Half-chaps - suede or full grain leather?
jcdill
I'm looking at buying a pair of half-chaps. I'm probably going to get
the Grand Prix half-chaps because they make them (off the shelf) to fit
my height (I have *really* long legs) and calf size. I need to choose
between suede or full-grain leather:
Suede: http://www.equusnow.com/prodview.asp?idproduct=480
Full-Grain: http://www.equusnow.com/prodview.asp?idProduct=1034
I used to have a pair of their full-grain half chaps, but I've never
worn suede chaps or half-chaps and I'm wondering what the riding
difference is. Are the suede ones significantly grippier? Are they
harder to keep looking nice? Do they fade? Do they quickly lose their
extra grippiness after you have ridden a sweaty horse a few times? I
don't know if I want or need extra grippiness and am worried if the
suede might be *too* grippy. I need the chaps mainly for protection
from the leathers rubbing my calfs. OTOH, I think the suede would
stretch to fit my legs better. (even their largest calf size is still a
bit snug, and that's with the elastic pretty much fully extended.)
I'm riding in a Wintec Pro dressage saddle (the style with the "smooth
grain" rather than "suede" finish), so it also matters how they grip on
a synthetic saddle rather than leather saddle.
The full-grain ones look more like tall boots if I were ever to show,
but I'm not likely to show for a while and even then it would just be
schooling shows for quite some time so it wouldn't really matter.
All feedback welcome, but if you have used both full-grain and suede
chaps or half-chaps and can share your experiences with the
*differences* between these two types of leather for chaps, that would
be super!
Thanks!
jc
Emily Brooks
cheap pair of suede half chaps that close with velcro tabs. I can't say that
I notice any difference in grip per se. The Ariats are much stiffer and more
boot-like. They are also much easier to keep clean. The suede ones are
slowly wearing the nap off where they touch the leathers, as you might
expect.
I have been wearing the suede ones because the velcro tabs give me more
flexibility in closure, to fit that lower leg protection on top of a
Professional Choice Knee Brace. The knee brace is not going inside my tall
boots nor is it going under the Ariat half chaps - those things fit me like
a second skin in thin summer breeches, I'm not sure they'd go on over my
winter ones much less a brace.
If looks count or may count in the future, go with black full-grain. In the
long ago when I paid attention to such things, half chaps were verboten for
Dressage showing regardless of how close they imitated a tall boot so be
sure to check the rules before you enter something.
Emily
Alison Hiltabidle
I've never used half chaps, but have ridden in full chaps lots. My
bigt western saddle has a rough out seat. Suede chaps + rough out seat
= velcro butt.
betsey
> I've never used half chaps, but have ridden in full chaps lots. My
> bigt western saddle has a rough out seat. Suede chaps + rough out seat
>
> - Show quoted text -
and there have been rides when I have so appreciated velcro butt!
Hunter Hampton
<sun...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>I have a pair of Ariat Close-Contact full grain leather half chaps and a
>cheap pair of suede half chaps that close with velcro tabs. I can't say that
>I notice any difference in grip per se. The Ariats are much stiffer and more
>boot-like. They are also much easier to keep clean. The suede ones are
>slowly wearing the nap off where they touch the leathers, as you might
>expect.
Exactly what Emily said..... I love my Ariats.....
If your leg tends to gain and lose calf size, go with the suede with
the Velcro.
Hunter
redbranch
Suede is infinitely harder to keep looking nice, as it shows dirt and
is harder to clean than full grain (although corn meal and a stiff
brush can work well on suede). The full grain half chaps I've had
have had plenty of grip, because they're softer than a tall boot and
also have the pebbling of the grain. The only exception would me my
newest half chaps....they're made by Petrie and resemble a tall
dressage boot and are quite stiff in comparison to the vast majority
of half chaps I've seen. Still some grip but not like the softer full
grain leather...these are shiny, harder, and smooth, without the soft
pebbling of the regular style full grain half chaps.
My other favorite half chap, that comes in a multitude of height/width
combinations, are the Tredsteps. They also come in several styles and
leathers.
Personally, suede would be at the bottom of my list for half chaps.
Now if I were showing a western horse, suede full chaps would be
"it".
Sharon Potter
Red Branch
Alison Hiltabidle
Indeedy.
jcdill
suede.
On 26/12/10 2:50 PM, redbranch wrote:
> My other favorite half chap, that comes in a multitude of height/width
> combinations, are the Tredsteps. They also come in several styles and
> leathers.
OOOH, I hadn't found Tredsteps yet. They DO come in my size (extra
tall, big calf) which most half-chap makers don't cover (they have
either extra tall, or extra wide calf, but not *both*). I found these
products which look interesting:
<http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=8446>
<http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productclassid=7192>
These are synthetic - anyone have any experience with this material? I
like using synthetics instead of leather, but sometimes the material
isn't up to snuff. They are supposedly a stretch material, but one of
the reviewers said it wasn't really stretchy and was too big at the ankle.
jc
Dr Corinne B Leek
What about the synthetic material half chaps?
I'm looking at half chaps and paddock boots because the shoe repair
guy said that next time he might not be able to fix my tall boots: the
insole is getting too old. And he can't reach in to fix because
they're tall boots...
sigh.
I have huge calves, so those boots are like gold. New ones are Big
$$$.
At this season, I can wear my winter Snow Riders, so my good boots can
be kept aside, for now.
Anyway...
The tack shop only an hour away has half chaps, either leather or
synthetic. (I neglected to see whether they were suede or full
grain.) The synthetic at half the price!
Any views, Oh Assembled Knowledge of Rec.Eq?
Corinne & Crazy Canuck Crew....
--
*** Conserve Energy: Laughter is easier than Anger!
*** cl...@eastlink.ca
Ruth Baltopoulos
> OOOH, I hadn't found Tredsteps yet. They DO come in my size (extra tall,
> big calf) which most half-chap makers don't cover (they have either
> extra tall, or extra wide calf, but not *both*). I found these products
> which look interesting:
>
> <http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=8446>
> <http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productclassid=7192>
I have these, and so does one of my daughters (and several friends):
http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=3215&cm_vc=Search
We all love the suede Tredsteps. They are comfortable, flexible, grippy
and look nice. I don't find them terribly hard to keep clean.
Haven't tried the synthetic in Tredstep. I had Ariat leather chaps and
I hated the stiffness of them; ended up giving them away to a friend.
--
Ruth BS