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. 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 you have fun reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences helps you on your own quest for new gear. Go Shopping.
I’m practical and I realize that it’s hard to find the absolute ‘just right for me’ pair of boots. Particularly riding boots. I’ve lost count of the number of pairs of paddock boots that I’ve been through over the years. Different brands. Different styles. Difference colors.
One fact remains though, and that is the fact that the top criteria on my wish list is that my boots are comfortable to wear and ride in. When I learned about the Dublin’s recently redesigned line of paddock boots, the concept caught my interest.
Earlier this season, I tried out Dublin’s brand new line of breeches, and was over the moon to find that I could choose my fit, which allowed me to feel more comfortable and confident in the saddle. So I was also pretty interested to try out a pair from Dublin’s line of paddock boots.
The Dublin paddock boot collection offers a choice of four boots, which include price points to fit in every budget. The collection names are reminiscent of mountain climbing: the range starts with the Foundation boot, and then additional features are added as you ‘climb’ tiers to the Elevation, the Summit, and finally the Apex boot.
One of the biggest differences between each tier is the foot bed, which is increasingly focused on providing more comfort to support performance as you move up through the tiers. I was excited to have the opportunity to try out a pair of the Apex Zip Paddock Boots.
The Apex is a paddock boot that was designed with performance in mind. The first time that I picked up a pair, I found that full-grain waxy leather of the boots had a luxurious feel to it (not to mention the fact that the leather smells really good!).
Continuing to check out the exterior, I found that the Apex feature a sturdy feeling YKK zipper that sports a stylish branded Dublin pull tab. The rounded toe also features a punched toe cap, which inspires a sense of tradition. And on the back of the boot, there is also a branded pull tab to complete the look.
The full rubber outsole of the Apex boot has been designed in order to give the rider grip and multi-directional traction in the saddle. The design also includes a Comfort Arch Support, which as the name implies provides comfort and arch support.
Feet can also find stability when in the irons, thanks to the Stability Control Shank integrated into the rubber outsole. Additional comfort also comes from the Shock Absorbing Cushion that is included in the Heel of the Apex paddock boot. Seeing a trend here?
Much of the comfort technology included in the design of the Apex boot is invisible to the eye. Looking to the inside, the Apex boot features the Dublin RCS (Rider Comfort System) Platinum footbed, which in my mind means that it comes with all of the bells and whistles.
So let’s break it down: the RCS Platinum foot bed starts out with an ABS shank that incorporates a padded shock absorbing cushion in the heel. On top of that, is a layer of stability foam, and then cradled heel and arch support for the foot.
A heel cushion pod, paired with an enhanced cushion layer come next, and then finally comes the moisture control lining. And the biggest takeaway that I get from reviewing the technical specs…is that the Apex boots are designed for comfort and function…which I can relate to.
When I pulled on the pair of Apex boots for the first time, I found that my foot slipped into them easily, and the zipper pulled up nice and smooth like. I noticed that once the zipper was pulled up, the top hugged nicely against my ankle, and I could feel some padding…which added to my comfort level.
My heels were happy; strike that, very happy to have taken up residence in the Apex boot. For the RCS Platinum foot bed provided support for my arch, cradled my heel to keep it in place, and also provided me a nice cushiony feeling as I walked around in the boots.
The fit of the boots worked nicely with my feet; both the width and the length felt good to me. I also liked that the leather felt supple enough right out of the gate to allow comfortable flexion of my foot, without the need for an awkward break in period.
I feel like a broken record when I keep using the word comfortable. But that’s also the feeling that I had riding in the Apex boots. The boots helped to support me with traction when they spent time in the irons, and the RCS Platinum foot bed just kept doing it’s thing.
The Apex Zip Front Paddock Boots from Dublin are available in both black and brown, in ladies’ sizes 6-10, as both full and half sizes. They have a retail price of $149.99, and you can learn more about them here.
Go Comfortable Boots (Period). Go Dublin. Go Eventing.