I ride most days at least once and I have a variety of riding boots, both short and long. I have had some Harry Hall Faro riding boots for about 18 months now and I have round them really comfortable to ride in. I use them most of the time.
The boots are available in brown or black, mine are black. They are constructed from waterproof leather, almost with the appearance of moleskin. The sole is vibram whatever that is, it is a thick rubber type sole offering good grip. The boots have a long zip at the back which is easy to undo and do up. It also has an adjustable fastening above the zip. The calf has an elasticated insert making it suitable for a variety of calf fittings, especially medium to wide.
Harry Hall Faro Boots cost around £84 and are available on line as well as equestrian outlets. I bought mine cheaper from Ebay. I have just seen them on equestrianclearance which is a website that I look at sometimes for bargains. The boots are £71.99 on there.
Appearance. * * * * * * * * * *
The boots look good. They are leather but not shiney leather. The vibram sole unit is quite thick almost like a wellington boot sole, though it is the same colour as the boots. I chose black as I thought they looked better, but the brown ones also look smart. Whilst they look smart and nicer than rubber boots or jodhpur boots, I don`t wear them at shows as they are more of an everyday boot than a show boot. The strap accross the top looks smart.
Putting them on. * * * * * * * * * * * *
The boots are easy to put on. You may think this should be a requirement, but my boots that I wear for shows are much more difficult to put on as they are tighter fitting and fit every contour of your leg. The Harry Hall Faro boots are slightly looser fitting. They are not loose exactly, but do not hug every contour like my other ones do. The zip is easy to do up and undo (again a problem that I have had with previous boots). I undid the zip the first few times but now I don`t bother to undo the boots to take them off or to put them on. I can slip my leg into them and get them on within seconds. This is probably a bit lazy, but if you don`t have to undo them, why bother? It also indicates that they are not very tight fitting.
Comfort. * * * * * * *
I find the boots really comfortable. They are fairly fitted around the calf but not so much around the ankle, therfore not being restrictive when putting your heels down. The leather has a thin lining inside and is gentle against the skin. They are comfortable to ride in. They are not too long which is a problem I have with some boots, so they don`t dig into the back of my leg. They did rub my a bit above the heel though when bringing my horses in whilst wearing them. I can`t blame the boots because they are not walking boots, but I have to change them each time before I walk accross the fields.
The sole is rough making the boots easy to ride in as they stay in the stirrups quite well. It is important with riding boots that the boots are not too wide for the stirrup that the boots are not so narrow that they could get stuck in the stirrup and that there is a small heel, again, so it won`t go through the stirrup and get stuck. The boots fit all these requirements.
I have used these boots almost everyday for the past 18 months. I have been on quite a few all day rides and they are still as comfortable as the first day. They were comfortable on the first day, they did not require any breaking in. The leather was soft from the start.
Have they lasted? * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When I first bought the boots I was a bit disappointed as the zip was starting to come away. It was only a little bit though and rather than send them back which I thought was too much hassle, I put a few stitches in them. It was not difficult as the holes were already there and it only needed about 3. The stitches have remained intact since then so I was pleased. None of the others have come away.
The sole is begining to come away from the boot very slightly. This has been exacerbated sligtly by one of my horses standing on my foot and pulling it away further. Whilst it is slightly noticible if you look directly at the boot, it does not affect the boot in any way. The boots are 18 months old and have had good use. They still have lots of wear in them and it is not stopping me from using them. Obviously it would not look too good if I wore them in the show ring, but I have already said I am not using them for that.
The rest of the boots remain intact. If it gets any worse I may be able to get them repaired.
Do I recommend? * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I recommend the Harry Hall Faro boots as they are comfortable, smart, functional and much cheaper than their rivals Mountain Horse who sell a similar boot. I am a bit fed up with the sole coming away, but my horse really didn`t help, I probably can`t blame the boots. I have other boots and these are the ones that I would rather wear and in fact they have had the most wear. I don`t wear them for shows, I have another smarter pair. I will buy another pair once these ones have had it but as usual, I will look for the cheapest deal.
More details
Price
£85
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
