I’ve tried the amazon cheapies, and they’re going back. I’m desperate at this point, and willing to pay decent money. 5’1", big thighs/legs and a small waist. Any ideas?
MUST HAVES:
-Petite or low rise. I have tried standard rise and it’s tremendously uncomfortable, not to mention unflattering - waistband rides much too high.
-Belt loops. I am a shirt tucker-inner. That looks stupid without a belt.
NICE TO HAVES:
-That nifty cell phone pocket on the thigh.
-Fun colors.
HELP!
Same proportions here, and I do very well in Kerrits. They don’t come in petites which made me nervous at first but I fit really comfortably in their mediums. They have your must haves and like to haves. And I have to say they hold pretty well. I ride 5-6x a week, one horse, and my oldest tights from them are three years and still going strong.
Do you mind linking to the exact model you like? I’m willing to give anything a try!
These are my absolute favorites. If you’re not in to full seat tights, I don’t find these to be overly “sticky”. Nice little bit of grip but nothing crazy. They sell them fleece-lined for the winter as well.
Their breeches don’t often have phone pockets but otherwise also really nice.
I’m 5’2 and similar proportions. I second the Kerrits ice fill tights!! I first bought them 2 years ago and now have 5 pairs.
I just ordered a few pairs, keeping my fingers crossed. Will return them if they don’t work out. Thanks @showy and @hybriseris!
I’m 5’3 and have a pair of Kerrits schooling tights and they are too high waisted and the legs are a smidge long and get bunched up at the bottom. The crotch also rides up so I have to pull them down frequently. I’ve got quite the short torso though, so anything mid/high goes up to my boobs and is uncomfortable. I’m not sure what style mine are, but I know they aren’t the full seat Ice Fill (maybe the Flowrise?). Curious to know if the Ice Fill work well for you, because I am on the hunt for summer schooling breeches and love the Kerrits leg pockets.
I’m 5’2" with a 29" inseam, 24" waist, 34" hips. Here’s my recent experience with a few brands:
Kerrits are not as accomodating for curvy shapes as they used to be. I have 5 year old knit tights I love and are one of my summer favorites (but no pockets or belt loops) but I don’t like the newer ones quite as much - that being said they at least tend to not be too long.
Horze - always too long, usually gap at waist.
Ovation aerowick - has belt loops and large pockets, but too long on me, I have to fold up the bottom. Fabric slightly shiny (which is not my preference) but very lightweight. If between sizes, I would size up.
Irideon Cadence - mine don’t have pockets or belt loops, but I think some/newer models do. Also too long, and a bit thicker not my go-to in hot weather but nice quality.
Hadley Luxe Tights - Hadley breeches are pretty much my favorite so i had high hopes for the tights. Unfortunately they disappointed and I returned them. They are a thick shiny spandex, I hated the material. And the bottom is a very thin mesh I wasn’t sure would hold up. Plus they were way long (unlike the breeches, which are a perfect length)
I hope that helps, I’ll come back if I can recall more I have, or have tried!
5’4" and I have had the same experience with Kerrits. I do have a pair of the Ice Fil Full Seat Tech Tights that @hybriseris recommended. I love pretty much everything about them, but I have to fold the waistband down (which makes the belt loops unusable) to make them fit properly.
Have you tried any of the low rise breeches and tights? Next time I buy breeches I thought I would try some, but there aren’t many options in my (larger) size.
My favorite are B Vertigo (I have 6 of them in various cuts/styles). I have been looking for more to replace them, but the styles I like are no longer available from what I can see. I have tried the lower rise Pipers and they are just not good fit wise. I can’t say I’ve tried anything else that doesn’t fit like a mid-high or high rise in recent years although plenty are marketed as regular mid rise. I’m a 10-12 so on the larger end for breeches. I think I just need to go to the tack store and try anything and everything and I watch Riding Warehouse for any steep discounts. That is how I ended up owning B Vertigo - never tried them before, gave it a chance, and lucked out.
The low rise knit breeches from smartpak fit me pretty well. The “original” type do not.
They’re too heavy for hot and humid summer wear though.
Vertically challenged here. Have Kerrits Icefil and they’re long on me, but very cool in the summer.
I also like my Tropical Riders Enduracool. They DO come in petite AND will also do custom sizes (measure 2x to be absolutely certain). They’re also made in the US!!
It looks like their website is down/glitchy?
Thanks to everyone who suggested the Kerrits, they look like they’re going to fit the bill well. I about choked on the price for what is effectively a pair of leggings, but the “crotch” length is perfect and they are SO SOFT. I wonder if hay will stick to them?
The price KILLS ME for the leggings but they are least hold up very well. I’m not kind to them and the worst that’s happened is a small hole in the phone pocket of the ones I’ve had for 2.5 years so far. And that’s with throwing them in the dryer every time.
I don’t find hay sticks to them, and I can brush arena footing off easily after I’ve moved poles, etc.
I will say, I know opinion varies on this but I DO ride in regular, non-rider-marketed leggings quite often! Unless I’m jumping or doing something I want a little more security for, I find leggings work just fine for flatwork and save me a ton of $$$.
I do the exact same thing…I don’t even own a pair of actual proper breeches/tights. I ride in cheap gym leggings with thigh pockets, super light weight for summer (they don’t have belt loops though). I personally hate the feeling of silicone seats, too sticky, and breeches with suede seats at a price point I’m willing to pay are far too thick for summers here.
My personal favorite tights are Freeride, but jury is out on whether you’d think the waist is too high for you. I’m 5’1" and short waisted, but I love high rise everything, so I find the rise on them to be a comfortable medium that is flattering.
They’re perfect and feel like a pair of jammies they’re so soft. I intentionally didn’t wear them for bucking hay, which I did earlier in the day, so jury is out on hay-stickage.
I’ve never been able to ride in just leggings. I think my synthetic dressage saddle which is worn glossy in some areas is just too dang slick, and if I’m in my jump saddle I want the grip. I can get some grip in the synthetic if I add tack stick, I just always remember too late.
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