Help please: advice on buying new Ariat boots!

[Fillybuster]

After 12 months of riding I'm finally ready to upgrade my super cheap short boots (my chaps are giving way, so seems like a good time!!) to something better quality.

I've fallen in love with the Ariat Bromont tall boots.

Do I buy the insulated oiled variety which are currently on offer at £199 inc postage (cos it's summer) or the non insulated waxed version (which might look a tiny bit smarter) which cost £269??

I don't want to boil, but equally my feet were freezing all winter, so quite tempted by something warmer....

I'm about to go on a 3 day trail ride holiday in Wales and would love to have some new boots to break in, if I can get some advice about what to buy!!! :) Thanks in advance :)

You lucky, lucky thing!

I'd go for the insulated ones - partly because I love a bargain, partly because I think you will be so glad of them in the winter.

They're super-lovely quality boots, anyway. I think you'll really like whichever version you get.

I am so jealous. My cheap ones have finally given up. So I bought myself a pair of short tuffa rodeo boots. But I was listing after artists.

Lusting

I often lust after artists, em.

I'd go for the insulated. Better boiling feet than freezing ones and I'm guessing Wales is less-than-balmy most of the time anyway?

The waxed ones do look smarter, I keep my pair for competing, then have the oiled ones for day to day riding (these still look smart but you can't get as good a shine on them). I wear the insulated ones all year and they are a godsend in the winter, never get cold feet. They are well worth buying as last a good length of time. First pair I bought lasted over 4 years of nearly daily use until the zips went.

I treated myself to a pair of these in chocolate brown last year as my 50th birthday present to myself. They are beautiful and best of all they kept my feet warm all winter, which was wonderful. I haven't worn them for a week or two, I've been wearing short boots and chaps instead as I think they're cooler, but that may be all in my mind. Thinking about it I was wearing the bromonts in the heatwave last July because they were NEW without any heat issues.

Thanks for all the feedback.....I decided to hold off doing anything ahead of the trip to Wales but now back home and definitely going ahead. Will get the insulated ones, as I spend more of the year cold than hot (and I can always use short boots and chaps in summer, as you say)

Yay!!!

I might be a bit late to this, but make sure you go down half a foot size as Ariats run a little large

Can't comment on the those ones, but after many years of cheaper boots giving way on me I splashed out on Grasmeres last year. They are wonderful and i adore them! I'm a groom and my boots usually last about 6 months but these are going strong still!

Ariats are worth every penny.

Thanks again! I bought the Ariat insulated boots last week and they're perfect...obviously so far I haven't actually worn them - still at the stroking and admiring stage, whilst riding in my old boots and chaps - but they are mine, I tell you, mine....

...mwahahaha...

I'm STILL at the stroking and admiring stage even though mine do not look like new! I adore them!