C
CaliGirl831
June 28, 2025
Great boots but size is off
I really love these boots. The style is on point and the quality is great. They’re comfortable right out of the box, but of course they’re leather and need time & wear to fit you perfectly.That said here’s what you need to know- Ariat sizing is way off. I’m a size 9, European size 40, average width. I wear an 8 in these boots. I have another pair of Ariat boots that are also 8’s. To get the right length you need to go down a whole size. But, going down a size means the boot will be harder to get on. Once it’s on it’ll fit, unless you have a very high in step or wide feet. It will feel snug at first, but with wear the leather will loosen up and conform to your foot. These will be your favorite boots. Once you get the sizing right.
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Buy from Ariat directly! And saturate with oil!
Okay, I read all the reviews for this boot and knew I wanted them but was confused (like others) about sizing. I ended up ordering 3 pairs before finding the ones that fit. Here was my experience of each order:B width, normal shoe size, from amazon: these boots wished my pinky toe didn't exist. If I had four toes they would have been perfect. Leather was soft and they would have broken in nicely. Made in china. This order was from Amazon, and they arrived after 6 days, LOOSE in a huge box and had been scuffing each other up the whole ride. Not that big of a deal for someone who plans to scuff the boots far more than that, except it felt wildly unprofessional and, frankly, disrespectful of the $150 I was shelling up for them to have them arrive so haphazardly. Sent them back.C/wide width, normal shoe size, Amazon: showed up in an actual Ariat box within another, sturdy box in only two days. There was a giant puncture in the box, but no damage to the boots. At first, wearing felt like instant relief because the arch was still nice and snug, I still got that classic "THOCK" sound when my foot popped in, and yet there was no nasty pinching of my foot knuckles whatsoever. But after a few days I realized they were too big (interestingly, not too wide but too long) and would give me blisters. Also, one boot was noticeably more stiff than the other. Made in indonesia. Sent them back.Final order, 1/2 size down from my normal size and C/wide width, from Ariat.com: These were the boots I kept. Snug over the arch, room for my toes, no foot sliding around to give blisters. Arrived nicely in a pristine Ariat box, with a receipt. Made in indonesia. Break in has been a little tough, and I noticed after a few times wearing them around that the leather on the pull tabs was already starting to crack. I decided to keep them because of the good fit, and at that point slathered them with oil. Oh man, these boots are THIRSTY. Three coats of mink oil and I think I'll need to refresh it after every use for a little while, but it made a huge difference in the break-in process and the leather looks so much healthier. These boots definitely need some oily love before you can really love them.A couple more observations: First, my order experience from Amazon was not good. In fact, I ended up having to call customer service (or rather, request a call) in order to get my refunds, and my account still says they haven't received back my return (even though they have). There's also no way to track the returns for these boots. I really suggest you order straight from Ariat. Second, I'm more slender in the heel and ankle, just wide in the toes, and I wanted to point out that due to my anatomy the "unfinished" seam on the inside of the shaft does not bother me whatsoever. I know what people are talking about, and I could definitely see it rubbing a slightly thicker person the wrong way, literally, but for me it has not been a problem.Okay, now to the reasons I chose these boots after weeks of research and I'm glad I did: I was looking for riding boots specifically. Don't need to go out on the town, just have a safe, comfortable and durable tool for in the saddle. I've had a pair of Ariat Fatbabys for over a decade. They have served me well, but since after 13 years of wear walking, riding, mucking, etc., the insides were coming apart (and in fact the left boot popped right off the sole the day after I ordered my new boots, haha! Not a moment too soon!!), I started looking for new boots. I did not pursue new Fatbabys for multiple reasons. First, I had tried on (and held and observed) the new Fatbabys at our local Coastal, and I am certain there has been a decrease in quality. Suede uppers instead of leather, mesh insides, even a rough outer leather that I would not be able to clean and condition the same way I had with my old ones for years. Moreover, the Fatbaby has for years given me stirrup grief - on many occasions I would be wrestling the FAT toes with their extra wide welts into western stirrups with my HANDS from the saddle. NOT SAFE, especially since I now ride a very hot Arab/Warmblood who goes as soon as butt is in the saddle (we are working on this, but it's been a challenge when I have to get that foot into the stirrup first). FATBABYS are FAT BABIES.So I knew I wanted leather, leather, leather. Good leather. On a thin welt. A round toe that was nevertheless "focused" on getting my toe into the stirrup, first try. For those interested, this youtube video is what clinched the Heritage Roper as my boot of choice: https://youtu.be/O4Kjn91zofINot too tall, not too short, elegant not extravagant, perfect shaft width (swallows my skinny jeans but won't vacuum in hay and dirt like the Fats). Will I have to get these resoled down the road? Probably. There isn't much sole that could wear off before I think they'd be unsafe for riding. But is it a boot I can trust to hold up for years in the meantime and be just as great no matter how many soles I go through? I think it is.UPDATE: This is not a pacific northwet work boot. Short heel and thin welt makes the leather very vulnerable to thick mud. This is a fantastic riding boot for wet places, or in the summer, but if you're looking for a ranch or farm boot west of the cascades pick something with more sole.
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A
AmazonUser44
May 30, 2014
Great boot, but...
We know Ariat boots for their comfort and fine quality. They are definitely my husbands choice in footwear! It's time for me to get some new western boots, so I ordered a pair with the "distressed brown" leather finish. It looked to be a shiny, polished finish to me on the website. When I received them, I was surprised to see that they were what I call an "oiled leather" finish, a worn, casual look. Didn't want that, plus they were a little big-ish on me. So I had to return them. Sure if these two issues hadn't popped up, I would have had a great pair of boots.
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