Ariat Performer Pro VX ankle boots: review

This is a smart, well designed, hard working performance boot.

My brief for a pair of boots was that they would be smart enough for hunting and comfortable enough for endurance rides. These boots combined with the Ariat black leather Classic half chaps met both criteria admirably. I have a weak ankle and require a great deal of support and a particularly high instep has made fitting a long boot, even with ankle laces, a very difficult exercise. This combination of short boot and chaps look smart. I tested them over a half season’s hunting and three endurance rides, including the Golden Horseshoe 40km and my weak ankle survived well.

These boots are an elegant shape – definitely not a yard or trail boot. They appear narrow, and for such expensive boots it is surprising that they do not come in different width sizes. However they accommodated my wide feet perfectly adequately, and accommodated strapping to ankle and foot. The cushioned foot support is good. The boot is cut high and the lacing system is strong enough to ensure a good tight fit across the arch and ankle. The relatively smooth tread on the soles allow good movement in the stirrup but means that this is not an ideal yard boot and, if so inclined, I would not want to run far on an endurance ride. Also the laces compromise its convenience as an general exercise boot. The one negative was that the leather on the toes has pitted (pictured), despite the boots not being used for yard duty.

However overall this is a smart, well designed, hard working performance boot.