Best Half-Hole Stirrup Leathers?

[LuvRedHeads]

I’m looking for non-stretch half-hole stirrup leathers that will wear like iron.

I think my current stirrup leathers are the Prestige Nylon-lined stirrup leathers.
They’re ok and have served me for a number of years, but my complaints are that they’re bulky and hard to adjust, and I’ve had to punch holes in them, which leaves nylon threads clogging up the holes.

I’ve been checking all the usual online retailers, but I haven’t seen a lot of great reviews, and many brands don’t list if the holes are spaced 1", 3/4" or 1/2".

Any recommendations out there?

[Madison]

If you think the Prestige leathers are bulky, that rules out a lot of options, because in my experience the Prestige ones are less bulky than a lot of the other options. One option that I did find that was thinner was the Schockemohle Chantilly leathers https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Schockemohle_Chantilly_Stirrup_Leathers/descpage-SCHA.html However, I think you are going to have some tension between your desire to have leathers that are less bulky and leathers that wear like iron - if they are soft/thin enough to be less bulky, they may not have the longevity you are looking for. I went back to Prestige leathers after trying the Chantilly ones. The CWD and Voltaire ones aren’t too bulky IMO but unless you found a used pair I don’t know that I would pay more for those than I would the Prestige ones.

[BAC]

I think the CWD leathers are worth every penny and always recommend them. They are not bulky, can be easily adjusted and mine were 7 years old and in great condition when I sold them with my saddle after I stopped riding. Even though they are beautiful soft calfskin, mine didn’t stretch at all. I dislike many lined leathers because of their bulk which makes them difficult to adjust from the saddle but I had no trouble at all with the CWD leathers.

[HJdaydream]

I’m going to 2nd CWD leathers (and I have a Voltaire saddle, so it’s not just brand loyalty). I bought mine lightly used over 4 yrs ago and they are still in excellent condition. Not bulky at all and super easy to adjust. I absolutely adore them. Try to find a lightly used pair if you can!

[LuvRedHeads]

@Madison

If you think the Prestige leathers are bulky, that rules out a lot of options, because in my experience the Prestige ones are less bulky than a lot of the other options. One option that I did find that was thinner was the Schockemohle Chantilly leathers https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Schockemohle_Chantilly_Stirrup_Leathers/descpage-SCHA.html However, I think you are going to have some tension between your desire to have leathers that are less bulky and leathers that wear like iron - if they are soft/thin enough to be less bulky, they may not have the longevity you are looking for. I went back to Prestige leathers after trying the Chantilly ones. The CWD and Voltaire ones aren’t too bulky IMO but unless you found a used pair I don’t know that I would pay more for those than I would the Prestige ones.

I was looking at the Schockemohle Chantilly leathers last night, so it is helpful to know that you went back to the Prestige ones after use.

I guess I could give up on the idea of losing some bulk if it meant not sacrificing longevity. The major driving factor in my choice is that I really want the next pair of leathers I buy to have the half-hole spacing.

[LuvRedHeads]

@BAC and @HJdaydream

Good to know, as the CWD leathers are definitely on my list of options I was looking at.

[Dewey]

I’m going to recommend Gary Mundy’s leathers. He makes them to order and will do half-holes if you like. The only option he doesn’t provide is calfskin. He’s morally opposed to that. However, his leathers are beautiful and very strong. There used to be a bunch of threads about Gary’s work, complete with gushing testimonials and pictures. You can probably find them with the search feature. He’s also on FB.

[Madison]

@LuvRedHeads

I was looking at the Schockemohle Chantilly leathers last night, so it is helpful to know that you went back to the Prestige ones after use.

I guess I could give up on the idea of losing some bulk if it meant not sacrificing longevity. The major driving factor in my choice is that I really want the next pair of leathers I buy to have the half-hole spacing.

The Chantilly ones were beautiful but too soft. I also had CWD leathers and liked them, so if the spacing on the holes is to your liking that would be a good option. Redwood Tack sometimes has them, and you can also sometimes find them on English Tack Trader on FB.

[spacytracy]

Second Gary! His work is beautiful and FAST! I just ordered leathers and received them in about a week!

[LuvRedHeads]

@spacytracy

Second Gary! His work is beautiful and FAST! I just ordered leathers and received them in about a week!

Did you contact him via email? Is that the best way to get pricing/options?

[touchstone]

Gary Mundy is the answer to every stirrup leather question.

[Ceylon_Star]

Another vote for Gary Mundy!

