want to get off and run with their horse for a bit, plus they have a heel so fine for riding.
My current pair has lasted over 6 years and is now about to fall off my feet, so I'm going to replace them with the new waterproof version, and use them for riding and walking.
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Kelly
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Zawadi
Junior Member
Wales
32 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2012 : 07:00:51 AM
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I have ridden in Ariat Terrains exclusively since summer 2006, so they have done me for several thousand km - and they have been the perfect footwear. They reached rather hole-y status last autumn so I got a pair of the latest model - Ariat Teluride - for Red Dragon, and have ridden in these all winter. The old pair will be back on my feet again when it warms up - still perfectly usable if it's not cold and/or wet! When I bought them, I had asked for ideas on the EGB Forum - despite me saying Ariats were out of my price range, most recommendations were for them! So I got them, since i found I could get them into my price range by buying in the US (Ariats can be got for a lower USD price than GBP price, amazingly) - but I work for a US aviation company so getting them over here was easy...
Chris. |
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freedem
New Member
10 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2012 : 1:32:49 PM
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| Thanks you all for your ideas. Plenty to think about, will have to take a trawl round the tack shops and try some on. |
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zaminda1
Bronze Member
177 Posts |
Posted - 29 Feb 2012 : 05:46:56 AM
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| I wear trainers with chaps, very comfortable! Any saddle as long as it fits both of you, I have competed in everything from a racing saddle to a flat seated gp |
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Comfortable boots for endurance riding?
