Hello, All!
I’m shopping for grippy synthetic reins and looking for advice. Do you find that the “pimply” or “nubby” grip on Beta and Biothane reins are hard on your hands, especially without gloves? Beta has “smooth grip” reins that I imagine are easier on the hands, but how grippy are they really?
I love zilco’s marathon reins but for some reason the velcro in the center really bugs me 
Thanks for your input!
[QUOTE=Fiat Lux;6446617]
Hello, All!
I’m shopping for grippy synthetic reins and looking for advice. Do you find that the “pimply” or “nubby” grip on Beta and Biothane reins are hard on your hands, especially without gloves? Beta has “smooth grip” reins that I imagine are easier on the hands, but how grippy are they really?
I love zilco’s marathon reins but for some reason the velcro in the center really bugs me 
Thanks for your input![/QUOTE]
I love the nubbly biothane reins. I get mine from Distance Depot. Although I usually ride with gloves, when glove-less they do not bother me at all. They are a good size for my smallish hands, comfortable and even with cotton gloves don’t slip.
They will make them in any size you need.
I LOVE the Tekna grippy reins. I don’t like the thick rubber reins, and these are nice and thin.
I got a pair from SmartPak that have smaller, flexible nubs, and are thinner than the usual rubber reins. I find them more pliable and easier to hold. Somewhere between a regular web rein and a traditional rubber rein.
I tried the ones with the rubbery pimple grips and those raised blisters on my hands after a few hours. I tried the smooth ones and when my hands got sweaty they were impossible to grip. I finally just moved back to English laced leather reins. The laces make them grippy and the leather feels good in my hands.
[QUOTE=PRS;6447639]
I tried the ones with the rubbery pimple grips and those raised blisters on my hands after a few hours. I tried the smooth ones and when my hands got sweaty they were impossible to grip. I finally just moved back to English laced leather reins. The laces make them grippy and the leather feels good in my hands.[/QUOTE]
The smooth reins you tried – were they just beta or biothane material, or were they the new smooth grip offered by Taylored Tack? Thanks!
I am on my third pair of biothane with the pimply rubber grip reins. I like them so much I’ve worn them out I’ve never had any problem with them hurting my hands but then again I NEVER wear gloves unless it’s freezing out and therefore I have farmer girl hands- LOL!
Taylored Tack’s pimply reins are soft and flexible, not bulky at all, very comfortable to use without gloves, and they grip even when wet.
I have both kinds. I always ride bare-handed (I hate gloves), and I use the smooth beta reins in winter and the pebble-grip in summer. I find with sweaty hands/sweaty horse that the pebble-grip beta is great. I made my own reins from purchased stock beta, so they could be the perfect length (and if I didn’t like them they were pretty cheap test!).
If interested, here’s a link to my DIY reins: http://trails-and-trials-with-major.blogspot.com/2012/06/diy-reins.html
[QUOTE=Fiat Lux;6447855]
The smooth reins you tried – were they just beta or biothane material, or were they the new smooth grip offered by Taylored Tack? Thanks![/QUOTE]
I honestly don’t remember the brand, they were more rubbery feeling thought if that helps. They still slipped through my hands when my hands sweated. It turns out that I may just prefer the feeling of leather.
The pimpled ones rub my fingers… can’t use them without gloves. I have the ThinLine reins now and absolutely adore them! You don’t need gloves, they don’t rub your hands, they’re soft and just squishy enough that you don’t need to hold tight to keep them from slipping. You can ride with a relaxed hand and they have the perfect “feel” of the horse’s mouth! Can’t say enough good things.
Here’s a link to info on them on the SmartPak site with a bunch more positive reviews, but I bought mine on ebay for less: ThinLine Reins
I ride with gloves (Always. Learned my lesson the hard way. Only once. But once was enough).
I no longer use any reins that have the rubber grips. Used to have them when I evented, but found over time in Endurance they disintegrate with the sweat and use of long hours in the saddle. Then the rubber starts flaking off in the hand. Not nice.
What I have found that is much, MUCH better are the synthetic “throw in the washer” reins that have big raised nubs spaced evenly along the rein line - rather like foxhunting braids along a horse’s neck. Those nubs are outstanding for stopping the hand almost immediately during any slippage, and don’t get in the way of the hand when the reins are stationary. Plus they allow one to easily see, at a glance, how even the reins are in both hands. That feature I really like. Finally, they are loooooong - perfect for running back the length of the horse when the rider wants to tail up a mountain.
I have three pairs – different colors - purchased from Taylored Tack. Best.reins.ever.
I ride with gloves (Always. Learned my lesson the hard way. Only once. But once was enough). However, in the past (before I learned my lesson. Ahem.) those anti-slip reins with the nubbed rubber grip used to annoy the heck out of me if I rode gloveless. Had them when I evented (they were THE rein of choice x-country), but found over time (in Endurance) the rubber disintegrates with the sweat and use of long hours in the saddle. Then the rubber starts flaking off in the hand/glove. Not nice. And there is no way to re-rubber them when that happens, no matter how good the leather still is.
What I have found that is much, MUCH better are the “throw in the washer” synthetic reins that have big raised nubs spaced evenly along the rein line - rather like foxhunting braids along a horse’s neck. They feel soooo comfortable in the bare hand, and those nubs are outstanding for stopping the hand almost immediately during any slippage, and don’t get in the way of the hand when the reins are stationary. Plus they allow one to easily see, at a glance, how even the reins are in both hands. That feature I really like. Finally, they are loooooong - perfect for running back the length of the horse when the rider wants to tail up a mountain.
I have three pairs – different colors - purchased from Taylored Tack. Best.reins.ever.
I second the Thinline reins.
I can’t stand wearing gloves (even in winter in Canada), and the rubber reins rub my hands raw and leather I find too slippery. I ride a 17 hand boy that can be very heavy at times and the Thinlines have been great.
I notice that several people are confusing ther two types of “pimpled” reins. The older style is a sort of sleeve of pimpled rubber that is slipped on over a rein then sewn in place. Very common for many, many years on english reins, used by eventers, etc. The Biothane brand super grip is a very flexible and softer material, lot’s of endurance riders are now using reins made of this material. I have several pairs and have found them to be pretty good for grip. They don’t bother my hands without glove BUT… horse sweat can make them slippery, not rain, just sweat. If you have a STRONG horse who gets quite FORWARD and sweaty then you may find gloves are needed to keep a decent grip without your fingers cramping. Ask me how I know!
Bonnie
