December 4, 2015

Majyk Equipe Generation 2 X Country Boot Review: Part 1

(Well, this got long.  Look for part two, in which I actually review the boots, coming soon!)

Long time readers know that I have been a huge Majyk Equipe fan since even before I owned their boots.  I love - LOVE - companies that buck the status quo and use science to improve the horse's comfort and safety.  In a sport so rooted in tradition and "that's the way we've always done it", it's hard to affect change like that.  I also hate products that cause heat buildup on my horse's legs (thanks, Dr. Marks) but still want to feel like Connor is protected, especially on XC.

Maiden voyage with the Majyk Equipe hinds (Woof Wear fronts) at Fox River Valley 2014


I first reached out to Majyk Equipe over a year ago about whether they would ever have a small XC front boot via their Contact Us page, which we all know can sometimes be a black hole of long lost communication for many companies.  Not so with Majyk Equipe.  I got a prompt response (No, not enough of a demand), respectfully and sadly disagreed, and went on with my life (and my four year old neoprene Woof Wear "XC" fronts).

Since then, Bev from Majyk Equipe found my blog via my since-revoked post where I first tried their new Dressage boots, which I was SO excited to try, mainly because they do offer a small front in that model.  She kindly pointed out I had put them on backwards (boot dyslexia sufferers, unite!  Just me?  Okay.)  and suggested I try them again.  

Hinds: really fit well.  (Size medium).  Darn tail got in the way.

I did, and while they don't meet around Connor's giant cannon bones, I kept them.  I feel better knowing he's protected from whacking himself while learning lateral movements, and he stays cool in them during hot summer Dressage schools.  I would have sent them back if Bev hadn't reached out, so I was really grateful.  They are fantastic boots for schooling - quick to put on, well-ventilated like the XC boots, and very protective.

Fronts: height is perfect, diameter is just a bit small.  They were really cranked in here, usually there's a 3/4" gap there.

Their hind XC boots have continued to exceed my expectations in everything and I recommend them to everyone I meet.  They're light, they're strong, the accordion strikeplate design is just genius, and as far as heat dissipation goes?  These pictures from our last XC schooling outing (which was 3 hours long, and we went through water at the very beginning only) say it all:

Fronts: soaking wet under his WoofWear neoprene boots, and stayed that way for 2.5 hours!  I felt awful thinking about how uncomfortable that would have been - like wearing soaking wet jeans for us, I'd imagine. 
Hinds: almost totally dry underneath his generation 1 Majyk Equipe XC boots.   Just a bit damp.

But the XC fronts were still just too big measurement-wise to even be a possiblity, so I put them from my mind and shopped for something I liked as well as Majyk Equipe that came in size small.  When I didn't find anything, I just stayed with those ratty old WoofWears. (They were figuratively ratty, being my only jumping boots I have for him and being four years old, but now they are literally ratty, since a mouse chewed a hole in one)

Until Bev emailed me last week and asked if I'd like to try out their second generation XC boots, which she thought might fit Connor better.  Stay tuned for a thorough (and glowing!) review!

10 comments:

  1. oooh i'm so eager for part 2!! i have the medium xc boots for all four legs and while the hinds work ok on my mare, the fronts are too big and end up turning... i've had them for too long to return tho, so womp womp (unless anyone wants to buy them?!?)

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    1. I think I'm going to post part two on Monday! Stay tuned!

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    2. I want them!! Oh wait I don't xc... why must the xc boots all be so sexy?

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  2. Oooh I'm excited for this too! I haven't actually measured, but I'm fairly positive Maggie would needs smalls as opposed to mediums. I really really need to look into XC boots for next season and I'm in the market for dressage schooling boots right now.

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    1. I would wait for the generation 2 Dressage boots. The Gen 1's are awesome, but spoiler alert, you can get the Gen 2 XC boots off without taking your heavy winter gloves off! I assume the Dressage boots will be the same. And they have a lot of other improvements as well.

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    2. Nice!! When are the gen 2 dressage ones coming out? (Or will I find out in the next post? ;)

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  3. I got some from them too! Waiting to use them a bit more before I review, but so far I really like them!

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  4. I'm excited to read the review! Have (of course) been considering buying Gav some boots. ;)

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  5. I too am saddened by Boot company's lack of XC boots for the Smaller sized.(Owner of a 15.2 finer built Xc critter who needs Small ) Dalmar is also on my Naughty list for this. Sigh.

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    1. Majyk Equipe is coming out with smalls in some of their upcoming series 2 stadium boots! Stay tuned! And you really might give the second generation ME XC boots a try, if your guy is 15.2, they should work in both height and diameter.

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