Last week I reviewed the much pricier Cole Haan Jodhpur riding boot--a huge disappointment. I decided on the Seychelles Safari in black suede as a replacement. Ultimately these had to go back too. The riding boot trend has not been kind to me...

First, they're really nice suede. At this price point I wasn't expecting too much but the rich, supple suede was lovely, the goring is well done, and all the materials are above par. Not super crazy about the silver buckle, but it wasn't too too shiny. The slight height difference in the shaft, front vs back, is a sophisticated touch and the heel offers just enough boost.

The sizing in the foot bed was accurate both in length and width--nice and standard.

My issue was the fit at the shin. The fit on my 14.5 - 15 inch calves was snug. With tights they were just ok, still a bit snug, but there's no way I could tuck jeans into these babies. Because they weren't roomy enough, it caused the boot to buckle a bit at the shin. There's a partial side zip but that's not really a help--in fact it seemed to exacerbate the issue as the zipper seam didn't want to lay flat. The silhouette ultimately wasn't flattering; if you have an under 14 in calf then perhaps you'll have better luck.

The ankle fit was decently snug; I have really bony ankles and always fear that tall boots will gape at the ankle. But it's the shins I've been struggling with. It's like snug ankle, buckle-y awkward shin, snug calf. Weird. The look reminds me of kids' water wings--only on the leg.

These seem really versatile, more on the casual side yet easy to pair with just about anything, I've enjoyed this brand for several years and will contine to do so as the materials are excellent for the price point. But I'm slowly learning from experience that riding boots are about the most difficult shoe to purchase online as there's so many fit factors to consider. The Safari is a solid boot if you have the most proportionate, easy to fit legs.