Das Boots: Part 2

I got new boots.

Awhile ago I was seen complaining about how no one makes boots in my size. But instead of getting mad I got even - I shelled out for custom bad boys. And not just any custom bad boys. I got Dehners.

I tried on every stock boot in the store first, just to convince the sales woman that I really had tried everything. Once we exhausted all of my options (including Ariats that were so tight in the calf my foot went numb) she acquiesced that my leg was not a stock boot size. I really appreciate her trying, though!

The measuring process was very thorough. She measured everything from my instep to my calf just below my knee and of course, everything in between. She also traced my foot. Then we went through the book over every single option. And there are a lot of options. But here are a few of my more major selections and why.

My name is in them. They are mine. Forever.

Black Calf Leather
Going in I wasn't going to get the calf leather. I wanted something durable (and cheaper). The Voyager leather Dehner has is considerably less than the calf and I was going to go with that until I saw it. It is fine, serviceable leather but it ends there. The calf leather is gorgeous. It's sturdy, shines beautifully and feels like silk to the touch. I'm a big, big fan. It was totally worth the price. Be honest - if you're going to spend a couple hundred dollars on a pair of custom boots why not go the whole hog and get gorgeous leather to go with it??

Klingfast Lined
From Dehner's webpage:

"Another compromise. In this case the boot is fully lined and an oval piece is removed from the inside of the leg only. This allows for a full lined appearance on the outside of the leg while giving close contact with the horse on the inside."

Sort of seen here, the oval cutout inside.

I really hate wrinkles in my boots, especially up the shaft of the boot. I like a clean, shiny, smooth appearance. I also want these boots to last forever, and the best (albeit most painful way) to do that is to have them lined as much as possible. Unlined boots are soft but they will die. Quickly. They'll break in fast and fail even faster. So while I'm still limping around trying to break these in (oh god, so much pain) I know for every week that they're ouchy I have a solid year of use when they'll be comfortable and perfectly molded to my leg.

No Zippers
Probably one of the more controversial decisions about the boots. But this decision was made well before I even went and got measured.

Something is missing.... ah yes, it's anxiety.

You know what I hate?
-When your zipper gets caught on your pants when you're trying to get ready for a lesson.
-When your zipper breaks and you don't have time to get it repaired before a clinic/show/the next time you ride
-When a hole busts out at the seam where the elastic meets the boot because it's a structural weak point, and your Hulk-esque calf rage punches through it.
-When your calf is huge and you get that really sexy pucker of the zipper that makes your calves look EVEN BIGGER.
-When you're out on cross country and there is a cool breeze on your leg and think "wow, that feels nice" only to look down and realize that, four jumps into your first BN on your baby horse, your boot is pretty much totally undone. The zipper keepers really did f all to help you.

At Badminton this year, just a week after I ordered my old school pull on boots, I saw a rider on cross country galloping around one of the biggest tracks in the world with his freakin' boot flapping around, completely unzipped!!

And just a few weeks ago this picture surfaced of Jennie Brannigan:

Zipping up her boot between jumps on cross country.

No thanks. Like, a hard no.

So here's some boot porn. And if you want really nice, traditional tall boots that will last forever, look gorgeous and fit you like a glove, I cannot recommend Dehner's or Bucks County Saddlery more. BCS was so helpful and worked so hard to ensure the boots fit flawlessly, even stretching the ankle slightly for free. Thanks again, ladies!!

Spur rest