Full Chaps (Opinion, and where to buy?)

[kwpn_01]

What does everyone think about full chaps in the English discipline? I have a few acquaintances that own them - they seem lovely and tend to stick them right to their saddle. I have been dying for a pair - mainly for warmth (it can go down below -35 degrees CELSIUS where I’m from). My trainer also owns a pair and swears by them alongside a pair of winter breeches.

My last question would be if anyone knows where to purchase custom or semi-custom full chaps? Would like to stick to my country/province to avoid extra duties/fees and also for the convenience of measurements if required. I’m from Ontario, Canada, if anyone knows of anyone! My acquaintances/trainer either don’t recall where they purchased, were handed down to them or received them as a gift. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Scribbler]

You can get full chaps through the Western world. I’m sure every region has someone making them custom for Western riders. I assume for English you would want them pretty plain, less fringe and bling! You could google this. You could also contact western tack shops especially if they carry consignment. Or look at online second hand sales in western tack.

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[BAC]

I never especially cared for the feel of full chaps but I know they are useful for warmth. As kids we used to wear them over our shorts so that we could be bare-legged as soon as we dismounted in the summer heat. But I love the looks of them, especially Chuck Pinnell’s https://www.pinnellcustomleather.com/custom-chaps They aren’t in your area but you might get some good ideas from the website. Happy shopping.

[rockonxox]

I feel like we all wore full chaps back in the day. I mainly did because then my jeans didn’t muss up my saddle and I could ride in shorts. I do not think they helped me to stick to the saddle better - they just made it easier to wear pants that weren’t breeches so after school I could just run out to the barn and ride and bypass going home or changing an entire outfit. I believe Custom Chaps by Graeme Nicholson is in Ontario and they have customizeable non fringe english style chaps. Check out their Facebook.

[chestnutmarebeware]

I love all three of my pairs, and still ride in them almost exclusively, and they’re all more than 20 years old. One pair is plain black suede, one pair is brown suede with English-style fringe, and one pair is smooth dark green leather with khaki piping. Love, love, love!

My suede chaps definitely “lock” with my suede knee rolls, so I do feel like there’s a little extra stickability. But I wear them so that I can ride in jeans without rubs and pinches from the stirrup leathers.

Does Pinnell Leather not do custom full chaps any more? Or you can always check the horsey consignment shops.

[sherian]

warm and a bit of extra stick for cold weather shenanigans. You will want custom to get a proper fit. Also suggest Graeme Nicholson - been the go to guy for custom chaps in Ontario for eons and they are well made and last.

[PNWjumper]

I love them! I have spent years trying to find the best waterproof breeches…oh yeah, chaps do a WAY better job 100% of the time! I learned that when I found the stash of custom chaps I’d amassed over the years last winter.

Can’t speak to cold (since it never gets all that cold here), but I can say that I can’t remember why they went out of style and hope they come back into style again soon.

[Scribbler]

@PNWjumper

I love them! I have spent years trying to find the best waterproof breeches…oh yeah, chaps do a WAY better job 100% of the time! I learned that when I found the stash of custom chaps I’d amassed over the years last winter.

Can’t speak to cold (since it never gets all that cold here), but I can say that I can’t remember why they went out of style and hope they come back into style again soon.

Do you find leather chaps are waterproof in a PNW downpour? I’ve thought they’d get soaked through and be hard to dry out! Asking because I am mulling over better wear for winter trail riding. There are neoprene riding skirts that really do the job but are very floppy and silly on the ground. I was kind of wondering about neoprene chinks actually as it’s the top of the thigh that gets wet when the raincoat blows back at speed…

[Ryde_XC]

Take a look at ProChaps as well. I really like mine. The extra stretch is nice because it can accommodate whatever million layers you need to put on to stay warm. I suffer from equestrian cold panniculitis so anything to stay extra warm helps!!!

[fordtraktor]

I love them. I wear them in summer and winter — winter to stay warm, and summer because I can wear shorts until the moment I bridle, and take off as soon as I am done riding.

you can get very nice ones, but my $100 pair of Dover schooling chaps are going on 15 years still in good condition.

