Recommendations/Advice for leather half-chaps- best/worst for a 14.25" calf

[luckymaverick]

I was in the market for new tall boots (old ones are too big/too wide should never have bought them), but with my limited budget and non-traditional build, I may end up going with half-chaps, since we only do local non-rated fun shows. What are your favorites or which ones to stay away from?

I measure 14.25 in the calf and 16 in the height. How do leather half chaps run, sizing wise? Do you size down in the calf and up in the height for break in? I’ve only ever had the suede cheap ones.

Thanks in advance.

[fourfillies]

I’d size down to 14’ in the calf, you’ll get some stretch in most brands. Unlike tall boots you won’t get drop in the height, go with 16’. I’ve had both the Ariats and Tredstep’s recently at the $150 price point. Both wear well (hold up a year or 2 with 5x a week use). The Ovation products can be a good value for the price point. Might want to check them out.

[flake]

Check out the Huntley Equestrian half chaps – they are really well designed (with Spanish tops) and made of nice leather in a variety of sizes so you can get a really good fit. Price is great for the level of quality! I think they have a website, or Valencia Sport Saddlery (in CA) carries them. Good luck!

[Ainsley688]

I have the same size calf, but I usually go with a 17" tall for half chaps. (Definitely would need an 18"+ if I were showing!) I’ve had excellent luck with Tredsteps fitting me well, so I’d go try on some of the different price points in a 14" and see how they fit. They definitely stretch out, so you might need to squeeze a bit before they break in.

P.S I feel for you about the calf width, it’s like the worst in between size! Good luck! Lol

[luckymaverick]

thanks for the advice/replies! I feel like I’m not skinny enough for most brands and not tall enough for others. The Dover store is 45 minutes away, and if I have time I might try some on there. The only half chaps I owned were the nubuck kind with crappy zippers that were way too tall and fit the first time, so became too big and slid down all the time.

Anyone happen to know if most places accept returns/exchanges on black friday/cyber monday items if sizing is an issue?

[luckymaverick]

Flake- the Huntley chaps look amazing! If only they came in the dark brown I need. If so, I’m hoping the 15.9 height would fit my 16 leg.

[MissCoco]

I’m almost exactly the same measurements as you, and there aren’t many brands I’ve found that are short enough in the height department.
I’m wearing Tredsteps now (in 14/16), and at least one version of them does come in dark brown.

It took me probably a month to be able to zip them comfortably, but probably only a couple weeks to wear them comfortably. I’ve been wearing them for about two years now, and now they zip up easily, but I think that’s mostly because they had several layers of socks + long underwear + breeches jammed in them last winter!
I found my biggest issue is that they are narrow at the ankle, so just getting them zipped over my boots was tricky at first, and for a long time after they felt good it was still hard to get the zip started.

Smartpak always has free returns on sized items btw, I don’t know about other online sellers having special deals on returns for sales for the holiday.

[BAC]

If you need brown I would suggest Tredsteps. I had them in both black and brown, and they have just about every possible height and calf measurement you can want. I used to have problems finding half chaps that fit properly and my Tredsteps gave a custom-like fit.

[luckymaverick]

BAC and Coco- I’ve been considering TredSteps, however I’ve been reading about shoddy craftmanship with the snaps or zippers. I was also looking at Ariat Breeze or Covington, and yes I would need brown.

[jetsmom]

I bought millbrook ones andvreally like them. You measure yourself and they are custom made. The leather is soft and thinner, but they are pretty inexpensive, so if they don’t last as long, i still think they are worth the money.

[BAC]

@luckymaverick

BAC and Coco- I’ve been considering TredSteps, however I’ve been reading about shoddy craftmanship with the snaps or zippers. I was also looking at Ariat Breeze or Covington, and yes I would need brown.

I never had any problems with the snaps or zips on my half chaps, I also had the suede TredSteps, no problems with them either but the suede stretches more and the nap wears off, I think you get a better, tighter feel with the leather. . Sometimes dirt gets in the snap portion and needs to be cleaned out, otherwise the snap doesn’t close properly and I have heard people say to use a bit of WD40 if zippers stick, but that wasn’t in relation to TredSteps, it was for zippers in general. I have not bought a pair in several years though, so maybe the quality has gone down?