I got unlined leathers but with reinforced edge stitching. I am a fat rider and these puppies haven’t stretched a bit in a month if riding up to 5 horses daily, whereas my last pair of unlined leathers stretched enough to where I had to shorten them 3 holes in the same timeframe while riding only 1.

He does hole spacing ranging between 1.25" and 0.5", depending on your preferences. I went with 0.75" for mine because 0.5 tends to be a bit too close and 1" is not close enough.

The leather is beautiful, thick, but supple, with super smooth rounded edges. I got his stability style leathers and can’t feel them under my thighs despite the extra width and the leather itself being almost 3x as thick as my super stretched old Crosby leathers. I found the various nylon lined leathers I borrowed to try were much bulkier at the buckle than my GM leathers are.

[BAC]

@Dewey

I’m going to recommend Gary Mundy’s leathers. He makes them to order and will do half-holes if you like. The only option he doesn’t provide is calfskin. He’s morally opposed to that. However, his leathers are beautiful and very strong. There used to be a bunch of threads about Gary’s work, complete with gushing testimonials and pictures. You can probably find them with the search feature. He’s also on FB.

Does he do lined leathers though? At one time he did not do lined leathers and the benefit to lined is that they don’t stretch. I recommended him to a couple of people and although the leathers were very nice and inexpensive, the colors were very much off from what had been ordered and my friends only kept them because they were so inexpensive, so I would ask for samples before ordering.

[LuvRedHeads]

@Ceylon Star

Another vote for Gary Mundy!

I got unlined leathers but with reinforced edge stitching. I am a fat rider and these puppies haven’t stretched a bit in a month if riding up to 5 horses daily, whereas my last pair of unlined leathers stretched enough to where I had to shorten them 3 holes in the same timeframe while riding only 1.

He does hole spacing ranging between 1.25" and 0.5", depending on your preferences. I went with 0.75" for mine because 0.5 tends to be a bit too close and 1" is not close enough.

The leather is beautiful, thick, but supple, with super smooth rounded edges. I got his stability style leathers and can’t feel them under my thighs despite the extra width and the leather itself being almost 3x as thick as my super stretched old Crosby leathers. I found the various nylon lined leathers I borrowed to try were much bulkier at the buckle than my GM leathers are.

Thank you for the info! Is email the way to go to get in touch with him? Or FB message? I’m interested to know what my options are ie: lined, unlined, stitching, hole spacing, stirrup leather width, style, etc.

[Ceylon_Star]

@LuvRedHeads

Thank you for the info! Is email the way to go to get in touch with him? Or FB message? I’m interested to know what my options are ie: lined, unlined, stitching, hole spacing, stirrup leather width, style, etc.

Email him, for sure. He doesn’t check facebook very often.

[theresak]

What’s Gary’s email? I’m looking for unlined half-hole dressage stirrup leathers that aren’t hugely expensive.

[Ceylon_Star]

gleathershop@gmail.com is the most up to date

[LuvRedHeads]

@Dewey @spacytracy @touchstone- @Ceylon Star

I emailed Gary and got his price list. I’m looking at either the English Stirrup leathers with Stitched Edges or the English Stirrup Leathers, Doubled & Stitched, Nylon center.

Does anyone have experience with the leathers that are Doubled & Stitched, Nylon center?
I’m trying to determine how much bulk that will be at the buckle.

Basically looking for the most non-stretch option with the least bulk.

[BAC]

@LuvRedHeads

@Dewey @spacytracy @touchstone- @Ceylon Star

I emailed Gary and got his price list. I’m looking at either the English Stirrup leathers with Stitched Edges or the English Stirrup Leathers, Doubled & Stitched, Nylon center.

Does anyone have experience with the leathers that are Doubled & Stitched, Nylon center?
I’m trying to determine how much bulk that will be at the buckle.

Basically looking for the most non-stretch option with the least bulk.

Its the nylon and stitching that keeps them from stretching, it is sandwiched between two pieces of leather (usually calfskin) and stitched together. Some brands are bulkier than others. Calfskin adds less bulk so since GM won’t use calf I would think his are bulkier than some other brands. You probably need to look at the various brands you are most interested in and decide for yourself. I don’t know what the leathers with stitched edges are though but it sounds as though they don’t have nylon lining.

[Dewey]

Mine are doubled with recessed, stiched edges. They aren’t lined but have stretched very little–and I’ve had them for about 4-5 years. I’ve gone up maybe a hole or so since they were new.

I have a picture of the leathers when they were new on my computer at home, which I can post later if you like.