I’m trying to decide between the following:
Tredstep Pro G2
Tredstep Liberty Back Zip
Ariat Monacos
Ariat Concord
Since they have such different price points I’m not sure if it would be worth it to pay more for the G2s or Monacos or save a bit and go with the Liberties or Concords. I have a wide calf and will be using these for 4-5 rides a week so they need to hold up. Any experiences/reviews would be welcomed.
Monaco won’t hold up. I have them as my show half chaps and I really would not use them daily. Too fragile. Beautiful and fit perfectly but fragile.
I would not go with the Concord either. I had a similar pair and they stretched way too much and the high spanish top went quickly below my knee…
For an everyday use, the best buy for your buck in Ariat is, imo, the Covington ones.
The Tredstep Liberty look ok.
I would personally try the G2, not as expensive as the Monacos and they look tougher.
I have a pair of concords that I have been riding in 4-6 days a week for about 4 years now.
They did stretch out more in this last year - but I do not have any problem with them sliding down. Considering I paid $89 for them, and that the leather and zipper are still in great shape (stretch panel is well - stretched), I am very happy with them.
Oh - and I have a wide calf - they were tight at first but quickly conformed and fit like custom.
I’ve had the opposite experience of alibi_18. I live in my Monaco half chaps and have been wearing them daily to ride 4-5 horses for the last 4 years. The stitching is finally starting to separate at the bottom of the zipper, so I’m going to have to take them in to get them fixed because I love them so much I can’t bear the thought of letting them die! I also love that they’re nice enough looking to wear at shows and clinics: http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/PNWjumper/media/story_90109/2297296550094686761xAvmlS_fs.jpg.html?sort=6&o=16
I have either the treadstep liberties or the deluxe (I can’t remember) and they’ve held up well.
Thanks to you all for the recommendations. I’m still torn. I love the look of your Monacos PNWJumper.
I have ariat Covington chaps. They have held up well, but have stretched in the ankle area and don’t have that nice fitted look anymore. A friend recently bought the treadstep chaps in the same price range (just under $200), and they are beautiful. I don’t know how well they will hold up, because the leather is very thin.
I can’t seem to find the Monacos in Large/Short anywhere. For those that have tried the Tredsteps do they stretch out a lot? My calf measures about 16.5 and I tried on a friend’s new 16 inch Deluxes. They were super tight and uncomfortable but I did get them on. Should I buy 16’s and hope they stretch out or buy 17’s and have them comfortable but a tad loose?
With my tredsteps, I got the best fit by buying what I could just barely get on. After about a week of cursing, you’ll have a perfect fit.
It’s time to replace my tredsteps and I too can’t decide what to get. I overall love the tredsteps by the buttons by the heel have always driven me crazy, particularly the left one, which has always been hard to button (and now is broken, allowing the zipper to slide up, which is why I need a new pair.)
Pooh- I am trying to decide between the Libertys (back zip) and G2s. There is quite a price difference.
Well, mine were the Tredstep Deluxe, which I think may fall between the Liberty and the G2s for price point. They were great chaps that lasted for many years. My only complaint was the stupid buttons, which if you look at reviews, seems to be a common one.
Just curious, why are you looking at the liberty and the G2s but not the Deluxe?
My daughter and I have both had several pairs of Treadsteps and Ariats–which we loved, but I found myself buying new pairs about every six months because they never stopped stretching! After years of that, we found the Tucci half chaps. They’re more expensive, but I’ve already saved so much money since we’ve both had them for almost three years. They’re one solid piece of fully lined, heavy smooth leather, with a small gusset running down the back, which means that basically the only place that could come unstitched or break is the zipper, and I’d much rather keep spending $25 for new zippers at the local cobbler than getting new half chaps constantly! I don’t ride as much, but DD rides 2-3 5-6 times a week, and after I believe three years, hers still look brand new. They look almost like tall boots. We’ve had the zippers replaced once, but because it’s so solid, they’ve been incredibly durable and haven’t stretched beyond wearability. Definitely buy them as tight as possible at first.
Pooh- I prefer a back zip chap and as far as I know the Deluxes only have side zips. I could be wrong on that though.
SMA- Thanks for the recommendation. Is the leather on the Tuccis soft or more stiff?
[QUOTE=vanessajean;7865602]
Pooh- I am trying to decide between the Libertys (back zip) and G2s. There is quite a price difference.[/QUOTE]
What would you do with the extra money if you purchase the cheaper ones?
If you have $300 earmarked for the purchase, would you rather:
A) spend $300 on nicer half-chaps
or
B) $150 on cheaper half-chaps AND $100 on a nice, steak dinner AND $50 on a new pair of jeans?
I’ve been told my decision-making process is weird :lol: but this is how I was taught to manage a budget. I don’t think paying for more expensive half chaps will increase durability, so it just depends on how much you like the look.
[QUOTE=vanessajean;7865602]
Pooh- I am trying to decide between the Libertys (back zip) and G2s. There is quite a price difference.[/QUOTE]
Really though, it is “only” a $50 difference. For that small a difference, I would go with full leather rather than suede and leather. Once the suede wears down it gets slick.
vanessajean – I would say that the leather is stiff, but stiff in a good way if that makes sense. It’s definitely thicker than the soft leather of Treadstep or Ariat. I think a better way to describe it would be one very solid piece of full leather. They’re grippy in that they fit well and are very solid, but aren’t “grippy” like a very soft leather or suede is–but that’s what makes them so durable. They zip up the back, too 
My Tredstep half chaps have stretched out but I have had them for years so I can’t complain too much. I probably will get Tredstep again though because I like that they come in XSlim type sizes. I personally have always been happy with half chaps in the $150 price range especially just for schooling. And then the extra money can be used towards lessons or a horse show
Arapaloosalady- I would much rather spend the extra money on something else but like Pooh said it’s really only 50.00 or so. I could get a lesson for that though…
Does anyone have experience with the Horze brand half chaps? Someone recommended them to me on another site and the price is lovely. I’m just not sure what the quality will be like.
I really, really, really like the revamped Ariat Close Contour half chaps I just bought and would highly recommend them!
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