Like all leather goods, the trick to getting them to last a long time is
to take care of them properly. As I said, I wore them everywhere,
through mud, mucking out, water crossings (did the whole Outlaw
Trail...twice), in the snow and salt, etc.; however, when I got home, I
cleaned them, oiled them, and waterproofed them (with beeswax).
I even left them on the roof of my car one day and drove off...then
picked them up later that day on the road out in front of my house (major
road with atleast 100 cars per hour travelling at 50 mph), cleaned and
oiled them, and wore them for two more years.
The only problem I had was with the seam over the toe (I had them
restitched twice and eventually the leather gave out and split). The new
"Professional" model has reinforcements here (but this model is more
expensive).
If you have the ones made of the synthetic materials (can't remember what
the model is called) I have no idea how a) to take care of it, and b) it
holds up. However, since the instructions that I got with my leather
Ariats had specific instructions on how to care for the leather (e.g. how
to dry them properly after they have gotten wet), I assume that these
same care instructions are provided with the synthetic ones. This is
just an assumption, however.
I preferred the cut of the earlier models (but that is because they were
made for feet like mine, rather than people with feet like everybody
else) as they were wider at the ball of the foot and bigger through the
instep. But I assume they changed them because most people do not have
feet like mine.
They are still better than any other riding boot/shoe that I have seen or
tried. Especially for an endurance rider who spends alot of time
walking/running in her riding boots.
kat
Orange County, Calif.