Shires Moretta Nella Long Country Boots

I have been looking forward to the day I had my own pair of country boots. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my Bogs but sometimes it’s nice to not be slogging around in gumboots. Country boots are stylish and comfortable but still let people know what your lifestyle is. I was given a pair of Shires Moretta Nella Long Boots for my birthday by my mom, and have been wearing them for just under a month now. Country boots are often advertised as a fairly diverse shoe; for snow and rain and summer and even for horseback riding. There are so many options for country boots out there, it is nice to get information to help decide which pair is right for you.

First Impressions.

Something that makes these country boots a little bit different is that they have a side zipper, and are not a pull on like traditional styles. The ones with a zipper are marked at a higher price point as they are considered a higher quality. The exterior of the boot is made of leather and suede with a soft moisture-wicking lining.

The bottom of the shoe is thick rubber sole with good tread appearing to be appropriate for various weather conditions. I have had good traction on the ice, and that is a really big deal to me. They are a good length, reaching just below my knee. Pardon the dirty sole, it just shows I am authentic 😉

Fit and Feel

These boots were given to me in a size 7, and I am a consistent 7.5. At first, I thought they were too big. I have very narrow feet and thought they were good in length but my heel kept slipping with every stride. I realized that it was because my heel was narrower than the heel of the boot. I also found, and still sometimes find that they pinch my baby toe of my right foot. That being said, they broke in quite quickly and have now found them to be more comfortable.  They fit really nicely in the calf and they did drop slightly, but not enough to think the leather has sagged.

I did ride in them, and they were very comfortable and did not slip or rub. That being said, my goodness do they ever show the signs of riding a sweaty horse. I went to clean them with my favourite leather cleaner and realized that because of the suede, you need to use a different cleaner entirely. Suede and nubuck usually require a separate cleaner and because I forgot about this I did notice a very slight discolouration (it went a bit darker) in the areas I wiped down.

So yes, definitely use them for riding, but be prepared to have to give them a good wipe down afterwards!

Waterproofing is iffy. I have been wandering around in these shoes in snow, water and manure and can say 9/10 they are wonderful. That being said, obviously, they are not rubber. So I had noticed on one occasion where my feet sunk into some mud puddles that I did feel some dampness on my foot. I would recommend with these boots, applying some sort of additional waterproofing product

Warmth is definitely good. I can wear these with a variety of socks and my feet have yet to be cold or too hot. I have yet to test them against a bitter -30 winter, but I feel confident with proper socks they would do well to bear the weather.

Final Thoughts

Shires Moretta Nella Long Boots are a great option for country boots without the high price point of the name brand country boots under the brand of Dubarrys.

I definitely find them attractive to wear, and they are great with jeans or tights or breeches. I am not insecure to wear them out in public as its a great casual look but still practical for the equestrian life. Remember to waterproof them additionally and buy a special leather cleaner for those suede patches! I do think that if you have exceptionally narrow feet, you might find them uncomfortable at first but they should conform. They do not come in half sizes, so if you are a 7.5 like me, size down to a 7. If you are an 8.5, do an 8 etc. If they are a bit tight they will stretch and break in rather quickly, a nice bonus to leather!

Country boots are a really nice change from bulky winter boots, and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a more fashionable alternative.

Always get back on,

Love Tess

*The opinions shared in this blog are of my own, and not a reflection of the company or its current and future products