ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Ariats or Miller's sportific and wide stirrups
[endurance] Ariats or Miller's sportific and wide stirrups
LONG JUDY (long.judy@smtpgateway.centigram.com)
Thu, 31 Jan 96 14:20:47 PST
hello all!
I've had 2 pairs of the sneaker type riding shoe, the Miller's and
Justin's version of basically the same shoe. I currently am using the
Justins and a pair of Ariats that I got for my trip to Ireland last
summer. I think the Ariats are the competitor model.
The only complaint I could have about the sneaker type shoe was that
the soles don't have a lot of traction. This was sometimes an issue
if I was walking on anything really steep or with a lot of loose dirt.
Other than that, I liked the sneakers alot. I wore the Millers out
completely (holes in the top where your toes bend) in 2 years of
constant wearing. I really should have replaced them sooner. The
Justins are currently wearing out at the top part of the back of the
shoe. I've had them for about a year.
I loved the Ariats as soon as I put them on but I do have one problem
with them that would keep me from using them on an endurance ride. If
I walk downhill for any substantial distance (say a couple of miles)
they hurt the tops of my toes. I have ended up with rubbed spots and
small blisters before. I don't know if this will go away as the boots
become more worn in or not, but I'm not going to risk an endurance
ride with them until I'm sure. I do use them on trail quite a bit. I
used a spray to waterproof them before I went to Ireland but I've
never gone slogging around in them so I don't know if they really
would keep my feet dry. All of my riding shoes end up getting wet in
the wash rack rather than on the trail. The Ariats are only a few
months old so I don't know how long they are going to last. The
sneakers definitely took heavy use.
I use the wide stirrups made by Bob Walz (I think he sold them to E-Z
Care?). I've used them for a couple of years and don't have any
complaints. The little footpads can wear out after a while but I
think Bob was selling replacements. They don't survive too well if
your horse rolls with the saddle on as Nick found out at Death Valley,
but they would have protected his foot.
Have fun shopping!
Judy Long
longj@centigram.com
judy.long@centigram.com
San Jose, Ca.