My winter breeches review.

[Hilary]

I bought a pair of the Kerrits Wind Pro boot cut breeches and I pretty much don’t want to ever take them off. So comfortable and I can even get away with wearing them to the office on Fridays - if they are clean.

If the temps are below 35/30 though, they need a pair of tights underneath them. And I noticed when I was in 2 point, there’s a breeze…

For riding in the colder temps I have a pair of what I call my riding snow pants. They are quilted with a full leather seat and if I wear long underwear under them they would cease to be the limiting factor in cold weather riding. My fingers get too cold below 20.

[LadyB]

I wholeheartedly agree on the Horze Thermal ones. I am around the same height/weight and carry my weight the same, Find the breeches fit exactly as you describe.

[Obsidian_Fire]

@Scribbler

Yes!!! That’s what I need! Could you wear them over just plain leggings not needing an actual breech under? Would you sauna to death doing barn work in these,?

I don’t know, but I think you could. I don’t see why not. I don’t actually own these… I guess if you were too warm you could just take them off, if you had leggings on under. To me they seem like ski pants with full seats.

[Ruth0552]

I have the Kerrits flow rise winter breech- or maybe they’re the fleece breech? I’m not sure but they are nice for when it’s high 30s-50ish. They are not super warm. I have had several pairs of the cheapo Tuffrider Unifleece breeches and I stand by them as the warmest ones I have and I will ride in them down to 20ish. Below that is not happening period.

I JUST bought a pair of the Hadley winter breeches and they are very nice but not would I would describe as “winter” breeches. They are a nice thick material but they are not fleece AT ALL, just thicker tights. I think they will be fine for cooler temps but not Polar Vortex temps. I like the way they fit though, so I’m keeping them.

[JBCool]

Me, too! Hence why I was thinking they were Hadleys. I don’t remember having to change my size in them, but I bought them last year, so…

@JenEM

The softshell winter “Pipers” fit exactly like their normal Hadleys. I hate how the Pipers normally fit but love the fit on the Hadleys, and was super delighted when I ordered a cheap pair of them and realized that they fit like the breeches I actually liked! I was so happy with them I bought another pair while they were on sale. Very happy with them so far, though I’m only in MD and not dealing with Canadian type temps.

But I do like them so much that I’ve worn them around after getting home, to walk the dogs etc because they’re so cozy!

[sirensong4]

I will chime in! My two favorite winter breeches are:

1. Irideon Wind Pro breeches (knee patch, and I sized up 1-2 sizes so i could get them over long johns. I get COLD and almost always have long johns under all my winter breeches). I am with @Scribbler, i wear winter breeches for everything outdoors in the winter–xc skiing, snow shoeing, running etc–and I just love these for that. Black breeches with black knee patches are really unobtrusive for non-horse activities. Wash and dry normally.
2. Tropical Rider winter full seats. The fleece on them is THICK, the thickest I have found, and the deer skin full seat is comfortable and grippy. I try to remember to hang these to dry but I sometimes forget and it’s never affected them.
   FWIW my height and weight measurements are the same as OP’s.

[cheval_convert]

@Hilary

I bought a pair of the Kerrits Wind Pro boot cut breeches and I pretty much don’t want to ever take them off. So comfortable and I can even get away with wearing them to the office on Fridays - if they are clean.

If the temps are below 35/30 though, they need a pair of tights underneath them. And I noticed when I was in 2 point, there’s a breeze…

For riding in the colder temps I have a pair of what I call my riding snow pants. They are quilted with a full leather seat and if I wear long underwear under them they would cease to be the limiting factor in cold weather riding. My fingers get too cold below 20.

I have trouble with my fingers getting too cold as well, but the other day I had my first riding lesson in ages and of course it was cold. I put on a thin set of gloves and then used toe warmers (not the had warmers but the toe warmers because they have a peel back sticky side) that I stuck to the palm of my gloved hands and then pulled a pair of SG winter riding gloves over everything. (The SGs are normally a bit big on me.) And voila, my hands were warm for about 3 hours. I was a bit clumsy with them, but I’ll take that if It means my fingers don’t ache from the cold.

I also used the toe warmers to keep my feet warm as well. Stuck them on top of my toes and again, had 3 hours worth of warmth.

[seabreeze]

@ElementFarm

I actually like my Kerrits Sit Tight and Warm for the coldest days I’m willing to ride. Mine are ancient now, and I have both the FS and KP models. They are warm, wind-proof, and wear like iron.
…
I just ordered a pair of the Tropical Riders winter breeches because a friend raves about hers. I’ll review those once I get them.

Agree about the Kerrits. I have the older Sit Tight and Warm and the newer WindPro. That’s all I want to wear in the cold weather, and I pretty much wear them for everything I do outside, not just riding. For riding, I love the amount of “stick.” Also agree that they are very durable.

I like the Tropical Rider Toasties, too. They aren’t windproof or water resistant like the Kerrits, but good for dry, calm days or barn work. I haven’t worn them in a while, though, because I’m so enamored with my Kerrits.

[minniethemare]

I have the Piper Winter breeches. I don’t have issues with the fit of regular (knit) Pipers, and I found these fit fairly well also. They seemed to run a little larger than the other Pipers I own, but I like a looser winter breech so I can throw thick leggings on underneath on days it’s truly cold (I’m in MN). I do find them to be somewhat slippery in the saddle (I have the knee patch version) but not to the point that it’s a hindrance, just an annoyance.

[RubyTuesday]

@Obsidian Fire

Mountain Horse makes a full seat waterproof over-pant breech. https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/mountain-horse-polar-breech-8519

Are these side-zip or no? Having trouble telling. Would very much like to get something with some grip to it, at least more than ski pants. I am riding outside when it’s above 10°F.

[Obsidian_Fire]

@RubyTuesday

Are these side-zip or no? Having trouble telling. Would very much like to get something with some grip to it, at least more than ski pants. I am riding outside when it’s above 10°F.

IDK. You could look at these too: https://www.ovationriding.com/product/ovation-dakota-thermo-pant/

[Posting_Trot]

Sticky seat polartec tights are great and very warm!

https://www.stickyseat.com/polartec.aspx

[HereComesZach]

@Posting Trot

Sticky seat polartec tights are great and very warm!

https://www.stickyseat.com/polartec.aspx

Yes! These are my favorites, and all I wear! When it’s SUPER cold, I layer a base layer under and ride in a riding skirt as well. They’re so comfy I could wear them all the time, too.

[touchstone]

I have the Piper winter breeches that I got on closeout. They don’t really fit me–way too big in the waist–but the fabric is perfect for cold-weather riding and I like that they have deep pockets and look like real breeches vs. tights.I feel that they are worth what I paid for them.

[BatCoach]

@Ruth0552

I
I JUST bought a pair of the Hadley winter breeches and they are very nice but not would I would describe as “winter” breeches. They are a nice thick material but they are not fleece AT ALL, just thicker tights. I think they will be fine for cooler temps but not Polar Vortex temps. I like the way they fit though, so I’m keeping them.

The SP Hadley winter tight is fantastic if you are riding in the 50s. I’m on the fence if I should order a warmer breech/tight since some times these feel a little chilly if you are not moving around enough to keep warm. I love the look and feel of them - SO much better than the hadley tight, which was a weird slippery fabric that just did not stay in place.