Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping… especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? As an enthusiast of all products equine, I LOVE trying out new gear. Which is why I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to try out products, so that I may share my many adventures with all of you! Please join me as I narrate my personal journey of trying out all of the products featured. While I will make no recommendations, I hope that you simply have fun and find entertainment while reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences might help give you factors to consider when you are on your own quest for new gear!
Subtle yet stylish Tredstep logo found on the side of the Da Vinci Stretch Field Boot. Photo by Lorraine Peachey
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder — at least that’s what I’ve heard over the years. I like to think of myself as a person who enjoys the simple moments of life and finding beauty in random moments of each and every day. For me, the sound of my horses whinnying at me when I pull in the driveway is music to my ears. The smell of freshly baled hay stacked in the barn or the fragrance of fly spray and horse are aromas that soothe and relax me. And when I pause to actually watch my horses running out in the pasture, it never fails to take my breath away.
Of course, not all moments have to be so cathartic. Beauty can take many different forms. Freshly trimmed and shod feet. A sparkling clean horse. And gleaming, well — broken in — tack and riding gear. Some of my favorite moments of each day are spent around the barn, so I find a simple kind of joy in pulling on properly fitting gear to work and ride in. Sure, I have my favorite saddle. And maybe I tend to grab the same pair of gloves. Depending on my mood, I’ll most likely hop into a different pair of breeches. But I usually pause for a moment or two before I pull on a pair of boots.
A pair of comfortable boots that have been through the war are something lovely to behold. In my humble opinion, they are worth their weight in gold. Obviously, comfort and function are the most important aspects to me. If I come across a pair of boots that are comfortable to ride in right out of the gate and that have a stylish, attractive appearance? You better believe that I’m going to grab onto them with a kung-fu grip. Just saying.
The Da Vinci Stretch Boots look great from the front … Photo by Lorraine Peachey
You may recall that I am a fan of riding in my Tredstep Ireland Raphael Dress Boots, because of their comfort, function in the saddle, and overall very sharp appearance. I’ve also had the chance to try out Tredstep Ireland’s new Da Vinci Stretch Field Boots — or, I like to think of them as the Raphael Dress Boot‘s counterpart. I was quite happy to observe that one of my favorite features of the Raphael Dress Boot has carried over to the Da Vinci Stretch Field Boots (hint — it’s a great feeling to be able to move your ankles!).
Right out of the box, I was struck by how lovely the Da Vinci Stretch boots looked and felt (and smelled — love the aroma of the leather!). The calf skin leather that the boot is crafted of is smooth to the touch, and it feels slightly softer than that of the Raphael boot (which I would definitely expect when comparing a field boot to a dress boot). Looking inside of the boots, I found that the leather lining feels even softer and smoother to the touch yet. And while the Tredstep logo on the outer side of each boot is discreet, it adds a nice touch to their overall appearance.
… and from the back (check out those stretch panels!) Photo by Lorraine Peachey
I actually caught myself just sitting and admiring the Da Vinci boots for a moment. Just sitting. And staring. And possibly hugging them. I digress. I would describe the lines of the boots as being graceful, and I also get the sense of a traditional and refined appearance. I started to think about how appropriate the name is for the Da Vinci Stretch boots because they reminded me of two works of art.
When I pulled the Da Vinci Stretch boots on for the very first time, I just had the feeling that they were a proper match for me. After the zipper finished its smooth journey up, I then snapped both the top and bottom zipper guards into place. I was once again struck by the feeling of having full movement of my ankle, even though I pulled on the boots straight away after they came out of the box. Tredstep’s own Pro Flex ankle design allows me the freedom to pull on a brand new pair of boots and literally hop right into the saddle — without having to dedicate some pretty uncomfortable hours to breaking in new boots.
The Pro Flex ankle design of the Da Vinci Stretch boot allows full freedom of movement right out of the box! Photo by Lorraine Peachey.
Aside from the complete and total awesomeness of the Pro Flex ankle design, I also really appreciated the slim cut of the Da Vinci Stretch boots through the ankle. As someone with narrow ankles, I’ve had the problem in the past of trying on boots that fit my calf but are too loose in the ankle. The cut of the ankle worked beautifully for me.
For me, the most exciting feature of the Da Vinci Stretch boots is the full length stretch panel that runs alongside of the rear zipper. While the panel is a subtle feature of the boot, I noticed a difference in the fit — hands down. With the addition of the stretch panel, I felt like I got a close and contoured fit of the boot against my leg. Between the combination of the boot’s stretch panel and flexible spine, I felt as though it hugged my leg, feeling akin to a second skin.
That close and contoured fit translated brilliantly to provide me with excellent functionality in the saddle. Of course, my ankle had the freedom to move around comfortably and without limitation straight away out of the box — which is still something that is a little hard for me to wrap my mind around. This freedom of movement enabled me to keep my ankle in exactly the position that I desired, with no feeling of stiffness or limited mobility.
With a close and contoured fit, the Da Vinci Stretch boots provide me with a nice grip on the saddle. Photo by Lorraine Peachey.
Since the fit of the boots is so contoured, I felt like I was able to have a nice amount of contact against the saddle. Without any extra bulk or looseness in the leg, I had the benefit of being able to get a good grip. And I was able to hold my legs in place nicely while riding — both in my regular seat and in two point. My biggest takeaway is that the Da Vinci Stretch boots offer me a stellar fit, which definitely help them to perform in the saddle.
The Da Vinci Stretch boot fits my leg. Just. That. Well. The brand new stretch panel that has been incorporated into the boot does a simply terrific job of helping the boot to contour just so to my leg. In addition to the great experience that I’ve had with the fit and functionality of the boot, I also appreciate their elegant and refined appearance. They are almost too pretty to wear around the barn. Almost. But let’s face it, just keeping a pair around to look at would be a complete waste. The Da Vinci Stretch Field Boots from Tredstep Ireland have a retail price of $489.95. In my opinion, they really do give the feeling of being a more expensive boot then the price point indicates. Click here to get your own pair.
Go Boots that Fit & Function Brilliantly. Go Tredstep Ireland. Go Eventing.
