Ovation
Sport Laced Paddock Boots
English Chaps/Boots/Helmets
Manufacturer: Ovation
Model: Sport Laced Paddock Boots
Category: English Chaps/Boots/Helmets
Purchase: My pair of Ariat boots finally kicked their last bucket after 5 years of hard use. I needed new boots, but I also couldn't afford the Ariats that I wanted, and so thought I'd try these. I loved the company and a friend had their boots from another line. I ordered them from EquestrianCollections.com, the original pair I chose were out of stock and their customer service helped me choose these. I paid $72.90 with shipping last June.
Likes: I like the overall look of the boot, very simple. There is no elastic gusset on the upper portion that closes around the leg but that doesn't take away from the comfort or flexibility of the boot. The leather cleans and touches up easily when scratched. I also found them quite easy to break in.
Dislikes: Quite honestly, and I promise you it is strange to be saying this, these boots were more comfortable before they were broken in. They had been fine and rather comfortable, but after a couple weeks of constant use I found that I could no longer spend long days at the barn comfortably. I replaced the rather flimsy insole with a nice gel one, and this has helped but it's still not perfect. These boots are far from old or worn and much of the color has worn off of the toe caps and its not because of scratches. It has also been a bit of a rainy summer and where these boots were nice and water proof; now they take on water even if the only water is the morning dew on the grass.
Quality: They seem fairly well put together. Good strong stitching that has held together and looks practically new. The leather is strong but surprisingly thin, which could become a problem in the future. There is a nice spur rest, though if it were but a 1/4 inch lower I think it would seem a little less awkward. Its nice to see the punched decorative holes on the toe cap be a little bit smaller, this makes it much easier to keep the boots clean yet still keeps that classic touch.
Summary: As I mentioned previously I purchased these in June, it is now September and these are only the problems that I have found so far. If it keeps up this way I'll be lucky if I can wear them until Christmas. I really love Ovation as a company and trust the majority of their products, but I will definitely be inspecting them all a bit more closely before purchase from now on. After having those Ariats for so long I suppose that maybe my expectations are a little high. However, this has hardly been more than 3 months and I don't expect these to last 6. For a weekly lesson rider... these boots could potentially last you a very long time. For anyone who is out at the barn 3 days or more a week and there for several hours or more at the time... this is not a boot that I would recommend to you as they do not maintain the ability to hold up to the rigors of near daily use.
Rating: 3
Author: Min_Deore
Date: 2007-09-08
Usefulness Rating: 2.86364 out of 5.
22 reader(s) voted.
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