[_Zara]

I love them. I feel much more “sticky” and once you have them all stretched out and worn in the right places, they almost hold you in the saddle. Mine are brown with tan piping, I’ve had them for at least 15 years. Mine were ordered at Dover.

[blondewithchrome]

I wear my custom full chaps any time it gets below 40, so basically December through March where I live! I got them in 2005 and they are still absolutely gorgeous. They keep my legs so much warmer in the winter. Mine are from Chuck Pinnell, expensive but worth every penny for the quality and craftsmanship.

[gertie06]

We all used to wear full chaps back in the day, right? I’m sure I looked smashing in my cutoff jeans and fringed purple chaps :).

These days, I don’t like to school in anything that sticks me to the saddle artificially. I hate getting to shows in boots and breeches and suddenly feeling too slick, too insecure. So personally, I would not go back to full chaps for that reason.

[kwpn_01]

@rockonxox

I feel like we all wore full chaps back in the day. I mainly did because then my jeans didn’t muss up my saddle and I could ride in shorts. I do not think they helped me to stick to the saddle better - they just made it easier to wear pants that weren’t breeches so after school I could just run out to the barn and ride and bypass going home or changing an entire outfit. I believe Custom Chaps by Graeme Nicholson is in Ontario and they have customizeable non fringe english style chaps. Check out their Facebook.

Yes! I knew there was a fellow in Ontario that custom made full chaps but couldn’t recall his name or his business. I’ve only heard good things about this guy.

[Dewey]

When I was young (70s), they were a huge fad, and I wanted a pair in the worst way. Picked out a pair for Christmas (I still remember–they were rust-colored suede) and received them with excitement. I couldn’t wait to try them out.
However, I found to my disappointment that they were uncomfortable to ride in. I tried to like them but kept finding excuses not to use them. Like BAC in post #3 above, I never liked the feel of them.

If I were you I’d buy a second-hand pair or borrow one to try before investing in a beautiful, custom pair. You may love them…but you may not.

[PNWjumper]

@Scribbler

Do you find leather chaps are waterproof in a PNW downpour? I’ve thought they’d get soaked through and be hard to dry out! Asking because I am mulling over better wear for winter trail riding. There are neoprene riding skirts that really do the job but are very floppy and silly on the ground. I was kind of wondering about neoprene chinks actually as it’s the top of the thigh that gets wet when the raincoat blows back at speed…

Oh they’d totally soak through in a legit deluge. But if I’m out in a deluge it’s for a 20 minute ride (x 3 or 4) at a time before coming back into the barn. Not for a 2 hour trail ride. And we so rarely get really hard rain like that. For our usually spitty winter rain, they’re great! Also, the spot I hang them in my tack room is close (ish) to the heater, so I haven’t had any issues with drying them out.

[Scribbler]

@PNWjumper

Oh they’d totally soak through in a legit deluge. But if I’m out in a deluge it’s for a 20 minute ride (x 3 or 4) at a time before coming back into the barn. Not for a 2 hour trail ride. And we so rarely get really hard rain like that. For our usually spitty winter rain, they’re great! Also, the spot I hang them in my tack room is close (ish) to the heater, so I haven’t had any issues with drying them out.

Ok I will pursue the neoprene riding skirts! Though maresy doesn’t love getting her ears wet in a downpour.

[Redlei44]

@gertie06

These days, I don’t like to school in anything that sticks me to the saddle artificially. I hate getting to shows in boots and breeches and suddenly feeling too slick, too insecure. So personally, I would not go back to full chaps for that reason.

This is very true IME. If you don’t make a point of riding regularly without the full chaps and you don’t show enough that switching between the two feels natural, it is really disconcerting without the stability and stickiness that make chaps great. Really unpleasant! Even sticky spray does not feel as stable as chaps to me.

I also agree with the previous comment about going for custom if you’re going to buy them - mine were semi-custom and they never fit quite right.

[btswass]

I got a consignment pair of custom full chaps that fit me like they were made for me. They are sooo much more enjoyable to ride in in the winter with my sheepskin lined paddock boots.

[_Zara]

A note - I wish someone would have warned me before I purchased black chaps (my first pair) that, when a little sweaty, the dye from the leather will stain your legs or any pants under them. I walked around with weird green legs a lot as a teen :lol: