BETTER THAN BASIC

Shopping for a Good Riding Boot?

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Contemporary takes on riding boots have elements like small heels and elastic panels for added stretch. Credit...Bobbies

By Misty White Sidell

Misty White Sidell follows trends and scours stores and the internet for Better Than Basic, a column that offers versions of classic wardrobe items.

Nov. 24, 2024

Riding boots are worn today as much for walking on city sidewalks as they are for hunting or the other horseback activities for which the footwear was originally made centuries ago. But with so many options out there, how does one choose?

The knee-high boots have become popular as interest in ankle boots has dwindled. Their taller height and narrow leg shaft can make it harder to find the right fit, but Laura Ratliff, the manager of Manhattan Saddlery, the lone tack shop in New York City, said that equestrian brands like Fratelli Fabbri and DeNiro Salento have started to make styles with discreet elastic gussets to accommodate different calf widths. Fashion brands like Penelope Chilvers and Frye have started to offer boots in a variety of calf widths as well.