Breeches/Tights for Reaaaally Hot Days

[phoebetrainer]

@4horses

I just ride in shorts and sometimes half chaps in the summer. But don’t forget to sunblock your knees! It might look funny but here where it’s 100 degrees, it is much cooler than tights. Someone suggested I add fleece covers to my stirrups and I won’t need chaps in my dressage saddle.

Me too. I now buy slightly stretchy shorts that have plenty of pockets and ride in them all summer. Mostly I ride with half chaps or gaiters, sometimes with just short boots. We often play with the horses in the river after riding in summer, so shorts are a good idea for this too.
And don’t worry about pinched legs - riding in shorts teaches you to keep your leg still and highly effective!!

[stb]

@Fellbutbackup

The ariat eos tight looks promising for this. The entire lower leg is mesh. I have not tried them myself as the ariat branding turns me off.

I tried them. I found them to be not as cool as the Kerrit Ice Fil tights. They are a harder, shinier finish. The perforated part is low on the leg, and while it looks cool, I couldn’t feel a difference. My lower legs are not where I generally feel hot, though. Also, the waistband didn’t suit me as well as the Kerrit’s - but I realize that at age 62 I’m not anybody’s target demographic.

[BatCoach]

@worth_the_wait08

Not to hijack the thread, but has anyone else had issues with tights bunching up inside the knee/above the boot line? I got a pair of the Piper tights last summer, and they do feel lighter weight, but no amount of pulling (up or down) seems to help the bunching issue. Are they just too big? I wear a 26/28 in TS, so I got the medium Pipers, but maybe I need the small? I’m tired of clenching my teeth in the shower after a ride when the water hits my raw skin. I’m also tired of the unsightly scars I now have on the inside of both knees. I don’t want to invest in other tights unless I’m sure they’ll fit- I rode in the Pipers once this summer and immediately put them in the back of my closet.

@worth_the_wait08 I’d say they are too big then. It could also be the material - I hated the old piper knit tights, but I like the new Hadley ones.

[asb_own_me]

I just got a pair of the Piper perforated tights - I could see how they might bunch at the knee when I tried them on. I’m planning to wear them tomorrow, and it will be over 90, so I can report on both the bunching and how cool they are!

[hillary_again]

I live in Phoenix. I ride in Kerrits Flow Rise riding tights all year (knee patch version). In the summer, I live in Kerrits Icefil long sleeve shirts, which the local tack shop calls “better than shade”. The tights don’t have pockets, which is a drawback, so I have a fanny pack. The shirts are awesome. Other brands are for sure cuter, but not as cool.
I’ve never tried the silicone grip tights or breeches: I’ve read negative reviews of how these interfere with getting in and out of your car and stick you to the saddle too much.
Keep in mind: we don’t have to deal with humidity in Phoenix. Gale-force blowing sand - yes; temps like lumber-drying ovens - yes; but Midwestern-style humidity - nope. YMMV accordingly!

[Jackie_Cochran]

I live in the South, summers are always hot and humid.

I have had NO problems with my Kerrits Ice Fill full seat silicone tights sticking to the saddle. They just help keep my seat and thighs steady in the saddle instead of slipping this way and that as the horse moves. For reference I ride in a calf-skin covered saddle.

[asb_own_me]

Reporting back on the Piper perforated tights. I got the full seat style. I wore them when I rode around 11 this morning. According to my Hylofit, it was 80 degrees and 76% humidity, and we were out, in the sun, for 40 minutes. I didn’t have any bunching issues at the knee (I ride in tall boots, if that matters) or anywhere else. They weren’t overly sticky, my Horze silicone FS are much stickier. These just have little silicone dots, not a whole pattern. I felt much cooler than I expected. Overall, highly recommend. I don’t know how they will hold up - they are pretty thin - but for less than $50 I’m okay if they only last one summer.

[worth_the_wait08]

@asb_own_me

Reporting back on the Piper perforated tights. I got the full seat style. I wore them when I rode around 11 this morning. According to my Hylofit, it was 80 degrees and 76% humidity, and we were out, in the sun, for 40 minutes. I didn’t have any bunching issues at the knee (I ride in tall boots, if that matters) or anywhere else. They weren’t overly sticky, my Horze silicone FS are much stickier. These just have little silicone dots, not a whole pattern. I felt much cooler than I expected. Overall, highly recommend. I don’t know how they will hold up - they are pretty thin - but for less than $50 I’m okay if they only last one summer.

Thanks for the update!

[quietann]

Another Kerrits IceFil fan here. I especially like the pockets as my insulin pump can go in one, and my phone in the other.

[dps]

@lorilu

I find the Kerrits IceFil to be slick as snot. The silicon is totally ineffective. Sure it will help cement your balanced position, but… I need to use my seat not slide around the saddle. I just got a pair of HORZE Madison full seat tights. Just right silicon. WIDE elastic waistband. Lightweight tech fabric. At under $45, I bought two pair!!

I agree the K Ice fil tights are way too slippery, I love the fabric but not the silicone. I have had great luck with Buckwild tights.

[Casey09]

My favorites for hot weather are B Vertigo tights, but they’re pricey. I found a pair on sale quite some time ago and I’m really surprised by how well they’ve held up.