Trail riders (ladies), what is your comfiest riding gear?
I always ride in jeans, and top with whatever is suitable for the weather. If the temperature is going to fluctuate, I top with a zip up jacket that can be tied around my waist if it’s warmer than I think it will be.
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I typically ride in jeans and then layers on top depending on the weather. If it is cold, I wear CuddleDuds underneath everything, top and bottom. If I am headed out for any extended ride, I will wear a fishing vest, with multiple zippered pockets where I keep Epi Pens, my phone, GPS and map.
I did just order these to try. I love tights for working out and decided to get a pair that offered a pocket for my phone.
I haven’t ridden in them yet, so don’t know what they’ll be like!
Kerrits or Irideon bootcut riding tights. Good helmet. technical fabric top. Ariat zip front paddock boots and wool socks. Phone holster that fits above my calf.
I wear breeches, half chaps, and all terrain riding boots (Ariat) --but then I trail ride in an English saddle. Even if I trail rode in my western saddle, I’d wear the same. On top, depends on the weather --of course layer —cami or tank top, light button up front shirt, hoodie, heavier jacket if colder. If I am doing long distance (5-6 hours) I wear my “fishing vest” which really is that --a canvas vest with a million pockets for everything I need or might need. I always wear a helmet.
[pedantic lecture follows, ignore if you choose] --as someone you might meet on the trail, or even ride with on the trail, please make some effort to present a clean, tidy appearance. I stopped riding with a woman who took great pride in filth. She would tell me how rarely she (if ever) washed the clothes she did trail riding in (she said there was no need, they don’t show dirt, they will just get dirty again, they smell like horses anyway, ruins the waterproofing, fabric, etc). She was a professional woman who looked sharp at her job (I’d seen her at work). But I finally gave up on the trail riding with her because the smell in the truck (we used my trailer/truck). And even more annoying to me (clearly someone who is easily annoyed) was her lack of effort in her horse’s turnout. Her horses were muddy, not brushed, crusty saddle pad, and the untrimmed hooves were just too much. The one time she rode one of my horses (hers was lame), I asked that she hose him after the ride (it had been a sweaty day). She looked at me and said, “You can if you want to, it’s your horse.” As to the untrimmed hooves on hers --she said, “[the horse] doesn’t need a trim as often as other horses.” And the woman was at one point a professional stable manager of 20+ horses who’d ridden at a high level of dressage.
I also ride in an english saddle (with a fleece cover, lovely!), but one of my riding companions in a western saddle dresses similarly: kerrits (or whatever you like) comfy tights with phone pocket, good sports bra (a must!), tech-fabric shirt, and I prefer an overshirt that I can shove in my saddle bag if I get warm, so in the summer a lightweight button-up cotton and this time of a year a nice flannel. Top with a vest/jacket according to season.
And while I might always be clean (as is my horse) there is definitely no fashion sense in my riding attire. I see almost no one on the trails (but even if I do), yesterday wore strange-print tights, an orange shirt and plaid flannel. I was comfy, horse was happy, and the trail runners probably just look the other way (as they’re dressed just as brightly!). Happy trails!
I trail ride in an English saddle so I wear full seat breeches, Ariat twin gore paddock boots ( comfy for walking) and half chaps. Really good sports bra, appropriate tops and jackets. From the waist up I dress from outdoor / sports stores, better fit color selection quality and price than tack stores. Currently in a Charles Owen helmet. Deerskin gloves are great for loading and riding.
I have a nylon goretex ankle length Outback Outfitters rain coat that rolls up into a little pack.
I had extra D rings installed on the back of my dressage saddle so I can tie gear to the back like a cowboy.
Riding tights–any brand with good stretch and belt loops, Ariat Terrains and half chaps.
That’s far beyond clean, tidy appearance. That’s filth on the human level, and ranging from who cares to neglect on the horse level.
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A horse going on a trail ride needs healthy hooves, a clean saddle pad, and to be brushed decently. Otherwise you risk saddle galls and hoof pain.
