Monday, June 6, 2011

My Devon Aire Boots: Time to say goodbye



Several years ago I wrote about a wonderful shopping find:  Devon Aire Freedom boots. I love these boots! They are comfortable. They fit well, even on my slim, tall lower leg. They're made of synthetic leather, so I just hit'em with a hose to clean them. I don't just wear them to ride, but also to muck, do turnout, groom, and go to the grocery store. They're the boots I change into anytime I'm at the barn.  And they cost about $70.

God Bless You Devon Aire.  You've allowed me to be smug when I read about the complaints about $300 Ariat Maestros problem with zipper breakage, and how the $200 Dublin boot soles separate from the boot within a few months. I scoffed at boots breaking down at twice the price.

Pride cometh...
After two years of constant wear, my boots are showing signs of wear. The sythetic leather is wearing away in spots revealing gray padding of some kind. There is slight splitting at the cap toe so the boots are no longer water resistant. The zippers, however, are strong as ever. I need a new pair, fairly soon.

Imagine my dismay to learn that this boot is no longer made. There are two other synthetic leather boots on the market. The Equi-star boots look similar, but they do not come in slim. The Saxon boot by Weathabeeta also look good, but there are stories on the Internet that the zippers break within a few wearings.  Plus, the calf size is too large, even for the slim version.

My Freedom boots have ruined me for any other low-end boots. I'm bummed. Stay tuned for part 2.


17 comments:

  1. RiderWriterJune 6, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Well, crap. I had not seen your review when you originally got the boots until now, and I REEEEEALLY wish I had because I would have ordered some myself. For the record, guess what size I wear? 8 1/2 slim! So I think I would have felt pretty good about them fitting. :-) And now what happens? I learn about this wonderful footwear only to read they don't make them anymore. Grrr.... I normally school in half chaps/paddock boots, but if the right inexpensive pair of tall boots came along I'd love to have some. (I do have my "antique" ca. 1978 pair and they still fit, but they're a little dorky and I want to save them anyway...)

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  2. RiderWriterJune 6, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    Well, crap. You tell us all about these great boots and now I can't get them??? Sure wish I'd seen your original post about them, as I prolly would have ordered a pair. Guess what size I wear? Yup, size 8 1/2 Slim (the slimmer the better - calves like toothpicks, although they're shorter than yours). So I would have felt pretty good about the boots fitting. :-) Phooey.

    Please keep us posted on your search for replacements. I have no "boot emergency" at the moment but would love a new pair of tall boots if the price was right. Thanks for a being a great guinea pig for me!

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  3. ValJune 6, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    I feel your pain.

    http://memoirsofahorsegirlblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/discount-box-vs-fedex-box-boots.html

    I wish my boots broke in as quickly as your Devon Aires. And once broken in, I wish they lasted a lifetime.

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  4. hammerhorsesJune 6, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    I just a new pair of Mountian Horse zip boots and they are wonderful!!! I highly recommend them (so far!)

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  5. JeanJune 6, 2011 at 6:18 PM

    Don't know what size you wear, but there are some Devon-aire freedom boots on eBay. Brand new. Worth a look......Just do a search for "devon-aire freedom boots."

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  6. DressagerJune 6, 2011 at 6:25 PM

    I was really looking to get some of those when I went shopping for new boots, BUT the lady at the tack store said that if you ride more than once a week then they will break down very quickly. So I had to suck it WAY up and used the money I actually saved to get the "low-end" Ariats (a mere $260.....)

    Really stinks that's true. $70 sounds very nice.

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  7. Now Thats A Trot!June 6, 2011 at 7:20 PM

    I have a pair of Devon-Aires (leather) that I need to get restitched along the toes... They're 10 years old and have held up fabulously, but the disgusting stalls at my old barn literally ate through the stitching. Other than that they were amazing!

    As far as low-end synthetics, TuffRider also makes a tall boot for about $70. I bought them in a pinch last year when I needed them for a parade, and they've held up pretty well. I am notoriously hard on footwear of all sorts and the TuffRiders have been surprisingly hardy.

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  8. AnonymousJune 6, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    I don't know what they're like but I've been eyeing up the Ovation finalist field boot: http://www.equusunlimited.com/products/Ovation_Ladies_Finalist_Field_Boot_Slim_Calf_CLOSEOUT-10876-211.html

    Tuffrider does synthetic boots: http://www.equusunlimited.com/products/TuffRider_Ladies_Starter_Back_Zip_Field_Boots_Synthetic_Leather-7400-218.html

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  9. AnonymousJune 6, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    there are a few on ebay...

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  10. Marnie KJune 6, 2011 at 10:34 PM

    Just curious if you've tried searching the internet for a gently used pair?

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  11. Stacey Kimmel-SmithJune 6, 2011 at 10:43 PM

    Boy if anyone can find an 8.5 slim with zipper I'm totally in. Ebay, web sites, used classifieds, I've tried. There are dribs and drabs out there but not in my size. Thought about contacting Devonaire. I might have tried ovation but I'm thinking their boots ran a little short? Don't recall...

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  12. JenJune 7, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    I have a pair of Ariat paddock boots I found in the Jeffers sale barn for half price several years ago. Since 50% off was still out of my league (around 90 bucks) they were an early birthday present from my parents :o)
    I absolutely love them, but have been careful to not wear them for "everyday" stuff (I know I'm going to cry when they wear out *laugh*). I do have a friend that has a pair of Nouvelle Field Boots for sale, but they're an 8 slim. She also has a pair of Ariat Field Masters in 8.5. Maybe worth a look? She has them on her sale page here: CottonwoodEquestrianCenter

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  13. UnknownJune 7, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    I had a pair of devon-aires that were fantastic!! I got them when I was 16 and wore them faithfully until my calf gained an extra inch in girth when I finally got beyond my stick-thin teenager body when I turned 20. They are new getting loved and used by a friend of mine, and they are still going strong, not the prettiest boot around, but damn they last! They were real leather btw, so don't count out leather devon-aires ;)

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  14. JaniceJune 7, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    Boot-buyers of the world, unite! I'm still recovering from our epic 1000k road trip to buy new (used) boots for eldest. Riders really will go to almost any lengths to have decent boots.

    She wears steel-toed sneakers or paddock boots for mucking about, mind you. Won't want to wear these out doing real barn work.

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  15. AndreaJune 7, 2011 at 1:46 PM

    I too have a pair of Devon Aires (not sure of the style) that I love, love, love. I wear them ALL the time. I've had them for (get this) 16 years. Yes, you read that right. Devon Aires are the best!

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  16. clfargo2003June 7, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    I purchased the Firenza boots, wore them once and they looked like they were three years old. Sent them back. If you buy them let me know how you like them.

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  17. AnonymousJuly 23, 2013 at 10:15 PM

    Same thing happened to my pair!!! Times like these are tough #tear

    ReplyDelete

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