Hey! I’m thinking about getting myself a pair of full chaps, but I’m not sure what to expect, what looks good, where to buy etc.
What should I expect to pay? What is low end vs. mid range vs. high end?
What type of leather is best?
Thanks in Advance!
Chuck Pinnell is the best in the business, if you do a search you will see that just about everyone agrees with me. 
Personally I don’t care for full chaps, so I can’t advise what is best. Pinnell’s are expensive but I have friends who wear his chaps for 20+ years and they are still in good shape. Check out his website and do a search for more opinions.
I was a child turning to a junior when full chaps were still a “thing” and half chaps weren’t really heard of yet (not that long ago, either!) I don’t recall where my chaps were from, or how much they cost. They were suede, and I remember having them custom tailored to fit me properly. About the only thing I enjoyed about them was staying warm in the winter. summer was brutal and soon after half chaps came into “style”.
They made me feel so stiff.
[QUOTE=One Two Three;7864512]
I was a child turning to a junior when full chaps were still a “thing” and half chaps weren’t really heard of yet (not that long ago, either!) I don’t recall where my chaps were from, or how much they cost. They were suede, and I remember having them custom tailored to fit me properly. About the only thing I enjoyed about them was staying warm in the winter. summer was brutal and soon after half chaps came into “style”.
They made me feel so stiff.[/QUOTE]
I never felt comfortable in full chaps either but as kids in summer we sometimes put them over our shorts so we could immediately take them off when we dismounted and be almost bare legged.
I’m I just moved to Ohio after a junior career that allowed me to spend my winters in Florida, I’ve found (I think) a decent barn and once my junior hunter sells, I think I’m going to get something cheap and young to make up, but in the meantime my legs are freezing off, so the extra stick and warmth of full chaps seem ideal!
Yes, full chaps were “the thing” in the 80’s and 90’s.
I ordered my custom chaps in 1997 - and they cost me about $350 back then. That included a custom color, trim, piping, and short fringe - smooth leather (no monograms or crazy leathers).
I don’t remember what company made mine. I was measured through a local tack shop, and they handled the ordering.
Personally I like “smooth out” chaps - they wear better, and just look cleaner in my opinion. Suede out will give you more grip - but are also hard to clean and show wear. My chaps still look great after a good number of years of hard use. These days they live in my tack truck. I much prefer to ride in half chaps (back when full chaps were popular - half chaps were horrid ugly things held on with velco tabs!). Maybe I will pull my chaps out when the weather gets chilly.
I had just moved from an eventing barn to an H/J barn when I bought them - and I chose such boring colors! (beige with taupe trim, dark brown piping, and beige fringe (similar to this) - now I wish I got a wacky color!
Full chaps are not as popular as they once were - I am not sure who all retails them now. Pinnell is the best - but you are going to PAY for them.
(FYI - this british maker has custom for $300 http://www.gibbins.co.uk/regular-chaps.html )
They are still pretty popular in cold climates. See more of then schooling at home then at the shows though.
Mine are smooth out with double piping, think they were Professionals???, just under 400 in '94. Used them every winter until around 2006 when they inexplicably…errrr…shrunk…over the summer.
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Used them every winter until around 2006 when they inexplicably…errrr…shrunk…over the summer.[/QUOTE]
That’s the story I’m sticking with on mine too. Inexplicable shrinkage. Possibly due to being left in the recesses of my tack locker and not worn. Yes. Totally that. I think the last time I had them on was maybe 3 years ago, hopping on a rehabbing horse for the first time in months.
Anyway, if you’re looking for something reasonable, and don’t mind suede, I had a pair of Barnstable full chaps for years (um, still have, but see above). They were pretty reasonably priced, and wore well.
journeyman chaps.
I always felt really secure in them (but I grew up in them) but when switching back to tall boots for a show, it took a few minutes to get used to.
I have two pairs of custom leather Crown chaps. I think I paid around $400 or $500. Back in the 90’s everyone wore them. I was thinking about digging them out for the winter.
Stupid question but any idea if it is ok to use leather full chaps on a buffalo saddle? Don’t want to ruin my CWD saddle.
With the temps plunging in my neck of the woods I’m trying to find mine! Bought them about 1995, custom Journeyman. Representative from the company came to a local tack shop to measure. Navy blue smooth side out with hunter green “gator” trim. Small monogram patch on my left hip.Think I paid $750. +/- I wore them almost all the time until I got a super sensitive horse who got rubs really easily. Would really like to find them for this cold snap!
I never had nice ones when I was a kid. Just cheapo suede ones that were green and turned my legs green when I wore shorts with them in the summer.
I do have a nice pair now- Dover custom, that I got for a song because the custom order never got picked up. They fit me well, but I had Journeyman shorten them (as with everything in my life) and put a cool embroidered skull and cross bones over the monogram on the back yoke.
I’m too fluffy for them right now (maybe permanently). I didn’t ride in them much, but they were nice for the really cold days, and I used to do a lot of barn chores in the winter in them. Also good for cold weather clipping, as long as you can bend in them.
Still prefer half chaps or boots.
I have the suede Barnstable ones and they are durable and pretty nice. Mine were custom or semi-custom, but not made for me. I got them super cheap on ebay.
I personally don’t care what is in, what works. I loved my full chaps in the 80’s and I love them still.
Living in Cali it’s hot a lot so I don’t wear them much but when it cools down I love them. I wear full boots for schooling I don’t like half chaps. I have had a few arguments with them. Once riding they were rolling all over and my horse was being a butt head… last time I wore half chaps.
Full chaps have a lot of grip. I buy off the rack ones that fit decent. Thought about getting some customs but we don’t get enough cool weather around here.
I like both smooth and suede.
Here is how they look and I don’t think they look horrible…
I have some cheap fringed Barnstable full chaps that I got 8 or 9 years ago for $50. I would die without them in the winter (outside in SD, no indoor, already stoopid cold). They have never fit 100% but they work and they’re warm. I have suede but prefer the look of smooth–the next pair I get, if these ever die, will be smooth, no fringe.
I have seen Pinnells in person at Devon…I can’t even go in the shop because I want ALL THE THINGS.
Currently too “fluffy” for mine since having child but I would wear them in a heartbeat again…I don’t care what the fashion is. Ten years from now, someone will decide they are “in” again. Just watch.
They stick you like glue without having the seat of full seat breeches.
Only ever had the cheapo suede ones but always coveted the smooth leather ones of the resident trainer at the barn…
Thinking about getting some full chaps from Pinnell. I have amazing half chaps from him and know the quality will be amazing, just have to figure out which kidney to sell…:lol:
My fulls made by journeyman:
(ignore the goofy selfie)
They are chocolate smooth leather, chocolate lizard trim, light purple piping, double fringe in purple and chocolate. Monogrammed belt, snap front.
I got them in 07 and want to say they were 800?
I love them more than words.
I have custom Journeymans very similar to Nick’s - chocolate smooth leather, chocolate trim, cream piping, cream and chocolate fringe, monogrammed belt, snap front. I want to say they were around the same price point, maybe a little less because I don’t have the Lizard. Mine have also suffered inexplicable shrinkage in the bottom of my tack trunk. 
Mine were actually Journeymans too. Figured somebody would come up with a name that rang a bell. Mine were smooth side, navy, light blue piping trim around the top belt and yoke and down the side, pink piping alongside the light blue down the side only, monogram somewhere, no fringe. Maybe 1994, can’t remember but pretty sure they were under 500 with no exotic leather trim.
They still look good, or would if I could get them on…