Riders need to be clean and comfortable which means you should have pants that don’t slip or bunch up, like random jogging pants. Also all riders should feel good about their clothes. Some people love their loud sports colored gear and some of us would crawl under a rock if we looked down and saw we were riding in pink camo leopard print jogging tights 
but if they make you feel bright and cheery that’s great! They are certainly high vis.
As far as total slob rider I would suspect long term depression or other health problems. Though you say she can pull it together for work. Very odd.
RE Slob rider --unkempt horse on the trail --sadly in my experience it is not just she. I have met folks on the trail ridig in sneakers and PJ bottoms, and known more than one horseman/trail rider who never seemed to wash the barn coat. What struck me was the pride some seem to take in not riding in clean, horse-riding appropriate clothes --that’s how the conversation got started --picked up the trail riding buddy and when she got in I said, “Wow, been awhile since that coat saw a wash,” as there was a profound odor about the coat. That’s when I got the gleeful low down on how she does not wash (ever) her trail riding attire. As to her neglected horse and equipment --complete mystery to me. I talked about how much my kids and I (back in the day) enjoyed spa day with the horses --washing them, using all the fancy products --her statement? “I never wash my horse.” And she turns a blind eye to the hooves --it’s not a money thing --it’s a doesn’t care thing.
I also saw a woman on the trail with a horse so burr-ridden, its tail and mane and forelock were solid. I asked if she was camping at the same place I was --said I’d come by and give her a hand with getting them out. She was nice and said that “everyone says that” but she doesn’t pull the burrs out because “they just come back the next time the horse is in the pasture.” We talked awhile about pasture management --mowing, weed eradication, etc but she had an answer for everything as to why she didn’t do it (gates too narrow, herbicides too toxic), and she continued her way down the trail. ,
Anyway, all I can say is if you see an elderly lady neatly turned out on a clean, shiny horse coming down the trail, that’s me. Yes, I even wear a hairnet under my helmet when I trail ride.
Oh lord it’s hard to be humble…
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Yes, TMares, so very, very hard . . .
I got the men’s version of those for my husband and he wears them all the time on trails - with Ariat Terrains and half chaps. He wasn’t happy with jeans because he rides even if it’s wet and of course the cotton soaks up water. He seems to really like the Rackers Wear tights - he has the “classic” non-reflective version, with belt loops (which none of the other models, including the women’s classic, have).
[ETA: He tried a few different brands of breeches in a tack shop & was not a fan of how they felt/fit. We haven’t tried any other tights for him, but based on a web search they don’t generally seem to be a thing for men. So we’re happy to have found Rackers Wear!]
I have used half-chaps, but now prefer to just go all-in-one and wear tall boots but a little more rugged than traditional riding boots. So I currently wear cheapish breeches or tights (I have a pair of each for summer riding) and Smartpak’s brand of tall barn/riding boots. For winter I wear Horze fleece tights with long underwear beneath, and close-out Dublin Wye boots that are large enough to fit double socks underneath.
On my leather saddle I like full seat breeches/tights for the security on the trail. On my husband’s Wintec, definitely knee patch - I rubbed my butt raw when the full-seat tights stuck to the saddle instead of to me! (Though at the suggestion from a CotH thread I switched to men’s boxer brief underwear - polyester-with-high-%-spandex ones sized small so they fit like a 2nd skin. I haven’t been back on his saddle to see if they solve the problem, but they’ve felt good when I’ve ridden on mine.)
Top is whatever works for the weather!
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I also like to use the TrailMax pommel bag, the little pocket one.
https://www.outfitterssupply.com/TrailMax-500-Series-Pommel-Pocket/productinfo/WTM570/
Perfect for chapstick, pocketknife, and a bandana or some such. I have one on every saddle, dressage included.
Those look comfy! Did you get them yet? Curious as to how the material feels.
For the jean wearing riders, do you have a specific brand for riding only? I ride either in tights or jeans but jeans are not as comfy, but I like their durability better.
They have arrived, I just haven’t ridden in them yet. The material seems a little thicker than what my regular workout tights are, and they seem sturdy. The pockets are a decent size for a cell phone.
